@@nothingEvil101 looks are always a bit subjective. I personally dont really think you play an instrument because it looks good, much rather because of its sound and for that price point its pretty good. it dosent even look that bad with tabacco soundburst
@@phipschi4255 Still people also buy with their eyes. Unusual design plus not being one of the prestigeous brands means people will not bother with your instrument and therefor why they are "underrated"
There is one major difference with this line of Yamaha BB's than from past generations that nobody talks about. FINALLY, these basses now have standard pickup mounting patterns for modding for aftermarket pickups upgrades. This was the achilles heel of past BB basses. Back then, you could never upgrade the stock pickups without having to do something drastic by way of body modifications.
I've had one of these for a couple of years. It really is quite something, and for the price it's insane. Sounds great, feels great and is beyond rock solid. I set it up the day I got it and it hasn't budged a hair since.
I appreciate you doing the sound test in a way that actually shows the tone of the bass. The same lines, with different configurations, different play styles. Sounds like a no brainer, but it's the exception rather than the rule.
Yamaha is underrated in the bass industry. I have an old RBX765A that I've had forever. It sounds like the apocalypse. Very different from the bass you have there but great none the less. Its a 5 string. The 6 string version was the John Myung signnature bass. Yamaha just gives you lots of bang (or boom?) for your buck. From their entry level basses to their top of the line models you get your money's worth.
I still use my RBX765A and it’s 20 years old. Bulletproof and definitely gives my more expensive basses a run for the money. It’s the reason I’m checking out the BB series for a passive bulletproof 4 string.
@@JonnyDibble you should look up the old BB1600’s and BB200’s, neither had scratch plates. I have a 1988 BB1600 in cream white and it’s a real looker. Not to mention it sounds incredible, similar to the newer ones but with more punchiness.
as primarily a guitarist, i’ve been doing a lot of research on basses to try and find a nice versatile instrument to have around for when i ever need one. I was mostly looking at basses 3 times the price of this, but your run through is more proof than i need that the bb434 can handle anything i’d throw at it. and i really appreciate you running through a bunch of heavier tones instead of just slapping a “oh yeah here’s some distortion” bit on at the end. Thanks!
Love seeing Yamaha basses getting some good reviews recently... absolutely brilliant build quality and sound amazing. I used to own a TRB 5PII, which was just unbelievable. I've tried several instances of the BBNE, which have all been out of this world!
Jonny Dibble That’d be great! On paper, the TRBX look really good... I keep toying with getting one myself. I forgot my first decent bass was actually a Yamaha TRB6JM, which was also very good... but the electronics were a bit boring.
@@JonnyDibble Yep. My Yamaha is basically the same as yours except for the switch for the active sound. The guys in my band say it's on another level and want me to play it all the time! Thanks for the reply. Greetings from Dublin.
I got one of these almost two years ago. It came down to a choice between it and a MIM Fender P, which was another $100. Luckily the store I bought the Yamaha from also had the P bass I was looking at, so I was able to compare them. It wasn't to difficult to feel and hear that the Yamaha was the best choice. The string through bridge and neck pocket were the real selling points for me. The only mod I have made was installing a hipshot de-tuner, which is pretty cool.
I bought the BB734A and am amazed at how good it is. My only grumble is that, as a flat picker (mostly), I'd like the strings a little closer together at the bridge end. The range of tones available and the playability are phenomenal. For a bass that comes in at well under £900 including a decent padded case, you couldn't go wrong, it's a bargain.
I previously owned a Yamaha BB1024X. LOVED the tone, the feel, and the low action but it was heavy as a boat anchor. I couldn't play it for 3 one hour sets. It was just too heavy for practical gig use so I sold it.
I'm pretty new to bass and my first was a Yamaha TRBX304, It's a great insturment, super comfortable and can produce a variety of sounds. I also have a Cort bass which is really nice, and a HB PB20 in satin black, which is a bargain bass, but my fave is the Yamaha.
@@JonnyDibble Yea.. I'm cheap and also can't justify spending too much at my current level of competency. Look forward to seeing you review the 5 string version, note that the TRBX304/5 has 5-way EQ switch selector as well as a 2 band EQ, with present EQ levels for different playing styles, but no passive mode. The TRBX504/5 has 3 band EQ and active/passive switch with different pick ups.
Bought myself a BB from 2003, not a top of the range model but ive wanted one since i learned about peter hook. Supremely playable instrument with some diverse sound options
I have a BB734, which gives you the active option. Perfect PJ bass for me. These BBs sound awesome and are so versatile for recording as demonstrated in this excellent video.
I’ve been considering on and off whether or not to get myself one of the new Yamaha BB’s for a long while and I think you’ve convinced me! Another crackin’ video my dude! 🤘🏻
I went into a well-regarded Bass specialist shop in my city a few weeks ago fully expecting to walk out with a MIM Fender P or PJ of some sort. I walked out a couple of hours later with a BB434, for several hundred dollars less than the various F's I played with. YMMV but I loved it's full tone, rich note bloom and long sustain, fit and finish and things like pot feel and tuner feel were superior, and it just fits my hands hand wonderfully well. I'm a bit ambivalent about the BBOT bridge, might swap that out in due course but maybe not. It's an outstanding bass, especially for the money.
I'm glad you also like your BB434! Told you she's a keeper, versatile and beautiful sounding. Great review Jonny, as always! I hope your channel keeps growing. All the best!
