Yamaha Motion B Bass Guitar

[NZBassman]

Hi - I have a Yamaha Motion B Bass Guitar, and I'm trying to find out where it was made and how old it is - can anyone help?
I think they were made in Japan in the 1980's, but not sure
I have the serial number and have attched a couple of pics.

Cheers

NZ Bassman

 

[bongomania]

The Yamaha Motion B that I remember was indeed made in Japan in the '80s. But those pics don't look anything like what I remember! So I did some Googling and it looks like the version you have might have been made as recently as 2001. Probably still made in Japan though. It should say, printed on the bass somewhere, where it was made.

 

[i2k]

Motion B basses are great. The last time I saw one of those was around 15 years ago. If I remember correctly, they have "Motion B" printed on the upper horn close to the neck joint. It's strange that yours doesn't have that.

 

[MAGUS®]

The originals did indeed have the Motion Logo printed on the body.

IIRC, only the Motion MB2 had the fine tuner bridge, which the 1 and 3 didnt have.

My MB 2 had a fantastic sound, easy to play, a tiny headstock, they weigh nothing, and were 32" scale, if memory serves

 

[herndonbassist]

I am sure you know this, but that case is from an 80s Ibanez. PM me if you might be interested in making a swap for that case.

 

[Happy Face]

Foggy memory here - were some Motions made in Taiwan (where Yammie farmed out some production in the past)?

32" is right. I lost an auction for a fretless version 3 years ago. Haven't seen one since.

 

[NZBassman]

Yeah - mine does have Yamaha Motion B (MB 40?) on the head and the Yamaha logo, but nowhere on the bass does it say where it is made - usually on most basses it says on the head 'handcrafted in........' but mine is blank
It is a dark rosewood sort of colour and has passive pickups.
it has a full size neck, but a smaller body. When I first took the bass to rehearsal our singer asked if I had bought a 3/4 size bass. It is lighter than most other basses and very easy to play.

I did write the serial number down and I'll have another look for that - will I be able to tell the age and where it was made by the serial number?? and where would I go to find this??
I've been on the Yamaha website but there was nothing on there that I find to help me

many thanks

NZ Bassman

 

[bongomania]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Click on the "serial number wizard" at the lower left. Also try emailing their customer service.

 

[kenjikun]

Hi - I have a Yamaha Motion B Bass Guitar, and I'm trying to find out where it was made and how old it is - can anyone help?
I think they were made in Japan in the 1980's, but not sure
I have the serial number and have attched a couple of pics.

Cheers

NZ Bassman

Hi, your Yamaha is MB-40 BRS model. (BRS stands for BRown Stained). Made in Taiwan in 2001. I have a catalog of Yamaha Motion B series basses.

The Yamaha Motion B series 4 strings came in 4 variants: MB-50 which had PJ pickup and active electronics, gold plated hardwares and had brown stain, opaque white and see-through blue colors. MB-45HB which had chrome hardwares, two soapbar pickups and passive electronics and had white, blue and red opaque colors. MB-40 which had chrome hardwares, PJ pickups, passive electronics and came with natural, black and brown stain finish. MB-40C similar to MB-40 and came with sunburst black, metallic red, pearl white and blue sunburst finish. All had maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. These basses were manufactured in 2000-2001 in Japan and Taiwan.

here is my MB-40C in pearl white finish made in Taiwan. I bought it as used item two weeks ago for about $80 (converted from Yen) but it was almost brand new!

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

more photos http://fukuokaboy.wordpress.com/

 

[NZBassman]

Hi, your Yamaha is MB-40 BRS model. (BRS stands for BRown Stained). Made in Taiwan in 2001. I have a catalog of Yamaha Motion B series basses.

Thanks for all that info...... I put in my serial number and it said that the serial numbers are repeated every 10 years and came up with the date 19 December, and the years 1966, 1976, 1986, 1996 & 2006 - Unit#363 (what ever that means)

I bought the Bass 2nd hand in 2005 & I doubt it was made in 1966 or 1976 - so that just leaves 1986 or 1996?

if anyone can find anything else, the serial number is MZ19363

thanks again

 

[kenjikun]

[
I bought the Bass 2nd hand in 2005 & I doubt it was made in 1966 or 1976 - so that just leaves 1986 or 1996?

if anyone can find anything else, the serial number is MZ19363

thanks again [/QUOTE]

My bass' serial number is PZ 28116 so I doubt our bass was made in the '90s or even '80s. My Yamaha Guitar and Bass catalog where the Motion B series basses were featured was printed in 2001 (I got the catalog when I bought my Yamaha Compass Acoustic/Electric guitar on that year). So definitely, our basses were made in 2000 or 2001.

 

[kenjikun]

I bought the Bass 2nd hand in 2005 & I doubt it was made in 1966 or 1976 - so that just leaves 1986 or 1996?

if anyone can find anything else, the serial number is MZ19363

thanks again

My bass' serial number is PZ 28116 so I doubt our bass was made in the '90s or even '80s. My Yamaha Guitar and Bass catalog where the Motion B series basses were featured was printed in 2001 (I got the catalog when I bought my Yamaha Compass Acoustic/Electric guitar on that year). So definitely, our basses were made in 2000 or 2001.

 

[Jehn]

Hi guyS!
This is my babe a real motion b II

 

[slaphappywoman]

I have a motion B 3. It Says Yamaha Motion B 3 on the body but the head stock is blank. I got mine in the 80's. The previous owner replaced the pickups with Emgs' Pj style. I love this bass. It plays great, Medium scale and like someone said above, it does "weigh nothing".
Which helps cause I'm a small little woman. lol
I will never get rid of this bass. You will have to pry it from my cold dead hands!:

 

[Limeman]

I used to own one of these. Mid-scale if I recall correctly. Tone was amazing and unique. Would be fun to find one again.

 

[OddOne]

The originals did indeed have the Motion Logo printed on the body.

IIRC, only the Motion MB2 had the fine tuner bridge, which the 1 and 3 didnt have.




Odd, I just bought the MB1 today and it has the fine tuner bridge. Looks almost identical to your MB2 apart from the control knobs.

 

[OddOne]

So, I just did some real quick research, mine was made in 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998, or 2008.
Anyone happen to know any specifics about them that we can use to differentiate the years they were made? Mine looks pretty old, a bit of rust around the screws and whatnot. Hoping to gets pics soon(I need to find a camera that works).

Edit: Pinpointed the date my MB-I was made, May 24th, 1988.

 

[slaphappywoman]

Your pics didn't come through

So, I just did some real quick research, mine was made in 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998, or 2008.
Anyone happen to know any specifics about them that we can use to differentiate the years they were made? Mine looks pretty old, a bit of rust around the screws and whatnot. Hoping to gets pics soon(I need to find a camera that works).

Edit: Got pics, and I pinpointed the date my MB-I was made, May 24th, 1988.

 

[OddOne]

Damnit, I wasn't sure if it was just my computer or if they actually didn't work. I'll try to get this figured out. >Bit of a noob<

To pinpoint the date, go here. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Click the "Guitar Serial Number Wizard" on the left hand side of the screen and input your serial number. That'll give you the day month it was made as well as possible years.

Then I went to Invalid Link Removed

Just look through and eventually you'll find your serial number's configuration and that will narrow down the years it was made.

Sorry if links don't work. Feel free to post your serial number and I could figure it out for you.

 

[OddOne]

Alright, I think I got this figured out, my pics were just way too big to upload, resized them, now it should work.