• 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 freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Yamaha appreciating thread

Thought I should chime in, first 'real' bass (which I am still playing) is a yamaha RBX260 (single P style pup) all I can say is lightning fast neck, uber low action and it holds tune. I am thinking about a new bridge (sustain sucks on this thing, old cheap strings though) and a set of EMG's plus new pots.
 
My main bass, which I adore, is a Yamaha BB604. It's everything I need in a bass, apart from if I feel the need for a 6 string or If I wanna pick up my Fretless. I have a really low action on it, and can get a variety of useable tones, and have been commented on the quality of my tone several times at gigs.
 
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

my trusty old bb3000. had trouble finding another for backup but i got one of those new bb1000 and it sounds and feels great. i used to not really like it (3000)in the beginning and i would loan it to whoever needed a bass for a gig. and i must admit me myself wasn´t that nice eather...
it is not quite that nice looking these days, but it still sounds and plays perfect!
i´ve had some nice basses but always been coming back to my yamahas.
 
Eric618 said:
My first *real* bass was a Yamaha BB300. Single Yamaha P p/u, passive electronics. Played that bass for a DAMN long time. Wish I still had it, just for memory-sake.

Many basses later I got an RBX765A. I still play that bass quite a bit today. It's just a good, quality intsrument that isn't ridiculously priced.

I'd love a Myung 6. Actually thinking about it.

Really, I can't say anything negative about Yamaha at all. :hyper:
I could almost duplicate your story: my first real bass was a BB400; I currently have an RBX765A.
 

Attachments

  • RBX765 001.JPG
    RBX765 001.JPG
    24.4 KB · Views: 184
russjm said:
Here's my mid eighties BB3000S.

BB3000S.jpg


It does all I need and then some.

Beautiful - that's in great shape too! I remember a guy showing up at our house (1990ish) to jam w/ my roomates. I heard a great bass sound from the bassment and ran down to see the guy playing one of these. I gave it a spin and been a fan ever since - sadly never owned one though.

Also loved the first TRBs I remember seeing - good solid 5-string. I'm looking at these again.

Can anyone tell me about the string spacing on the new TRB-5's and new BB5000s? I heard they made it narrower (which would be a drag).
 
Times ago I mostly used only carbon neck basses from SKC, Gibson Thunderbird and an Ibanez BTB705.

Then I tried an old Fender Precision an said "wow!". I replaced all of my basses with two Precis an was happy for nearly one year.

But I looked for a little more "dirt" in the sound an dtried a lot of the precision basses, but still wasn't satisfied.

My local dealer was not amused at last and gave me an BB1000MA for testing.

And that was it! :p :D

Now, I got four BB Basses : Bb1600, 2xBB1000MA and my new BB415.
Along with an German Marleaux Roots Precision, which costs as much as all of the BB's summarized.

And I sold my Fender basses again :p

So have a look:

Link Removed
 
Bassocksky said:
Now, I got four BB Basses : Bb1600, 2xBB1000MA and my new BB415.
Along with an German Marleaux Roots Precision, which costs as much as all of the BB's summarized.

Wow! Very cool BB's - my favorite would be the BB1600 :bassist:

I really like the looks of the new 415, especially the orange ones. I'm sure I'm gonna give it a try soon, maybe a 5 string will be my first fiver ?? :cool:
I am a bit worried about the neck though, I tried an old BB200 recently and the neck was very big and thick compared to the Blade jazz I have - of course those are very different but I didn't think it would be so much of a difference. I hope the necks on the new ones are not as big.

I had a BB404 before the jazz I own now and was very pleased with it, sound, looks and weight was great.
 
I've played a few Yamaha's and I'm usually impressed. They fit in so many genres too. I'm a big fan of the BBNE and the early 90's TRB 4 & 5's. I have and old poster of the TRB's from the early 90's. Man these bases look really good.

below is my dream TRB 4. can't find em like this anymore. And what a beautiful natural finish to boot!

I also figured this video clip would be appropriate ...
Invalid Link Removed
 
Bassocksky said:
No - I don't think so ;)

This is an ebay-bass - one of the former players cut off the left horn.
Stupid idea - I had to screw a ring hook so that it is possible to play this dude again... :scowl:


OUCH!!
You are right, this is not my favorite of your basses anymore.
This was unnoticeable for me from the group photo.
WHY WHY WHY would anyone do such a thing ??? :scowl: :(
 
Whimmy wham wham wozzle!

I gots myself one of these:
rbx765a_closeup.jpg


I don't have a digital camera... but mines also a green stain... plays great, i'm gonna buy some EMG's when I get a job in the holidays... change it up a bit, it has a good tone as it is... but I'm just in an experimenting mood :hyper:
 
My first bass was a Yamaha RBX170. I'm really pleased that i chose this bass to start on. I'm using an SWR LA12 60Watt Bass Amp for my home practice amp. Im still learning on the RBX170 but im definitely sticking to Yamaha all the way. They have a nice modern design on their basses. Im thinking of upgrading to RBX775 when I get better at bass.
 