I managed to ignore Yamaha basses for several years until one caught my eye in a local guitar store. After a few minutes of playing I bought a BB734 that was on sale for $670...an amazing bass at a fantastic price.
bought my bb735 almost eyar ago and still every time i take it from bag i cant believe this beauty is mine)) sounds awesome aspecially with my microtubes x7)
I love the growl of these Yamaha PJs. To me they are the only who compete head-to-head with Made in Japan Fender PJs like the Boxer. Can't wait to get my hands on one of this, or maybe the fantastic BB2000. What a bass!
Played a Yamaha active five string for many years. They've always made excellent basses in my opinion. Their mid priced models are excellent intermediate or even pro quality instruments
Great video Jonny, I purchased this bass about 18 months ago, funny thing is I put the Geezer pickups in my BB434 and put the BB P pickup in a P bass I hand built. I really love the Geezers along with flat strings on the Yammy.
I hear ya on the used bass subject especially with the Yamaha basses...Jimmy Bain/Nathan East/ Richard Page made me believe in Yamaha basses..I overlooked the non Japanese models however these are new times and the price points are reflected..good post and good information..I’m sold & subbed sir🍻
Hey I noticed you did a review on the Sterling Sting Ray as well. Do you have a preference? I'm really debating over the two of them. I love the humbucker sound in the Sting Ray, but you made this Yamaha sound amazing as well. I mostly love playing hard rock, so I like that darker heavier bass sound.
I was given a Yamaha P/J bass back in 2008, i still have and still play it (my only P-bass as yet). I haven’t played bass much for the last few years, but just started again at a small church. Thanks for your channel.
A couple years ago I started playing bass again after 20+ years. I went the the BB235 since I didn't want to spend too much getting back into it again. Honestly at 1st I wasn't too impressed, maybe it was the tight string spacing or that I was new to the 5 string, but I really warmed up to it when I put some flat wound strings on it. Since then I bout a old Yamaha SB500 a couple Sires, a Greco VB, a Grover Jackson and a Peavey T40 (which is in safekeeping with a friend and haven't played yet) to replace the one my ex wife pawned. The BB is the one I grabbed most often off the wall.
Never had a Yamaha Bass, but I have a Yamaha Trombone, and they are very high grade intraments. We were looking at getting a baby grand piano, because it sounds very good, but my wife decided to go with a Stienway EX model. I think the price was a bit better on the steinway and the sound was just as good. I am looking at the 304 series, I am not a fan of the chunky necks, but the 434 looks great.
I tried a new version of this bass about a year ago and was not totally impressed. Just picked up a used one at a great price and it’s fantastic. The used one was already good out of the box, and with an upgraded Gotoh 404B0-4 bridge and careful set up it’s great. The first one must have been a bit of a dud, but the second one is a winner.
My Yamaha BB435 is tonally different than Fender PJs, but can be EQ'd with different strings (eg. flat wound) to cut the highs and low-mids. It's more aggressive sounding, which is what I wanted. sells new for $100 more now than it did in 2022, so used prices are more than I paid for it BECAUSE it's oen of the best values for semi pro PJ bass you can get. And I don't sound like anyone else, so I can craft my own unique sound.
thank you very much for putting this together, appreciate it! this is my dream bass which I will purchase shortly .... info provided in your video helped me a lot settle on this beautiful, well underrated bass
Wholly agree. I bought mine a few months ago - and usually prefer it to my American-made Fender P. (Active) Beautiful tone. Easily the best FEELING bass I have ever played. The finish behind the neck makes for a very smooth glide. (More satin than high gloss - which slightly sticks to skin)
Great review as usual. Thanks for the upload. I've never owned a bad Yamaha bass, still have an RBX4-A2 uber light modern jazz keeper.😎 My passive metallic orange BB414 I still regret selling😔 Bigger necks but very flat fretboard radius makes them feel much faster. That 6 bolt neck fitting helps to minimise dead spots that all bass suffer from. The only company to NOT sub production out to third parties even on cheaper lines.....no matter where its made, the factory will be wholly owned by Yamaha. Peerless consistent quality. Just holding a Yamaha bass, one can instantly feel the quality in a tactical way, some other brands can't replicate 👍
Very nice review ! You mention it is beefy, do you happen to know its weight ? Any nose dive on this model ? Id really like to have it and i cannot find a place to try it on before purchase :S
Went into a store today looking for a TRBX 304 but they didn’t have those and the sales rep convinced me to order one of these. Gonna pick it up in a few days, I think I got the tobacco sunburst color, really excited now after watching this! Thanks for the great demo and review!
I have a 1985 BB1100S. It has a Passive/Active toggle and the bar pickup (at the bridge) is super hot. It's all original (except the strings, of course), still plays great, and I only ever have to tune it if I accidentally bump the tuning keys on something. I got interested in Yamahas when I read an interview with Andy Rourke from The Smiths saying that his Fender p-bass is his go-to bass unless he wants to play something fast and snappy, then he uses a Yamaha. I think the reason people sleep on Yamaha is because their lower-end models (RBX and TRBX) aren't that great and that's usually what people see if they're in a Guitar Center.
Amazing! Yeah its a brand reputation thing, I guess Yamaha are just spread really thin as a business so the instruments don't get the love compared to Fender etc, despite the quality being there!
That’s true. I’ve always been a big fan of ceramic pickups and they sound pretty killer. I own 3 Yamaha basses and they are one of the best bass guitars I’ve ever own.
