Yamaha BBP35 vs BB435 - opinions?

[willddd]

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.

Further update...
With the Nordys, the BBP35 still sounds unmistakably like a yammy. Reminds me a lot of the BB1000S that I played for many years in the 90s (which was really the sound I was after when I ditched my P and got the BBP...I think the BB1000S had dimarzios in it). Lovely midrange crunch and snap when you squeeze it hard. I asked Nordstrand about the radius options before ordering. (the BBP has a big radius...very flat fingerboard). They said they could flatten it out no problem (the J has raised pole pieces, particularly for the A string), but suspected the A string might sound weak if they did. I went with the standard, was concerned when it arrived and I saw how much the pole pieces were raised, but Nordy were right....the balance between strings is spot on.

 

[jastraw]

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.

Hi. I have BB435. The P pups is killer. The J is lacking.

Question: Is the Nordy NJ5FS bridge you got a direct drop in? It sounds like this is exactly what I need to make it a real player.

If Im feeling lush, i might the NP5FA as well. I m currently very happy with stock P pups. Thx.

 

[willddd]

Hi. I have BB435. The P pups is killer. The J is lacking.

Question: Is the Nordy NJ5FS bridge you got a direct drop in? It sounds like this is exactly what I need to make it a real player.

If Im feeling lush, i might the NP5FA as well. I m currently very happy with stock P pups. Thx.

Yep direct drop in, very easy. The nordy P is as well. A BB435 with these will be a killer.

 

[getBAK]

Update on my end. I found a BBP35 in stock and bought it on the spot. 100% the right decision. Every aspect of the bass is better than (the formidable) BB435