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BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
- 2,377
- 4,287
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- Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
It's really strange that your question has been up for almost a month with no response. Just yesterday, I posted a question about the new BBs and have gotten no response either. What's going on? Yamahas have traditionally been some of the best instruments made. Are they not widely available yet? Is no one buying them? Too many choices out there? Based on what I've seen and heard in the promo videos--which I've watched about 10 times each--they deserve a whole lot more love.
Yes. Kind of strange. I’ve actually owned a BB434 since I’ve posted the unanswered question but I would be really interested in knowing the actual difference in the pick-ups. I can only speak for the BB434’s pu’ps and they’re ok but not more. They don’t sound anything like my old P- or Jazz bass. They just seem to lack character and the right mid presence. They have quite a boost in the top frequencys and are pretty scooped not to much meat in the mid.
I guess you get what you pay for. The good thing is their new standardized size makes it easy to try different pickups.
I guess you get what you pay for. The good thing is their new standardized size makes it easy to try different pickups.
I just bought a brand new Yamaha BB735A DCS four days ago. It is the active version of the new BB series and is endowed with the VSP7n pickups. The passive Yamaha BBP35 has the same pickups and is the next step up from the 700 series.
I'm not sure what the VSP5n pickups would be like. My local store had neither the BB435 or BB735A in stock which meant that I had no way to A/B the differences.
BB Series - Specs - Yamaha - Canada - English
As this is my first five string, as well as PJ config, and also my first active bass, I'm completely enthralled with the instrument.
I will say that the pickups seemed to lack strength...that is until I adjusted them closer to the strings. I have compared with my Fender 50's Classic Precision, and my Fender American Special Precision...(sans greasebucket circuit). BTW, I adjusted the Yamaha's pickups to the same string distance as my Fenders'. It has equal punch now in passive mode, and is a very versatile bass.
I've ordered EB Slinky Cobalt Flats and can't wait for them to get here.
I'll say this...Fender needs to pull up their socks if they want to match Yamaha's quality of fit and finish at each price point. I love my Fenders, but ya know...
I'm not sure what the VSP5n pickups would be like. My local store had neither the BB435 or BB735A in stock which meant that I had no way to A/B the differences.
BB Series - Specs - Yamaha - Canada - English
As this is my first five string, as well as PJ config, and also my first active bass, I'm completely enthralled with the instrument.
I will say that the pickups seemed to lack strength...that is until I adjusted them closer to the strings. I have compared with my Fender 50's Classic Precision, and my Fender American Special Precision...(sans greasebucket circuit). BTW, I adjusted the Yamaha's pickups to the same string distance as my Fenders'. It has equal punch now in passive mode, and is a very versatile bass.
I've ordered EB Slinky Cobalt Flats and can't wait for them to get here.
I'll say this...Fender needs to pull up their socks if they want to match Yamaha's quality of fit and finish at each price point. I love my Fenders, but ya know...
I'm waiting for local store to get stock. Seems very slow to hit the shelves. I have a bb1025x which I love. Great tone and build. Waiting to try a 734 vs 434. I love the tone of my passive 1025 and don't yet know if the active electronics of the 734 would be worth the extra $
Bump...
I recently got a Yamaha BB 434 and I'm having the same thing. The sound of the pickups is too thin. To my ears these basses don't live up to the of the BB 424's and 414's. I'm comparing the 434 to my Cheap P-bass replica and the 434 can't match the punch of P-bass copy. It's a disapointment to me.
I recently got a Yamaha BB 434 and I'm having the same thing. The sound of the pickups is too thin. To my ears these basses don't live up to the of the BB 424's and 414's. I'm comparing the 434 to my Cheap P-bass replica and the 434 can't match the punch of P-bass copy. It's a disapointment to me.
These comments surprise me.
I've been impressed with the sound of my BB434. It not as "full" as my BB425, but I like it more. It's not a vintage tone, but also not as modern sounding as the BB425.