@@jeffchase2491 they are single coil pickups. The only difference between the Yamaha bb200 series and the bb400 series is that the bb200 basses has ceramic pickups while the bb400 basses has alnico pickups.
I've got this in teal blue 5 string rosewood fretboard. I've been playing with Yamaha guitars, FG800 acoustic, a borrowed RBX bass before I started to get more serious in playing bass, TRBX174, TRBX305 and the 435. They're underrated coz nobody wants to play them if they're not being played by known musicians IMO. 🤣. Billy Sheehan, John Myung, John Pattituci, Nathan East to name a few are the best example for Yamaha bass users. Not your everyday listening type of music, if you know what I mean.
IDK if they are underated as much as overlooked. If you ask any bandleader or music teacher "hey. how good are Yamaha's? you will always hear words of praise. Also I think Yamaha is quietly selling a shit ton of them Sweetwater has been sold out of Yamahas for 6 months now and it you look at their basses in order of popularity you see a bunch up near the top
The BBs are on my radar since I have seen Adam Duce (former Machine Head) using one during the Unto the Locust period. Super nice mids on that album. 🔥Before that, I overlooked them as well. 😉
Thank you for the great review, as always! I don’t know whether to get this or the Yamaha TRBX604. Both very different basses, I know… I normally like the active humbucker thing, but this would be a cool option too.
i've got one in teal. i took the pickguard off and put the screws back in, then replaced the string tree with a fender one. looks SO much better to me.
My first and only bass is a Yamaha RBX 170. I love it. They sell a newer version of mine but still same. lol. I think mine is from 2003? I just got back into playing, I am glad I kept this bass.. feels like talking to an old friend lol.
I would really appreciate to see you playing an G&L bass, the Tribute series is quite affordable and well build. I own a Kiloton in "Irish Ale", which I really like. And the Fallout short scale basses look really awesome!
I owned this bass for two days during a trial period. It seems to be made of quality material, but was let down by a poor setup and feeling a bit unfinished. Maybe I’ve been unlucky, but I haven’t been so impressed by the basses I’ve encountered that have been made in Indonesia. A Cort action bass and the Yamaha BB434. Both were in need of a setup and the neck on the Yamaha felt a bit rough and unfinished, but the Cort bass was 1/4 the price of the Yamaha so that seems acceptable at such a low price. I had two and now 3 FGN basses. Yes they are a bit more expensive, but well worth the extra money in my opinion. Maybe I was just unlucky, but I was not exactly impressed with the copy I got. Luckily I was able to send it back and find a used FGN P-bass that I like a lot more. From the comment section it seems I’m in the minority and most people love this bass.
I guess if I look at the used price of the Yamaha BB434 it makes a lot more sense to buy as it costs about 60% of what I paid for a the FGN I like more. If they can up the QC at their Indonesian factory then I think this bass would be an excellent value.
I’ve been playing Yamaha BB basses for close to 30 years. I play a variety of basses and have done some pickup upgrades on Fenders but nothing has ever sounded even close to as good as my older Yamaha basses. I have had a couple BB300 basses and one BB450, all excellent. I have picked up the new cheaper ones in the shop and I find it feels a bit cheap. I’m curious how the new Yamaha pickups compare to the nice old ones.
@@JonnyDibble oh, yea the bass is pretty cool too. I meant as a whole lol. Thanks for the review though. I think I found my next bass. It'll make a nice addition to the stingray.
Great review! Neck pickup sounds like P bass with more clarity, which I love. I'm thinking about buying either bb434 or sire m5. If you have any chance, could you please review Sire's P7, 5 or M5 comparing bb434 sometime?
Thanks very much! I used to own the Sire M7. The M series isn't really comparable to the BB though, totally different feeling and sounding basses! A shootout with one of their P basses could be fun though! 😁 Cheers
I have had the pleasure to demo your mentioned Sires and at the same time the Yamaha TRBX 605 and a TBRX 504. The sires hardware is not in the same league as the TRBX, the neck, preamp, weight and tone are simply better on the Yammy and they are cheaper. The BB series is always a sure thing be it the new ones or the older 614/616/414/415/ 424/1024/2024. let alone the 80's MIJ series. I own 39 basses, 10 are Yamaha's Sa/BB and TRB. I personally would not waste my time or money on a Sire and would take a serious look at G&L tribute series basses instead. I have one and it really is very very good.
I recently got their TXR504 I think they were called? their version of player series fender jazz basically, $600 or something like that? It is made in Indonesia, obviously for the Russian market because everything is in Russian on the back, not that I care.. :) But anyway, it's got some of the same nifty details like the large space for the truss rod. I mean I need to slack the neck of the bass and crack it open a bit to do that on my old Fender P. It's a whole project... It weighs like 3kg, feels like a guitar body with a 24fret bass neck attached, it's very different from the Fenders I've played almost exclusively and I've never been happier. It was half the price of my cheapest fender.
I use to own this bass. Don't get me wrong it looked the part and felt super nice to play but the pick ups felt like a MASSIVE step back from Yamaha's old BB series. I purchased a MIJ Yamaha 1976 super bass instead!
Have had a lot of problems with my 434. Had had to have the frets leveled immediately. And the string retainer popped off while playing. Tried to screw it back in but the hole was stripped out. The wood seems to be very soft.
