Yamaha BBP35 vs BB435 - opinions?

[stingray69]

Good point - it probably goes well beyond guitars! And though we would love to see how they do it, part of the secrecy is probably to protect intellectual property.

I think you're probably right about the process being something akin to the roasting technique - perhaps at different temps, maybe for different durations, etc.

The two techniques seem to be different means to the same ends. I.E., more "alive", resonant tone.

But Yamaha's process certainly stops short of giving the obvious appearance of the roasted technique - at least not the necks.

 

[raal]

The current BB's are excellent values at each of the series' price points. However, as others have pointed out, IF the budget permits, the MIJ BBP is a noticeable step up, built by Yamaha's best, Music Kraft, the same shop that makes the JP's, Billys, and Nates.

Yamaha approaches these things as a whole, and the pickups are noticeably passive, built to work with the rest of the axe. That they're an engineering company, as @agedhorse has pointed out is staring back at you: The particular wood sandwich with their IRA treatment (I'd think that's BS if this was anybody other than Yamaha), the 45-degree neckthru insertion, the neck joint, etc. If you look a BBP over closely, you see lots of little tweaks, like you'd see on a race vehicle, all designed to add up into something better.

The BBP's are one of those products that Yamaha releases every so often (think DX keyboards, Recording Custom drums, CX grands, and so on) that reminds you that they are not just another Japanese builder, but a company capable of re-inventing the game.

Exactly my view on them and why as ME myself keep coming back to them for my string instrument purchases. They're so reliable designs and repeatable manufacturing processes.

 

[JW56789]

Raal, here's an article I ran across on reverb.com:

A Visit to Hamamatsu, Japan's City of Music | Photo | Reverb News

Hamamatsu is home to Yamaha (this is where BBP's are built), Kawai, Roland, and Suzuki, no wonder it's the 'City of Music. The pics of Yamaha's museum, Innovation Road, are amazing (that one pic with a CS80, a rare DX1, and the uber-rare VS-1 is jaw-dropping), and there's links to the site included. Yamaha is just amazing.

 

[J_Bass]

Raal, here's an article I ran across on reverb.com:

A Visit to Hamamatsu, Japan's City of Music | Photo | Reverb News

Hamamatsu is home to Yamaha (this is where BBP's are built), Kawai, Roland, and Suzuki, no wonder it's the 'City of Music. The pics of Yamaha's museum, Innovation Road, are amazing (that one pic with a CS80, a rare DX1, and the uber-rare VS-1 is jaw-dropping), and there's links to the site included. Yamaha is just amazing.

And they own Bösendorfer, too.


Thank you for the link, very interesting.

 

[willddd]

I have both. Bought the BBP35 to replace an American Std P, loved it so much got a BB435 and defretted (butchered) it.
They look very similar. The bridge on the BBP is much more substantial, but both do the through body thing. The BBP really does feel like an instrument that's been played for 10 years....soft and silky, and the build quality is astounding, best I've seen.
The build quality is also excellent on the 435, but it definitely feels 'new'. Drier, harsher, especially the neck.
The sound is similar, but the BBP is more focussed and full, a bit more dynamic, and tighter and clearer in the bottoms. I'd say better in every way for the BBP, without actually having different characteristics (although they had different strings mind you...stock rounds on the 435, I have TI flats on the BBP).
I'd say the 435 is an excellent bass, punching well above it's price tag weight.
The BBP is really in a different league though. Feel wise and sound wise. Would the audience at a live gig notice ? Probably not. Would you notice as the player ? Undoubtedly. Would the engineer in the studio notice ? Yeah, probably. Is it worth the price difference ? If you have the funds, I'd say definitely. If you don't have the funds then the 435 will do a great job.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I have both. Bought the BBP35 to replace an American Std P, loved it so much got a BB435 and defretted (butchered) it.
They look very similar. The bridge on the BBP is much more substantial, but both do the through body thing. The BBP really does feel like an instrument that's been played for 10 years....soft and silky, and the build quality is astounding, best I've seen.
The build quality is also excellent on the 435, but it definitely feels 'new'. Drier, harsher, especially the neck.
The sound is similar, but the BBP is more focussed and full, a bit more dynamic, and tighter and clearer in the bottoms. I'd say better in every way for the BBP, without actually having different characteristics (although they had different strings mind you...stock rounds on the 435, I have TI flats on the BBP).
I'd say the 435 is an excellent bass, punching well above it's price tag weight.
The BBP is really in a different league though. Feel wise and sound wise. Would the audience at a live gig notice ? Probably not. Would you notice as the player ? Undoubtedly. Would the engineer in the studio notice ? Yeah, probably. Is it worth the price difference ? If you have the funds, I'd say definitely. If you don't have the funds then the 435 will do a great job.

The BB lineup starts at a high bar, and perfectly embodies the principle of subtle improvements over a range of instruments.

 

[JimmyM]

The BB lineup starts at a high bar, and perfectly embodies the principle subtle improvements overa range of instruments.

Exactly why I went for the BB235 instead of the more expensive ones I wanted a 5 but didn't want to spend much money, and I figured I could replace the pickups if I had to and still come out with a great feeling and sounding 5 for not much money.

BTW, the 43x series has a better pickup than the 23x, and the 73x and P3x share the same pickups, which IMHO are the best out of the bunch. I'm replacing mine with a Duncan CS SPB1-5 and possibly an Apollo in the bridge position if the stocker doesn't work out.

