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Yamaha BB1600 MIJ

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pawnshopjunkie

Sep 30, 2007
5
0
#1
Hi,
New to the forum. I just picked up a Yamaha BB1600 bass. I would love some info on it. The back of the head stock does say Made in Japan. I have done a little research and it seams that they had 2 production sites. One in Japan and the other in Taiwan. Any thoughts as to what they are worth.
Thanks to any and all.
MS
 
#2
In the 80s, that was Yamaha's top of the line bass. I had one that I would still own had it not been stolen. It was a REALLY sweet bass. I think all of those were MIJ. The only built the entry line stuff in Taiwan.

They were around a grand new in the mid to late 80s. Not a cheap bass. I think I paid about $600 for mine used which was a fortune to me back then.

Great bass. If you have a digital camera, I'd love to see some pix.
 
#3
Sorry it took so long....
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#4
welcome, PSJ! Like you, i recently picked up a MIJ Yamaha BB -- mine's a BB1000. Really nice 3-tone sunburst with P pickups and a cool black pickguard.

and like chasarms, i had a BB in the 80s that was stolen! i think mine was a BB400 or something (decidedly not top of the line, but a nice bass all the same!).

my NEW BB is on the left in this pic.

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#5
Nice looking axe! Is that an ebony fingerboard?

I think the top-line 1980's Yamahas were all ebony-board/neckthrough instruments with P/J configurations:

Yamaha BB2000: very wide body, P-bass neck width, reversed split pickup position, passive electonics. All made in Japan, so far as I know.

Yamaha BB3000: smaller body, J-type neck, "normal" P-pickup, passive electronics, but I think there might have been an active BB3000A as well. Some made in Taiwan. From the pictures, it looks like your 1600 shares the same dimensions.

Yamaha BB5000: several variants of this active or passive 5-stringer, some made in Taiwan.

Yamaha TRBP: active 4/5/6 -stringers that add a piezo to the bridge.

That said, there are all kinds of BB variants with various combinations of bolt-on/neckthrough, board wood, active/passive, what-have-you. Every one I've seen, including the "starter" BB400 from the early '80's, has been extremely well made, from good materials...they all seem to whack any contemporary Fender product.

I have a BB2000 that I call "The Hammer." BIG full sound, surprising range of tones (retrofit Bartolinis, VVT), and an incredible singing voice that sounds like a fretless in the upper range. It's like someone tried to identify the meeting point between Fender principles and Alembic constructon!


Maybe someone, someday, will prepare the comprehensive guide to these excellent basses...
 
#6
I've had two BB1200s that I foolishly let go---a natural one and a sunburst(exactly like the one McCartney used in Wings for a while--but not a lefty). Wish I'd kept one of them--they were awesome sounding, solid basses.
 
#8
You guys really know your stuff. The pickups are EMG's. That Violin Bass is beautiful. I had not too long ago a Teisco Violin, but like an idiot, I let it go. It too was in great shape. Like my log-in infers, I am always on the look out for vintage stuff. I recently got an Electra X-630 Bass at a local shop. Brass nut and a solid tank. There is something about the older stuff that I just love. Guess it has to do with growing up in the 80's.
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Best,
MS
 
#9
Joebone said:
Nice looking axe! Is that an ebony fingerboard?

I think the top-line 1980's Yamahas were all ebony-board/neckthrough instruments with P/J configurations:

Yamaha BB2000: very wide body, P-bass neck width, reversed split pickup position, passive electonics. All made in Japan, so far as I know.

Yamaha BB3000: smaller body, J-type neck, "normal" P-pickup, passive electronics, but I think there might have been an active BB3000A as well. Some made in Taiwan. From the pictures, it looks like your 1600 shares the same dimensions.

Yamaha BB5000: several variants of this active or passive 5-stringer, some made in Taiwan . . .
Click to expand...


I think the BB300 was the entry. I actually have one of those. I don't remember the 2000. I do remember the 3000, but I thought came along a little later.


That 1000 is really cool. I have never seen a BB in burst with a PG.
 
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#13
pjmuck said:
Can someone tell me how the newest BB414 and BB614s compare to the older BBs? I'm debating whether or not to pick up an old BB1600 I found or buy one of the newer ones.
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Yamaha still cranks out pretty nice stuff for the price point. Although, I would be all but certain that if you can find an older 80s bass in suitable condition, it will be a better bass. Or at least a better core of a bass.

The most striking difference for me is that most of the newer necks are slab sawn while the older basses had necks of quarter-sawn wood. The tight grain makes for more rigidity and more stability.

Most of them were painted, but if you have ever seen an unifinished BB body from the 80s, you'll see that the body is also made of nice wood. Alder I believe.

Decent instruments are less expensive now than they have ever been in my life, but there are some compromises with today's stuff.

As far as hardware and electronics, I am not sure.
 
#18
pjmuck said:
I've found an '88 BB1600 that was made in Taiwan. Was there any discernible difference between the MIJs and the MITs worth mentioning (other than the fact that they were made at different plants). Would MIT quality be up to MIJ back then?
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For anyone out there, I know this is an old thread, but saw a BB1600 for sale but it says it's made in Taiwan - I thought these were only made in Japan. How did the MIT ones fare to the MIJ? Thanks
 

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