Suzuki made really good basses at one time,not sure if they still do. I have what they call the SB10..student bass 10...its a regular pbass from 89..90, it's old you can find the ones with the ugly headstock sometimes mines super rare as it has a fender style headstock kinda
Always been a massive fan of Yamaha basses. My first one was a Yamaha BBN5A, a cheaper version of the Nathan East signature, killer bass. If you haven't yet, you should try their TRB 1000 series for a great modern sound
![What's all the fuss about?! | Yamaha BB735A [Review/Demo]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hg9GY6kDHtQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's all the fuss about?! | Yamaha BB735A [Review/Demo]](/img/tr.png)
It’s just crazy how underrated Yamaha basses are
I was so guilty of overlooking them before. Amazing quality!
Cause they look “quirky”, and not in a good way
A higher-end Yamaha bass is like a sports car.
@@nothingEvil101 looks are always a bit subjective. I personally dont really think you play an instrument because it looks good, much rather because of its sound and for that price point its pretty good. it dosent even look that bad with tabacco soundburst
@@phipschi4255 Still people also buy with their eyes. Unusual design plus not being one of the prestigeous brands means people will not bother with your instrument and therefor why they are "underrated"
I dont think i have ever played a BAD yamaha instrument. These guys know quality
There is one major difference with this line of Yamaha BB's than from past generations that nobody talks about.
FINALLY, these basses now have standard pickup mounting patterns for modding for aftermarket pickups upgrades. This was the achilles heel of past BB basses. Back then, you could never upgrade the stock pickups without having to do something drastic by way of body modifications.
I hear ya, but for me, I have never seen a need to change the pickups. 😊
When is an upgrade not an upgrade? When its a Yamaha bass...or a Fender, people need to stop wasting mone. @@sboyd177
I've had one of these for a couple of years. It really is quite something, and for the price it's insane. Sounds great, feels great and is beyond rock solid. I set it up the day I got it and it hasn't budged a hair since.
It really us built like a tank. That's a sign of quality there!
I appreciate you doing the sound test in a way that actually shows the tone of the bass. The same lines, with different configurations, different play styles. Sounds like a no brainer, but it's the exception rather than the rule.
Yamaha is underrated in the bass industry. I have an old RBX765A that I've had forever. It sounds like the apocalypse. Very different from the bass you have there but great none the less. Its a 5 string. The 6 string version was the John Myung signnature bass. Yamaha just gives you lots of bang (or boom?) for your buck. From their entry level basses to their top of the line models you get your money's worth.
"It sounds like the apocalypse" I love that 😆😍 Cant wait to try out some more out of their lineup!
I still use my RBX765A and it’s 20 years old. Bulletproof and definitely gives my more expensive basses a run for the money. It’s the reason I’m checking out the BB series for a passive bulletproof 4 string.
I have an RBX as well and I like it more than my MIM J-bass! Not my 76 though!
I found a RBX775, the next tier up from the 765A back in the day if I’m not mistaken, and it is an exceptional instrument.
I wish Yamaha made them with some of the finishes they did in the 70s, 80s and 90s. I also think they should make neck-through versions again as well
That would be cool to see! Would like to see some without scratchplates too
@@JonnyDibble you should look up the old BB1600’s and BB200’s, neither had scratch plates. I have a 1988 BB1600 in cream white and it’s a real looker. Not to mention it sounds incredible, similar to the newer ones but with more punchiness.
@@xanderdaniels8284 punchier the better! (A sentence only applicable to bass)
That's one amazing bass and that's the best review of it in TH-cam.
Thank-you so much! The bass deserves the credit! 😁
My trombone is a Yamaha. It's 20 plus years old and they still sell the exact same model.
If it ain't broke!
as primarily a guitarist, i’ve been doing a lot of research on basses to try and find a nice versatile instrument to have around for when i ever need one. I was mostly looking at basses 3 times the price of this, but your run through is more proof than i need that the bb434 can handle anything i’d throw at it. and i really appreciate you running through a bunch of heavier tones instead of just slapping a “oh yeah here’s some distortion” bit on at the end. Thanks!
If you're wanting a workhorse bass as a guitar player,, this would be a great option! Glad you enjoyed 😊 Cheers!
Bloody brilliant mate! Yamaha makes outboard motors for boats too. No bollocks. High quality.
That should definitely be their slogan. Cheers man!
I just got one today Jonny. INCREDIBLE bass at this price. Far surpassing any Squire Ibanez or Jackson at this price point
Love seeing Yamaha basses getting some good reviews recently... absolutely brilliant build quality and sound amazing. I used to own a TRB 5PII, which was just unbelievable. I've tried several instances of the BBNE, which have all been out of this world!
Nice one! They're so underrated. Want to see if I can get a 5 string TRBX next 🤔
Jonny Dibble That’d be great! On paper, the TRBX look really good... I keep toying with getting one myself. I forgot my first decent bass was actually a Yamaha TRB6JM, which was also very good... but the electronics were a bit boring.
3 years later and they are now 660 quid new. Wild stuff
Honestly, that bridge pickups sounds perfectly usable to me, especially with the tone at half.
I never use bridge single coils by themselves... but this one? Its probably my favourite I've had!
I have a Yamaha BB734, it blows away my USA Fender P-bass and Rickenbacker. Superb basses..
Amazing! Yamaha deserve more recognition
@@JonnyDibble Yep. My Yamaha is basically the same as yours except for the switch for the active sound. The guys in my band say it's on another level and want me to play it all the time! Thanks for the reply. Greetings from Dublin.
Thanks for the great review, I have a 735 coming tomorrow so I'm pretty excited.
