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No Love For Yamaha Basses?

#201
I'm quite enamored of this one.



IMG_9301.JPG


In the instro surf world, the SGV/SBV series are quite well thought of. On the acoustic guitar forum I'm on, their acoustics are pretty much considered to have the best price/quality ratio out there.
 
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#202
I wouldn't call it "no love" - AFAIC - so much as just "indifference". If you tell me they're great? I'll believe you, but... Yamaha's pretty much the same as most companies that make basses; they make very few leftys - if they make them at all - and, like most companies, the ones they do make are not exactly their top of the line models. I'm not in the market for another black "beginner" bass, thanks... And, to be honest; at this point in the game, they just don't make anything that fills an empty spot in my herd. And the only empty spot I still have left is for a left hand, 34" scale. 4 string, passive Hollow body (not semi-hollow) bass.Like, say, a Gretsch long scale Electromatic - or a White Falcon. If they ever make one of those, I'll have one in a heartbeat. Until then, though...:meh:
 
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#203
DanAdams said:
How Am I the first person saying this?
Maybe it's because the Yamaha brand also produces
-Snowmobiles
-Motocycles
-Wave runners
-Tennis Rackets
-Archery equipment
-Skis
-Home Theater systems
-drums, pro audio, everything else musicy...............
-plus probably 1000s of other products not related to guitars that I'm unfamiliar with.
Sometimes it just feels good to buy from a company that specializes in the thing you're passionate about.
no dis to their basses, I think they are quite good.
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This is ridiculous logic. Sony makes some of the best cameras on the market right now. I was a 15 year Canon shooter who switched over to Sony. Sony also makes...
-TVs
-Blu Ray players
-Phones
-Headphones
-Wireless speakers
-Gaming Systems
and about a billion other things. Oh and they also have a movie studio. Does that make their camera line inferior because they also make other products? Hardly. You were the first person saying it because no one else would consider Yamaha making products other than musical instruments to be a reason not to buy a bass from them.
 
#204
I have a Yamaha BB424, and a friend just loaned me a Fender Jazz made in Mexico. I was thinking of buying one as I felt I wanted the "real deal", and I heard so much about the high quality these days of Fender's Mexican basses, and Squier, etc.

But the Yamaha, imo, is a far better bass.

The tone, the evenness across the entire fretboard, the overall quality...it's just really solid and pro in ever way, imo, regardless of price.

Not sure what one would have to spend to get a Fender at the same level....the American at 1400 or 1500?
 
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#205
mbell75 said:
This is ridiculous logic. Sony makes some of the best cameras on the market right now. I was a 15 year Canon shooter who switched over to Sony. Sony also makes...
-TVs
-Blu Ray players
-Phones
-Headphones
-Wireless speakers
-Gaming Systems
and about a billion other things. Oh and they also have a movie studio. Does that make their camera line inferior because they also make other products? Hardly. You were the first person saying it because no one else would consider Yamaha making products other than musical instruments to be a reason not to buy a bass from them.
Click to expand...

Let me quote myself from the paragraph you reference "Sometimes it just feels good to buy from a company that specializes in the thing you're passionate about."
I also said that Yamaha basses are "quite good'. I also didn't say say anything about "logic" or a lack of quality. The OP's question was asking "why no love for Yamaha" I gave my theory:
It's human nature. People generally feel closer and have more affection for their instruments than they do their tech gear. Giant corporations generally don't give people warm fuzzy feelings.
Maybe if Sony starts making basses you can be the first one to try it out. Maybe they would be great even??? Still I believe most of us wouldn't want our headstocks to say SONY.

Based on likes people agreed with me.
 
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#206
DanAdams said:
Let me quote myself from the paragraph you reference "Sometimes it just feels good to buy from a company that specializes in the thing you're passionate about."
I also said that Yamaha basses are "quite good'. I also didn't say say anything about "logic" or a lack of quality. The OP's question was asking "why no love for Yamaha" I gave my theory:
It's human nature. People generally feel closer and have more affection for their instruments than they do their tech gear. Giant corporations generally don't give people warm fuzzy feelings.
Maybe if Sony starts making basses you can be the first one to try it out. Maybe they would be great even??? Still I believe most of us wouldn't want our headstocks to say SONY.

Based on likes people agreed with me.
Click to expand...
If it's good, I don't care if the headstock says SONY, BONY or SONNY BONO!
 
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#207
DanAdams said:
Let me quote myself from the paragraph you reference "Sometimes it just feels good to buy from a company that specializes in the thing you're passionate about."
I also said that Yamaha basses are "quite good'. I also didn't say say anything about "logic" or a lack of quality. The OP's question was asking "why no love for Yamaha" I gave my theory:
It's human nature. People generally feel closer and have more affection for their instruments than they do their tech gear. Giant corporations generally don't give people warm fuzzy feelings.
Maybe if Sony starts making basses you can be the first one to try it out. Maybe they would be great even??? Still I believe most of us wouldn't want our headstocks to say SONY.

Based on likes people agreed with me.
Click to expand...

