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Yamaha 80's BB Series
- Thread starter alchemy
- Start date
I do hate you... that's a REAL bargain!
It's such a sweet bass
I'd better keeping an eye on the bay
yeah, it's a great sound, especially through an aguilar DB359 and a GS210 cab.
john ou
my first bass ever and a classic
i play it everyday it even has a lawsuit headstock
i updated the pickup to a fender 62 reissue
dig it
i play it everyday it even has a lawsuit headstock
i updated the pickup to a fender 62 reissue
dig it
This is my "one that got away". I played it at a local store when I was in high school - or should I say, it practically played itself.
I should've sold my car to buy it... it would've almost covered the cost...
I have a BB1600 that I bought new in 1988. Nice bass, I'll keep it forever.
But - one of the bridge saddles has broken, so I am unable to adjust the action at all. The bridge on the 1600 was a completely proprietary Yamaha design, and it doesn't appear to me that any aftermarket bridge would fit. I'd love to find a replacement from Yamaha, and I bet they have a few laying around somewhere, but from what I've been able to tell they are not avaialble as parts through the normal channels.
Any advice?
But - one of the bridge saddles has broken, so I am unable to adjust the action at all. The bridge on the 1600 was a completely proprietary Yamaha design, and it doesn't appear to me that any aftermarket bridge would fit. I'd love to find a replacement from Yamaha, and I bet they have a few laying around somewhere, but from what I've been able to tell they are not avaialble as parts through the normal channels.
Any advice?
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,222
- 45,001
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
I have an early '90's BBG5 with a beautiful blue transparent quilted maple top and bartonlinis that I may have to sell to fund a much needed amplifier upgrade...
I'm looking for advice from those in the know about older Yamaha basses. I've desired an old BB3000 for a long time, but have had trouble locating one. Recently I found one, but I have questions.
First, the bass is in pretty good shape, but is by no means, mint. It plays well, has no buzzing, cracks or obvious dead spots, but has replacement tuners that used different mounting holes. The brass pickup trim is partially oxidized, and there is a bit of buckle rash on the back of the guitar. The guy is asking $725.00 + tax. Is this a good deal?
Next, if I do purchase this bass, I would like to locate the same type of tuners used with the original bass. Since the replacement tuners had a smaller mounting bracket, original tuners will cover the second set of drill holes. Does anyone know what type of tuners these old basses used and where could I locate a set?
Any insight from those with experience in older Yamaha basses would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Todd
First, the bass is in pretty good shape, but is by no means, mint. It plays well, has no buzzing, cracks or obvious dead spots, but has replacement tuners that used different mounting holes. The brass pickup trim is partially oxidized, and there is a bit of buckle rash on the back of the guitar. The guy is asking $725.00 + tax. Is this a good deal?
Next, if I do purchase this bass, I would like to locate the same type of tuners used with the original bass. Since the replacement tuners had a smaller mounting bracket, original tuners will cover the second set of drill holes. Does anyone know what type of tuners these old basses used and where could I locate a set?
Any insight from those with experience in older Yamaha basses would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Todd
I have a BB1600 (white, w/ gold hardware) that I had converted to fretless. Actually, I'm selling it, if anyone's interested. It's a nice bass, but I just didn't fall in love with it.
I know this is a very old thread, but here is a pic (BB1100S).
BTW: I bought it new in 1988-89 from a music store in Burlington, VT. My first bass. It had been sitting in the store for a while. I think I paid $400 for it. It is stamped "Made in Japan", not Taiwan. Great neck, wide fretboard, active electronics. I think it sounds better in passive mode. Heavy bass though. Many, many, many years of gigging with this sucker. Some studio recordings. Wonderful ballsy tone. It is a road-warrior and has scars (as do I). We are both in temporary retirement for the last couple of years (life). I played it last night for hours. Sweet bass. I will never part with it.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
BTW: I bought it new in 1988-89 from a music store in Burlington, VT. My first bass. It had been sitting in the store for a while. I think I paid $400 for it. It is stamped "Made in Japan", not Taiwan. Great neck, wide fretboard, active electronics. I think it sounds better in passive mode. Heavy bass though. Many, many, many years of gigging with this sucker. Some studio recordings. Wonderful ballsy tone. It is a road-warrior and has scars (as do I). We are both in temporary retirement for the last couple of years (life). I played it last night for hours. Sweet bass. I will never part with it.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I was looking at ebay and these things are selling dirt cheap. Probably one of the best values for a bass that I know of. At least the 1980's models. They haven't kept their value and are not collectors items, but they are damn good instruments.