Love your reviews, you're really good at it
Has a very “Rage Against the Machine” tone. Very cool
Can see that with the bridge pickup dialled in! Love it.
Chris Novoselic more like...
I got one of these almost two years ago. It came down to a choice between it and a MIM Fender P, which was another $100. Luckily the store I bought the Yamaha from also had the P bass I was looking at, so I was able to compare them. It wasn't to difficult to feel and hear that the Yamaha was the best choice. The string through bridge and neck pocket were the real selling points for me. The only mod I have made was installing a hipshot de-tuner, which is pretty cool.
Definitely seeing a trend if these basses being "fender killers"! Sad I'm so late to the party! Thanks for checking out the video ☺
I bought the BB734A and am amazed at how good it is. My only grumble is that, as a flat picker (mostly), I'd like the strings a little closer together at the bridge end. The range of tones available and the playability are phenomenal. For a bass that comes in at well under £900 including a decent padded case, you couldn't go wrong, it's a bargain.
I previously owned a Yamaha BB1024X. LOVED the tone, the feel, and the low action but it was heavy as a boat anchor. I couldn't play it for 3 one hour sets. It was just too heavy for practical gig use so I sold it.
I'm pretty new to bass and my first was a Yamaha TRBX304, It's a great insturment, super comfortable and can produce a variety of sounds. I also have a Cort bass which is really nice, and a HB PB20 in satin black, which is a bargain bass, but my fave is the Yamaha.
A lot of great value basses in there! 👌 Hoping to get hold of a 5 string TRBX soon. Cheers! 😊
@@JonnyDibble Yea.. I'm cheap and also can't justify spending too much at my current level of competency. Look forward to seeing you review the 5 string version, note that the TRBX304/5 has 5-way EQ switch selector as well as a 2 band EQ, with present EQ levels for different playing styles, but no passive mode. The TRBX504/5 has 3 band EQ and active/passive switch with different pick ups.
Bought myself a BB from 2003, not a top of the range model but ive wanted one since i learned about peter hook. Supremely playable instrument with some diverse sound options
I have a BB734, which gives you the active option. Perfect PJ bass for me. These BBs sound awesome and are so versatile for recording as demonstrated in this excellent video.
Would love to try the 734! Yamaha are serious players in the game 💪Many thanks!
I’ve been considering on and off whether or not to get myself one of the new Yamaha BB’s for a long while and I think you’ve convinced me! Another crackin’ video my dude! 🤘🏻
Great newwws! These are sick. Thanks man! 😁
@El Novice Bassist awesome, cheers for the advice! Much appreciated! 😁
I went into a well-regarded Bass specialist shop in my city a few weeks ago fully expecting to walk out with a MIM Fender P or PJ of some sort. I walked out a couple of hours later with a BB434, for several hundred dollars less than the various F's I played with. YMMV but I loved it's full tone, rich note bloom and long sustain, fit and finish and things like pot feel and tuner feel were superior, and it just fits my hands hand wonderfully well. I'm a bit ambivalent about the BBOT bridge, might swap that out in due course but maybe not. It's an outstanding bass, especially for the money.
Punches way above its pay grade. Definitely gives Fender a run for it's money!
I'm glad you also like your BB434! Told you she's a keeper, versatile and beautiful sounding. Great review Jonny, as always! I hope your channel keeps growing. All the best!
Yes! It's incredible. Thank-you so much for all the support man! 😄
I managed to ignore Yamaha basses for several years until one caught my eye in a local guitar store. After a few minutes of playing I bought a BB734 that was on sale for $670...an amazing bass at a fantastic price.
bought my bb735 almost eyar ago and still every time i take it from bag i cant believe this beauty is mine)) sounds awesome aspecially with my microtubes x7)
Finding a bass that can do that is such a good feeling 😍 Sweet combination!
I have a BB734. Perfect PJ bass for me. These BBs sound awesome and are so versatile for recording as demonstrated in this excellent video.
I totally agree, it's a very versatile bass, I've played it with my Omicron, Microtubes, and the X7.
I love the growl of these Yamaha PJs. To me they are the only who compete head-to-head with Made in Japan Fender PJs like the Boxer. Can't wait to get my hands on one of this, or maybe the fantastic BB2000. What a bass!
Me: recently restores a 1987 Squier Bullet into my dream P-bass
Also me: sees this video
...
One can never have too many P basses 🤭
That sounds like an absolute beast, heavy bottom, really resonates!
Fits so many genres! Loving these pickups tbh 😊
Played a Yamaha active five string for many years. They've always made excellent basses in my opinion. Their mid priced models are excellent intermediate or even pro quality instruments
They'll always be underdogs in the bass world. So good!
Great video Jonny, I purchased this bass about 18 months ago, funny thing is I put the Geezer pickups in my BB434 and put the BB P pickup in a P bass I hand built. I really love the Geezers along with flat strings on the Yammy.
I hear ya on the used bass subject especially with the Yamaha basses...Jimmy Bain/Nathan East/ Richard Page made me believe in Yamaha basses..I overlooked the non Japanese models however these are new times and the price points are reflected..good post and good information..I’m sold & subbed sir🍻
They are seriously keeping up (and going above and beyond!) with brands like Fender. Super impressed! Tha ks very much 😄
Hey I noticed you did a review on the Sterling Sting Ray as well. Do you have a preference? I'm really debating over the two of them. I love the humbucker sound in the Sting Ray, but you made this Yamaha sound amazing as well. I mostly love playing hard rock, so I like that darker heavier bass sound.