I have been a Yamaha guy for a long time now. Just before college I picked up a BB1600, which I played for years. At the time I was really digging the sound Richard Page was getting out of his BB3000 and 5000 on the live Mister Mister recordings I had (though I realize I may have been the only one who noticed), but I couldn't afford the 3000. The 1600 was a good substitute. It sounded great on the Bob Mintzer charts we played in the big bands. It was somewhat less appropriate for the 6th street cover band work I was doing then (a little too high-midrangy sounding, and the soundman told me the bottom fell out whenever I played thumb), but it was what I had and I made it work.

Now I have a TRB5II that I picked up on eBay a few years ago for $400. It was well played when I got it but in fine condition. I have replaced the pickups with Bartolinis and replaced the OEM preamp with an Aguilar OPB-3. The result has been incremental improvement. The low B tightened up substantially, that would probably be the major thing. It has a nice spanky high end now that sort of sounds like a Stingray, but I can dial it around just about however I want. It is a little heavy though.

I can't imagine justifying buying another fretted 5-string instrument when I have the TRB. It seems to do just about everything well, and the body style works well for me too.

Obviously it's the one on the left.

Invalid Link Removed
 
BB3000S that had the front of the body refinished in a light satin eurothane before I got it. Original finish cracked when previous owner overtightened the screws on the pick up surrounds. I saved some $ on the purchase price because of this, but I think it is an improvement. I replaced the original bridge with a NOS Fender P Bass Special Bridge from the early 80's. Since these pics I have put Thomastik flats on it which sound and play great. Very comfortable neck and only about 8 lbs.

5d8bb403.jpg
91f50d46.jpg

4c82c13c.jpg
9a1eccfb.jpg



more pics:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
Nice.

That's the first one I've seen with the same finish as mine, what kind of stuff do you play with it?

LOVE the bridge too, it's the only thing I don't like on mine, I'd love to get hold of a simillar bridge, I wonder if a badass ll would fit. Trouble is, the rest of the bass is all original, so maybe I should keep it that way?
 
russjm said:
Nice.

That's the first one I've seen with the same finish as mine, what kind of stuff do you play with it?
89d589b1.jpg
793c6f97.jpg


I play garage rock covers...Stooges, MC5, Vaselines, old standards and forgotten gems. But I have other basses I play that are different. I like the flats on this bass because even though it is passive, it has a lot of high end to its EQ (by comparison with a Fender, let's say). Roundwounds sounded very 'zingy and clacky' with a lot of finger on string noise, and if I rolled off the tone knob to control it, I would lose too much of the upper mid growl. The Thomastiks have a great high end presence for a flatwound string, and this bass cuts through with them without it sounding 'zingy and clacky'. They are really soft/supple strings too....really easy to fret.

I like the clear finish better than the solid color ones. It is nice to see the stringers in the neck. I thought the solid white and black ones were kinda of a "1980's Disco" look. And I have never like the look of a color-painted neck. Just my taste...... I am pretty sure the white ones sound as good :p

russjm said:
LOVE the bridge too, it's the only thing I don't like on mine, I'd love to get hold of a simillar bridge, I wonder if a badass ll would fit. Trouble is, the rest of the bass is all original, so maybe I should keep it that way?
A Badass II will fit, but it takes up a lot more space than the bridge I have..... which I think may have been made for Fender by Gotoh. You could come close to it with a Gotoh 201 which has the same hole pattern as a Fender and can be found here:
Invalid Link Removed

(note: the hole pattern on BB3000S basses is just slightly different/narrower than a Fender pattern, but it is close enough that you can still drive the screws....the two end screws will go in a a bit of an angle.....but it works)

Don't be concerned about the originality. Just hang on to the old bridge and keep it with the bass so if someone you sell it or will it to is concerned with that, they can put the original back. Some year models of BB3000's , 2000's, etc. did come with a heavier bridge. I found a page here from Japan that compares the various bass bridges of BB basses (only in Japan!) ...
http://www.nihey.jp/gakki/index.html

Other BB's with different bridges.....
http://www.nihey.jp/images/gakki_photo/bb2000up.jpg
http://www.nihey.jp/images/gakki_photo/bb2000stup.jpg


Also, anyone who owns a BB bass should check out the slap style demonstration videos on Gary Denyer's, Gazzbass website. Slap is not my style, but this guy is slick:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
Guitars001.jpg


My first bass was a Yamaha 4 string with P/J p/up config.
RBX 270, I think its from 1999 or 2000, but I may be a little off.
I ABSOLUTELY love this bass, its still my main one. It plays perfectly and sounds awsome, even if it is a little beaten up... :(
I put in some EMG p/ups and electronics, I couldn't be happier.
I think I might add a Hipshot Tremolo Bridge too, make this the baddest bass around :)
I've never posted a picture on this site, but hopefully this works... I'll give it a try.