Yamaha Peter Hook Signature Bass

[revd]

When I lived in MCR I saw PH sat in a restaurant with a friend of mine. As I walked past their table I said hello to her and said "alright Hooky". He replied "alright mate". Made my evening

Pete Hook is a Manchester legend.

 

[matbard]

Where did you get yours from? My GC order still says "back ordered," so I assume it's not coming.

I live in Italy, I ordered it from a shop in Rome. Was the only one assigned to them.

 

[boristhespider7]

BBPH now arrived...just giving it a thorough try out, might do some recording so i can listen back to some riffs to compare. It certainly has a nice top end with the active EQ.
Superficial i know but i'm not sure what i think about the colour. Never been a big fan of red guitars/basses, this one is a darker red which isn't so bad. Would have preferred a sunburst or black.
There is a black BB734a in a local music shop which i might go and give it a go so i can compare it as well. It's also £200 cheaper and probably more versatile, so is slightly tempting if it can give the same tone.

 

[Kestrel]

BBPH now arrived...just giving it a thorough try out, might do some recording so i can listen back to some riffs to compare. It certainly has a nice top end with the active EQ.
Superficial i know but i'm not sure what i think about the colour. Never been a big fan of red guitars/basses, this one is a darker red which isn't so bad. Would have preferred a sunburst or black.
There is a black BB734a in a local music shop which i might go and give it a go so i can compare it as well. It's also £200 cheaper and probably more versatile, so is slightly tempting if it can give the same tone.

Looking forward to your comparison of the BBPH and the BB734A. I've been curious to see how just how much they differ in tone based on their preamps and if the BBPH is truly worth the $400US price difference.

 

[Sanshiro]

I'm also looking forward to a comparison between the two. If Yamaha ever ends up doing another run of BBPHs, I'm tempted to get one.

 

[boristhespider7]

If anyone is interested i've recorded a couple of audio samples of the BBPH with my Clone theory
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Clips each recorded on Yamaha BBPH in following order:

Passive mode - dry (effects off)
Passive mode - wet (effects on)
Active mode - wet (effects on, EQ: max treble, max bass, mids centred)

Signal path:
BBPH > EHX Clone Theory Reissue > Joyo Digital Delay > Zoom R8

Apologies as there's some electrical interference (pops/clicks) present on these which were probably caused by dodgy cable, not the bass!
There's no amp sim in this chain or in post processing so the Active mode may sound a little harsh. It's mellowed slightly when played through an amp, but i'm sure it would cut through a mix very well! The treble EQ is also on max, the same setting as Hooky uses on his BBPH, so there's loads of room to cut or sculpt the tone if needed.

 

[Napkins]

If anyone is interested i've recorded a couple of audio samples of the BBPH with my Clone theory
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Clips each recorded on Yamaha BBPH in following order:

Passive mode - dry (effects off)
Passive mode - wet (effects on)
Active mode - wet (effects on, EQ: max treble, max bass, mids centred)

Signal path:
BBPH > EHX Clone Theory Reissue > Joyo Digital Delay > Zoom R8

Apologies as there's some electrical interference (pops/clicks) present on these which were probably caused by dodgy cable, not the bass!
There's no amp sim in this chain or in post processing so the Active mode may sound a little harsh. It's mellowed slightly when played through an amp, but i'm sure it would cut through a mix very well! The treble EQ is also on max, the same setting as Hooky uses on his BBPH, so there's loads of room to cut or sculpt the tone if needed.

What did you use to record this? Audio interface or just into a phone or mic?

 

[Sanshiro]

If anyone is interested i've recorded a couple of audio samples of the BBPH with my Clone theory
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Clips each recorded on Yamaha BBPH in following order:

Passive mode - dry (effects off)
Passive mode - wet (effects on)
Active mode - wet (effects on, EQ: max treble, max bass, mids centred)

Signal path:
BBPH > EHX Clone Theory Reissue > Joyo Digital Delay > Zoom R8

Apologies as there's some electrical interference (pops/clicks) present on these which were probably caused by dodgy cable, not the bass!
There's no amp sim in this chain or in post processing so the Active mode may sound a little harsh. It's mellowed slightly when played through an amp, but i'm sure it would cut through a mix very well! The treble EQ is also on max, the same setting as Hooky uses on his BBPH, so there's loads of room to cut or sculpt the tone if needed.

