Yamaha Banana (SB-1C) Should I keep?

[Rainus]

 

[Rainus]

I am in slight confusion, as much as I love this bass for Its looks and the cheap price i got it for, It's just not doing "something" for me. I'm not sure what but I guess It's just not my bass as much as I want It to be
What should i do?

 

[Doctor J]

Why would you not?

 

[Doctor J]

If you don't like it, move it on.

 

[DirkP]

Keep it, it looks so cool. With flats and a pick every bass sounds cool, esp. if the pickup is so close to the neck. As long as the tuners work and the neck is halfway straight. Is it longscale?

 

[Rainus]

Keep it, it looks so cool. With flats and a pick every bass sounds cool, esp. if the pickup is so close to the neck. As long as the tuners work and the neck is halfway straight. Is it longscale?

I was thinking about flats on it, It will at least give it a different flavour! Neck is straight and tuners are nice Gotoh's. I feel i might like it better if it was long scale, but its a short 30'.

 

[mellowinman]

WOW! Is that cool? Yes. I think so.

 

[B-line]

From what I've seen/read, that and another model or two from Yamaha are examples from the "George Jetson" era of bass design in Japan, when 60's I believe?

I don't think they have any appreciable value as a Vintage instrument particularly, so its not an investment piece.
It IS so fugly that its stupid-cool. If its playable, (can't see the bridge) and if the pup has any output, getting that bass to produce any kind of tone would make it a perfect player for some kind of throwback music project, or....who knows?

Whether to keep? IDK- You don't seem to be too stoked about it, so the only ? is what it could possibly bring in trade or
sale.
At any rate- That design is so out there it makes a Dano Longhorn look sleek by comparison!!

 

[Rainus]

From what I've seen/read, that and another model or two from Yamaha are examples from the "George Jetson" era of bass design in Japan, when 60's I believe?

I don't think they have any appreciable value as a Vintage instrument particularly, so its not an investment piece.
It IS so fugly that its stupid-cool. If its playable, (can't see the bridge) and if the pup has any output, getting that bass to produce any kind of tone would make it a perfect player for some kind of throwback music project, or....who knows?

Whether to keep? IDK- You don't seem to be too stoked about it, so the only ? is what it could possibly bring in trade or
sale.
At any rate- That design is so out there it makes a Dano Longhorn look sleek by comparison!!

They're not what a 60's Fender would cost to say the least! The bridge is surprisingly decent with its individual bakelite type saddles.
I'm going to put some flats on it and see if i can connect with it in some sort of way ahahahahaha! The pickup really accentuates the short scale sound. Maybe it'll come in handy in a recording session and ill keep it around!

 

[B-line]

They're not what a 60's Fender would cost to say the least! The bridge is surprisingly decent with its individual bakelite type saddles.
I'm going to put some flats on it and see if i can connect with it in some sort of way ahahahahaha! The pickup really accentuates the short scale sound. Maybe it'll come in handy in a recording session and ill keep it around!

The Offbeat Appeal of Yamaha's Vintage Flying Samurai and Banana Basses

Have fun!

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Way cool odd ball.... Love that hockey stick headstock.
Not to many designs could pull off that color, but on that bass it looks sorta natural.
I'm diggin it!

 

[bass40hz]

Re-home it if there is no connection, I do it all the time.
See my sig...2 killer basses, I never connected, I never reach for them, they are as new as the day I bought them...

 

[Rainus]

Re-home it if there is no connection, I do it all the time.
See my sig...2 killer basses, I never connected, I never reach for them, they are as new as the day I bought them...

That might be the case for it, if it doesnt do anything for me with flats itll be finding a new home! Sadly

 

[telecopy]

I am in slight confusion, as much as I love this bass for Its looks and the cheap price i got it for, It's just not doing "something" for me. I'm not sure what but I guess It's just not my bass as much as I want It to be
What should i do?

Send a tracing of the pickguard to Pickguardian so he can make you a tort guard. It'll look like a big bruise on the banana. So collectable, you'll keep it fo' sho.

 

[bass40hz]

That might be the case for it, if it doesnt do anything for me with flats itll be finding a new home! Sadly

I hear ya man, it sucks because you just wanna love it, but it aint there...its actually a fun thing for me, if I dont connect, it moves on and I get another, and it just keeps going, I have 13-14 in the vault (lol) at any point in time, probably about 7 I will never sell but the remaining slots just keep rotating in and out ;-) Try to make it fun and enjoy it ;-)

 

[Ophiothrix]

Wow, that's glorious! Looks to be in pretty great condition too, considering the age.

I know that this is very much a matter of personal taste, but I don't think I'd ever part with that thing if I could get even a half decent sound out of it. What kind of tone are you getting out of that neck pickup? I'm assuming it's a single coil?

 

[Eilif]

That is a really cool instrument. Looks like it's missing a tug bar or two, but the knobs are present and the logo on the pickguard and the pickguard it'self are in great shape, so that's very good to see.

I think there is actually some serious resale for certain MIJ instruments and IIRC, the banana instruments fetch a good price. They seem to sell for $600 and up, so if you aren't in love with it's I'd sell it on to someone who will love it and buy somethig you do want.

 

[jaymelewis]

Looks funky, I like it!

 

[JACink]

I think it is great, I would definitely play that (although not while seated )

If it wasn't such a pain now with CITES, I would ask you to PM me if you ever do decide to move it on!!!

 

[hopsbb]

I'd love to have one.