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Yamaha

#61
I'm not sure what model it is but I like the fretless 6 string Yamaha that Robertino Pagliari uses when he plays with Ohm. Have seen them live a few times and Robertino creates a quite lively wall of bass sound with that thing in a Percy Jones-esque sort of way. :thumbsup: Looks like you could land an airplane on the fretboard! :laugh:
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Robertino Pagliari | Yamaha Artists
Also back in the mid 80's when I had the privilege of being in the presence of Jeff Berlin for awhile ( as a student ) he was then using Yamaha basses. Jeff even gave one his most frequently played Yamama basses to another student who had been victim of a home invasion robbery.
 
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#63
Nick Thorpe said:
If you can get your hands on some of the older Yamaha basses from the 1990's... it's like getting a boutique bass at half price. Highly recommend.

Yamaha TRB 6P (front)

Yamaha TRB 6P (front)

Click to expand...

+100 and Amen!

Higher end Yamahas from the mid Eighties until about 2000 were incredibly high quality instruments that measured up to anything else I have ever played. The only six string bass I would even think about owning would be a TRB6 bolt on from the 1990s. I also think the BB2000 was one of the greatest bass guitars ever made.
 
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#64
Nick Thorpe said:
If you can get your hands on some of the older Yamaha basses from the 1990's... it's like getting a boutique bass at half price. Highly recommend.

Yamaha TRB 6P (front)

Yamaha TRB 6P (front)

Click to expand...

+100 and Amen!

Higher end Yamahas from the mid Eighties until about 2000 were incredibly high quality instruments that measured up to anything else I have ever played. The only six string bass I would even think about owning would be a TRB6 bolt on from the 1990s. I also think the BB2000 was one of the greatest bass guitars ever made.
 
#65
The main reason Yamaha basses are thought of, or more appropriately, not thought of as the quality pieces they are, is little to no advertising. About the only advertising i've ever seen for Yamaha basses has been occasional manufacturer promotional pricing through the big box retailers and online sellers who carry the line.

Factory supported promo pricing works great for brands that saturate the market with advertising as the discounts, rebates, or various financing schemes are seen as oportunities to score a deal on a ubiquitous name that everyone recognizes. When a brand with no real name recognition outside existing satisfied customers offers a factory promotion, the general impression is a lame brand is trying to dump a bunch of stagnent stock.
 
#66
Many years ago, I played a Yamaha BB3000A. Very good bass, but ultimately, after years of loyal service, I traded it in for a Warwick Streamer, because of the neck. The BB3000A was more of a P-style neck and the 'Wick was much thinner / narrow. Not "good" or "bad", just personal taste.
I never had any issues with it; thing was built like a tank!

Regards
Mark
 
#67
fingerguy said:
I am going to approach this like walking on eggs for I do not want to offend anyone.

As a person new to the world of bass's and coming from the world of guitars (especially acoustics) in the guitar world Yamaha and Squiers are known as budget and eh guitars.

However, I find it very interesting that the Yamaha is the preferred guitar of Billy Sheehan which leads me to ask is my impression of Yamaha's when it comes to bass's wrong?

When people talk about high end bass's especially those with kudos of being the top in their game, I always think Fender and Warwick. Not familiar with all the other brands, but those are the 2 that come to mind and never Yamaha.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

First bass I had was a Yamaha RBX260 in natural finish. I went to Mars Music with my dad (I was in college and had decided to switch to bass, so I could get more gigs). Both of us were dead set on a Fender or Squier P or J (my still only electric is a much modded '95 Squier Mexistrat). We played several and then I grabbed the Yamaha as a goof, but it sounded just as good as the Fender Standard P and was SIGNIFICANTLY lighter and easier to play with nice deep cutaways and 24 frets. So I left with the Yamaha.
I only sold it to get into short scales, but if Yammie came out with an exotic wood double P RBX or TRBX, I'd be all over it.
 
#68
I owned one of the classic Yamaha BB5000 back in the day (90's?) and it was a very good bass, but one I couldn't bond with over time. (It was sold a long time ago.) Since then I've played many of their low- and mid-end basses in stores. Many are OK, especially for the price.

But if I were shopping for a bass, especially in the under $1,000 range I'd look at Mexican-made Fenders and mid-range Ibanez' (the SR650 and SR750 are especially good with their Nordstand designed pickups and their very comfortable, extra hardwood necks) long before the lower-end Yamahas.

. . . but that's just me.
 
#69
Yamaha is a funny company; They make pretty much everything and in every possible variation. They make GREAT pianos, they make meh pianos. Same with motocycles guitars and - basses.

It all comes down to how much you want to spend. Big shock - a $300 yamaha bass is "meh" and a $3000 yamaha bass is really nice.
 
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#70
I just played the BB2025 and the Nathan East model. They are real nice, as in top level. Both were knocked down to 2200 bucks. If I didn't have 3 other basses lined up, I would buy either one.
 
#72
bought this new in 1985, still better than than a lot of new stuff being sold now.
bass 1476684_677565868943845_78011092_n.jpg
 
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#76
In the 90's I had an RBX 850, that was ok, and a RBX 760 that looked nice and sounded great.
Even recorded direct it sounded fantastic. Both budget basses and where great for the price.

ALso, had an attitude LTD. different price points and different animals. Didn't keep it long since the neck was way too thick for me. Great bass tho, built like a tank.

Hard to say no to sea foam green!
 
#78
I have owned approximately 6 different Yamaha basses over the years, covering most of the series up to 2000.

I must tell you: I still own a very high end model and it is hands-down one of the best basses I've ever owned for many, many reasons. Among them: plays great, records great, sounds great live, and looks great. Very solidly built piece of gear and intelligently thought out ergonomics and electronics. Very comfortable body shape and interesting and good neck profile.

Hard to beat Yamaha for bang-per-buck. Love 'em!

LL
 

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