Yamaha BB734A vs new Fender II Mod Precision active PJ

[BeyondFiredUp]

Ok, those look ok.
However, yep I totally dig the white with the red tort pickguard. I guess because I created a FrankenJazz that looks like it. It's just a total classy look. And it will still look classy decades from now. You really can't go wrong with it.
And I would bet that even in passive mode you would need to leave the bass unplugged in order not to drain the battery. Some of the other guys would know for sure though.

 

[Stranger Danger]

No, they have it in matte black and Ghibson les paul red, if I am going with yamaha most probably it would be the sunburst though:
View attachment 7295028

To be honest, the Fender white pearl color absolutely kills (I rly dont know why the yellow gets all the attention ), and the shape of the body appeals more to me, maybe just because of popularity rather than anything else

Does anyone know if you need to unplug the cable in order to save battery on those? I thought that since they have the active/passive switch, maybe switching it to passive turns the preamp off as well?

The circuit is still engaged. Always unplug your bass when not in use

 

[Yahboy]

I been try the Player Plus PJ and BB734 after i let go my MOD Squier VM PJ , but finally i choose Charvel Pro Mod PJ . Her blend tone sound better balance and tight E string/ meaty G string than the other two.

 

[irakliszs]

I been try the Player Plus PJ and BB734 after i let go my MOD Squier VM PJ , but finally i choose Charvel Pro Mod PJ . Her blend tone sound better balance and tight E string/ meaty G string than the other two.

Hmmm the platinum pearl looks nice. I dont understand why only roasted maple fretboards, I hate the looks of it

 

[Yahboy]

Hmmm the platinum pearl looks nice. I dont understand why only roasted maple fretboards, I hate the looks of it

Mine are Lime Green . Agree that roasted maple neck wood tone not for everyone, but i am ok and the neck also has Graphite Reinforcement Rod inside which you can't found on both Player Plus PJ and BB734.

Since i rarely use the on board preamp EQ , i mod it to fully passive with Volume 500K /Blend MN250K control only. Sound better organic than before, no regret.

 

[Lo_Basserson]

Really stinks that you can't get your hands on them. In reality, the rest of it doesn't matter if one feels better in your hands. If it's not possible to try either, I would go Yamaha. Better QA, and you can reliably get the bass you asked for. (The single coil is not noiseless though, so be prepared that you may hear some hum.)

I have both a BB and Fender Jazz, and they are both great basses. I like the Jazz neck more, but the BB has a great aggressive growl to it.

The problem with Fender is that their QA is not the best. Two basses from the same model can feel and sometimes sound different. I just keep playing Jazz basses every time I go somewhere and hoping I'll find one that is as good as the one I have. Every time I pick up a BB, it plays like other BBs of the same model.

Actually just got back from a shop -- just like always, played 5-6 Jazz basses that were various levels of meh, and one that was great but the exact same color and model that I already have. Two were Player II Mod Jazzes, one with a weird resonance to it, the other had different issues. Also played a 734A - nice, just like every other 734A I've played. (Bridge pickup did hum tho, especially when cranking the treble on the preamp.)

 

[irakliszs]

Yeah it sucks music stores have reduced value of instruments they keep in stock... Many of them just operate as internet shops.
I will wait a bit to see if anything comes up in stock locally, I can find the player ii mod precision but not the yamaha.

 

[Lo_Basserson]

If you can get your hands on the p bass, I would play it and see if it feels like it’s your thing. If you wind up playing one that feels right and sounds right for you, jump on it because they are not all the same. I also wouldn’t stop trying the line because the one you played didn’t seem quite like a fit.

The thing with loose QC is that sometimes you can find the bass perfect for you, but you have to wade through some that are meant for someone else. (Or, just crap.)

 

[irakliszs]

Let me throw some more models in the equation:
I thought maybe go for the BBP34 which is top of the line for Yamaha and gets top reviews for sound and build quality.
However at this price range there is also Sandberg California II series and Fender AM pro II.
It is getting confusing. How is the passive BBP34 keeping up with the Sandberg California II or fender pro American lines?

 

[Lo_Basserson]

The BBP is Japanese-made. It’s excellent.

My Jazz is an American pro II. The BBP is every bit as good. In some ways, it may be better crafted. I’ve had my hands on one a few times and am trying to resist just buying one. It really depends on what fits you as a player, though. Don’t buy a bass based on specs. When you get the right one in your hands, you’ll know.

 

[irakliszs]

Yeah, wish I could play all these with similar set up and strings, and in the same store, meaning in the same day. But there is no local store with showroom stock at these price points and whatever is in stock, is also super neglected with bad setup...
I am just reading owner's opinions, specs and trying to figure what should I do!
Btw, Yamahas are super rare, for the owner reviews they get.

 

[Lo_Basserson]

Is there someplace in “road trip” distance?

 

[Lo_Basserson]

reading owner's opinions

That’s reasonable given your situation. The only thing to remember is the opinions are based on their experience. I love my Jazz, but tons of others would rather have a P Bass. I love the growl and full sound of my BB, but my brother would always go for an HH MusicMan over a BB. Different strokes …

 

[Isaac_James]

I briefly had a chance to play a P35 that a friend had. It's a nice instrument, I can definitely tell the difference between it and my 735... not sure it's enough of a difference to justify spending that much more on it, at least on my budget. I'd probably get one if I had the disposable income though.

And yes, the advice to try before you buy is a good one, but with a huge asterisk - with so much of the market happening online, it's getting harder and harder to actually try them in person. In these cases it's wise to buy from a retailer with a solid return policy, in case it doesn't live up to your expectations.

 

[Lo_Basserson]

I briefly had a chance to play a P35 that a friend had. It's a nice instrument, I can definitely tell the difference between it and my 735... not sure it's enough of a difference to justify spending that much more on it, at least on my budget. I'd probably get one if I had the disposable income though.

Yeah, I have the 434 and am debating between the 734A and the BBP34. I’m leaning towards the 734A just because I could play the hell out of it wouldn’t feel like I had to try to preserve an expensive bass. (And I see sometimes the active electronics could be useful.) You definitely can feel the difference in the P34/35 though.

 

[irakliszs]

For me the only thing I can see in a store with relevant certainty is the real color and feel of the finish, weight/balance and build quality. These instruments are almost always bad set up, with old strings, and the guys in the stores usually annoy you every 2 minutes, it's impossible to assess the tone or playability.
The price of the BBP34 is too high, I might need to flip my MIM player P, but I figure if the Yamaha is so good, I will have a fine instrument that will be able to count as a P as well and it will last a lifetime.
I hear Sandbergs are on the same level of craftsmanship, but tbh the Yamaha looks appeal to me more than a California VT4.
Sandbergs are found easily in Europe though, Yamaha are a bit rare.