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Yamaha BB series history

mouthmw

mouthmw

Jul 19, 2009
5,220
6,076
41
Croatia
#1
I possibly have a good price offer on a 90s Yamaha BB 4 stringer. I don't know the exact model yet as my guitarist has seen it and I haven't yet. All I know is, the headstock has a Yamaha BB something writing on it. I'm probably gonna find out the exact model today. Could be BB 400, I'm not sure. The new models only have Yamaha on the headstock.

Anyways, I already have a new BB414 (just changed the stock P with SPB3) and works really nice. Bought it last year.
So if anyone knows, tone wise, are the 90s models better than the new models? Or would I get nothing especially since I changed the pickup on my bass?

I'll update this tread when I get the exact model number from my guitarist. I can't seem to find decent info on the net regarding Yammy BB history.
 
#4
I think this is what you're looking for: Invalid Link Removed

I also have a new 414 (love it), and a '96 (?) BBN4 fretless, which is very different. It has the same body shape and headstock as the Nahan East models, and two J pickups. IIRC, most 90's models have this configuration - the bass might not be what you're excepting.
 
#5
Thanks! Much appreciated.
Not expecting too much out of that bass, perhaps to be on par with mine.
I think it has a P pickup and a J, unless my guitarist is wrong.
Anyways, perhaps it doesn't have those damned soapbar pickups so I can easily install a different P pickup and not worry about spacings and drilling a new hole and having a screwdriver on every gig because my pickup loosens up every so often while playing :D
 
#6
oerk said:
I think this is what you're looking for: Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
thats a good find for me!!! much appreciation for posting thankyou!. finally unlocked the mystery of old yamaha serial numbers...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] - this website is a pretty cool resource aswell though its japanese you might need to use google translate.
 
#7
Just got the info.
It's a BB300, serial number L7120.
Weird serial number, seems a bit.. short?

EDIT: according to that website and serial #, it's made in Japan, May 1987.

What's the general consensus on BB300? Good precision copy?
 
#8
Its odd the yamaha site doesn't have a page for BB300. (actually it probably means it wasn't sold domestically in japan maybe export only??) I would be interested to know the general make up though, probably (though i'm only guessing) either agathis, basswood or nato body and maple/rosewood neck/fb. out of interest the 414 had an alder body.

The 300 would suggest a budget model but i wouldn't be too worried as a general rule of thumb yamaha guitars are pretty good bang for the buck. usually the stock tuners, bridge pieces and pick ups are better than what you'll get on a fender or fender copy. I have a SB-500 and SC-700 which are both the base models for their range but they are fantastic quality instruments.

Most Yamaha models have there own thing going on. The only copies they made i think were the Pulser Bass (PB) and the SuperR'nR (strat) so to answer your question - no. If your playing a p bass now the yamaha will be a bit different but wether you like it or not is a question of taste. you checked reviews on harmony central?
 
#12
mouthmw said:
Just got the info.
It's a BB300, serial number L7120.
Weird serial number, seems a bit.. short?

EDIT: according to that website and serial #, it's made in Japan, May 1987.

What's the general consensus on BB300? Good precision copy?
Click to expand...

Most BB300's are Made in Taiwan, and can be found in the $100-200. Made in Japan BB300's are more rare. I have never played one, but I would imagine them to be great like most MIJ Yamaha's from that era.

For what it's worth, even a lot of the MIT Yamaha's are great for the price point.
 
#14
The BB300 has a different pickup than the BB800+... My main bass is a '78 BB800 and I have a '79 BB1000 on the way. They have a more aggressive tone than a Fender and excellent playabailty. I'm not sure what the pickup in the BB300 is like though. The body is bigger than a Fender & weighs a bit more. Folks have fear of neck dive, but they don't. I had an '86 MIJ Fender and like the Yamahas better in every way.
 
#16
I have an 80s Yamaha BB manual that lists The P pickup on the BB-300 as 11.7K DC resistance.

The P pickup on the 450, 1100S, and 2000 is listed as 11.6K.

The P pickup on the 1600 and 3000S is listed as 13.7K.

The P pickup on the 5000 is listed as 15.3K.

The body wood for the 300 is listed as nato, the others are alder, maple, or mahogany.
 
#18
Dr. Cheese said:
That's good to know. I just won a BBN5II on an Ebay auction.:) I'm guessing these pickups are also used on the 1990's TRB4/TRB5. They look indentical.
Click to expand...

I have a 97 BBN4II as well as 86 BB300. The pickups on the BBN4II always seemed to me like single coils. And they are only noiseless when at the same volume, they even look like J-bass pickups. Are you sure you guys aren't thinking of the BBN4III which had dual coil soapbars?
100_3249.jpg

Also the BB300 body is nato, and the pickups sound amazing. After getting my hands on it for 90 bucks I sold my Fender USA P Bass!!!
 

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