Sounds absolutely stellar. I can definitely hear my BB1200+ME Transmission in the BBPH's sound, so it's pretty close to the BB1200S. Well done by Yamaha, had my doubts but they did a great job capturing the original if your recordings are anything to go by.

The only question left now is how different is the BBPH from the BB734A to justify the price jump? I'm hoping someone can come along who owns both and can do a side by side recording comparison, same setup and everything so we can just compare the basses.

 

[boristhespider7]

What did you use to record this? Audio interface or just into a phone or mic?

See info above on the track - straight into Zoom R8 digital recorder and recorded internally on its SD card

 

[boristhespider7]

Sounds absolutely stellar. I can definitely hear my BB1200+ME Transmission in the BBPH's sound, so it's pretty close to the BB1200S. Well done by Yamaha, had my doubts but they did a great job capturing the original if your recordings are anything to go by.

The only question left now is how different is the BBPH from the BB734A to justify the price jump? I'm hoping someone can come along who owns both and can do a side by side recording comparison, same setup and everything so we can just compare the basses.

Thanks Sanshiro!
I'm hoping to be able to obtain a 734a somehow either online with a decent (free and insured) return or see if a local shop will let me return it if i put the money down. However, Covid, lockdown, new viral strains in the UK and an imminent stricter lockdown are making this more difficult by the day. Don't want to end up in a situation where i'm stuck not being able to return a bass i don't want, and the Mrs realises i've just brought 2 reasonably expensive basses

 

[matbard]

The treble EQ is also on max, the same setting as Hooky uses on his BBPH, so there's loads of room to cut or sculpt the tone if needed.

From the last video he did with PMT, he says that he have to cut the bass a little...

 

[boristhespider7]

Hopefully this will be of some use to someone
Went to my local store with the setup i used in the recording above, same pedals, same cable, same recorder, same interference . Played the same riffs on a BB734a and a couple more. Here's the results:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Info on recordings:

0:00 - 4:35
3 riffs played on P split pickup only.
Each riff played:
Passive - dry (no effects)
Passive - wet (effects on)
Active - wet (effects on)

04:35 - 05:42
2 riffs played active with effects on P split pickup only

05:42 - end
Riff repeated whilst turning blend slightly each time from P > J pickup

Signal path for recording:
BB734a > EHX Clone Theory Reissue > Joyo Digital delay > Zoom R8.
No post recording production, compression etc
In active mode EQ set to: max treble, max bass, mids centred

 

[Napkins]

Hopefully this will be of some use to someone
Went to my local store with the setup i used in the recording above, same pedals, same cable, same recorder, same interference . Played the same riffs on a BB734a and a couple more. Here's the results:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Info on recordings:

0:00 - 4:35
3 riffs played on P split pickup only.
Each riff played:
Passive - dry (no effects)
Passive - wet (effects on)
Active - wet (effects on)

04:35 - 05:42
2 riffs played active with effects on P split pickup only

05:42 - end
Riff repeated whilst turning blend slightly each time from P > J pickup

Signal path for recording:
BB734a > EHX Clone Theory Reissue > Joyo Digital delay > Zoom R8.
No post recording production, compression etc
In active mode EQ set to: max treble, max bass, mids centred

Thanks very much for this! Personally I can hear the difference, but it's extremely subtle. I think the difference has more to do with the reverse p on the BBPH than any modified preamp. That being said, I'm not sure it's a big enough difference after the effects to warrant paying $500 over a 734a.

 

[Sanshiro]

Hopefully this will be of some use to someone
Went to my local store with the setup i used in the recording above, same pedals, same cable, same recorder, same interference . Played the same riffs on a BB734a and a couple more. Here's the results:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Info on recordings:

0:00 - 4:35
3 riffs played on P split pickup only.
Each riff played:
Passive - dry (no effects)
Passive - wet (effects on)
Active - wet (effects on)

04:35 - 05:42
2 riffs played active with effects on P split pickup only

05:42 - end
Riff repeated whilst turning blend slightly each time from P > J pickup

Signal path for recording:
BB734a > EHX Clone Theory Reissue > Joyo Digital delay > Zoom R8.
No post recording production, compression etc
In active mode EQ set to: max treble, max bass, mids centred

Thanks for doing this. I can hear the difference as well, the BBPH definitely sounds more like the BB1200S. I also think the BBPH sounds like it's much more "in your face" too, like it cuts through better. The BB734A sounds a bit more subdued, but not a whole lot. That might have something to do with the tweaked preamp of the BBPH, the reverse P definitely helps out with that as well.

