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Yamaha appreciating thread

#21
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#22
Heck I'm in...

RBXJM2 strung with Everlys!

JM2-2.jpg


I am absolutely bent on Yamahas. You can never go wrong with any Yamaha bass.

I'm currently gasing for a fretless TRB1006 in the clear black finish. Mmmmm.
 
#24
lonelyjazzbass said:
I had originally gotten this bass to be a fun "project" bass. I wanted to just do some work on it and try out some mods on a bass other than my main player (also my first bass). I saw what is now my Yamaha BB404 on eBay for a great price, so I figured I'd go for it. Let's just say that I was beyond stunned when I saw it in person. Not to mention, after a setup to my taste, I love how easily it plays. I did end up changing the pickups to an EMG J-set, though the stock tone was pretty good as it is, I just wanted to do some work on it. So, without further ado, here's a picture of my baby (before I swapped pickups and changed the knobs to chrome). It still stuns me when I take it out of the case.
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Can you describe the change in tone? I've got a Yamaha BB404F that I've been considering swapping the pickups for, and EMG has crossed my mind more than a few times as a possibility.
 
#25
Govithoy said:
Can you describe the change in tone? I've got a Yamaha BB404F that I've been considering swapping the pickups for, and EMG has crossed my mind more than a few times as a possibility.
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To be honest, I don't know how much of a help I can be. Did it sound better to my ears? Yes. Can I describe the change? Not really. I was going for a modern sound with this bass and to start off with, the stock Yamaha pickups had a fairly modern sound. The EMGs give it a great solo tone that is very clear. I love playing my orchestral/solo upright lines on it as it just speaks with so much clarity. With some passive rolloff, it can get a pretty good Jazz Bass sound playing in the lower registers (7th-fret down). I think the bass would be best with active electronics, but the body just isn't made to fit it (without routing). If it helps, I can record a clip or two of it.

One thing to note is that I've found my Yamaha/EMG to not be quite as versatile as my passive Fender Jazz Bass. What I mean by this is that while I think both sound great on my Eden Metro, the amp naturally gives a little bass and low-mid boost, which really helps warm up and smooth out the Yamaha/EMG. However, I brought the Yamaha/EMG once for a church gig and it just didn't cut it. Granted, I ran the amp dead-flat and it's not the best amp, however, my Fender Jazz is just fine in the amp.

On the whole, I'd say for solo playing, it's a great replacement. For "regular" bass playing (whatever that means, I just can't think of how to put non-solo), I think it needs a little boost in the bass and low-mids. For a fretless, I'd definitely want active electronics. I think that the EMGs + a J-Retro would be killer...though you're talking about over $400 in pickups and electronics (new) going in a $200 bass. Your call, I guess. If I can help at all else, let me know. Also, I write way too much.

Edit: (Things I forgot to add)

I primarily did the mod as I wanted to get experience modding a bass. Otherwise, I probably would've stuck with the stock pickups, though the EMGs are an improvement. I also didn't spend much time with the bass before the mod...maybe a week or two, which is why I can't tell you more about it.
 
#26
After seeing a TRB-6P for the first time I was stunned as to how sexy it was. I seriously fell in love with it's looks. I had an old early 90's TRB-4 bolt on at the time (still number 1) and I was already obsessed. So now I have my ultra sexy 6P and I am so damn happy. It realy does look stunning and sounds as good as it looks.
 
#27
Thurisarz said:
I went to one of the local stores today to check if they had something new to try out, they had. The new Yamaha BB 4-string basses, one black and one sunburst red-ish, i tried the red-ish, all i can is OMG!!! I totally regret that i bought that Warwick rockbass :crying:

And the strings that were on the bass was just perfect, they felt like nickel roundwounds 40-100, does anybody know what yamaha strings there basses with? I hate the string noise that roundwounds give me, there wasn't a single noise!!!

I now understand why bassists like Tony Kanal and Michael Anthony uses them

Please share your Yamaha story's/buy's with me, and i like pictures ;)

P.S Sorry for sharing my GAS with you :D
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Probably it is Roto's nickel strings.
I agree with you that Yamaha's bass especially "made in Japan" are all good. I got few of that and still like to get more.
I was looking for old TRB 4 with JJ on the internet since I believed this must be a good model.
 
#28
James Hayes said:
After seeing a TRB-6P for the first time I was stunned as to how sexy it was. I seriously fell in love with it's looks. I had an old early 90's TRB-4 bolt on at the time (still number 1) and I was already obsessed. So now I have my ultra sexy 6P and I am so damn happy. It realy does look stunning and sounds as good as it looks.
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Is your TRB 4 the one I was looking for?
Do you have spare to offer :hyper:
 
#29
Michael Jewels said:
I think Yamahas are one of the best values you can get in a bass at any price level. I've played a few TRB5s & TRB6s, and they all felt and sounded great.Mike
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I am forced to agree here. I think Yamaha basses are are highly underrated. I've said before, my TRB5P-II may be the best bass I own, in every respect: tone, playability, versatility, fit and finish. This is in a stable of Lakland, Pedulla, Zon, Ernie Ball and a bunch of high-end Fenders. We'll see how it stacks up against Sadowsky in a couple months.

Oh, you want a picture? OK.
 
#31
chalie said:
Probably it is Roto's nickel strings.
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Except Yamaha strings are steels. ;) I was thinking they were rebranded GHS, but they sound too good.

As for Yamahas, my two main basses are a set of fretted and custom fretless RBX-775's that I jumped on when they were discontinued about a year ago. Probably the best gear decision I ever made, scoring two very-solid mid-level basses for $285 apiece. I also used a friend's BBN5A for some recording work years ago that was such a joy to play I regret not picking one up at the time, or hitting him over the head and running off with it. :smug:
 
#32
5stringDNA said:
Yamaha is definately overlooked regularly- solid instruments. Heck, even their computer hardware is top-notch stuff. My old yamaha trumpet was great. I don't think yamaha makes anything crappy period.
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Heh, yeah, I'm currently playing a Yamaha professional trombone and it's awesome! Soon, I'm going to be getting a Yamaha BBR405 5-string bass and have no doubts that it's going to be awesome. :D
 
#35
I have used Yamahas since 1994 and they have consistently been reliable and versatile, not to mention very affordable. The mid priced Yamahas can compete with basses twice their cost, where as the high-end models are as good as anything boutique out there IMO. Put Yamaha's tried and true build quality together with some exotic woods and you get a bass that is functional and beautiful. My TRBJP is the finest Yamaha that I have ever played/owned and it is also the easiest six string bass to play, well excluding an F Bass BN6 of course. Bottom line, Yamaha product is money well spent.

Cheers,
Bassjones


 
#39
They seem to be pretty solid basses.

I played a BB404 that my church owns (just like the blue one in the picture) for a couple songs last night. I was suprised by how light it was. It has been a long time since I played it.

It's ok. Doesn't really blow my dress up. But it has been solid and reliable and has not required anything other than new strings in the two years that we have owned it.
 

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