Yamaha multiple BB owner since the early 80’s here. Pleasantly surprised to see the maple fingerboard!
I was given a Yamaha P/J bass back in 2008, i still have and still play it (my only P-bass as yet). I haven’t played bass much for the last few years, but just started again at a small church. Thanks for your channel.
Awesome basses! Yamaha are still super underrated. Great to hear you're getting back into playing 😁 Thanks for tuning in!
A couple years ago I started playing bass again after 20+ years. I went the the BB235 since I didn't want to spend too much getting back into it again. Honestly at 1st I wasn't too impressed, maybe it was the tight string spacing or that I was new to the 5 string, but I really warmed up to it when I put some flat wound strings on it. Since then I bout a old Yamaha SB500 a couple Sires, a Greco VB, a Grover Jackson and a Peavey T40 (which is in safekeeping with a friend and haven't played yet) to replace the one my ex wife pawned. The BB is the one I grabbed most often off the wall.
Never had a Yamaha Bass, but I have a Yamaha Trombone, and they are very high grade intraments. We were looking at getting a baby grand piano, because it sounds very good, but my wife decided to go with a Stienway EX model. I think the price was a bit better on the steinway and the sound was just as good. I am looking at the 304 series, I am not a fan of the chunky necks, but the 434 looks great.
I tried a new version of this bass about a year ago and was not totally impressed. Just picked up a used one at a great price and it’s fantastic. The used one was already good out of the box, and with an upgraded Gotoh 404B0-4 bridge and careful set up it’s great. The first one must have been a bit of a dud, but the second one is a winner.
My Yamaha BB435 is tonally different than Fender PJs, but can be EQ'd with different strings (eg. flat wound) to cut the highs and low-mids. It's more aggressive sounding, which is what I wanted. sells new for $100 more now than it did in 2022, so used prices are more than I paid for it BECAUSE it's oen of the best values for semi pro PJ bass you can get. And I don't sound like anyone else, so I can craft my own unique sound.
thank you very much for putting this together, appreciate it!
this is my dream bass which I will purchase shortly .... info provided in your video helped me a lot settle on this beautiful, well underrated bass
You're very welcome! Congratulations on the bass when it comes! 😁😁
Holy shit that growl is awesome. I'm in love
I really appreciate a company that can make quality student models.
Absolutely! Great that Yamaha cover all bases (basses)
Wholly agree. I bought mine a few months ago - and usually prefer it to my American-made Fender P. (Active) Beautiful tone. Easily the best FEELING bass I have ever played. The finish behind the neck makes for a very smooth glide. (More satin than high gloss - which slightly sticks to skin)
I'm all about that satin neck feeling! Cracking basses 👌
Great review as usual. Thanks for the upload.
I've never owned a bad Yamaha bass, still have an RBX4-A2 uber light modern jazz keeper.😎 My passive metallic orange BB414 I still regret selling😔
Bigger necks but very flat fretboard radius makes them feel much faster.
That 6 bolt neck fitting helps to minimise dead spots that all bass suffer from.
The only company to NOT sub production out to third parties even on cheaper lines.....no matter where its made, the factory will be wholly owned by Yamaha. Peerless consistent quality. Just holding a Yamaha bass, one can instantly feel the quality in a tactical way, some other brands can't replicate 👍
Cheers! I really want to try out a 5 string from Yamaha. Underrated company for bass!
Very nice review !
You mention it is beefy, do you happen to know its weight ?
Any nose dive on this model ?
Id really like to have it and i cannot find a place to try it on before purchase :S
Awesome video once again Jonny! The 434 really does sound a big step above the 234. And that maple fretboard wowwwweee!
Thanks dude 😊 The 234 you have still looks and sounds the part!! This one is seriously question whether I need my Squier anymore 😅
I have an RBX750 from 1992 in black. It sounds & plays amazing.
Went into a store today looking for a TRBX 304 but they didn’t have those and the sales rep convinced me to order one of these. Gonna pick it up in a few days, I think I got the tobacco sunburst color, really excited now after watching this! Thanks for the great demo and review!
Ah nice one! It's a killer bass, congrats! Thank-you 😊
its ok dude even guitarists sleep on yamaha regularly despite the pacifica series being absolute mint since forever.
I had a Pacifica for ages and thought it was great and STILL slept on Yamaha! 😆
I have a 1985 BB1100S. It has a Passive/Active toggle and the bar pickup (at the bridge) is super hot. It's all original (except the strings, of course), still plays great, and I only ever have to tune it if I accidentally bump the tuning keys on something. I got interested in Yamahas when I read an interview with Andy Rourke from The Smiths saying that his Fender p-bass is his go-to bass unless he wants to play something fast and snappy, then he uses a Yamaha.
I think the reason people sleep on Yamaha is because their lower-end models (RBX and TRBX) aren't that great and that's usually what people see if they're in a Guitar Center.
Amazing! Yeah its a brand reputation thing, I guess Yamaha are just spread really thin as a business so the instruments don't get the love compared to Fender etc, despite the quality being there!
Man your channel really blew up, I'm so happy, you really deserve it! As always amazing work!
Thank-you so much man! 😁
The line that you play with pick is from what song?Yamaha´s are amazing, his guitars,basses,pianos and even motorbikes, one yamaha to rule them all.
The pj is the most versatile config IMO
Agreed! Can fit well into any genre and playing style 😁
@@JonnyDibble What they really need to make is a "metal" pj with a 35" neck. That would be supreme!