And...thin? I definitely cannot agree with that. Mine was bought in Australia and came with a very good setup from the factory. I have adjusted the pickups height a bit just to even the volume among the strings, but it's been a nice good-bottom bass tone from day one.
It's scooped, though. More lows than mids. I like that.
I've been impressed with the sound of my BB434. It not as "full" as my BB425, but I like it more. It's not a vintage tone, but also not as modern sounding as the BB425.
And...thin? I definitely cannot agree with that. Mine was bought in Australia and came with a very good setup from the factory. I have adjusted the pickups height a bit just to even the volume among the strings, but it's been a nice good-bottom bass tone from day one.
It's scooped, though. More lows than mids. I like that.
Bump! Any other experiences here with this issue? I wanted to get nordstrand pj hum cancelling (svjs or something, these guys has tons of these ) but they arent available on bestbasgear at the moment. My other choices would be sduncan spb2 hot, both p and j.
I am also considering delano j humbucker and to leave stock p pickup onboard but l hear it may interfere in phase... now l am not sure what to do.
I am also considering delano j humbucker and to leave stock p pickup onboard but l hear it may interfere in phase... now l am not sure what to do.
The pickups in my BBP35 are awesome...Yamaha did their homework with them. The only thing, is that the bridge pickup still hums like the 2025x did (single coil), so I eliminated that with the ZNR patch on my MS60B pedal. With only two volume knobs and a tone knob (all passive), my bass roars like a G&L or Spector. I beefed it up with the MS60B some more, by using the gain of the SVT patch and an Acoustic cab sim.
No complaints at all at this point.
I bought a brand new BB734A and its pickups output is too low compared to my BB1024X. I'm not sure whether it's a defect on the BB734A or if all the new BB's have low output compared to the earlier models. I adjusted the PU height but it didn't make a big difference. Anyone who owns both or any, can share their experience?
Another bump... I've had a chance to play a bb back to back with a fender P, and I'll agree that the Yamaha pickup had nothing on the Fender. One major difference that I can think of is that traditional fender P pickups are alnico, where the Yamaha BB pickups are ceramic... I think that might have something to do with it, but I'm no pickup expert.
Hi. I've been looking into this recently as well.
There is a good video comparison of the 435 and 735:
- there's a difference to my ears.
I also found a good comparison video comparing Fender Precision Bass vs. Yamaha BBP34. I think the BBP34 compares pretty well.
As said before the BBP34 has the same/very similar VSC7b pickups as the 734a. I believe you can order them direct from Yamaha.
Part 1:
Part 2:
All of the new BB pickups are Alnico apart from the 234/235 which are ceramic:
BB Series - Specs - Yamaha - Other European Countries
There is a good video comparison of the 435 and 735:
- there's a difference to my ears.
I also found a good comparison video comparing Fender Precision Bass vs. Yamaha BBP34. I think the BBP34 compares pretty well.
As said before the BBP34 has the same/very similar VSC7b pickups as the 734a. I believe you can order them direct from Yamaha.
Part 1:
Part 2:
All of the new BB pickups are Alnico apart from the 234/235 which are ceramic:
BB Series - Specs - Yamaha - Other European Countries
For the owners that were dissatisfied with the pickups earlier, is that still the case? Or did EQ, changing strings etc. help out?
I replaced the stock strings with a new set of DR Sunbeams and it's a new bass! The pickups are not too hot, but with a bit of boost (EQ) it's not a problem. Hope this helps.
I now have the BB734A and I’m thinking of replacing the original P-pickup with a Fender pure vintage 63 which I know I like from other basses. My impression of the BB734 other than the pickups is that’s it’s a great instrument. Very good quality for its price range.
The pickups though surprise me. The bridge pickups is unusable (and I’m not thinking about the single coil hum) and the P- pickup is not up to the standard of the rest of the bass even though better than the bridge pu’p.
The pickups though surprise me. The bridge pickups is unusable (and I’m not thinking about the single coil hum) and the P- pickup is not up to the standard of the rest of the bass even though better than the bridge pu’p.