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What’s the difference between a Yamaha BB5000 AF and BB3000AF?

#21
JoeBone - Thanks for the insightful comparison of the basses. Although my main bass right now is a 5 string active Fender Jazz Bass, I do love the warm sound of my passive 5 string Precision, so I understand your preference of passive over passive. With that said, I love the extra punch that my active bass provides. But you’ve opened my mind to the possibility of a passive BB5000. Although, at this point, I might have to buy whichever I can find!

Altitude - Seriously…why didn’t Yamaha name the 4 stringer BB4000! Duh! And I completely agree about Mr. Mister’s musicianship - but didn’t realize Richard Page used a BB. Thanks! After their first hit record, they were preparing for a tour and rehearsing in the room next to the room where my band was rehearsing in Hollywood. We were all really impressed by their musicianship, particularly when they warmed up by jamming in a simple groove. And they were super nice guys - very “down to earth”.

Inky13 - For my initial post above, I wanted to post it in the BB Club but couldn’t find the entry point. I saw the post that said “now there is a BB club” but didn’t see a button to create a new post. I welcome any suggestions for getting into that club since there is one of my questions nobody has answered yet…Is Larry Klein truly using a fretless BB (whether a 3000 or a 5000) on the Don Henley song?

Thanks everyone!
 
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#24
Just to muddy the waters...

I have a BB5000AF that appears to be factory fretted! Or the fingerboard was completely replaced and the bass refinished in the same factory finish. No oval inlays in the face of the ebony board, and the side dots are perfectly in between the frets, just as they would be on a fretted bass. The headstock says "BB5000AF", exactly like the fretless. I don't know if it was a custom shop build or what, but it's a killer bass.

It's not my favorite bass to play alone, but it sits so perfectly in a mix and records incredibly well. Every note is just pristine, so it's a studio favorite when I need a 5-string.
 
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#27
Michael-F said:
Lowfreqgeek - That’s a strange. I bet a previous owner couldn’t handle the lack of frets after buying a fretless and had frets added. But who knows. You certainly have an interesting conversation piece!
Click to expand...

I wondered the same, but the side dots are correct for a fretted neck and there is no indication that they were ever moved (no plugged holes in the ebony board). Also, the clear coat covers over the fret ends. If it wasn't originally built that way, someone took great pains to make it look factory. The previous owner I bought it from also received it that way and didn't have any back-story.
 
#28
Michael-F said:
Altitude - Seriously…why didn’t Yamaha name the 4 stringer BB4000! Duh!
Click to expand...

Michael, I can't second guess Yamaha, but here's my take:

The naming of the BB3000 was partly in keeping with the incremental numbering applied to the various iterations of the BroadBass up to that point in time: i.e., BB800, 1000, 1200, 1600, 2000. However, because the '3000' was a totally revamped redesign (smaller body, standard PJ config with bridge pickup, jazz bass width neck), the decision was taken to bump-up the nomenclature to '3000' in recognition of it being the new 'flagship' model.

I think we all agree there's no point debating the reasoning behind the naming of the first five-string BB as the 'BB5000'. The name seems perfectly intuitive.
 
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#29
lowfreqgeek said:
I wondered the same, but the side dots are correct for a fretted neck and there is no indication that they were ever moved (no plugged holes in the ebony board). Also, the clear coat covers over the fret ends. If it wasn't originally built that way, someone took great pains to make it look factory. The previous owner I bought it from also received it that way and didn't have any back-story.
Click to expand...

Lowfreqgeek - Before moving to Colorado from California I had a guitar technician extraordinaire that converted my (first trial-run 5 string) Fender Squire to a fretless bass. He did such an amazing job that everyone thinks it’s a factory made fretless. So a previous owner of your bass quite possibly had an equally talented guitar tech. Or perhaps he paid Yamaha to work their magic. It’s now a mystery!
 
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#30
ToddB1963 said:
Michael, I can't second guess Yamaha, but here's my take:

The naming of the BB3000 was partly in keeping with the incremental numbering applied to the various iterations of the BroadBass up to that point in time: i.e., BB800, 1000, 1200, 1600, 2000. However, because the '3000' was a totally revamped redesign (smaller body, standard PJ config with bridge pickup, jazz bass width neck), the decision was taken to bump-up the nomenclature to '3000' in recognition of it being the new 'flagship' model.

