NicJimBass
Flossin'? I thought your name was Munson!
Just put an order in for one in Vintage White. Been wanting a BB415 for ages, but could never find an orange one when I had cash. This one will do just fine.
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Yamaha bb425 5 string on sale for $299
- Thread starter Almy
- Start date
If some good and kind soul would buy my TRB1005, I could give one of these hot little numbers a good home. I'm thinking the 425 non X could take a beating, and I won't cry if I ding the finish.
I know the tone is what I'm looking for, the fit and finish is typical high quality Yami...just need the cash!!! Ug.
I know the tone is what I'm looking for, the fit and finish is typical high quality Yami...just need the cash!!! Ug.
Received my Vintage white one today, very floppy b string when tuned up. Replaced strings with some old thomastik-infeld flats which was a considerable improvement (unusual considering the low tension). The sound is more my style now with an uprights timbre and the harmonics jump out at me. B string is much better.
Extremely good buy at $299, I would do it again.
As you can see I had to take a "d" string off my 1996 fender jazz and the other strings were from my TRB5 fretless that I had in a box. The MIM jazz does not work w/ TI flats anyhow.
The BB425 feels and looks beefier, the neck is certainly solid. I have been wanting a passive 5 since I sold my Fender Roscoe Beck V years ago. This is my replacement. I think I bought and sold the RBV for about $1300.
Extremely good buy at $299, I would do it again.
As you can see I had to take a "d" string off my 1996 fender jazz and the other strings were from my TRB5 fretless that I had in a box. The MIM jazz does not work w/ TI flats anyhow.
The BB425 feels and looks beefier, the neck is certainly solid. I have been wanting a passive 5 since I sold my Fender Roscoe Beck V years ago. This is my replacement. I think I bought and sold the RBV for about $1300.
Chucky, how's the string spacing? And is the neck a gloss or satin finish?
And very interesting place to hang your stuff there.
And very interesting place to hang your stuff there.
Good morning, Internet locally was down all A.M.
String spacing is the same as my jazz...10mm at the nut and the neck has no finish. That might be considered satin.
Speaking of the nut, it chipped this morning on the "b" side, my Roscoe Beck did the exact same thing. It's playable but when I get some TI Round Jazz strings I will have it fixed.
The neck is really chunky, again like my old RB 5.
The book shelves are anchored to the wall so they have stability. All the books are from my 54 years and counting. They serve as a sound sink for the rec room as well since I have insomnia and like to play music at all hours.
Like I posted previously, I wanted a passive 5 string for years but did not want to spend much. Not everyone might care for this particular bass in that it will take some getting used to being so beefy and just a tad neck heavy (not much).
Just for the record, my gigs are strictly community theatre (paying) and orchestral (non-paying). My last job with an electric bass was a year ago doing a show called Children of Eden. I have another electric bass show in October with a 50's theme. I like 4 strings for my performances as the last performance I did with my trb5 was in the Lawrence KS Jazzhous Nightclub in 2000 and I got confused reading the music!
String spacing is the same as my jazz...10mm at the nut and the neck has no finish. That might be considered satin.
Speaking of the nut, it chipped this morning on the "b" side, my Roscoe Beck did the exact same thing. It's playable but when I get some TI Round Jazz strings I will have it fixed.
The neck is really chunky, again like my old RB 5.
The book shelves are anchored to the wall so they have stability. All the books are from my 54 years and counting. They serve as a sound sink for the rec room as well since I have insomnia and like to play music at all hours.
Like I posted previously, I wanted a passive 5 string for years but did not want to spend much. Not everyone might care for this particular bass in that it will take some getting used to being so beefy and just a tad neck heavy (not much).
Just for the record, my gigs are strictly community theatre (paying) and orchestral (non-paying). My last job with an electric bass was a year ago doing a show called Children of Eden. I have another electric bass show in October with a 50's theme. I like 4 strings for my performances as the last performance I did with my trb5 was in the Lawrence KS Jazzhous Nightclub in 2000 and I got confused reading the music!
Wow, thanks for the compliment...
It is a day off for me so I thought these photos today would be timely.
It is a day off for me so I thought these photos today would be timely.
NicJimBass
Flossin'? I thought your name was Munson!
Just got my BB425 yesterday... I'm digging it so far. String spacing at the bridge measures about 18mm, maybe a smidge wider.
Anyone else have any problem with the tuners? I'm finding it difficult to find the right tension for them... if I tighten them too much, tuning gives me a forearm workout, loosen them too much, and I have way too much play when I try to tune. Already thinking of swapping them for some Hipshot ultralites, as it is also slightly neck-heavy.
One thing I didn't expect- I am loving the bridge pickup, but am not thrilled with the neck pickup. I figured, as with most jazz basses I've played, that the bridge pickup would be super-thin and honky... not so on this one. I can solo it and it sounds great! The P-pickup, isn't as P-ish as I'd hoped, but I'm considering replacing it with a Nordstrand at some point.
Mine arrived yesterday. It's the first 5er I've ever owned.
Construction: outstanding. Better than the G&L Tribute I owned, but not as good as my Hamer Cruise basses. There are two parallel scratches in the side of the rosewood fretboard--not too noticeable but there. Clearly a small accident somewhere, but not enough to worry about.