However like Napkins said, I don't know if it's worth the $500 difference. Aside from the modified preamp and reverse config, they're the same bass at the end of the day. I'm curious if the preamp in the BB734A can be modified into the BBPH preamp, or at least a close approximation, by an end user that's skilled enough with electronics work. I think they share the same PCB, but I also haven't seen the preamp boards side by side to compare.

 

[Kestrel]

Thanks very much for this! Personally I can hear the difference, but it's extremely subtle. I think the difference has more to do with the reverse p on the BBPH than any modified preamp. That being said, I'm not sure it's a big enough difference after the effects to warrant paying $500 over a 734a.

Totally agree with you. The difference is there, but it's subtle. Certainly not enough of a difference to notice playing live. I remember when Hooky was touring with a black BB734A a couple of years ago (2018, I think) along with his son Jack (who plays the BB734A with The Light and Smashing Pumpkins) and honestly I couldn't hear much of a difference if at all to the BBPH he plays currently and his old BB1200S live on stage. I will say the BB734A is the more versatile instrument of the two, but is the BBPH worth the price difference? I guess that all depends on how big a fan you are of Peter Hook.

 

[hypercarrots]

it sounds totally different to me.
i have a bb734a but it has dead strings on it now so i couldn't do a fair comparison to the bbph and bb1200s but the flatness of the bb734a that i hear in mine with dead strings is also present in boris' recording so i know it's not just the strings.
the reverse pickup and modified preamp of the bbph are a big difference from the 734.

 

[Sanshiro]

it sounds totally different to me.
i have a bb734a but it has dead strings on it now so i couldn't do a fair comparison to the bbph and bb1200s but the flatness of the bb734a that i hear in mine with dead strings is also present in boris' recording so i know it's not just the strings.
the reverse pickup and modified preamp of the bbph are a big difference from the 734.

To me the BBPH has much more clarity, if that makes sense, everything seems tighter and brighter. You're right about the 734A sounding a bit flat in comparison.

 

[boristhespider7]

Thanks for doing this. I can hear the difference as well, the BBPH definitely sounds more like the BB1200S. I also think the BBPH sounds like it's much more "in your face" too, like it cuts through better. The BB734A sounds a bit more subdued, but not a whole lot.

I agree, playing both live i was immediately hit by how much more "zingy" and in your face the BBPH is. Listening back to both recordings it's still there but not quite as apparent. I'm not sure my little comparison is that scientific though, as its not the same set of strings on both instruments. I can't tell how much wear the music store 734a had. Being on display it's probably seen more use than my BBPH which i brought online from an internet music store, not long after they came out. So we may be hearing the difference in string wear. Put a new set on the 734a and they may get even closer (maybe?). There's also the tolerances on caps, pot's and body/neck weight which will give some natural variation between basses.

My other thoughts now i've had more time to play the BBPH are:
I like the brushed nickel hardware on the BBPH, it's not a finger print magnet like the blacked chrome on the 734a
Both basses looked like the edge of the neck had been slightly over sanded (by hand?), so if you look at the neck edge at 45 degrees it almost looked scalloped as there's tiny ovals where it looks like someone has sanded the edge between the frets rather than use a sanding block. It's not obvious but it caught my eye.
The BBPH was noticeably lighter than the 734a, but i'm sure they both vary. BTW, my BBPH came out as 3.99kg (8lbs 13oz)
The 734a has the edge on looks IMO, but this is v subjective
My BBPH came with the truss rod very loose, i'm guessing they loosened it right off for transit. So loose i thought it was bust when i first tried it as the nut moved very freely initially.
Liking the padded gig bag that comes with it, feels pretty sturdy with some extra protection down the body end.
Battery compartment is secure on mine
Would have preferred a switch for pickup selector to a blend on the 734a, to take the J PU out of the circuit
You can't argue with the versatility of the PJ setup

 

[Winky]

"Zingy" is exactly the word I'd use for the BBPH.

 

[hypercarrots]

i bought 2 734a in 2017 and i think even with new strings it won't sound like the bbph.
734a will generally weigh more because of the bridge pickup.
i have weights of 7 other bbph and they are all below 9 pounds. mine is 8lb 14oz
of the 20+ bb734a i have weights of, only 2 are below 9 pounds. (8.6lb)