I think we all agree there's no point debating the reasoning behind the naming of the first five-string BB as the 'BB5000'. The name seems perfectly intuitive.
Click to expand...

Hey Todd! Your thoughts on the naming the 3000 model makes sense. And I did not know that “BB” stood for BroadBass! I wondered about that but figured I was already asking too many questions! LOL

Thanks for the insights!
Michael
 
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#32
Michael-F said:
Hey Todd! Your thoughts on the naming the 3000 model makes sense. And I did not know that “BB” stood for BroadBass! I wondered about that but figured I was already asking too many questions! LOL

Thanks for the insights!
Michael
Click to expand...
see my post below
hypercarrots said:
i hope this settles the question of the origin of the broadbass name. i've long said that it's not a description of the physical body of the bass but the broad capabilities yamaha was intending it to be used for that give it its name. i think 3 people heard me.

hopefully people will spread this fact (with evidence) and not the conjecture that has been perpetuated on talkbass for years.

from the 1977 catalog. the inaugural year for the bb1200 (see, it says new at the top):

View attachment 4147332

with the help of google translate:
View attachment 4147331

that word right there is broad:
View attachment 4147334
Click to expand...
 
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#35
Today I got BB3000 AF, Made in Japan(!), neck through, lined, active circuit is Pan / Vol / Bass+- / Treble+-
It sounds great, it feels great (the neck is meaty)


IMG_20240718_114137_652.jpg
 
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#36
Michael-F said:
Hello!

I’m hoping someone can fill in gaps in my knowledge - and please correct me if I make any incorrect statements about a BB5000 AF!

I love the fretless sound in Don Henley’s song The Boys of Summer (…after the Boys of Summer have gone…). From what I have researched (correct me if I am wrong), it is Larry Klein playing a Yamaha BB5000 AF. I’m not sure if it’s an active (BB5000 AF?) or passive model but it definitely sounds like the fretless growl/maw, which seems to be identified by the “F” in the model name. Please let me know if any of this information is inaccurate.

I read in someone else’s older post that the BB5000 AF is almost impossible to find. So far, that has been my experience. Let me know if you know of a BB5000 AF (4 or 5 string) for sale!

Lastly, what is the difference between the BB3000 AF (which seems to be easier to find) and the BB5000 AF? I have seen a few BB3000 AF’s for sale but I’m not sure of the differences. Is it the distance between the strings? Neck size? Pickups? 4 string vs 5 string? Wood?

Oops…one last question! Do either the BB5000 AF or BB3000 AF have positioning dots on the side of the neck? I see they do not have fret lines on the fret board, which is fine, but I am hoping they have dots on side of the neck to help me stay in tune. LOL

Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks so much,
Michael
Click to expand...
I know this is an older post but just wondering if you got the info you were looking for.
I can tell you simply that:
*BB3000 are 4 string
*BB5000 are 5 string
*in the model #'s the A= active pups, and the F= fretless.
*They do have postion dots
* Most everything that I've seen with fret lines appear to have been originally fretted models although thats just my opinion. Everything factory seems to have the F in model number.
I've been looking at photos of 5000af models and they seemed somewhat available (aftermarket) as recently as 1-2 years ago. Now...nothing!
You know...there are a couple of 5000's right now online, both are $1500 and less, both are taiwan, 1 black w/ passive, the other w/active pups. Why not get one and have a luthier either pull the frets or change fretboard completely.
I've been actively looking for another BB3000 fretless.
I've got 1 BB3000af and love it so searching for another. Just this past month I found a unlined fretless BB3000s in Spain via Ebay. So I bought and paid for it completing that portion of the contract just to have seller turn around and cancel the sale. Seller told ebay I requested a cancelation (which I did not) and refunded the monies. So disappointing because it's beautiful.
If you find a BB3000AF or any fretless BB3000 PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!! I really love and prefer the ones with the narrower neck (40mm nut lenght) but will be happy with a 43mm nut too. Im hopping it doesn't resort to taking one of my fretted BB3000 and turning it fretless, but.....
 
#37
ToddB1963 said:
Michael,

Sorry if I've misled you, but I don't own those basses, they're examples I searched on reverb to help with your inquiry. However, I am a Yamaha devotee and own an '84 BB3000 and an '82 BB2000 (my favorite) and two TRBs.