 

[Lackey]

Exactly why I went for the BB235 instead of the more expensive ones I wanted a 5 but didn't want to spend much money, and I figured I could replace the pickups if I had to and still come out with a great feeling and sounding 5 for not much money.

BTW, the 43x series has a better pickup than the 23x, and the 73x and P3x share the same pickups, which IMHO are the best out of the bunch. I'm replacing mine with a Duncan CS SPB1-5 and possibly an Apollo in the bridge position if the stocker doesn't work out.

I thought the 4 and 7 series had the same pickups..?

 

[JimmyM]

I thought the 4 and 7 series had the same pickups..?

Nope, they use different ones and the 7 and the P use the same ones. Just double checked the website.

 

[Lackey]

Now I see the 4 series has v5 alnico pickups and the 7 has v7 alnico.... Ok. So different but, same? Heh

 

[JimmyM]

Now I see the 4 series has v5 alnico pickups and the 7 has v7 alnico.... Ok. So different but, same? Heh

There's a difference in the sound. Both sets are good, but I prefer the V7's. The Yamaha comparo vids are really good at illustrating the differences.

 

[Lackey]

Found this. I'm curious to play a bb4 versus the bbp, not interested in the preamp bb7 anyways. Really don't need another BB at this point however. But I want one

 

[GreyBeard]

I've looked at these 2 basses and thought hmmmmm. They are both YAMAHA's and aside from the bridge, look exactly alike. As a retired band director, I've bought several YAMAHA band instruments and I can honestly say that "YAMAHA don't make no junk". I'd really like to find a music store that had both and spend an hr or so playing both.

 

[Vanheusen77]

I own a BBP and have tried the cheaper models in the store. IMO it’s the same diminishing returns thing as with Fenders or any instruments really. If you double the price of an instrument, it’s never twice as good. But they are better. Whether that is worth it or not is subjective. It’s a great bass!

 

[willddd]

Here they are....new pick guards arrived.

 

[McIrish]

Finally got the funds and pulled the trigger on the BBP35. Should have it in a few days. I found one local store that had it in stock but it sold before I could get there. It's been a long journey to get to this. I will post after I have a chance to use it in the studio. Thank you everyone for the help. Yes... I know I procrastinated. Many financial issues over the last couple years.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Finally got the funds and pulled the trigger on the BBP35. Should have it in a few days. I found one local store that had it in stock but it sold before I could get there. It's been a long journey to get to this. I will post after I have a chance to use it in the studio. Thank you everyone for the help. Yes... I know I procrastinated. Many financial issues over the last couple years.

Congrats on snagging such a high quality bass!

 

[willddd]

Here they are....new pick guards arrived.View attachment 4373482

Have been gigging the BBP35 (out of world's longest lockdown finally here in Melbourne, Australia). It's fantastic. Has replaced my Warwick SSII as #1 bass. Found the single coil J a bit noisy in a venue with notoriously bad power, so ordered Nordstrand NJ5FS to replace the single coil J, and was feeling lush so also ordered the NP5FA (Split P) for kicks. Replaced the J. It sounded so good I immediately replaced the P as well. Haven't gigged with the Nordys yet but in the home studio the sound is remarkably better. Warmer, more focussed, bigger, probably punchier, and just generally classier. The Nordy P is perhaps a touch less aggressive than the stock P pickup, but they still bark nicely when you dig in, and the J is much better than the stock yammy J in every way.
In the context of the current thread, BBP435 with Nordys would be a killer bass at probably less $ than a used US fender or even a new player series or a sire p7 and would sound much, much better than any of them. For me, with the Nordys, the BBP35 is sheer bliss.

 

[willddd]

Finally got the funds and pulled the trigger on the BBP35. Should have it in a few days. I found one local store that had it in stock but it sold before I could get there. It's been a long journey to get to this. I will post after I have a chance to use it in the studio. Thank you everyone for the help. Yes... I know I procrastinated. Many financial issues over the last couple years.

Gotta say, there's something about having a fine piece of craftsmanship (craftpersonship ?) in your hands. As a bass player it's your hands that really do the work, and giving your hands the best bit of gear you can is a good basis for the best musical result. Excellent choice on the BBP ! I really love mine. I just posted in this thread about new pickups etc. New pickups don't make you play better, but I think a really well crafted bass both allows and encourages players to find the best in their playing, and I have to say, in 35 years of playing I don't think I've found a better bass for my hands than the BBP35 (although I've had (and have) a few really beautifully crafted basses, but none are/were better than the Yammy)

 

[Deep]

Gotta say, there's something about having a fine piece of craftsmanship (craftpersonship ?) in your hands. As a bass player it's your hands that really do the work, and giving your hands the best bit of gear you can is a good basis for the best musical result. Excellent choice on the BBP ! I really love mine. I just posted in this thread about new pickups etc. New pickups don't make you play better, but I think a really well crafted bass both allows and encourages players to find the best in their playing, and I have to say, in 35 years of playing I don't think I've found a better bass for my hands than the BBP35 (although I've had (and have) a few really beautifully crafted basses, but none are/were better than the Yammy)

I am in complete agreement with the above post. The BBP line build quality and detail in my opinion is up there with some other well known and respected builders that we all know and love. Especially considering the price of these. The stock pickups are no slouch either, but hey, they can be switched out to your taste.
Great stuff!