I regretted selling my BB434, and now I have another one.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Which Yamaha BB for the money?
- Thread starter Greenman72
- Start date
Looking at specs on their site, it says the same numbers as when I got mine. However, it's possible they didn't update the site. Where did you find the slimmed down specs?
I didn’t find the slimmed down specs -they found me!
I bought a used BBP34, and later needed to sell it. The buyer knew & told me about the change and wanted me to measure the nut width. It was 1.5”! I had no idea. I just thought it was the stock 1.59”.
This bass was supposedly built around March of 2023. It had brushed nickel hardware too.
I bought a used BBP34, and later needed to sell it. The buyer knew & told me about the change and wanted me to measure the nut width. It was 1.5”! I had no idea. I just thought it was the stock 1.59”.
This bass was supposedly built around March of 2023. It had brushed nickel hardware too.
Attachments
I just bought a BB735A, my attempt at 5 strings. Bought it at a "Music go round" I played the 200 and 400, both good for the money. But the 735 was much better fit and finish to me. Great store, definitely would go back. They claim the bass I bought was brand new, never owned. It looks like it, not a scratch. Not bashing GC but MGR is much better store. You should look if there's one near you.
Wild! I think I'd be fine with either one, but that seems like something that should be on the site.
Thanks for sharing!
No problem. I would’ve been fine with either also! Ya just never know!
I’ve owned both a 435 and a BBP35
The BBP is vastly superior. They’re also very hard to find. If you find a BBP, buy it I’ve only ever seen one besides mine for sale ‘on the floor’.
The BBP is vastly superior. They’re also very hard to find. If you find a BBP, buy it I’ve only ever seen one besides mine for sale ‘on the floor’.
I chose the bb435 simply because I had a gift voucher, and the bb435 was right on budget and there weren't any other 5 string basses for me to choose from apart from Ibsnez 305. Plus it is a solid built passive bass that looks and feels good.
Had it for 2 weeks when the front pickups died.
They're fixed now (that's a story in itself) and I tried it at the shop and at home but, between dropping off and picking up, I developed Osteomyelitus in the neck and I've had no energy, desire or motivation to play bass at all and there's still at least another 10 weeks of antibiotics to go.
I missed 3 auditions and the final show of The Damned but I'm getting better slowly. No rush, it'll be there when I'm ready.
Had it for 2 weeks when the front pickups died.
They're fixed now (that's a story in itself) and I tried it at the shop and at home but, between dropping off and picking up, I developed Osteomyelitus in the neck and I've had no energy, desire or motivation to play bass at all and there's still at least another 10 weeks of antibiotics to go.
I missed 3 auditions and the final show of The Damned but I'm getting better slowly. No rush, it'll be there when I'm ready.
D
BB234 - Probably the only current BB that isn't (IMO) the best bass money can buy in it's price range. The 234 is missing most of the classic BB features. In this price range I think I would rather spend an extra $100-200 and get a Squier CV or a Sire (or even better, a BB434
). If the choice is between the BB234 and a Squier Affinity I would get the BB though, it's a FAR better instrument than an Affinity. But in this price range there's also Harley Benton. HB do "cheap" better than most.
BB434 - Not quite the build quality and tone of the BB734a but it's still the best bass in it's price range IMO (unless you want an active or a bass with a completely different tonal profile of course). Much better build quality/QC than MIM Fenders, and even many MIA Fenders.
BB734s - This is a ridiculously good quality instrument for the money. My only negative is that I didn't like it very much in active mode, too bright and "modern" sounding for my taste. But I'm generally not a huge fan of active basses.
BBP34 - My favorite bass ever. I own +40 basses, and I've owned lots more in the past, some of them significantly more expensive than the BBP34. The BB is still my favorite. I honestly don't understand how Yamaha can sell these basses so cheap (relatively speaking of course...). This is a boutique/custom shop level instrument. And yes, even though the specs may look similar to the 734, the BBP34 is a huge step up. The craftsmanship is absolutely superb! The BBP34 has the feel of a luthier/handmade instrument. The rest of the BB-series feel like mass manufactured, factory made instruments (which they of course are). They're very good factory made instruments, better than most, but the BBP34 is definitely a step above the rest of the BB series. Is it worth 2x the price of the 734? In my opinion, yes (unless you want an active bass). Of course part of the added cost is simply because it's made in Japan rather then Indonesia. But it's definitely a class above the 734.
Fender? Fenders are outrageously overpriced. When comparing instruments in the same price range a BB is objectively a FAR better instrument than any Fender/Squier. BBs have a slightly different tone/feel though. They're not nearly as "modernized" as for example Sandberg's take on P/J-basses, but they're still slightly different from the classic Fender tone/feel. But then again, I could say the same about most current Fender MIA models... If you want the classic Fender vibe from a new Fender production model instrument your best option might actually be a good Squier CV and maybe upgrade the pickup(s).
I'm a huge fan of the current BB series, and this is based on actually playing them, and comparing them with other instruments. I know I may come across as a Yamaha "fanboy" sometimes, but I truly think these current BBs are the best basses money can buy in their respective price ranges (maybe with the exception of the entry level 234). I've not been nearly as impressed with some of Yamaha's other current series... soft necks, questionable active electronics... But these BBs really are superb basses! I'm a total P-bass nut, but I still think my BBP34 PJ totally kills any Fender P-bass I've ever owned (and I've owned more than a few...).