To answer your questions:
1) BB3000 in its various iterations is always a PJ 4 string
2) BB5000 is always a PJ 5 string
3) The passive versions were designated 'BB3000' and 'BB5000'; the actives, 'BB3000A' and 'BB5000A'. Fretless versions had the 'F' added.

The passive BBs have a great warm sound, just outstanding basses. The P pickup on the 3000 is very warm and reminds me a lot of a 60's Fender P (the reverse P on the 2000 sounds a bit like a 70's P with a maple board)

I must confess I'm not really familiar with sonic attributes of the active circuits on the 3000A and 5000A, but naturally they'll sound a little different to the passive versions. The pickups on the white 5000AF above look similar to those utilized in the 4 and 5 string TRBP model from the 1990s: volume, two band EQ (treble/bass) and pick-up pan.

One thing to note is that the passive versions are neck-through with alder bodies and Macassar ebony fingerboards. The neck-through gives a smooth very even sound all up and down the fingerboard. I love it. Again, not so sure about the active versions.

This BB3000A sounds good.

Bass jam with 80s Yamaha BB3000A - YouTube

Here's a BB5000 in action - great sound

Icehouse - Electric Blue - YouTube
Click to expand...
I realize this is a bit older thread but wanted to share.
*All 3000 and 5000 are neck thru
*Both series : digits only models have 3 position toggle pickup selector.
"S" indicates dial pot pickup selector
"A" indicates active pickups
"F" indicates fretless
The differences in neck width at nut: on the 3000 the nut measures 40mm BUT I do have a 3000a where the neck is wider and the nut measures 43mm. I haven't been able to learn if that is a common thing in later models or unusual but it has lead me to ask for nut lenght measurements when buying as I rather prefer the 40mm.
The 5000 did go thru a neck width change in latter production (as I understand from numerous postings from others) because the earlier models have a tight string spacing making it a bit difficult to adjust to. I have an 86 5000 that has the tight spacing.
I do know that the BBX models are really a 3000 but with bolt on neck. I recently aquired a BBX-24 (24 fret) because I had read about BBX being a 3000 bolt on AND being 24 fret which I hadn't come across before, and can confirm it's true.
I do know one thing about these for certain: I can't find any real difference between MIJ or MIT. I've ask others to give detail about what makes MIJ better the MIT, because everyone seems to think it is, and I've yet to get any specific reasons as to what makes it so. Im of the mind that if I handed someone a 3000 with a piece of tape covering the serial # and country of manufacture on the back side of headstock and said " play it and tell me where it was made" it would be at best a 50/50 guess!
Maybe you could shed some light on that? Point out what im missing? I do have both and I just don't see it.
 
#38
FATWOOD1 said:
I realize this is a bit older thread but wanted to share.
*All 3000 and 5000 are neck thru
*Both series : digits only models have 3 position toggle pickup selector.
"S" indicates dial pot pickup selector
"A" indicates active pickups
"F" indicates fretless
The differences in neck width at nut: on the 3000 the nut measures 40mm BUT I do have a 3000a where the neck is wider and the nut measures 43mm. I haven't been able to learn if that is a common thing in later models or unusual but it has lead me to ask for nut lenght measurements when buying as I rather prefer the 40mm.
The 5000 did go thru a neck width change in latter production (as I understand from numerous postings from others) because the earlier models have a tight string spacing making it a bit difficult to adjust to. I have an 86 5000 that has the tight spacing.
I do know that the BBX models are really a 3000 but with bolt on neck. I recently aquired a BBX-24 (24 fret) because I had read about BBX being a 3000 bolt on AND being 24 fret which I hadn't come across before, and can confirm it's true.
I do know one thing about these for certain: I can't find any real difference between MIJ or MIT. I've ask others to give detail about what makes MIJ better the MIT, because everyone seems to think it is, and I've yet to get any specific reasons as to what makes it so. Im of the mind that if I handed someone a 3000 with a piece of tape covering the serial # and country of manufacture on the back side of headstock and said " play it and tell me where it was made" it would be at best a 50/50 guess!
Maybe you could shed some light on that? Point out what im missing? I do have both and I just don't see it.
Click to expand...
I do have a question though and hope maybe you could shed light. I've been running across posts referring to limited re-isses / reproductions of 3000 series but don't find any solid information. Is this true and is there an identifier in the model number or some other way to identify?
 

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