Awesome video. \m/ Yamaha makes phenomenal basses. I own a bb and a trbx bass and they sound killer. I highly recommend these basses.
Thanks! They are so underrated
@@JonnyDibble Indeed they are underrated. especially for metal.
That’s true. I’ve always been a big fan of ceramic pickups and they sound pretty killer. I own 3 Yamaha basses and they are one of the best bass guitars I’ve ever own.
I thought these were single coil.
@@jeffchase2491 they are single coil pickups. The only difference between the Yamaha bb200 series and the bb400 series is that the bb200 basses has ceramic pickups while the bb400 basses has alnico pickups.
wathever the instrument , yamaha is ALWAYS the wise/right choice - beginner or confirmed - merciiiiiii
They're so good! I want a revstar guitar too hehe
Totally agree, Yamaha is an amazing company. If anyone asks me what bass to get .. I will always say a Yammy.
I've got this in teal blue 5 string rosewood fretboard. I've been playing with Yamaha guitars, FG800 acoustic, a borrowed RBX bass before I started to get more serious in playing bass, TRBX174, TRBX305 and the 435. They're underrated coz nobody wants to play them if they're not being played by known musicians IMO. 🤣. Billy Sheehan, John Myung, John Pattituci, Nathan East to name a few are the best example for Yamaha bass users. Not your everyday listening type of music, if you know what I mean.
IDK if they are underated as much as overlooked. If you ask any bandleader or music teacher "hey. how good are Yamaha's? you will always hear words of praise. Also I think Yamaha is quietly selling a shit ton of them Sweetwater has been sold out of Yamahas for 6 months now and it you look at their basses in order of popularity you see a bunch up near the top
I have a TRBX 305.
It’s an amazing 5 string bass it also comes in 4 string 304
The BBs are on my radar since I have seen Adam Duce (former Machine Head) using one during the Unto the Locust period. Super nice mids on that album. 🔥Before that, I overlooked them as well. 😉
You just don't tend to think of Yamaha for basses, but always hear nothing but good things and now I'm on board 😍
I bought my bb before seeing Machine Head live with Adam Duce playing a bb, and I was so happy to see it
Amazing, you have a new subscriber Jonny! Bought a Yamaha BB1000S 1986 when I was 20 and still use it, it is almost as new. :)
That's amazing! Ah thanks so much 😄
Sounds great my man! Always a pleasure.
Thanks mate! I'm loving this bass 😊
@@JonnyDibble I've never played a Yamaha, and now i absolutely have to.
@@t.j.meechan682 Gotta do it! Super impressed
Demo: 7:36
Thank you for the great review, as always! I don’t know whether to get this or the Yamaha TRBX604. Both very different basses, I know… I normally like the active humbucker thing, but this would be a cool option too.
I’d be selling that squire! Back to back with the Yamaha it almost sounded annoying!
Sadly, I'd have to agree!!
I was tipped over to slapping that like button when you started singing M People 😂
It was such a close rendition, I'm surprised the video doesn't get copyright claimed! 😆
i've got one in teal. i took the pickguard off and put the screws back in, then replaced the string tree with a fender one. looks SO much better to me.
Would LOVE to see that!
@@JonnyDibble -- couldn't figure out how to attach it here, so i sent it to ig. rock/roll.
I have a 414x and I'm crazy in love with it
If my bass sounded like that I would immediately replace the strings with flats; that buzziness drives me nuts!
Ah I love that pici playing punchy clang 👌 Everyone's got their style! 😊
My first and only bass is a Yamaha RBX 170. I love it. They sell a newer version of mine but still same. lol. I think mine is from 2003? I just got back into playing, I am glad I kept this bass.. feels like talking to an old friend lol.
Nothing better than having a bass you really bond with! 😍☺
How much do you think the bass weighs?
I would really appreciate to see you playing an G&L bass, the Tribute series is quite affordable and well build.
I own a Kiloton in "Irish Ale", which I really like. And the Fallout short scale basses look really awesome!
Really want to get a Tribute jazz bass! That blue one they do looks killer 😍 Thanks for the recommendation 👍
I just recently sold my L2500 Tribute series, and im honestly thinking about buying another already. Unbelievable bass that i almost never hear about.
I owned this bass for two days during a trial period. It seems to be made of quality material, but was let down by a poor setup and feeling a bit unfinished. Maybe I’ve been unlucky, but I haven’t been so impressed by the basses I’ve encountered that have been made in Indonesia. A Cort action bass and the Yamaha BB434. Both were in need of a setup and the neck on the Yamaha felt a bit rough and unfinished, but the Cort bass was 1/4 the price of the Yamaha so that seems acceptable at such a low price. I had two and now 3 FGN basses. Yes they are a bit more expensive, but well worth the extra money in my opinion. Maybe I was just unlucky, but I was not exactly impressed with the copy I got. Luckily I was able to send it back and find a used FGN P-bass that I like a lot more. From the comment section it seems I’m in the minority and most people love this bass.
I guess if I look at the used price of the Yamaha BB434 it makes a lot more sense to buy as it costs about 60% of what I paid for a the FGN I like more. If they can up the QC at their Indonesian factory then I think this bass would be an excellent value.
I’ve been playing Yamaha BB basses for close to 30 years. I play a variety of basses and have done some pickup upgrades on Fenders but nothing has ever sounded even close to as good as my older Yamaha basses. I have had a couple BB300 basses and one BB450, all excellent. I have picked up the new cheaper ones in the shop and I find it feels a bit cheap. I’m curious how the new Yamaha pickups compare to the nice old ones.
