Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Yamaha model ?
- Thread starter Pilb
- Start date
I agree. After a bit more digging I've found out it's a BBG4A, the A being Amber burst.
anyone any experience of these?
anyone any experience of these?
It is a Yamaha and it looks good. I would not worry too much. Go for it!
Yeah should be worth quite a discount, right?
Oh yeah, from the first note, throaty, deep, and full, I like it! Should make for an amazing fretless sound.
Here is some info I received from a Yamaha support rep:
Hello Adam,
Thank you for your interest in Yamaha Basses and your recent inquiry regarding the BBG4 model.
The BBG4 and BBG5 (5 string version) Basses, came out in the late 1990's. The BBG4 was a 4 string model, with passive pickups that sold for $699.00 and the BBG5 was a 5 string model, with passive pickups that sold for $799.00
In the year 2000, Yamaha came out with the BBG4SII which was the BBG4 only it had "Active" pickups, with Bass, Mid, and Treble controls on it, and it sold for $750.00 and the BBG5S which had the active pickups, with the 3 tone controls as well, and it sold for $850. These "Active Pickups" models were a bit closer to a TRB Bass, but they were still in the BB family.
In the mid 80's and I got a BBG5S (Active pickups) in 2000, in a sunburst color, and I still play both of them and they are great Basses! I also have a passive pickup model BB424X that I use in my studio a lot, which is a nice sounding Bass for recording, and it was only $499.00 sometimes it is hard to beat the sound of "Passive" pickups, (like the Jazz and Precision Basses had).
The BBG4 and 5, are definitely "BB" Bases, as the TRB Series Basses back then, were a lot more money, as the TRB4II sold for $1,599.00 and the TRB5II sold for $1,699.00. The TRB Basses have an "Ash" body and the BB Series have an "Alder" body.
Hope this info helps...............................
Best regards,
Hello Adam,
Thank you for your interest in Yamaha Basses and your recent inquiry regarding the BBG4 model.
The BBG4 and BBG5 (5 string version) Basses, came out in the late 1990's. The BBG4 was a 4 string model, with passive pickups that sold for $699.00 and the BBG5 was a 5 string model, with passive pickups that sold for $799.00
In the year 2000, Yamaha came out with the BBG4SII which was the BBG4 only it had "Active" pickups, with Bass, Mid, and Treble controls on it, and it sold for $750.00 and the BBG5S which had the active pickups, with the 3 tone controls as well, and it sold for $850. These "Active Pickups" models were a bit closer to a TRB Bass, but they were still in the BB family.
In the mid 80's and I got a BBG5S (Active pickups) in 2000, in a sunburst color, and I still play both of them and they are great Basses! I also have a passive pickup model BB424X that I use in my studio a lot, which is a nice sounding Bass for recording, and it was only $499.00 sometimes it is hard to beat the sound of "Passive" pickups, (like the Jazz and Precision Basses had).
The BBG4 and 5, are definitely "BB" Bases, as the TRB Series Basses back then, were a lot more money, as the TRB4II sold for $1,599.00 and the TRB5II sold for $1,699.00. The TRB Basses have an "Ash" body and the BB Series have an "Alder" body.
Hope this info helps...............................
Best regards,
Had a few of them, mine had the J,J configuration. One thing, it’s not a real Quilt Maple top, it’s a photo cell, like the Fender Foto Flame jazzes of the same period. You’ll see the same pattern on every bass. Look at the one in the video, and the one posted. Look at the pattern between the end of the neck, and front pickup, almost has the hamburglar image, which you can see is the same on both pictured in this thread.
With that said, the few I had were great playing, sounding, and gigging basses.
With that said, the few I had were great playing, sounding, and gigging basses.
Yeah same as the fender jazz 24 made in Korea or Taiwan. Oh did I say made in somewhere other than Japan, Mexico or USA Oops lol. I’ve got # 082 out of that batch in October 27 of 1997. Not sure how many were produced per year. Real decent basses for sure.
While I offer no help for the question asked, I feel compelled to say that it is a beautiful looking machine to me.
Yamaha BBG4A.
I have a (severely modified) BBN4 (original model, not the BBN$- II or III). Body and head-stock are the same as mine.
They were "economy" models, based loosely on Nathan's instrument and were also available as a 5 string as well (and also some were active while some like mine, were passive with a J-set of PUPs). They were also available (like yours) as a fretless.
I paid about $400 CDN for mine back in 1998 (it's a '96).
Serial # should be on the back of the head-stock (down the center, between the two sets of tuners).
This will help you find date and place of manufacture, based on Serial #-
https://www.yamaha.com/yamahaguitars/ElectricandBassGuitarSerialNumberSystems.pdf
Hope this helps.
EDIT- P.S.- I have often referred to my BBN4 as a "poor man's Jazz Bass". Same wood, neck, PUPs, with a similar tone to a Jazz, but somewhat different at the same time.
I have a (severely modified) BBN4 (original model, not the BBN$- II or III). Body and head-stock are the same as mine.
They were "economy" models, based loosely on Nathan's instrument and were also available as a 5 string as well (and also some were active while some like mine, were passive with a J-set of PUPs). They were also available (like yours) as a fretless.
I paid about $400 CDN for mine back in 1998 (it's a '96).
Serial # should be on the back of the head-stock (down the center, between the two sets of tuners).
This will help you find date and place of manufacture, based on Serial #-
https://www.yamaha.com/yamahaguitars/ElectricandBassGuitarSerialNumberSystems.pdf
Hope this helps.
EDIT- P.S.- I have often referred to my BBN4 as a "poor man's Jazz Bass". Same wood, neck, PUPs, with a similar tone to a Jazz, but somewhat different at the same time.
Last edited:
looks great sounds great....needs flats or 1/2 rounds ...IMHO