So if you did a blindfold test and loved a Yamaha bass, you wouldn’t buy it because they also make motorcycles? If you owned Gibson basses you liked, would you sell them because Gibson bought Onkyo, Phillips and other companies so they could make Gibson branded headphones, speakers and more? Absurd logic IMO. You probably got the likes from Fender fanboys :laugh:

Joking aside, Yamaha makes fantastic basses, I just got one recently actually because it was what I was looking for and they have an excellent reputation for quality. The fact that they also make non musical products never crossed my mind and I couldn’t care less.
 
#210
mbell75 said:
So if you did a blindfold test and loved a Yamaha bass, you wouldn’t buy it because they also make motorcycles? If you owned Gibson basses you liked, would you sell them because Gibson bought Onkyo, Phillips and other companies so they could make Gibson branded headphones, speakers and more? Absurd logic IMO. You probably got the likes from Fender fanboys :laugh:

Joking aside, Yamaha makes fantastic basses, I just got one recently actually because it was what I was looking for and they have an excellent reputation for quality. The fact that they also make non musical products never crossed my mind and I couldn’t care less.
Click to expand...

DUDE, Someone asked a question, I gave a theory, my theory is valid, and even if it weren't it would still be a THEORY. You can disagree with my theory.
I never said I don't like Yamaha. I've played them, I like them, I've now said multiple times that I think Yamaha makes good basses.
I try to be perceptive and empathetic enough to understand that people like different things, people have personal reasons for the things they do, and people's lives aren't always rational or ruled by logic.
The OP's question WAS NOT 'Why doesn't Dan Adams play Yamaha?' My answer to that would be different.

Since you use the term "ABSURD LOGIC" let's look at how one of us employed it.
Example: "You probably got the likes from Fender fanboys :laugh:"

On a side note, I don't play a Fender. I would would prefer a Yamaha.
 
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#213
Nikol4ik said:
IMO the 424/5 models are the last authentic BB with original PJ pickups that belong entirely to the previous generation of BB's from the 80's,just the 424/5 come with upgraded electronics and five piece necks and strings thru body.Just the last real BB with vintage tone.The 1024/5 and 2024/5 models are upgraded with higher specs.
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I've never heard that one of the reissue BBs along with the BB 424 had the classic neck through design nor have I ever seen one. Just did a google search for the BB 424. All I found have a bolt on neck. Is it a special model you're talking about?
 
#216
I just wish they have more color options. I have a black TRBX505 that was supposed to be translucent but it's 99% opaque. The brown one is ugly and the white is not for me. Also limited options. Give me TRBX505 with maple fretboard and a body color (already mahogany) like this and I buy one now.

godin-exit-22-52572.jpg
 
#217
For me the weakest of the BB line - although a lot of people here seem to like them - are the BBs made in Taiwan after they were no longer made in Japan. A BB1100s was my first serious bass. It was a bit cheaper than a US Fender - but hey: they are active:)
My only bass for many years and after pausing for a year or two, I simply bought one again. Was more into music than gear back then and Peter Hook was one of my idols as a teenager. After owning a lot of Fenders, a Musicman and some G&Ls, I find these taiwanese BBs rather mediocre and uninspiring. There is a huge gap between the MIJ neckthrough BBs made of Ash and the taiwanese ones, although the model numbers sound so similar. Mine were very neck heavy due to the heavy tuners and the light bodies made from plenty parts of alder and the electronics were very harsh and got scratchy just after a few months. Sold mine for 80,- bucks...
This is not to offend people who own one of these and like them. But those who are searching for 80s BBs should test the instruments if they are not MIJ before buying them. I'm not talking about the later re-issues like the 424 etc., I'm talking about the tradional BBs made in Taiwan during the late 80s and 90s.
 
#218
DirkP said:
For me the weakest of the BB line - although a lot of people here seem to like them - are the BBs made in Taiwan after they were no longer made in Japan. A BB1100s was my first serious bass. It was a bit cheaper than a US Fender - but hey: they are active:)
My only bass for many years and after pausing for a year or two, I simply bought one again. Was more into music than gear back then and Peter Hook was one of my idols as a teenager. After owning a lot of Fenders, a Musicman and some G&Ls, I find these taiwanese BBs rather mediocre and uninspiring. There is a huge gap between the MIJ neckthrough BBs made of Ash and the taiwanese ones, although the model numbers sound so similar. Mine were very neck heavy due to the heavy tuners and the light bodies made from plenty parts of alder and the electronics were very harsh and got scratchy just after a few months. Sold mine for 80,- bucks...
This is not to offend people who own one of these and like them. But those who are searching for 80s BBs should test the instruments if they are not MIJ before buying them. I'm not talking about the later re-issues like the 424 etc., I'm talking about the tradional BBs made in Taiwan during the late 80s and 90s.
Click to expand...
i have/had had 4 bb300 made in taiwan and they were all great.
i had a bb450 made in taiwan and it was not great.
i have/had 3 bb1200 made in japan and 3 bb1200s made in japan and they are all great.
which were made of ash? my neck throughs are made of alder maple and mahogany.
 
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#219
i owned a attitude II seafoam green.

eventually we parted ways, not really sure why. nut width was my only complaint. i like 'em thin...

from the experience i had with that bass, i can honestly say i'd put yamaha's QC and just overall execution of bass-making to be as good as anything. if they made more instruments that met the specs i look for, i'd buy one without hesitation.
 

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