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Yamaha 80's BB Series

#21
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I played my BB2000 for many gigs until I went up to 5 strings. I was very used to this bass after 20+ years of it being my #1 and had a hard time finding a 5 string that felt like it.

Now it doesn't see much use anymore :hmm:

I even had it strung BEAD for a while trying to get it to see more use but I an just hooked on 5ers now.

I keep thinking about selling it, thinking it should have a home where it gets to see more playing time, but then I take it out and play it for a while and it just never seems to go up for sale.
 
#23
robd said:
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I played my BB2000 for many gigs until I went up to 5 strings. I was very used to this bass after 20+ years of it being my #1 and had a hard time finding a 5 string that felt like it.

Now it doesn't see much use anymore :hmm:

I even had it strung BEAD for a while trying to get it to see more use but I an just hooked on 5ers now.

I keep thinking about selling it, thinking it should have a home where it gets to see more playing time, but then I take it out and play it for a while and it just never seems to go up for sale.
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That is like my old BB2000 except mine was darker. As I said earlier, it is one of the basses I most regret letting go.:(
 
#25
try this link.

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site is in japanese, but you can find online sites that'll translate it back to english. it has good pictures, original prices, timber, construction, pups info etc etc. don't be surprised to find a lot of info contradicts what sellers say on ebay.

i guess the original prices give you sorta good indication of wether the instrument was high end or low end etc? mind you budget yamaha is not always bad. i played a taiwanese bb200 in a shop today. really it felt good to play and had a nice set up, didn't plug it in but. ok it looked a bit gay but for 300 bucks it seemed ok. i didn't buy it tho

wiki says fujigen gakki factory in japan built guitars for yamaha until the 80's when yamaha moved most of its guitar production to taiwan. I noticed also today yamaha sb 500's have the same headstocks designs as ibanez roadster guitar probably cause they were made in the same factory???
 
#27
It's actually a little darker in real life then in the picture.

posscakes link showed the bb2000 at 150,000 yen which is a little over $1200 with the current exchange rate.

For 1980 whatever when I got the bass that was a lot of yen for a bass. It was given to me so I have no idea what it sold for back in the 80s
 
#28
aV111ixr.jpg


Here are my twins, finally! I waited almost 2 months for the second (the white one) to come but now it's mine!!:bassist::bassist:
 
#29
Great info here! I have an opportunity to buy a BB1600 (made in Taiwan) for $350. It's black w/ gold hardware. I will not have an opportunity to play this bass as I am buying off the net. I have played , and liked, a newer BB414 that I was going to buy for $250. Is the older BB1600 a lot better bass?
 
#31
i'm pretty sure that there is no diff between a 3000 and a 3000A, most of the yamaha boxes i've seen in my life (and that's a lot.....no seriously, a lot.) have an A after there model number. BB1500A, BBN5A, etc. don't know what it means, sorry.
I have a BB1500A, it's awesome! it has become my guinea pig bass, for trying out pickups, electronics, etc. It's latest incarnation has BassLines 1/4lb's and a bug transducer in the battery compartment.
Sandman.
 
#33
a real killer look :)

the bass just came a couple of days ago... as soon as I've got time I will go to the shop and buy some gold knobsjust like yours :)

is yours more like cream than white, too? I don't know if there are different white variants or it's just the time that made it look like this...:ninja:

:bassist:
 
#34
Yea man,it's getting a really good creamy color.I got this thing for 400 dollars brand new.It had been hanging in the store forever with no bites.The tag said 1195 list,they were asking 700,I offered 400 and the owner said take it,he was tired of looking at it!!
 
#36
DLEE said:
Yea man,it's getting a really good creamy color.I got this thing for 400 dollars brand new.It had been hanging in the store forever with no bites.The tag said 1195 list,they were asking 700,I offered 400 and the owner said take it,he was tired of looking at it!!
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omg... you were so lucky! :D now I'm thinking about getting a BB5000, or a BB2000... still unsure... and anyway I still need to collect the money :)
 
#39
Alchemy, get that 5000A!! I just acquired one to go along with my BB3000 from the 80s, and it is awesome. Faded creamy white, extremely stable playable neck, great cutting tone. It's got it all. The only slight drawback for me is that it is one of the 5000's with the same neck width as the 3000 series, so the string spacing is a bit narrow. However, I got used to it pronto. I don't do much slapping so it's not an issue, and in addition I discovered that for me the narrower string spacing forces me into a lighter touch and a shorter stroke. In my case it promotes more agility with my right hand.

The BB series is the best thing Yamaha has ever done IMHO.
 

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