Upgrading my Yamaha BB234

[RustyStringer]

I got the new guts and pickups in! The EMG GZR PJ set seems to have solved any complaints I had about the stock electronics.
-Better string to string volume balance
-Better P to J volume balance
-No more scratchy pots
-Dead quiet when it should be

I'm not going to cancel any parts, I'm sticking with my upgrade plans because frankly, I want to Lol
All the parts I am putting on it can easily be taken back off, and installed in a higher end PJ, which would be what I would eventually upgrade to.
I kept all the stock parts, and can pop those back in if I wanted to sell the BB234 down the road...

 

[RustyStringer]

Hipshot Kick-Ass bridge came a day early! Looks and feels great, intonates better than the stock one, it's super heavy, and the string through holes are actually big enough for the ball-end silk that is on the Tapes I normally use. I had to go with nickel plated rounds before, because the silk thread wouldn't fit through the holes on the other bridge :/
Although now I'd kinda digging the rounds on it lol

Still waiting on the Schaller BM tuners, but they should be here Monday!

 

[RustyStringer]

Been lucky with shipping lately...all my parts came early this week! Just got my Schaller BM tuners delivered and installed! They weren't supposed to be in until Monday

 

[RustyStringer]

Pretty much have this beast where I want it now…
Yamaha BB234
-Hipshot Kick-Ass Bridge
-EMG GZR PJ set
-Painted pickguard (until I can get a new one cut)
-Round String Tree
-Schaller BM tuners
-Large satin aluminum knobs from Amazon
-Rosewood thumb rest
-D'Addario Nylon Tape-wounds

 

[EngrSorenson]

Looks great man- I’m glad you’re having fun, and more importantly, I’m glad you like the result’s. Any reason you went with the geezers?

 

[RustyStringer]

Looks great man- I’m glad you’re having fun, and more importantly, I’m glad you like the result’s. Any reason you went with the geezers?

Thanks man!
Honestly I wanted a set of pickups that were quiet, easy to install, and included new pots and such.
I can solder just fine, but after building and wiring up many many guitars in the past…I just didn’t want the headache haha!
I spent hours and hours watching reviews before picking the GZR’s. I was basically between these and SD QP set. I’m very happy with the results. One of the main things I love about them is the string to string, and P to J volume balance.

 

[RustyStringer]

Ok, I don't want to start another post for this, so I'll say it here.

I had a thread where I was B-ing about Yamaha customer service...won't go into why or what happened, but I was having a bad day and venting and should have handled the situation differently. I did call again today and finally got the part number I needed, and although the CS that I was crappy with yesterday wasn't available, I did relay a message with the CS I got today (Andrew) to please send my apologies to Chris (the CS I was crappy with).

I'm really not THAT guy when it comes to speaking with people in the service industry. I am also definitely not the guy that just **** talks on forums and tries to start arguments.
So, if you were in that thread, I hope you see this post and will forgive me for sounding like such a douche.

That being said, if anyone else wants the part number for the black pickguard on a Yamaha BB 4 string bass, it is ZV714200
Mine should be here in a few days so I can replace the orange-peel looking spray paint job I did on my white pickguard as a temporary fix.

 

[Yahboy]

This ???

Fuming about Yamaha Cust. Service for a minute...

You sound like a saint.......feel good about yourself.
You can't use your profession in the medical field to use it in other industries, it's totally unreasonable.
On the contrary, it will only make people feel that you are deliberately looking down on a competent customer service.

 

[blastoff99]

That thread got shut down for plenty good reasons. Don't go down that road here, or party favors will result.

 

[RustyStringer]

 

[EngrSorenson]

Stuff happens, OP. It took me a long time to learn to be tactical with my frustration. Know what it is you want and don’t sweat the small stuff.

In more related news, yesterday I was able to try a 234. I have to say I was pretty impressed- punches above its price point. I’ll have to find a place that I can try out a 434, just so I can see the difference. I can see why you’d mod it, though. Good bones.

 

[RustyStringer]

In more related news, yesterday I was able to try a 234. I have to say I was pretty impressed- punches above its price point. I’ll have to find a place that I can try out a 434, just so I can see the difference. I can see why you’d mod it, though. Good bones.

Man...it's hard to argue with an Alder body, Maple Neck with actual Rosewood fretboard for $310 these days...lol
Even with everything I did to it, I'm under $650 total. I couldn't find a bass this good* (after these mods) for $650.



*This good IMO lol

 

[EngrSorenson]

Man...it's hard to argue with an Alder body, Maple Neck with actual Rosewood fretboard for $310 these days...lol
Even with everything I did to it, I'm under $650 total. I couldn't find a bass this good* (after these mods) for $650.



