Yamaha BB615 vs. Attitude Standard 5

[AARM]

Hey all,

I'm looking for my first 5 string, and I've got two 2nd hand Yamahas in mind: a BB615 and an Attitude Standard 5.

I was wondering if anyone could comment on how they'd expect these two basses to compare in terms of tone. Obviously the BB615 is active and the Attitude is passive, so that's a big difference. Obviously they're both P-J setups so there's a big similarity. But what sort of P-bass tone would you expect out of each of them? I'd expect both to be pretty versatile instruments, but are there any musical styles that you think each instrument wouldn't suit well? I'll get a chance to play the Attitude this weekend, but the BB615 is far away and I won't get a chance to try before I buy.

My other main question is about what sort of price you'd expect for each. I'm down here in NZ so generally things are more expensive. I'm looking at ~$600 (including some hefty shipping costs) for the BB615 and ~$440 for the Attitude Standard 5.

Final note: I've heard mixed views on the electronics in the BB615, and I'm open to replacing the preamp at some point in the future with something well-regarded like a Delano Sonar 3. Any views on whether this mod would be worth doing, and what kind of tonal improvement you'd expect?

Thanks in advance to the wise heads of TalkBass

 

[AARM]

BTW I've converted the prices into USD for y'all

 

[DanielSkilberg]

Can’t speak for the BB615 but I also heard the electronics isn’t the best. But the bass itself should be nice. I have had a BB414 and a BB1024X and loved those. These are passive though.

I have also owned an Attitude Standard and it was a nice bass with good useful tones. I paid 234 usd, (or 2500 Swedish crowns), for it which seems like a more reasonable price point. I don’t know the prices were you’re at though.

I now own a Sandberg California TM5 and the Attitude Standard can’t compare to that but there’s a big price difference too.

 

[AARM]

Can’t speak for the BB615 but I also heard the electronics isn’t the best. But the bass itself should be nice. I have had a BB414 and a BB1024X and loved those. These are passive though.

I have also owned an Attitude Standard and it was a nice bass with good useful tones. I paid 234 usd, (or 2500 Swedish crowns), for it which seems like a more reasonable price point. I don’t know the prices were you’re at though.

I now own a Sandberg California TM5 and the Attitude Standard can’t compare to that but there’s a big price difference too.

Thanks! Yeah I've heard that the 414/614/615 are very similar just with a so-so preamp added to the 614/615... So how would you compare the 414 vs. the Attitude Standard in terms of tone? Would one of them sound more modern or traditional to your ears? I'm particularly interested in the difference between the P pickups, as I'll be using that the most

 

[DanielSkilberg]

Thanks! Yeah I've heard that the 414/614/615 are very similar just with a so-so preamp added to the 614/615... So how would you compare the 414 vs. the Attitude Standard in terms of tone? Would one of them sound more modern or traditional to your ears? I'm particularly interested in the difference between the P pickups, as I'll be using that the most

I think the BB series, which I love, is the nicer bass. But they are both kind of like a P bass on steroids. At least mine was. In my opinion more towards traditional sound but with more bite.

 

[garp]

I have a passive BB415, so can’t comment on the factory preamp. However, @stingray69 has the Delano preamp in a BB615. Check out this thread.

 

[stingray69]

I have a passive BB415, so can’t comment on the factory preamp. However, @stingray69 has the Delano preamp in a BB615. Check out this thread.

I had read several comments on TB regarding the stock preamp being so-so on the BB615. I figured I would simply buy the pre-owned BB615 and assess that for myself and would upgrade the preamp if I thought it need it.

I was pleasantly surprised when it sounded really good! Even more surprised when I opened the control cavity and found that a previous owner had installed a Delano Sonar 3 preamp. But in that regard, I never got to hear the stock preamp.

That said, I was highly impressed with the Delano Sonar 3 preamp that came in the (pre-owned) BB615. It suited the bass very well - worked very well with the existing pickups. The low end was powerful and not flabby. I also liked that the preamp seem fairly neutral in that it did not overtake the natural sound of the pickups. It did not have any noticable baked-in tone. When set flat, the pickups in the BB615 sounded the same as my other passive Yamaha basses with the same pickups.

The Delano also had a good amount of boost & cut - somewhere around +/- 15db (IIRC) on each EQ band. It was my first experience with a Delano preamp and really solidified them in my book for a top-choice in the future if I need to upgrade or replace anything I currently have. I understand that they also have a couple of variation of the Sonar model. I think one gives you an internal (in the control cavity) means of selecting 3 choices of midrange frequency to choose from, and the other model puts the 3-way mid selector on an external 3-way switch. But yes- I was super impressed with the Delano Sonar preamp. Hope any of that helps.

 

[stingray69]

In regards to the Attitude, I've always admired them from a distance but I've never had the opportunity to play one in person.

I hear great things about them, but how they differ tone-wise I couldn't begin to tell you.

