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Vintage Yamaha BB Series???
- Thread starter rnilson
- Start date
- Feb 24, 2004
- 4,103
- 642
- 68
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Phantom Guitars, Eastwood Guitars
Use to own a BB2000, nice bass. Very well constructed and well balanced in spite the cheap bridge and pickups.
Miss her.
BB5000 (5 string), BB3000 and BB1600 had gold hardware and standard p pickups. Mostly made in Taiwan. Higher end cost wise, but not the best of the vintage Nippon Gakki japan basses IMO. Famous players: Nathan East (BB5000); Louis Johnson (BB3000); Tony Kanal - No Doubt (BB1600)
The pecking order for Japan basses IMO:
BB2000 also branded as Broad Bass 2000. Neck through 4 string with ebony fretboard and oval inlays. Reverse p pickup with a rail pickup in the bridge position. One of the best funk basses ever. Famous players: Michael Anthony - Van Halen; Andy Rourke - The Smiths; Abe Laboriel Sr.
BB1200s. Neck through 4 string with active on-board preamp. This is the only active BB bass
Famous players: Peter Hook - Joy Division.
BB1000s. Not to be confused with the earlier BB1000 bolt neck. The BB1000s is the same neck- through bass as the BB2000 with two differences. The BB1000s had a rosewood board with dots instead of ebony board with ovals ( as found on the 2000). The BB 1000s also had a reverse p pickup with a jazz pickup at the bridge. But unlike the jazz rail on the 2000, the 1000s had a pole pickup at the bridge. Famous players: Lee Sklar.
After these came the entry BB300 (standard p pickup only) and BB800 models.
The pecking order for Japan basses IMO:
BB2000 also branded as Broad Bass 2000. Neck through 4 string with ebony fretboard and oval inlays. Reverse p pickup with a rail pickup in the bridge position. One of the best funk basses ever. Famous players: Michael Anthony - Van Halen; Andy Rourke - The Smiths; Abe Laboriel Sr.
BB1200s. Neck through 4 string with active on-board preamp. This is the only active BB bass
Famous players: Peter Hook - Joy Division.
BB1000s. Not to be confused with the earlier BB1000 bolt neck. The BB1000s is the same neck- through bass as the BB2000 with two differences. The BB1000s had a rosewood board with dots instead of ebony board with ovals ( as found on the 2000). The BB 1000s also had a reverse p pickup with a jazz pickup at the bridge. But unlike the jazz rail on the 2000, the 1000s had a pole pickup at the bridge. Famous players: Lee Sklar.
After these came the entry BB300 (standard p pickup only) and BB800 models.
I agree that the highend BBs were very good at funk. I wish I still had some of the tapes I made with my old BB2000 and a drum machine. I think that reverse P-pups get a much better slap tone in a P/J package than conventional P-pups, for whatever reason. I know this was true on a Lowend P/J six string I played also.
My '78 BB800 is a 3 piece body w a maple neck and rosewood fretboard. My '79 BB1000 looks like a 2 piece body (if it's a 3 piece it's matched really really well), is sunburst, and has a maple neck w/ an ebony fretboard. Also the BB800 has dot inlays and the BB1000 has oval inlays. I believe the electronics are identical because they sound exactly the same. Bridge and tuning keys are also identical.
IMO, the best basses you can get for the money. Mine were $350 and $450, respectively.
IMO, the best basses you can get for the money. Mine were $350 and $450, respectively.
Per an old BB manual I have (mid-late 80s?):
BB 300 NATO body, 1 P pickup, passive
BB 450 Alder body, same P pickup, 1 J pickup, passive
BB 1100S Alder body, same as 450, but with active EQ
BB 1600 Alder body, different wound P and J bar pickup, passive, narrower nut
BB 2000 Alder body, different P & J pickups (like 450, but with bar J pickup)
BB 3000S Alder body, same as 1600, but one piece integral
BB 5000 Alder body, 5 string P & J pickups similar to 1600 & 3000S, passive
Of course different models/variantions were available at different times.