*This good IMO lol

I mean good or not, it’s something uniquely yours. Folks will try to squish the enthusiasm out of you, but you’re just doing your thing. I bet changing out the pickups was a noticeable improvement.

 

[Toyoman]

Did the factory yamaha knobs fit on the EMG pots?

 

[Toyoman]

Ok, I don't want to start another post for this, so I'll say it here.

I had a thread where I was B-ing about Yamaha customer service...won't go into why or what happened, but I was having a bad day and venting and should have handled the situation differently. I did call again today and finally got the part number I needed, and although the CS that I was crappy with yesterday wasn't available, I did relay a message with the CS I got today (Andrew) to please send my apologies to Chris (the CS I was crappy with).

I'm really not THAT guy when it comes to speaking with people in the service industry. I am also definitely not the guy that just **** talks on forums and tries to start arguments.
So, if you were in that thread, I hope you see this post and will forgive me for sounding like such a douche.

That being said, if anyone else wants the part number for the black pickguard on a Yamaha BB 4 string bass, it is ZV714200
Mine should be here in a few days so I can replace the orange-peel looking spray paint job I did on my white pickguard as a temporary fix.

Thanx for the part# i just ordered one for my Yamaha BB234. I don't like the white one.

 

[Brian Patterson]

I decided to go ahead and dump some money into my Yamaha BB234. The bones are fantastic...alder body, maple neck, awesome dark rosewood fretboard, nut is cut great.
It actually doesn't sound too bad either, but I can't help but mod stuff so here we go!

I got some bigger satin aluminum knobs; I think they looks much better than the smaller chrome domes that were stock on it.

I wasn't sure on a bridge, so I started out cheap with a $10 "high mass," from Amazon.
It does the job, slightly more sustain and fuller sounding notes. The problem is the holes that you feed the strings through are too small. I had to put some round-wounds on it, because the silk wrap on the ball end of my Daddario Nylon Tapes wouldn't fit through :/
I have a Hipshot Kick-Ass bridge coming that I will put on instead.

I put a round chrome string tree on it, simply for aesthetics.

I am waiting on my EMG GZR PJ set to come, as well as Schaller BM tuners that I got a killer deal on!

This thing already plays great (really fantastic fretword for $300), and I can't wait for all my parts to get it so I can finish it up!

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Did a knob w/ indicators swapout on my new BB234 - I can find the knob positions must easier now.

Still need a better pickguard - is there a series of BB models that will take the same 4-string pickguard?

 

[Makoa Johnson]

Did a knob w/ indicators swapout on my new BB234 - I can find the knob positions must easier now.

Still need a better pickguard - is there a series of BB models that will take the same 4-string pickguard?

Do you remember where you got those knobs?

And I think I remember reading on another thread on here that said all the current gen BBs (200, 400, 700, & Pro) share the same pickguard dimensions so any one with the same string count can be swapped for any other, and an aftermarket model that is advertised to fit any of them should work for all. (Might just want to double check that though because I don't know this from first hand experience.)

 

[Brian Patterson]

Do you remember where you got those knobs?

And I think I remember reading on another thread on here that said all the current gen BBs (200, 400, 700, & Pro) share the same pickguard dimensions so any one with the same string count can be swapped for any other, and an aftermarket model that is advertised to fit any of them should work for all. (Might just want to double check that though because I don't know this from first hand experience.)

I added some Gibson speed knobs on the split shaft/splined OEM pots not a problem - 4* Black Guitar Speed Control Knobs Tone Volume For Epiphone Les Paul LP ESP SG | eBay

But the EMG pots with my Geezer pickup upgrade are solid shaft and a no-go for Gibsons. Had to go with MRX set screw model.
Basic MRX knobs bought on eBay: 6x Brass Insert USA Size 1/4" Large Jazz J Bass Knobs MXR Style Knob Black | eBay

The pickguards on the BB 200-400 series do all apper to be the same - https://pickguardheaven.com/product/yamaha-bbp-34-4-string-bass/

 

[Brian Patterson]

The BB234 is Finished!
After some serious searching, I finally found my choice in Hiposhot tuners - Black Mini-Clovers. Bought a set from Best Bass Gear after learnming Hipshot doesn't sell sets to incentivise their retailers, etc. Well, I couldn't find them anywhere until Best Bass came up on my radar.

Then, the issue of what to do with all those empty holes became a priority, and Hipshot does not make their UMP rails for basses like they do for guitars to hide the holes and avoid the need to drill new ones for the screws. Great idea, but not for bases...(yes, they hae been spoken to about that)

So, I took some thin wood strips in the woodshop and fabricated my own solution, as seen here. Also, for the best possible fit, I wrapped narrow strips of masking tape around the tuner ferrules to 'fill' the hole gap in the headstock and get a snug fit without any slop.

Mission accomplished!