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Upgrades to a MIT Yamaha BB450?

A

asintoras

Sep 27, 2010
7
0
#1
Hello,

This is my first post here. I got a MIT 80's Yamaha BB450 in great condition for $80.00 with no case (at left in my Yamaha family picture):
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I really like the bass, but I was wondering if and what kind of upgrades will be good for it. I was thinking about some Seymour Duncan pickups, then a LeoQuan Badass Bridge and later a hipshot D-tuner, in that order (I don't have the money for upgrading everything at once).

Is it worth of such an upgrade or it is better to get a better bass?
I saw a beat up MIJ Fender Lyte with EMG pickups and the d-tuner at $299 in a local store...:hmm:

Any feedback will be appreciated.
 
#2
keep her stock. The Japanese models will continue to increase in value over the years and there is nothing wrong with that bass at all. Put some new strings on her, get her set up and enjoy! You scored a killer deal!
 
#5
Kaohsiung factory(where the Taiwanese Yamaha's made) is closed now. Since 3 years Yamaha's budget line is being produced in Indonesia and China AFAIK. But I had several MIT Yamaha's and I can say that sometimes they worth x10 the price quality wise. I upgraded my former Yamaha BBG5S(1999 MIT) with a Sadowsky onboard preamp and VTC. The result was great. The B string was between somewhere "nice" and "very good" according to my string choice. Before that I had an Attitude Plus(2000 MIT) which is basically a Billy Sheehan's signature model but only with a precision pickup. And it's fretwork, tone and playability was waaaay beyond 250$...

I say go for the pickups and pots. If I were you I wouldn't touch the bridge. D-Tuner is your own choice, I can't say anything...
 
#6
birdie num nums said:
Kaohsiung factory(where the Taiwanese Yamaha's made) is closed now. Since 3 years Yamaha's budget line is being produced in Indonesia and China AFAIK. But I had several MIT Yamaha's and I can say that sometimes they worth x10 the price quality wise. I upgraded my former Yamaha BBG5S(1999 MIT) with a Sadowsky onboard preamp and VTC. The result was great. The B string was between somewhere "nice" and "very good" according to my string choice. Before that I had an Attitude Plus(2000 MIT) which is basically a Billy Sheehan's signature model but only with a precision pickup. And it's fretwork, tone and playability was waaaay beyond 250$...

I say go for the pickups and pots. If I were you I wouldn't touch the bridge. D-Tuner is your own choice, I can't say anything...
Click to expand...

+1
 
#7
birdie num nums said:
Kaohsiung factory(where the Taiwanese Yamaha's made) is closed now. Since 3 years Yamaha's budget line is being produced in Indonesia and China AFAIK. But I had several MIT Yamaha's and I can say that sometimes they worth x10 the price quality wise. I upgraded my former Yamaha BBG5S(1999 MIT) with a Sadowsky onboard preamp and VTC. The result was great. The B string was between somewhere "nice" and "very good" according to my string choice. Before that I had an Attitude Plus(2000 MIT) which is basically a Billy Sheehan's signature model but only with a precision pickup. And it's fretwork, tone and playability was waaaay beyond 250$...

I say go for the pickups and pots. If I were you I wouldn't touch the bridge. D-Tuner is your own choice, I can't say anything...
Click to expand...

Thank you for the info!

I am guitarist that started being involved with bass, but I am not really experienced in this matter, although I feel pretty comfortable with what I know about guitars.

What pots and pickups would you recommend for a tight budget?
I just want a classic and versatile bass sound.
 
#8
Personally I think the Yamaha BB Series have the best pickups of any bass made...bar none. IMO, replacing the pickups with anything else is a downgrade. Replace the pots if you care to, but don't touch the pups on a BB Series Yamaha.

Great score on that bass by the way.
 
#10
Sundogue said:
Personally I think the Yamaha BB Series have the best pickups of any bass made...bar none. IMO, replacing the pickups with anything else is a downgrade. Replace the pots if you care to, but don't touch the pups on a BB Series Yamaha.

Great score on that bass by the way.
Click to expand...

But I have took a look at the pickups in the upper models (BB1600, BB3000) and they are different! The bridge pickup is totally different and the P pickup also has some difference, so I am not sure if this has the good ones, apart from the fact that this is made in Taiwan, not Japan.

I will take a better picture of the pickups to show you this.

Regarding the pots, what pots would you recommend?

Thanks everyone for the helpul tips and info!
 
#11
Asintoras - I've got to say, that is one good looking bass! I too own a 1985 MIT Yamaha BB450 (black) and even though it is not my main, go-to, bass, it still rocks! I've owned it for over 10yrs now and was a gift from my dad. In your endevors, if you find more info on these basses, let me know. There is some info but not alot. i'd like to find out if the pickups in mine are OE or if they have been upgraded. Oh one other thing, do your pole pieces on the bridge pickups not line-up with the cover? For some reason mine don't, i've tried a few different things and nothing i do will get them to line up. Keep me posted and AWESOME BASS!
 
#12
It doesnlt matter where it is made, it only matters how it plays, sounds and feels. I have a MIT 86 BB300 and I sold my MIA fender p bass after playing the BB300 just because it sounded, played and felt better to me... The pickups are super hot. I love my Yamaha BB!!!!
 

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