Yamaha BB435 Is An MVP

[cjac9]

Just wanted to say...

I’m recording a bunch of songs for an indie folk artist this week. It’s my first session with the Yamaha BB435 in the arsenal and it’s sick. I’ve got thousands of dollars of basses and this one punches so far above its weight class. Honestly, if I had to sell all my basses it might be the one I’d keep. So versatile. Would highly recommend these BB basses to anyone.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Yamaha means "Another satisfied customer" .

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

The BB not the BBP?
That's cool.

 

[cjac9]

The BB not the BBP?
That's cool.

Yeah mid range passive BB. I did get it PLEK’d but still, not a lot in this bass.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Yeah mid range passive BB. I did get it PLEK’d but still, not a lot in this bass.

Yeah man mine skipped the line too.

 

[michael_t]

Just wanted to say...

I’m recording a bunch of songs for an indie folk artist this week. It’s my first session with the Yamaha BB435 in the arsenal and it’s sick. I’ve got thousands of dollars of basses and this one punches so far above its weight class. Honestly, if I had to sell all my basses it might be the one I’d keep. So versatile. Would highly recommend these BB basses to anyone.

The BB435 was one of the few basses I just couldn't bond with. I don't even know why. Maybe it was the PJ thing I couldn't get along with, or maybe it was a little too heavy for me at 9.8 lbs.

Meanwhile, I've been very happy with my TRBX505. And I just acquired not one but two TRBX174's, which is another PJ thing.

 

[getBAK]

Had one, loved it, you’ll be shocked how much better the BBP35 (Japan built version) is. The bridge pick up on the 435 is kind of a crime given the rest of the instrument.

 

[JenderBazzFass]

Those BBs are great and always have been! Enjoy!

 

[grubdumpling]

Never surprised to hear this. I have a BBP35 now, and honestly there was nothing wrong with the 734 and 434 I had before aside from being not 5 string. I think the 434/5 is one of the best choices out there at almost any price, but my snobbery got the better of me.

For some reason I did have trouble finding the right strings for mine, installed and rejected a set of TI jazz flats early on, but eventually came back to them and as they mellowed I gradually became happy. My #1 is a fantastic Spector that works with whatever strings I feel like, but the BB's got some string balance and dead spot issues.

 

[burgerdj]

Yep, majorly underrated bases, but appreciated by those who play them. What I think is remarkable is that Yamaha still does everything in-house, including pickups and electronics.

 

[Root 5]

Yamaha make excellent instruments at every price point. I think some people can’t get past that they also make motorcycles and boat engines so they dismiss them. To their peril.

 

[Jugghaid]

I still have my RBX800A from about 1986 that I bought new. Also have a backup of it.

Yamaha makes fantastic basses (and other gear)

 

[neil|lien]

The Yamaha BB435 is up there on my gas list.. i can't afford it given the EU prices for it but i think one of those would complement my Sire M2-5st really well...
In fact, the two basses i have tried in stores that have impressed me most were a Yamaha TRBX505 in white and a BB435 in Teal Blue.. have been gassing ever since...

 

[michael_t]

In fact, the two basses i have tried in stores that have impressed me most were a Yamaha TRBX505 in white and a BB435 in Teal Blue.. have been gassing ever since...

The BB435 I owned for a short time was in Teal Blue, but I didn't like the cream-colored pickguard, so I swapped it for a black one, which matched better with the headstock.

 

[J Wilson]

They are great basses, and fortunately you got one that records well. Because you can take a lot of basses that are great live, and stink for recording or vice-versa.

Yamaha figured basses out in the late 70s/80s with the MIJ BB's. In my time I owned a 400, 2 -1200s, a 1600 (essentially a bolt-on 3000), a 2000, a 3000, and all three versions of the 5000, 5000A, and the 5000A2. Guys who say they can't stand a PJ setup never say that after they buy a Yamaha.

 

[cjac9]

Had one, loved it, you’ll be shocked how much better the BBP35 (Japan built version) is. The bridge pick up on the 435 is kind of a crime given the rest of the instrument.

Maybe I should get a BBP bridge pup?

 

[cjac9]

They are great basses, and fortunately you got one that records well. Because you can take a lot of basses that are great live, and stink for recording or vice-versa.

Yamaha figured basses out in the late 70s/80s with the MIJ BB's. In my time I owned a 400, 2 -1200s, a 1600 (essentially a bolt-on 3000), a 2000, a 3000, and all three versions of the 5000, 5000A, and the 5000A2. Guys who say they can't stand a PJ setup never say that after they buy a Yamaha.

I find myself either using the p or the j never both and mostly the p.

 

[cjac9]

The BB435 I owned for a short time was in Teal Blue, but I didn't like the cream-colored pickguard, so I swapped it for a black one, which matched better with the headstock.

View attachment 7533699

Mine is black. I put a tortoiseshell on it.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Maybe I should get a BBP bridge pup?

Obviously I don't know how you use the bridge pickup on your 434, what you want from one, but if I had a 434 to play around with, I'd look at finding a ceramic blade pickup as similar as possible to those on the 424. With both pickups on full, that J really dominates, giving a quite different tone to the P soloed. Something like the Clean and Clear version of the Nordstrand Big J Blade.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

The Yamaha BB435 is up there on my gas list.. i can't afford it given the EU prices for it but i think one of those would complement my Sire M2-5st really well...
In fact, the two basses i have tried in stores that have impressed me most were a Yamaha TRBX505 in white and a BB435 in Teal Blue.. have been gassing ever since...

That teal is nice.