). If the choice is between the BB234 and a Squier Affinity I would get the BB though, it's a FAR better instrument than an Affinity. But in this price range there's also Harley Benton. HB do "cheap" better than most.BB434 - Not quite the build quality and tone of the BB734a but it's still the best bass in it's price range IMO (unless you want an active or a bass with a completely different tonal profile of course). Much better build quality/QC than MIM Fenders, and even many MIA Fenders.
BB734s - This is a ridiculously good quality instrument for the money. My only negative is that I didn't like it very much in active mode, too bright and "modern" sounding for my taste. But I'm generally not a huge fan of active basses.
BBP34 - My favorite bass ever. I own +40 basses, and I've owned lots more in the past, some of them significantly more expensive than the BBP34. The BB is still my favorite. I honestly don't understand how Yamaha can sell these basses so cheap (relatively speaking of course...). This is a boutique/custom shop level instrument. And yes, even though the specs may look similar to the 734, the BBP34 is a huge step up. The craftsmanship is absolutely superb! The BBP34 has the feel of a luthier/handmade instrument. The rest of the BB-series feel like mass manufactured, factory made instruments (which they of course are). They're very good factory made instruments, better than most, but the BBP34 is definitely a step above the rest of the BB series. Is it worth 2x the price of the 734? In my opinion, yes (unless you want an active bass). Of course part of the added cost is simply because it's made in Japan rather then Indonesia. But it's definitely a class above the 734.
Fender? Fenders are outrageously overpriced. When comparing instruments in the same price range a BB is objectively a FAR better instrument than any Fender/Squier. BBs have a slightly different tone/feel though. They're not nearly as "modernized" as for example Sandberg's take on P/J-basses, but they're still slightly different from the classic Fender tone/feel. But then again, I could say the same about most current Fender MIA models... If you want the classic Fender vibe from a new Fender production model instrument your best option might actually be a good Squier CV and maybe upgrade the pickup(s).
I'm a huge fan of the current BB series, and this is based on actually playing them, and comparing them with other instruments. I know I may come across as a Yamaha "fanboy" sometimes, but I truly think these current BBs are the best basses money can buy in their respective price ranges (maybe with the exception of the entry level 234). I've not been nearly as impressed with some of Yamaha's other current series... soft necks, questionable active electronics... But these BBs really are superb basses! I'm a total P-bass nut, but I still think my BBP34 PJ totally kills any Fender P-bass I've ever owned (and I've owned more than a few...).
Last edited:
Saw your nic and it jogged very old Aussie advert memories loll
Join the jigglers, Lipton’s jigglers,
Get with the teabag set
Lipton’s the one to get,
for the best taste yet
Come and refresh,
get the clean, fresh taste of today.
Any time’s a 10 second cuppa time
Join the jigglers now!
Sorry OP couldnt resist.
All the best with your health issues.
Last edited:
D
Interesting! I've never heard about this. The Yamaha website still says 40 mm (= 1.575") for ALL their 4-string BB-models. Where did you get 1.59" from???
I purchased my BBP34 brand new around 4 years ago (I'm not sure about the actual year it was built but definitely older than March 2023). The width at the nut measures 1.578", which is pretty much spot on 40 mm.
1.5" would definitely be a noticeable difference (almost 2 mm), and not necessarily for the better, depending on personal taste of course. This would mean moving from a neck that's leaning heavily towards a slim/"modern" P-bass neck to a J-bass neck. When necks get slimmer I generally like them to also get thicker front-to-back. I'm not sure I would be as happy with a 1.5" nut width unless they also make the neck profile slightly "deeper" (which is suspect isn't be the case here).
Can anyone else with a BBP34 (or other BBs for that matter) made after or around March 2023 confirm this?
D
Btw, I forgot to mention the ONE thing I didn't like about my BBP34: The B250k linear pots. The tone control worked more like an on/off switch. Have they sorted this out yet, or is this still a problem with these basses? It was a relatively quick fix of course. It's just a matter of replacing the stock pots (at least the tone pot) with A250k logarithmic/audio taper pots, but still... Such a strange oversight on an otherwise OUTSTANDING instrument.
I know mine isn't the only one with linear pots btw, I've played others with the same problem.
I know mine isn't the only one with linear pots btw, I've played others with the same problem.
Salud!
I recently bought a 734 and it's an awesome bass. I didn't find any BBP34 to try, so didn't even consider it. Would love to try one, someday.
Anyway, I NEED my basses to be active because I play with very different amps, whatever there is in the rehearsal spaces/venues, and having an onboard EQ really is a lifesaver.
I recently bought a 734 and it's an awesome bass. I didn't find any BBP34 to try, so didn't even consider it. Would love to try one, someday.
Anyway, I NEED my basses to be active because I play with very different amps, whatever there is in the rehearsal spaces/venues, and having an onboard EQ really is a lifesaver.
I voted 734 because I’ve been gassing for a 735 since I first saw one and I think they’re an outstanding value, especially considering the features and quality. I tried a BBP at a store, and the set up was absolutely terrible, I have no idea how the store plans to sell such an expensive instrument (over CAD $2300) by leaving it on the wall for four months so far with no setup.
I’d also recommend looking athe Charvel Pro Mod San Dimas PJ. Also great value, feature loaded. I have a V.
I’d also recommend looking athe Charvel Pro Mod San Dimas PJ. Also great value, feature loaded. I have a V.
I briefly played a BBP34 and loved it, my only gripe with them is that I don't really love the colours they come in, I wish Yamaha offered a custom colour option, especially as these are likely built in quite small numbers anyway, I'd certainly pay a bit more for that.
Thank you. I'm getting there, slowly but surely.
