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Yamaha BB3000
- Thread starter evtwal
- Start date
They are extremely high quality basses. If the price is right, buy one! Do a search of Ebay and Youtube and check them out.
Stick_Player
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- Nov 13, 2009
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I have three of the 5-string, 1984-1985, MIJ BB5000. Best bass I've ever played, or even wanted to play. Get it!
I was offered this BB3000 a few months ago in a rather bad shape, It had it's frets ripped out and an EMG preamp installed with it's original pickups. Just got it back from my luthier, brought back to it's original configuration and I simply love this beast. I've had a 70's Fender P for many years that I absolutely love, but I almost haven't touched it since I got the BB3000.
I say go for it if the price is right.
I say go for it if the price is right.
how much is he selling them for? i've always wanted one, they sound amazing!... if it doesn't work out for you please let me know, i would be very interested in purchasing one.
I have both a BB3000 and a BB5000. I only dabble in fivers but I got it first and knew right away I had to get a four.
To echo, excellent build quality and tone. For the BB3000 - be sure you like the wider P type spacing because that's what this is. I actually find it a hair wider than I like but it's such a great bass that I won't think flipping it. If it was a J profile it would be my main axe, hands down.
Up until recently (and still upon occasion) these basses were going for $400 +/-. Hidden gems. Now their popularity has increased and their quality is recognized once again. I got the BB5000 for about that but I had to buck up for the BB3000. Well worth it though!
To echo, excellent build quality and tone. For the BB3000 - be sure you like the wider P type spacing because that's what this is. I actually find it a hair wider than I like but it's such a great bass that I won't think flipping it. If it was a J profile it would be my main axe, hands down.
Up until recently (and still upon occasion) these basses were going for $400 +/-. Hidden gems. Now their popularity has increased and their quality is recognized once again. I got the BB5000 for about that but I had to buck up for the BB3000. Well worth it though!
Where did you see a BB3000 for $400? I have been watching for these on Ebay and all of Craiglist, as well as here on TB, for a few years and never saw anything close to that cheap. The lowest I saw was a good condition Korean made BB3000AF fretless with non-original case that went for $600. Every fretted Japan made BB3000s I've seen that sold over the past few years, went for $700 to $1K. Not meaning to be argumentative, I just really want to know where a $400 BB3000 was offered.
I bought my BB5000 2 years ago for $435. Within the last year I did see a couple of BB3K's going for about $500.
2 Years ago they were almost all in the $400-$500 range. I would say that the last 18 months has seen the spike and it depends on the seller. Some of the guys that got them new were still catching up to the current popularity. Granted, it's getting harder to catch that deal because it has finally filtered down, but they were giveaways not that long ago. At this point, if you see one you like you'll have to grab it as best you can. Like I said, my BB3K was $1K but I hadn't seen one in months and it was white to boot (I'm totally a sucker for white basses) with OHSC. Three weeks later I saw one go for less than $600.
Note, I said "until recently" and by that I meant within the last year or so because those deals still popped up on occasion.
I understood this the first time you said so. What I want to know is where you saw these deals, because it wasn't on Ebay, Craigslist or TB, as far as I observed. And I was actively looking at these sources. I never saw one sell for as little as you state. Really, where exactly did you get a BB5000 two years ago for $435? I'm not trying to fight, I just want to look where you have been looking so I might find a deal for myself!
I understand. I got it on ebay - it came up and I grabbed it on a BIN. What can I tell you? Now they're all North of $600 and closer to $800, but I've absolutely seen them at those figures. I stopped looking after I got them and only dip in occasionally to price check. I think they're a deal at $700. One thing for sure is when they come up they certainly don't last.
I'll add that the other models still fly pretty low. Here's a fretless BB2K that's basically the same bass.
1980's Yamaha BB 2000 Bass Fretless, Neck-thru, PERFECT | eBay
At this price you could have frets put in and still have a great deal, or wait and look to hit a fretted model.
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Well, I will just have to try harder and be quicker on the draw. The BB3000MA with the chili pepper inlays (that are not to my liking) streets for around $1400 at Guitar Center, so finding a used one for a third of that price is a great deal indeed.
Although a BB1200S is a different bass from a BB3000S, it is somewhat similar, and I see them come up now and then and usually sell for near $1K , like this one recently did:
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices
Although a BB1200S is a different bass from a BB3000S, it is somewhat similar, and I see them come up now and then and usually sell for near $1K , like this one recently did:
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices
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Just want to wish you the best of luck in your search. With these becoming coveted it's a fast draw indeed that gets one. Go back 5 years and these were not only (I dare say) cheap but much more common, very much like the early MIJ Ibanez's and Aria's that have become so sought after these last few years. Now whoever's got one is holding on (or out for max return) and whoever flips one gets immediate results. You just might get lucky and catch a seller that doesn't follow the market too carefully and just wants to get rid of something that's been laying around unused for too long.
The fact that the current MIJ reissues are well north of $2K says a lot for the old ones.
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What is the difference between the BB2000 and BB3000? Apart from the reversed P-pup?
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Believe me, I totally realize what a lucky fluke that was - the guy wanted to off it quick and I was happy to oblige.
But, karma being what it is, I wound up paying more than I should have for the BB3000S I bought a year later. There was a BB drought and that was the first that showed for some time. Though I did push a "got to have it" price I have absolutely no regrets. It is an excellent example and I am very happy with it.