There was a later version BB 350 that had 2 J pickups, and a BB 1500 A which was active EQ with 2 J pickups.
BB 300 NATO body, 1 P pickup, passive
BB 450 Alder body, same P pickup, 1 J pickup, passive
BB 1100S Alder body, same as 450, but with active EQ
BB 1600 Alder body, different wound P and J bar pickup, passive, narrower nut
BB 2000 Alder body, different P & J pickups (like 450, but with bar J pickup)
BB 3000S Alder body, same as 1600, but one piece integral
BB 5000 Alder body, 5 string P & J pickups similar to 1600 & 3000S, passive
Of course different models/variantions were available at different times.
There was a later version BB 350 that had 2 J pickups, and a BB 1500 A which was active EQ with 2 J pickups.
I had a BB1200 that was split coil passive neck thru P.
Looked just like this one:
The BB1200 is a really nice bass. Paul McCartney had a very similar BB1200 that he played with Wings. I think you see it on You Tube in one of the charity concerts. Concert for Kampuchea maybe?
But the BB1200s was the active model Made in Japan. It ranks right up with the BB2000 in terms of value and desirability.
Correction: I said in my earlier post that the BB1200s was the only active BB. Yamaha did also make a BB1100s with active electronics. But these were released in the later 1980s and assembled in Taiwan as I recall. The "golden era" for the made in Japan BB basses is really 1978-1985.
Not saying BB basses made after 1985 aren't good or even great. Just saying that the early 1980s stuff was magical IMO.
In fact, as a general rule, the best BB basses usually had an "s" in their model number - the 2000 being the exception. Look for the reverse P pickup and the 5 piece neck with walnut stringers. If your BB bass has them, it's a winner.
I had a BB1200 that was split coil passive neck thru P.
Looked just like this one:
Hey, that's my bass --I can tell by the Neutrik jack and Badass II bridge. ---bought it from a TBer last year. I love it --great sound and plays like a dream. it's a '78.
I love seeing all these great Yammies. You guys have some sweet lookin' basses.
Here's my baby.
Link Removed
My 89' Yamaha BB5000 Bought new in 1990. According to the serial # it's an 86. All I know is I bought it in Jan. of 90 and the store was having a last years model sale.
The rest of the pics are in the black bass thread here.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/show-your-black-basses-394948/index34.html
I love my BB5000 and if I had the cash I'd have many more Yammies. I see nice ones in CL all the time. This one is neck through, and passsive. All stock the way I bought it 21 years ago except for the strap locks. I keep her strung with roto 66's.
Thanks for all the info here and to the OP for starting this thread. Had often wondered where my bass was in the so called "pecking order". The chart here was very helpful.
I also have a TRB fretless 5 string. Would it be ok to post a pic of her in this BB thread? What say you?
Here's my baby.
Link Removed
My 89' Yamaha BB5000 Bought new in 1990. According to the serial # it's an 86. All I know is I bought it in Jan. of 90 and the store was having a last years model sale.
The rest of the pics are in the black bass thread here.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/show-your-black-basses-394948/index34.html
I love my BB5000 and if I had the cash I'd have many more Yammies. I see nice ones in CL all the time. This one is neck through, and passsive. All stock the way I bought it 21 years ago except for the strap locks. I keep her strung with roto 66's.
Thanks for all the info here and to the OP for starting this thread. Had often wondered where my bass was in the so called "pecking order". The chart here was very helpful.
I also have a TRB fretless 5 string. Would it be ok to post a pic of her in this BB thread? What say you?
I am the original owner of a BB1100S. Bolt on neck, split P and Jazz as well as a three band active EQ, sunburst...
Mine was definately made in Japan, it's embossed on the bass and the original case, which I have also says Made in Japan, Nippigon, I believe.
She's been aging quite nicely, I have never had to touch the truss rod, it just like to be played!
Fishheadjoe