Thanks for the review? What is the weight of the bass?
I see a lot of people going on about how underrated Yamaha's Transverse Bass Guitars are, but I'm like, hey man, leave some for the rest of us!
Hi Johnny, thanks for the great review! I own the BB434, but is it just me or this bass has a VERY low output volume?
Hey Jonny, how do you like the BB434 compared to one of the Sire basses around the same price range ... $500 -$600 range??
I buy Yamaha BB300 made in Taiwan 1986 only $100 in 2016. Can compare it with other expensive P-bass
Awesome! I was tempted by an 80s BB the other day 🤤
@@JonnyDibble honestly, old Yamaha bass is better than the new one and have its history. I sold my BB425 and keep this BB300 because of its sound
Yamaha is just an engineering miracle
Loads of simole but innovative features!
@@JonnyDibble oh, yea the bass is pretty cool too. I meant as a whole lol. Thanks for the review though. I think I found my next bass. It'll make a nice addition to the stingray.
@@Brotesque89 No worries! That's great 😍 This is sitting nicely next to my stingray too haha!
Great review! Neck pickup sounds like P bass with more clarity, which I love. I'm thinking about buying either bb434 or sire m5. If you have any chance, could you please review Sire's P7, 5 or M5 comparing bb434 sometime?
Thanks very much! I used to own the Sire M7. The M series isn't really comparable to the BB though, totally different feeling and sounding basses! A shootout with one of their P basses could be fun though! 😁 Cheers
I have had the pleasure to demo your mentioned Sires and at the same time the Yamaha TRBX 605 and a TBRX 504. The sires hardware is not in the same league as the TRBX, the neck, preamp, weight and tone are simply better on the Yammy and they are cheaper. The BB series is always a sure thing be it the new ones or the older 614/616/414/415/ 424/1024/2024. let alone the 80's MIJ series. I own 39 basses, 10 are Yamaha's Sa/BB and TRB. I personally would not waste my time or money on a Sire and would take a serious look at G&L tribute series basses instead. I have one and it really is very very good.
Do you think it’s better than your stingray?
Great review! I've always liked what I've seen and heard from Yamaha basses. I need to pick one up someday...
Thanks! I'm absolutely loving this one 😁
Out of interest mate what monitor speakers are you using? Recommended? Neil
I recently got their TXR504 I think they were called? their version of player series fender jazz basically, $600 or something like that? It is made in Indonesia, obviously for the Russian market because everything is in Russian on the back, not that I care.. :) But anyway, it's got some of the same nifty details like the large space for the truss rod. I mean I need to slack the neck of the bass and crack it open a bit to do that on my old Fender P. It's a whole project... It weighs like 3kg, feels like a guitar body with a 24fret bass neck attached, it's very different from the Fenders I've played almost exclusively and I've never been happier. It was half the price of my cheapest fender.
Is the fingerboard lacquered or satin?
I use to own this bass. Don't get me wrong it looked the part and felt super nice to play but the pick ups felt like a MASSIVE step back from Yamaha's old BB series.
I purchased a MIJ Yamaha 1976 super bass instead!
I have a bb1000 that I bought in 1982 still played it until a couple of years ago when i went for a sire P7 as it is much lighter
That's awesome 😍 Ah gotta save the back somehow!
@@JonnyDibble that 434M does sound good though, i tried a 734a at bass direct a coupke of years ago, cracking bass...
@@peterhammond4570 Nice! I think they're done a great job bringing the BB series into the modern age
I have a 78 BB1000... beats a Fender P hansdown
Have had a lot of problems with my 434. Had had to have the frets leveled immediately. And the string retainer popped off while playing. Tried to screw it back in but the hole was stripped out. The wood seems to be very soft.
Oh no! That sucks. Sounds like you got a right lemon there 😪
Suzuki made really good basses at one time,not sure if they still do. I have what they call the SB10..student bass 10...its a regular pbass from 89..90, it's old you can find the ones with the ugly headstock sometimes mines super rare as it has a fender style headstock kinda
Love this. One on my wishlist.
Thanks very much! 😊 It's a really cool bass 👌
Always been a massive fan of Yamaha basses. My first one was a Yamaha BBN5A, a cheaper version of the Nathan East signature, killer bass.
If you haven't yet, you should try their TRB 1000 series for a great modern sound
Nice! I got a BB615 yesterday. It’s broken though 😰 Got to send it back
Is there a reason why you picked a maple wood neck instead of rosewood?
I really digged the look with the black and cream pickguard! 😀 I'm normally more of a rosewood style neck guy though
Even after stripping the electrics out of my Squire p bass, this Yamaha sounds miles better.
That's my predicament! Do I need to still have the Squier? 🥲😅
Great video. Kept it fun and informative all the way through 👍
Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed 😊
at under £500 UK, would this be a better bet than a Squier or a Mexican P bass?
Loving the review, as usual! Will definitely keep an eye out for this bass in the future!
Cheers! It's a beast 🤩
I think the chunky neck would be a problem for me, also not mad on the look either. I do agree on the depth of sound though, sounds good!
It's definitely a crowd splutter with the looks! I super did the tobacco burst version too 🤤
You are convincing me to buy it...i'm seriuos...i never thought about it...very good bass with a great price 😎👍
Premium bass with loads of great features 👌