 

[AARM]

I have a passive BB415, so can’t comment on the factory preamp. However, @stingray69 has the Delano preamp in a BB615. Check out this thread.

Amazing thank you! I'll be honest, that BB615 is calling my name pretty clearly from across the Pacific Ocean but I better go and try the Attitude down the road from me for the sake of due diligence. I've got a pretty good idea of what the BB615 sounds like (i.e. wonderful) from clips on YT but not so with the Attitude.

I love that the Delano 3 matches the current set up of the pots so it seems like no routing would be required... As a first time bass modder I would feel pretty nervous and intimidated by the prospect of cutting into the wood!

BTW got to love those stock knobs, everything about that bass is handsome

 

[DanielSkilberg]

Amazing thank you! I'll be honest, that BB615 is calling my name pretty clearly from across the Pacific Ocean but I better go and try the Attitude down the road from me for the sake of due diligence. I've got a pretty good idea of what the BB615 sounds like (i.e. wonderful) from clips on YT but not so with the Attitude.

I love that the Delano 3 matches the current set up of the pots so it seems like no routing would be required... As a first time bass modder I would feel pretty nervous and intimidated by the prospect of cutting into the wood!

BTW got to love those stock knobs, everything about that bass is handsome

Yeah I think you can’t go wrong with the BB615. I mean you can always change the preamp if you dont like it. Or go passive. Wort thinking about is that the pickups don’t have standard size. But the pickups is usually great on all BB series basses.

 

[AARM]

Tried the Attitude Standard 5 today - really solid bass, B string had great tension, string spacing felt great, amazing P bass tone from the neck pick up and a nice tone from the bridge pickup too (little bit of hum that seems to be par for the course). Nice punchy sound, great for rock, reggae and most other styles, pretty powerful and growly especially considering it's passive. The B string sounded especially great with the bridge pickup dialled in, I could hear the pitch really clearly compared to some B strings I've heard where it's like 'there's a low note in there somewhere but I couldn't tell you what it is...'

...But I'm going to go for the BB615 cos it seems like the better instrument overall, it sounds a little bit more traditional (which suits me because I'm playing a lot of soul & R'n'B) and has a bit more versatility with the 3 band EQ. And of course it looks incredible too, although I've really tried not avoid letting that sway my decision too much

Thanks all for the input on this! I'll be sure to post a photo and mini review in a month or so once it is finally in my hands.

P.S. please send good vibes for the BB615's journey across the Pacific, hoping it arrives in one piece!

 

[DanielSkilberg]

Tried the Attitude Standard 5 today - really solid bass, B string had great tension, string spacing felt great, amazing P bass tone from the neck pick up and a nice tone from the bridge pickup too (little bit of hum that seems to be par for the course). Nice punchy sound, great for rock, reggae and most other styles, pretty powerful and growly especially considering it's passive. The B string sounded especially great with the bridge pickup dialled in, I could hear the pitch really clearly compared to some B strings I've heard where it's like 'there's a low note in there somewhere but I couldn't tell you what it is...'

...But I'm going to go for the BB615 cos it seems like the better instrument overall, it sounds a little bit more traditional (which suits me because I'm playing a lot of soul & R'n'B) and has a bit more versatility with the 3 band EQ. And of course it looks incredible too, although I've really tried not avoid letting that sway my decision too much

Thanks all for the input on this! I'll be sure to post a photo and mini review in a month or so once it is finally in my hands.

P.S. please send good vibes for the BB615's journey across the Pacific, hoping it arrives in one piece!

Cool, Yeah the B-string on the Attitude really is great.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the BB615 journey

Looking forward to an update when it arrives.

Take care

 

[AARM]

Alright I was all set to push go on the BB615 ($700 CAD)and then I saw a BB425x for $450 CAD.

I've looked around at comparisons between the 615, 415 and 425 and so far I've gleaned that:
- the 615 is basically a 415 with a so-so preamp added in there
- people seem to like the 415 better because the pickups sound great when wired up passive
- the 425 has slightly hotter pickups than the 415
- the B string may be slightly tighter on the 425 than on the 415
- the nut width and string spacing are almost exactly the same (43.5mm nut on the 615, 43mm on the 425, 18m spacing at bridge on all 3)
- the 425 has a 5 piece neck and a string through bridge, but no-one has really stumped up to say that they hear a real difference from those additional features
- neck shape: people generally are into the neck shape of all three instruments but the 425 has more of a D profile and the 615 feels a little thinner with a more modern C shape

Both are in like new condition, no case or gig bag included. Which would you swing for if you were in my shoes, and why?

So far I am leaning towards the 615 because it is more upgradeable, with the option to chuck in a high quality pre amp (with active-passive switching) with no changes to the body of the instrument. And the neck sounds like I might find it slightly more playable, and I like the look of it a bit better... but are those differences worth $250 to me?? And should I be giving more weight to the upgraded neck construction and bridge on the 425? I am nearly over this bout of G.A.S. but this last stage feels like it is taking forever