Yamaha BBP Players - Talk To Me About Hum

[Cleezmo]

I'm currently in research mode for a new 34" scale 5-string, and the Yamaha BBP-35 is high on my list of options. It checks a lot of boxes for what I'm looking for, and of course I've watched a bunch of demos, but wanted to ask owners about the bridge pickup hum. I haven't had a PJ since, uh, a cheap Memphis when I started playing 30+ years ago, so I'm pretty unfamiliar with PJs in general. This one does seem to sound fantastic...

I imagine I'd mostly be using both pickups, but with varying levels on the VVT, and I assume that since the front pickup is a split, it won't cancel the hum of the J, so in theory you'd always have some hum if the J is engaged, right? Is this a 'dude, you barely notice it' or a 'yeah, it hums all the time and you'll have to deal with it' kind of an issue?

I have a G&L Jazz bass that of course hums if you run mostly one pickup, but (a) it varies depending on the room (at rehearsal, it hums a ton if I use one pickup; at my house, it barely does), and again, since its a J, when both are running it doesn't hum at all.

Thanks for any insights!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I have checked out videos where the hum was very noticeable. Single coils are greatly affected by lighting and wiring around them, so the degree of hum will vary. I assume BBP35 have to have been painted and the shielded cavities to reduce hum. Frankly, I think Yamaha should use a split coil bridge pickup, but they seem to feel true single coil tone is worth the noise.

 

[exkluesive]

I have a BBP35, used mostly for Sunday mornings but also for production work. The J hum is absolutely noticeable to the point that if another tonal musician is not playing, I'm volume pedaling completely off. Love the tone because you get that classic dry bark, but even with the neck pickup blended in, the hum never really goes away. Dr. Cheese is on point, because we've had multiple platform/stage changes and lighting has been more elaborate and closer to my position, resulting in hum that has varied over the years. Ultimately, I love the bass, and even though I hate pickguards, its probably going to be a lifer. I have a connection with a local luthier who has offered to do some shielding so I'll most likely get into that once I buy a backup bass.

 

[micguy]

I have a BBP35, used mostly for Sunday mornings but also for production work. The J hum is absolutely noticeable to the point that if another tonal musician is not playing, I'm volume pedaling completely off. Love the tone because you get that classic dry bark, but even with the neck pickup blended in, the hum never really goes away. Dr. Cheese is on point, because we've had multiple platform/stage changes and lighting has been more elaborate and closer to my position, resulting in hum that has varied over the years. Ultimately, I love the bass, and even though I hate pickguards, its probably going to be a lifer. I have a connection with a local luthier who has offered to do some shielding so I'll most likely get into that once I buy a backup bass.

FYI, there are two sources of hum/buzz in basses. Electrostatic interference, which can be fixed by shielding, and electromagnetic, which can not - you need hum cancelling pickups to not hear that. Your luthier may not be able to de-hum your single coil to your satisfaction; it's not his or her fault if that's the case.

 

[Cleezmo]

Thanks for the responses!

 

[willddd]

I'm currently in research mode for a new 34" scale 5-string, and the Yamaha BBP-35 is high on my list of options. It checks a lot of boxes for what I'm looking for, and of course I've watched a bunch of demos, but wanted to ask owners about the bridge pickup hum. I haven't had a PJ since, uh, a cheap Memphis when I started playing 30+ years ago, so I'm pretty unfamiliar with PJs in general. This one does seem to sound fantastic...

I imagine I'd mostly be using both pickups, but with varying levels on the VVT, and I assume that since the front pickup is a split, it won't cancel the hum of the J, so in theory you'd always have some hum if the J is engaged, right? Is this a 'dude, you barely notice it' or a 'yeah, it hums all the time and you'll have to deal with it' kind of an issue?

I have a G&L Jazz bass that of course hums if you run mostly one pickup, but (a) it varies depending on the room (at rehearsal, it hums a ton if I use one pickup; at my house, it barely does), and again, since its a J, when both are running it doesn't hum at all.

Thanks for any insights!

Yep the bridge is single coil. It will hum. Only a real problem in bad rooms, but one rooms I play is particularly bad, and there I ran only the split (which was fine cos the BBP absolutely kills it as a P bass...I sold my other Ps after gigging the BBP). The bass is so good and the hum bothered me enough that I put a nordstrand dual coil J in. That sorted the hum, and was actually really great but opened a can of worms...the nordy had more character and bite than the stock pickup and I liked it.
I have ended up with nordstrand blades for the split and the bridge. It's well over a year now, it's still my #1 bass (warwick, fenders and stingray all struggle to get a gig except as backup) and I couldn't be happier with the set up.

Oh except that I bought a BB435 (which are quite excellent, not a BBP but for my money easily the best 'budget 5') to try with the split and routing it to fit an MM. If it goes well I will mod the BBP to match.