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Their styling generally doesn't call to me but when I play 'em or hear someone else playing 'em they always impress. The quality and playability are stellar at every price level they offer.
Peter Hook often used a Yamaha BB1200S
He's only one of the most influential bassist of all time so maybe people are looking for Yamaha love in all the wrong places
He's only one of the most influential bassist of all time so maybe people are looking for Yamaha love in all the wrong places
Yamaha instruments are kind of popular in Serbia. Mostly keyboards, but also guitars and basses. I've never met a musician who did not like Yamaha. Yamaha is the third most seen brand name on keyboard (after Korg and Roland) and fourth on guitars and basses (after Fender, Ibanez and Aria).
I've always loved everything yamaha makes. including their bass guitars. my first bass happens to be a yamaha. it was a bb405. and now I currently own a yamaha bb235. great sounding bass. I am currently gassing for yamaha trbx bass. either the trbx505 or the new trbx605. either one, I would like to add a trbx bass to my arsenal. I did previously owned a trbx305, but sold it to save money on a new bass cab. I do miss it. so I plan to buy a yamaha trbx bass once again sometime in the future.
I haven't a clue what you're waiting for. As a guy who waited 8+ years before biting the bullet, after realising that prices NEVER came down, I'd like to encourage you to get it, and soon! It's not that difficult, really. I got mine through a European guy based in Japan, who hunts down specific instruments for people like myself, through Japanese auction sites like Yahoo Auctions.
I've had 4 yammies. BB604, TRB1004, TRB5P, and now a BBNE2. I should've kept the TRB5P and defretted it.
Consistent quality from top to bottom price brackets. Though they aren't to everyone's liking but they work for me. They even work for Nathan East.
Consistent quality from top to bottom price brackets. Though they aren't to everyone's liking but they work for me. They even work for Nathan East.
I bought a Yamaha BB5000 back in '85 and toured with it for years.Modded it with active EMG's and a Schaller rolling bridge.. Returned the original pickups in the year 2000..Great bass. Retired it a couple of years back.. The bodys cracked from a bad fall and the frets are done.. Mounted to my garage ceiling in my tool room..
I have found Yamaha basses and guitars to be an excellent value at any price point.
My observation is that Yamaha doesn't market their basses well. Models will be introduced, then vanish or are only available at a few online places.
GC always seems to have a couple of the entry level P/J basses, but never any BB or higher. It's like the basses are an afterthought.
My observation is that Yamaha doesn't market their basses well. Models will be introduced, then vanish or are only available at a few online places.
GC always seems to have a couple of the entry level P/J basses, but never any BB or higher. It's like the basses are an afterthought.
I had the same experience! I think i always ended up finding things look cooler. To me there isn't much anout there appearance that stands out.
When I used to tour overseas (not the big Rockstar kind) I would always just buy a cheapie yamaha when I got there, and just unload it for cheap after the shows so I wouldnt have to airport my stuff. Great stuff. Kind of am gassing for one now.
Not only do they make great basses at every price point, they also make rock-solid keyboards and VERY nice acoustic guitars.
Um.......Yamaha's musical instrument manufacturing history dates back to 1887, and they have been designing/manufacturing musical instruments continuously since then, hence their "tuning fork" logo. Also, can you imagine what a Gibson motorcycle would be like?
I would say that Yamaha certainly does specialize in musical instruments.
The BB 425 has an incredible P bass mid punch and a general quality that stands up very well against basses costing 3+ times as much in my herd. I made the mistake of trading mine for another (an albeit excellent Ibanez) - but very quickly realised what a great bass I'd let go! (And the guy who I traded it with had the biggest grin on his face when he played it for the first time, which said it all!)
Ended up quickly replacing it with a BB 1025, which is a slightly more 'civilised' version of its kid brother. Here's a pic in memoriam of the one (BB 425) I let get away..
Ended up quickly replacing it with a BB 1025, which is a slightly more 'civilised' version of its kid brother. Here's a pic in memoriam of the one (BB 425) I let get away..
When I was looking for a new bass, specifically a 5-string (at the time I was in a power trio with a guitarist/vocalist who played a baritone LP) and I hadn't played a fiver by that point, I convinced my wife to take me to a music store and try them out and see if there'd be a huge learning curve for adding that extra string. I was warned we couldn't afford anything and that we were just "window shopping". I played a few, including a Fender, but my hands kept going back to the TRBX505 they had on-hand. By the end of it, @Bassistwife was figuring on using part of our tax return to purchase one.
I ended up going for the 305 instead, purely for aesthetic reasons (I wanted a red bass and the red was only on the 305, plus the finish on the 305 was a bit more durable than the 505). Red Five has been my only bass for the last few years and I'm still happy. Yeah, I'm making a Franken-P, but Red Five's gonna be my gigging beast.
I ended up going for the 305 instead, purely for aesthetic reasons (I wanted a red bass and the red was only on the 305, plus the finish on the 305 was a bit more durable than the 505). Red Five has been my only bass for the last few years and I'm still happy. Yeah, I'm making a Franken-P, but Red Five's gonna be my gigging beast.
