Double Bass Yamaha SLB300 New model

[uprightbass.com]

I've never had any issues with hiss and I tend to notice such things. This includes through high quality headphones as well as the QSC K10.2 which is my amp and it has a tweeter and is very susceptible to hiss being a PA speaker. I would suggest contacting the dealer for support. As I recall someone in the past had mentioned the same issue with one here on TB though I can't remember if they returned it or if Yamaha repaired it.

 

[magicmerv]

Thanks @uprightbass.com. Appreciate the feedback. Will take it up with Yamaha

 

[uprightbass.com]

This may or may not apply to you; try using fresh high quality batteries. Discounted off brand batteries have been known to cause issues in sensitive electronics.

 

[BobKay]

I've never experienced this with mine, either. I play through a several different amps, but mostly through an EV50 column system. Hope you get it sorted.

 

[hensonbass]

I have recently bought an SLB 300 and this past weekend had a play on it for the first time. I had a hi frequency hiss through the amp when SRT is on. Hiss is not there when SRT is off. It is quite audible and increases in volume as you turn the volume up. Not good for any playing situation!!

I have a Genzler bass acoustic array amp which has a column of tweeters on the front. These accentuate the high frequencies to provide clarity for acoustic double bass. With the SLB 300 the only way to reduce most of the hiss was to turn the treble dial all the way off (cut all treble). I will try it with a speaker that does not have a tweeter. That may make a difference. Still should not have to do this for a bass at this quality and price point!!

Anyone else experience similar?

I bought my SLB300 online just before the Covid lockdown and I had these same issues. I never could contact anyone at Yamaha to try and fix it.

About a year ago I installed a Realist Lifeline pickup and I get a better tone with that setup.

The onboard preamp to me was very “phasey” sounding and didn’t punch through the mix well.

 

[magicmerv]

This may or may not apply to you; try using fresh high quality batteries. Discounted off brand batteries have been known to cause issues in sensitive electronics.

Batteries are brand new Duracell. Perhaps worth a try with a different established brand.

Thanks everyone for feedback and advice. Sounds like an issue with particular basses. I have contacted Yamaha and awaiting response. Will try different cable, amp, speaker, battery combinations this coming weekend and see if any difference.

 

[colorzh]

OP here. Yamaha states that the 300 does not deliver sampled sounds. If I'm not mistaken, a sampled sound would not only include all the harmonics, but also the attack and decay envelope unique to whoever was playing during the sampling. If that was employed, everyone using the 300 would sound somewhat like the original sampled bassist. Apparently, you just dial in some of the "resonance" of the studio-recorded double bass. I assume that means the actual harmonic makeup of the notes, but no more. My take on it, without having heard it yet, is that each player will still have a unique sound because of their individual pizzicato attack, the pressure and length of time they hold down the string with their left hand, vibrato, etc., etc.

I think it's a inner 3 types IR(Impulse response)，for convolution compute

 

[El Thumpo]

It occurred to me that you all might enjoy a few samples of how the SLB300 sounds on a recording. These are from an album by my band, Frances8, a couple of years ago. All bass is the SLB300 plugged directly into the board; no signal chain or post-processing. Setting #3 (Vintage bass) is used throughout.

The first one emphasizes pizz:


The second one features arco:

 

[Hasty]

It occurred to me that you all might enjoy a few samples of how the SLB300 sounds on a recording. These are from an album by my band, Frances8, a couple of years ago. All bass is the SLB300 plugged directly into the board; no signal chain or post-processing. Setting #3 (Vintage bass) is used throughout.

The first one emphasizes pizz:


The second one features arco:

First off, sounds good.That SLB seems to sit really well in the mix.

Second, the amount of subscribers you have on your channel is way less than what it should be(IMHO). You have some nice stuff on there! So I immediately subscribed. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

 

[Michael F Clef]

It occurred to me that you all might enjoy a few samples of how the SLB300 sounds on a recording. These are from an album by my band, Frances8, a couple of years ago. All bass is the SLB300 plugged directly into the board; no signal chain or post-processing. Setting #3 (Vintage bass) is used throughout.

The first one emphasizes pizz:


The second one features arco:

Excellent tracks. Thank you for sharing. Lovely material.

 

[El Thumpo]

First off, sounds good.That SLB seems to sit really well in the mix.

Second, the amount of subscribers you have on your channel is way less than what it should be(IMHO). You have some nice stuff on there! So I immediately subscribed. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

Thank you for these kind words.

 

[magicmerv]

Can anyone confirm if Zyex strings 3/4 string length will fit the SLB300 without the coloured wrapping over the fingerboard.
Thanks

 

[scot oliver]

Can anyone confirm if Zyex strings 3/4 string length will fit the SLB300 without the coloured wrapping over the fingerboard.
Thanks

I can confirm that the unwrapped portion of Zyex light 3/4 is too short for my SLB300. You need the 4/4 length. Lauren at D'Addario sent me the appropriate replacement. I like these strings after they settle in...about 10 hours' play.

 

[scot oliver]

I can confirm that the unwrapped portion of Zyex light 3/4 is too short for my SLB300. You need the 4/4 length. Lauren at D'Addario sent me the appropriate replacement. I like these strings after they settle in...about 10 hours' play.

Sorry--only the E string is too short! The others are fine.

 

[Francois Blais]

If you order from Gollihurmusic, you can fine-select what you need:

 

[lurk]

It occurred to me that you all might enjoy a few samples of how the SLB300 sounds on a recording. These are from an album by my band, Frances8, a couple of years ago. All bass is the SLB300 plugged directly into the board; no signal chain or post-processing. Setting #3 (Vintage bass) is used throughout.

The first one emphasizes pizz:


The second one features arco:

Man I gotta say I'm astounded at the arco sound. Very woody.

 

[magicmerv]

Sorry--only the E string is too short! The others are fine.

Thanks Scot and Francois.......small but important detail that will save me $$............love this community

 

[peskatore]

I happened to be on Sweetwater to send a link to someone about the SLB300PRO and apparently Yamaha is no longer accepting orders for the SLB300PRO but they are continuing to ship the regular SLB300SK. Some reasoning about supply chain issues and current orders have been backlogged for 12+ months. They said there was word about it being difficult to get double bass sized ebony fingerboards from certified forests and legally cut clear sources. That's all they know. Just passing a interesting bit of info along ....

View attachment 4994319

What a drag! I was so ready to pull the trigger on the PRO. Not so sure if I want to play on a rosewood fingerboard

 

[BobKay]

I have had my SLB300 for almost 4 years. It was one year old when I bought it used. I've played a lot, and had the fingerboard dressed one time. That's using Spiro mittels, Spiro solos tuned down and Evahs. The rosewood holds up well.

 

[Oscarharboe]

Yeah, the rosewood used on these slb-s seen to be of the more dense rosewoods. While it had been even nicer to have the ebony one, I dont really miss it to be honest. My only complaint with the slb is the noisy preamp, but that can be worked around with noise gate.