Playability: Excellent. Having played only 4-stringers for 20+ years, I adjusted much faster than I thought I would. The action is VERY low, and the only buzzing I get is on the B when I play firmly. I plan to add a tiny bit more relief to the neck. Unlike a previous poster, I found the B on mine not too floppy, although I might like it a little tighter. Probably about "average" based on the relatively few 5ers I've played.
Sound: First, the tone is freaking KILLER--better than the 80s/90s neck-through BB I owned for a while (don't remember the model--it was a passive P/J). With both pickups on, it has good lows and a lot of texture and definition in the midrange without being honky or abrasive. As someone said, the bridge pickup is surprisingly beefy solo. The P isn't really the Fender P sound--I'd call it cleaner and more modern with less going on in the midrange. All three positions of the selector switch offer good, usable sounds (for me, anyway). I favor both pickups together. I did notice that some of the strings were quieter than the others. I believe this is a string height/pickup height issue and need to spend a little time tweaking.
Weird: For some reason, this bass doesn't seem to get along with my Opto-stomp compressor. The output drops significantly even when the compressor is set for unity output with my other basses. No idea what's going on here. Maybe related to the string height issue.
Downside: Weighs a metric ton. I was really digging it, but my shoulder started to get a little sore even with a pretty wide padded strap. And I'm not a small guy--I rarely notice a bass's weight. I don't own a scale, but I'm guessing this is in the same ballpark as the T-40 I owned years ago.
Bottom line: LOVE the bass... but may return it due to the weight. I'm going to practice with it for a few nights and see if maybe I was just being a sally that night.
Construction: outstanding. Better than the G&L Tribute I owned, but not as good as my Hamer Cruise basses. There are two parallel scratches in the side of the rosewood fretboard--not too noticeable but there. Clearly a small accident somewhere, but not enough to worry about.
Playability: Excellent. Having played only 4-stringers for 20+ years, I adjusted much faster than I thought I would. The action is VERY low, and the only buzzing I get is on the B when I play firmly. I plan to add a tiny bit more relief to the neck. Unlike a previous poster, I found the B on mine not too floppy, although I might like it a little tighter. Probably about "average" based on the relatively few 5ers I've played.
Sound: First, the tone is freaking KILLER--better than the 80s/90s neck-through BB I owned for a while (don't remember the model--it was a passive P/J). With both pickups on, it has good lows and a lot of texture and definition in the midrange without being honky or abrasive. As someone said, the bridge pickup is surprisingly beefy solo. The P isn't really the Fender P sound--I'd call it cleaner and more modern with less going on in the midrange. All three positions of the selector switch offer good, usable sounds (for me, anyway). I favor both pickups together. I did notice that some of the strings were quieter than the others. I believe this is a string height/pickup height issue and need to spend a little time tweaking.
Weird: For some reason, this bass doesn't seem to get along with my Opto-stomp compressor. The output drops significantly even when the compressor is set for unity output with my other basses. No idea what's going on here. Maybe related to the string height issue.
Downside: Weighs a metric ton. I was really digging it, but my shoulder started to get a little sore even with a pretty wide padded strap. And I'm not a small guy--I rarely notice a bass's weight. I don't own a scale, but I'm guessing this is in the same ballpark as the T-40 I owned years ago.
Bottom line: LOVE the bass... but may return it due to the weight. I'm going to practice with it for a few nights and see if maybe I was just being a sally that night.
NicJimBass
Flossin'? I thought your name was Munson!
Are you able to weigh it? Mine weighs about 9.5 lbs.
After playing with the controls, it seems like Yamaha uses linear taper pots, as the volume decrease is very sudden at around 80%. I swapped the stock 250k pots for some 500k pots I had lying around. The tone pot has an orange drop capacitor, and now, this thing is nasty! Useable volume at all ranges, and the tone knob goes from sizzly all the way up, to super deep thump all the way down. I found the P pickup sounds a little more like a traditional P after the pot swap. I love it now!
The 500k pots and the orange drop cap made a big difference ? What value orange drop ? I love mine the way it is but this sounds like an easy mod if it sounds better .
NicJimBass
Flossin'? I thought your name was Munson!
IIRC, I got it from Best Bass Gear... the only one they have listed is a .047mf value.
You guys are giving me GAS! I never cared fora P/J bass, seeing as i have the 1500 (active jazz) and the 1200s (active/passive P) BBs..... but I've been looking for something fretless. Anybody ever remove the frets on a yamaha P/J or know if they make one?
Anyone else in the forum who has this bass that can recommend it?
I bought the BB425 last week @ $299. This is a "SLAM DUNK"
for this kind of money. in fact, it is a lovely bass at any price!
Competes with basses costing many times more..highly recommended!
NicJimBass
Flossin'? I thought your name was Munson!
Mine weighs about 9.5 lbs, but someone else here says their weighs close to an old Peavey T40 they used to own!
For about the ten thousandth time, replacing your bleed cap with an Orange Drop -- or any other -- capacitor of the identical value will have absolutely NO effect on your tone.
Pass it on and save the world from superstition and wishful thinking.
