Why doesn't Yamaha make a short scale bass?

[MakoMan]

Yamaha makes great some beginner basses, but no short scale models. As a short scale player, I would absolutely love a nice 30" scale RBX. But the only short scale Yamahas I have ever seen are vintage models. Anyone know of a reason why Yamaha has not jumped into the short scale market?

 

[who]

Can't answer your question, but I'd be into a short scale or medium scale BB.

 

[Vinny_G]

Only speculation: short scale basses are a niche market and Yamaha is a huge company that also makes motorcycles, concert pianos, archery equipment and snow skis.

 

[ruju]

I would love to see a shortscale bass from Yamaha.
I wonder if something like the revstar body shape would work. It may not balance as well as a trbx body, but it would look super cool.

 

[Killing Floor]

My best guess is that they do a really good job across all their categories keeping SKUs to a minimum. And their tolerances and consistency of process are very uniform. I assume based on their exacting process control it would probably be cost prohibitive to make a product that would not sell a pretty high quantity.
Yamaha is very good at what they do. Not a lot of options.

 

[Dank Bodot]

If you count 31,5inch (800mm) as shortscale, then Yamaha made it in 80s. I believe it's called Yamaha BB VIs.

 

[MakoMan]

If you count 31,5inch (800mm) as shortscale, then Yamaha made it in 80s. I believe it's called Yamaha BB VIs.

I don't, but I am aware of some of the mid-scale Yamahas. They are beautiful, but just a tad too much scale for me. And a bit hard to find.

 

[two fingers]

Yamaha Motion B MB-III Short Scale Bass Guitar Yamaha Motion B MB-III Short Scale Bass Guitar | Music Go Round Burnsville Minnesota | Reverb

 

[MakoMan]

Yamaha Motion B MB-III Short Scale Bass Guitar Yamaha Motion B MB-III Short Scale Bass Guitar | Music Go Round Burnsville Minnesota | Reverb

A buddy of mine has one of those and he offered to sell it to me for a reasonable price. However it's a 32" scale. It actually almost feels like a 30" due to the smaller body. Close, but no cigar. I'm still holding out for a TRBX174 in 30"!

 

[PJ Bassthumper]

I have a Yamaha Motion B ll. It was the first bass I ever bought brand new back in 1986. 32 scale. I wish they would do a modern and maybe a vintage reissue of that bass given the popularity of short and medium scale basses at the moment.

 

[JW56789]

A list of 'Why doesn't Yamaha . . . . . . .' could go on for a LOT of pages. For years I wondered 'Why do they introduce basses like the _________at NAMM, back-order them for two years, and then blow them out after they got one shipment and everyone had already given up and bought something else . . . . '

Maybe those days are over. SS Bass? Who knows.

 

[nilorius]

Because they don't want to !!!

 

[iiipopes]

Only speculation: short scale basses are a niche market and Yamaha is a huge company that also makes motorcycles, concert pianos, archery equipment and snow skis.

And outboard motors, and sound systems, and computer/electronic products, and golf products, and other automotive products, and.... This is the point: they don't see enough of a market to develop and sell one.

 

[rzero]

I heard it was because they want to maintain focus on real basses.

 

[Root 5]

A list of 'Why doesn't Yamaha . . . . . . .' could go on for a LOT of pages. For years I wondered 'Why do they introduce basses like the _________at NAMM, back-order them for two years, and then blow them out after they got one shipment and everyone had already given up and bought something else . . . . '

Maybe those days are over. SS Bass? Who knows.

That sounds shady to me

 

[arbiterusa]

Anyone know of a reason why Yamaha has not jumped into the short scale market?

They like being profitable.

 

[arbiterusa]

Yamaha is a huge company that also makes motorcycles, concert pianos, archery equipment and snow skis.

Crap, man, you got me excited there for a minute. I shoot. I've never seen a Yamaha bow. Looking for a 48" full power recurve, the only people who make one is Fred Bear. Turns out Yamaha no longer makes archery gear., haven't since the 1980s. Sadness.

 

[kjp360]

I heard it was because they want to maintain focus on real basses.

It doesn't appear that they make a non-electric double bass currently, so this is likely not true.

 

[Vinny_G]

Crap, man, you got me excited there for a minute. I shoot. I've never seen a Yamaha bow. Looking for a 48" full power recurve, the only people who make one is Fred Bear. Turns out Yamaha no longer makes archery gear., haven't since the 1980s. Sadness.

Sorry, I didn't know that.

 

[wraub]

They also make really good drums, I have some.

It's possible that Yamaha is studying the SS market and available SS instruments and refining something good. It's what they do... Study a thing and distill it down to the function, then add design to make it sell.

Or, they just don't wanna.