I've noticed a lot more BB3000's on Ebay versus the BB2000. Were there a lot more BB3000's produced. I kind of prefer the 2000, because it's P pickups are in a reverse position.
I have been the happy owner (original) of a Yamaha BB1100S, purchased in I believe, 1984. It is a bolt on neck, has j and p pup configuration as well as active electronics that include bass, mid and treble.
I have not had to adjust that neck, since it was purchased, I giged it in the 80's and employed it in the studio and it was flawless. I need to get a pic of it, but it's a sun burst body.
I obviously have the original case, as well as the tuner tightener mentioned in an earlier post.
I believe that I paid around $700.00 Canadian when I bought it, I sold a 4003 Rick with a broken truss rod to get the money for the Yammy!
fishheadjoe
I have not had to adjust that neck, since it was purchased, I giged it in the 80's and employed it in the studio and it was flawless. I need to get a pic of it, but it's a sun burst body.
I obviously have the original case, as well as the tuner tightener mentioned in an earlier post.
I believe that I paid around $700.00 Canadian when I bought it, I sold a 4003 Rick with a broken truss rod to get the money for the Yammy!
fishheadjoe
- Mar 1, 2005
- 3,101
- 385
- 62
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Crook Custom Guitars
I almost bought a BB-1200 (I thinK) in 1979, when I finally opted for a new Music Man StingRay. My buddy managed a store that sold Yamahas and he had a killer natural finish one. It was just so much better than any other bass I'd ever played. He and one of his friends both described his Yamaha as "the best 1959 Precision I've ever played". The second batch of them he got from Yahama was the batch I tried out and took one to a two gigs. It was very very nice, but there was just someting about the first three he'd gotten in that were special.
I later read in Tom Wheeler's book that Alembic built some of Yamaha's basses around that time. I speculate that the one my buddy Mike has was one of the Alembic ones. I wound up getting a new 'Ray instead of one of his Yamahas. He had a very fine 'Ray from the same time (Silver!) and there have been times I've thought I should have gotten the Yamaha, and he's said he's thought he should have gotten the Music Man. He's still playing the Yamaha at gigs where he can sit down. It's too heavy for wearing it on his shoulder any longer but it sounds perfect.
jte
I later read in Tom Wheeler's book that Alembic built some of Yamaha's basses around that time. I speculate that the one my buddy Mike has was one of the Alembic ones. I wound up getting a new 'Ray instead of one of his Yamahas. He had a very fine 'Ray from the same time (Silver!) and there have been times I've thought I should have gotten the Yamaha, and he's said he's thought he should have gotten the Music Man. He's still playing the Yamaha at gigs where he can sit down. It's too heavy for wearing it on his shoulder any longer but it sounds perfect.
jte
I just picked up this baby yesterday. I've only seen 1 other left handed 1200S, and it was red. Amazing bass:
Old thread, but I also want to share...
Got my BB2000 ~12 years ago, used. Was cheap as chips- ~$200. Will never sell it- definitely my favorite bass, one of the best basses I played.
Now, a short, yet delightful, story.
I didn't play it for quite some time (don't play much these days), pulled it out a couple of weeks ago- had some humidity issues in my apartment, so the strings rusted quite well, also transferring rust to the frets
So, I took it to a guitar shop near by (guy who owns it is an amazing master luthier, knows his way around). Went to pick it up last week, and while I was waiting played a nice fretless one of his students built. Didn't play fretless all that much, but it was quite nice, and I suddenly had an urge to buy one..
Anyhoo, I talk to the guy, he has a few fretless basses- cheapest one's ~$1000 (nice Precision). I tell him I don't really want to spend all that much, just want one I could play with a bit, so he suggests I look for a nice used bass and we'll defret it. I thought I'd look for a cheap Ibanez, maybe a Mexican-made Fender.
