Vintage Yamaha BB Series???

[dukeorock]

Maybe the P pickup on the BB1000 was different than the one used on the BB1000S? I thought they were the same though. But I am not sure.

Me either! That was a very long time ago

I've often wondered how I'd feel about some of my old basses if they were placed in my hands today. One in particular was an '81 G&L L1000. I remember it sounding awesome (though I grew to dislike the trans blue finish). It was stolen around '86. I often wonder how I'd feel about its sound today

 

[InnerBass]

Maybe the P pickup on the BB1000 was different than the one used on the BB1000S? I thought they were the same though. But I am not sure?

There is something about the stability of the build combined with with the wood/ pickup selection they chose that just works perfectly together.

 

[ecapdeville]

Last Year I got a 1979 BB1200 Bass... a dream! It plays great... A good finding in mexico, It has the plastic pickguard so the body has four screw holes that I hate but I couldnt do anything about it! Love Yamaha!

 

[MycooLeeyun]

Does anybody know what year they started production on the BB2000's? Were they around in the late 70's?

 

[hypercarrots]

Does anybody know what year they started production on the BB2000's? Were they around in the late 70's?

12/1/78

 

[RobRWA123]

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.

Hello, I'm in the market to pick up on of those old, entry-level BB series...I started on a BB200 & have regretted selling it for a decade now...do you know if the BB350 was also MIJ, or did they switch to Taiwan, China, etc, at that time? I do know that they were only made from 1994-1996, and included a fretless model (BB350f)...

 

[hypercarrots]

Hello, I'm in the market to pick up on of those old, entry-level BB series...I started on a BB200 & have regretted selling it for a decade now...do you know if the BB350 was also MIJ, or did they switch to Taiwan, China, etc, at that time? I do know that they were only made from 1994-1996, and included a fretless model (BB350f)...

i haven't figured out if bb350 was made in japan or taiwan. it would've been one of those two, possibly they were built both places like the bb300. the bb350 i have seen had 2 single coil pickups, jazz configuration. the bb350f however was pj.

if you want an upgrade from the bb200 from that same era, look for a bb300, bb400, bb450 or broadbass VI.

 

[hypercarrots]

Hello, I'm in the market to pick up on of those old, entry-level BB series...I started on a BB200 & have regretted selling it for a decade now...do you know if the BB350 was also MIJ, or did they switch to Taiwan, China, etc, at that time? I do know that they were only made from 1994-1996, and included a fretless model (BB350f)...

these bb350 were made in taiwan
Yamaha BB 350 Bass - With 2 Added Extras | Storefrog Sound
Yamaha BB350 4-String Black Finish Electric Bass Guitar BB-350
Yamaha BB350 Black Electric Bass | Woody's Music
Yamaha BB-350 Bass | Bobby Lalonde Music

these bb350f are pj and were made in taiwan
Yamaha BB350F Fretless 90's Clean! Outstanding! | Tiny Toad's
Yamaha BB350F Fretless Bass Natural

these bb350f are dual single coil and made in taiwan
SOLD - Yamaha BB350F PJ fretless-nice clean bass!
SOLD - FS/FT: Yamaha TRB5 & BB350F (fretless)

after looking at about 15 bb350 and bb350f i am thinking they were all made in taiwan

 

[Marihino]

My bb350f was certainly made in Taiwan too.

 

[rockdoc11]

I have some vague recollection of a book reference that suggested some of the earliest high end Yamaha BB basses in the early 1980s were actually made in the Alembic factory. Anyone ever heard of this?

And here's a pic of one of my most beloved babies: a 1981 BB3000s. I just love gold hardware on white. I added a heavy duty Fender brass bridge.

 

[RobRWA123]

Nice, I would add some new knobs, unless you like the vintage look...

these bb350 were made in taiwan
Yamaha BB 350 Bass - With 2 Added Extras | Storefrog Sound
Yamaha BB350 4-String Black Finish Electric Bass Guitar BB-350
Yamaha BB350 Black Electric Bass | Woody's Music
Yamaha BB-350 Bass | Bobby Lalonde Music

these bb350f are pj and were made in taiwan
Yamaha BB350F Fretless 90's Clean! Outstanding! | Tiny Toad's
Yamaha BB350F Fretless Bass Natural

these bb350f are dual single coil and made in taiwan
SOLD - Yamaha BB350F PJ fretless-nice clean bass!
SOLD - FS/FT: Yamaha TRB5 & BB350F (fretless)

after looking at about 15 bb350 and bb350f i am thinking they were all made in taiwan

Thank you much, I eventually bought one in a rare metallic blue, and indeed did not notice initially, but there is an oval sticker printed in white on the bottom of the body in back denoting "YAMAHA - Electric guitars & basses Made by Kaohsiung Yamaha Co., Ltd, in Taiwan in accordance with specifications of Yamaha Corporation"

 

[RobRWA123]

Hello, I'm in the market to pick up on of those old, entry-level BB series...I started on a BB200 & have regretted selling it for a decade now...do you know if the BB350 was also MIJ, or did they switch to Taiwan, China, etc, at that time? I do know that they were only made from 1994-1996, and included a fretless model (BB350f)...

Thanks all, I've included pics here indicating Taiwan, so I agree from all sources that this run (BB350) was likely all Taiwan...added an Omega Bridge, DR Black Beauty strings, thing looks sweet!

 

[RobRWA123]

Oh, also got the serial # before it wore out...KH21016...have to look that up now for year, but I was told by seller it was a 1994...

 

[RobRWA123]

Hello, I'm in the market to pick up on of those old, entry-level BB series...I started on a BB200 & have regretted selling it for a decade now...do you know if the BB350 was also MIJ, or did they switch to Taiwan, China, etc, at that time? I do know that they were only made from 1994-1996, and included a fretless model (BB350f)...

Thanks, I was able to establish that it was Made in Taiwan, seller said 1994; what does NATO stand for (assuming its not North Atlantic Treaty Organization" ??

 

[hypercarrots]

Oh, also got the serial # before it wore out...KH21016...have to look that up now for year, but I was told by seller it was a 1994...

jan 21, 1994
nato is a type of wood

 

[woodyng2]

Thanks all, I've included pics here indicating Taiwan, so I agree from all sources that this run (BB350) was likely all Taiwan...added an Omega Bridge, DR Black Beauty strings, thing looks sweet!

Wow,that’s gorgeous-Love the metalflake! Congrats!
This looks like the bass i should have tried to get instead of the bb404....21 frets is perfect.
I was searching for a Jazz bass pickup config in a non-offset,more contoured body.
I found what i was looking for in another brand,though. (GL JB2).

 

[LSancho]

Use to own a BB2000, nice bass. Very well constructed and well balanced in spite the cheap bridge and pickups.

Miss her.

Spoken like a true ignorant. Congratulations.

 

[Lackey]

Don't sleep on the 300! Mine kills

 

[mickebas]

I have some vague recollection of a book reference that suggested some of the earliest high end Yamaha BB basses in the early 1980s were actually made in the Alembic factory. Anyone ever heard of this?

And here's a pic of one of my most beloved babies: a 1981 BB3000s. I just love gold hardware on white. I added a heavy duty Fender brass bridge.

View attachment 3336152

Definitely a later modell than 1981.
Maybe 85-87.

 

[OldFlats]

Just picked this up in a trade--anyone have an idea of what this body is? Looks to have a Music Man neck (or a very, very nice copy), either way probably the best neck I have ever played. Very light, have no idea of what wood was used. Great pickups, adjustable pole pieces on the bridge P/U are a nice touch.