The next day I go through some local 2nd hand stuff sites, and see mostly crap ($100 no-name basses) or expensive stuff ($1200+). On the last page of my search I see an ad titled "Guitar of type bass, model Yamaha". The title indicated the seller doesn't really know what he has. I open the ad, and am amazed to discover it's a BB3000! From the picture it looks great. I call up the guy, although he's asking for $1350. After 30 seconds of talking to him I understand he has no idea what a bass is. It appears he got it as a gift from his grandfather 5-6 years ago, and NEVER played it. After a very short negotiation, during which he consulted with his mother (I then realized he's a teenager) he's willing to drop the price to $600. I tell him this is if the bass is in perfect condition, to which he replies, dead serious: "No, no. I wrote in the ad it's not in perfect condition. It has a broken string". Had to try VERY hard not to laugh...
A couple of days later I drive to his house. The kid's 16-year old, doesn't know anything about bass. He brings the case, I immediately understand he wasn't lying about never playing it- the case doesn't have so much as a scratch on it. It's clear the bass never left the house. I open the case- perfect. 2-3 ultra-minor scratches, no dents or bangs, very small spot of rust on the bridge, but other than that- hardware, pickups, everything's in mega-mint condition. Played with it for 2 minutes, just to check the pickups work fine, opened the back electronics panel to check no modifications were made. Frets are quite dirty/rusty, which doesn't really matter, since they're coming off.. Fretboard looks very dry, will probably drink up plenty of lemon oil, but again- perfect condition.
30 minutes later I'm back in my car, with my new BB3000 in the backseat... The guy from the guitar shop couldn't believe I found a bass so quick, was even more amazed when I pulled out a BB3000
A couple of pics of the "2 sisters", will post a pic of the 3000 after the work's done.
Got my BB2000 ~12 years ago, used. Was cheap as chips- ~$200. Will never sell it- definitely my favorite bass, one of the best basses I played.
Now, a short, yet delightful, story.
I didn't play it for quite some time (don't play much these days), pulled it out a couple of weeks ago- had some humidity issues in my apartment, so the strings rusted quite well, also transferring rust to the frets
So, I took it to a guitar shop near by (guy who owns it is an amazing master luthier, knows his way around). Went to pick it up last week, and while I was waiting played a nice fretless one of his students built. Didn't play fretless all that much, but it was quite nice, and I suddenly had an urge to buy one..Anyhoo, I talk to the guy, he has a few fretless basses- cheapest one's ~$1000 (nice Precision). I tell him I don't really want to spend all that much, just want one I could play with a bit, so he suggests I look for a nice used bass and we'll defret it. I thought I'd look for a cheap Ibanez, maybe a Mexican-made Fender.
The next day I go through some local 2nd hand stuff sites, and see mostly crap ($100 no-name basses) or expensive stuff ($1200+). On the last page of my search I see an ad titled "Guitar of type bass, model Yamaha". The title indicated the seller doesn't really know what he has. I open the ad, and am amazed to discover it's a BB3000! From the picture it looks great. I call up the guy, although he's asking for $1350. After 30 seconds of talking to him I understand he has no idea what a bass is. It appears he got it as a gift from his grandfather 5-6 years ago, and NEVER played it. After a very short negotiation, during which he consulted with his mother (I then realized he's a teenager) he's willing to drop the price to $600. I tell him this is if the bass is in perfect condition, to which he replies, dead serious: "No, no. I wrote in the ad it's not in perfect condition. It has a broken string". Had to try VERY hard not to laugh...
A couple of days later I drive to his house. The kid's 16-year old, doesn't know anything about bass. He brings the case, I immediately understand he wasn't lying about never playing it- the case doesn't have so much as a scratch on it. It's clear the bass never left the house. I open the case- perfect. 2-3 ultra-minor scratches, no dents or bangs, very small spot of rust on the bridge, but other than that- hardware, pickups, everything's in mega-mint condition. Played with it for 2 minutes, just to check the pickups work fine, opened the back electronics panel to check no modifications were made. Frets are quite dirty/rusty, which doesn't really matter, since they're coming off.. Fretboard looks very dry, will probably drink up plenty of lemon oil, but again- perfect condition.
30 minutes later I'm back in my car, with my new BB3000 in the backseat... The guy from the guitar shop couldn't believe I found a bass so quick, was even more amazed when I pulled out a BB3000
A couple of pics of the "2 sisters", will post a pic of the 3000 after the work's done.
