Thanks for the highlight of this bass. I own it for quite a year now, and I really enjoy the sound versatility and the comfort. My previous bass was a 2004 Mexican Fender Jazz Bass, and I’ve always wanted to try a BB. I’ m so happy with this one (quite the price of a today Mexican Fender with a very random construction IMO). Great high middle range instrument.
The angled string through configuration provides less strain on the strings, which in turn help prevent them from prematurely breaking. Great video by the way and keep on keeping on!
@@ManotickGuitarTech I have a Vintage bass that is string through with brass block saddles, if you’re not careful when adjusting string height, you’ll break the string at saddle. This version if the BB Bass seems to remedy that! Thanks again for the videos, I find them helpful when setting up my instruments!
Angled through-body loading allows flat wounds to be passed through the body without damage due to the severity of the angle over the bridge saddles. As far as I know the BB is the only bass that has this feature.
It is. The angled string through was a development by Yamaha’s design crew in the previous version of the BB. I read an article where one of the design team stated how he was on the way into work one morning and in traffic, was behind a Corvette. As traffic inched along the guy was thinking about their new BB innovations while half paying attention to the exhausts of the Corvette in front of him... then suddenly, the Eureka! moment snapped into place, and the idea we enjoy today with the BB’s excellently and very functional string-through angle engineering, went into motion.
I just ordered my BB734 last night. My local music store Tony’s Music Box gave me an excellent price (45 years of patronage has its perks!). Wanted a BB since I saw their last version (ironically) the 2024… and will be using flats string-through. OP is right about flats being difficult with traditional right angle string-through designs. I’m one who feels the string-through method does make a tome difference: more percussive thud, so will work great with flats-thanks to the Corvette exhaust inspired angle.
I have one of these basses and it's the most versatile bass I own. The EQ is set flat and the only knobs i touch are the volume and blend (set either both pickups on or all the way forward to the p bass pickup.
@@ManotickGuitarTech I have the 734a since they came out and its a brilliant bass. Truss rod adjustment, i found its best to take off the plastic protection thing and that lets the hex key in better to the TR. I use flats so I get a low action of 2mm on 4th and 1.8mm on 1st. neck relief at .010"
Well, you never measure the height of the strings on a lying neck. You measure it in the playing position! We didn't go to the same school, I think, because everyone I know in lutherie does it with the guitar or bass in the playing position, and if necessary, and if the saddles (bridge and nut) are the right height, then it's easy to measure the string height according to the brand and factory measurements ... but I don't particularly like Yamaha guitars and basses, but rather Fenders and Gibsons ...
@@Dennis.B7 I measure with the instrument on the bench and I get very consistent measurements that way- it important to do it the same way everything whatever method you choose.
Thanks for the set up advice, and a well done overview of a very good bass. Mine arrives in January…
I am thinking of getting a BB734M (maple fingerboard)... maybe an early Christmas gift
Thanks for the highlight of this bass. I own it for quite a year now, and I really enjoy the sound versatility and the comfort. My previous bass was a 2004 Mexican Fender Jazz Bass, and I’ve always wanted to try a BB. I’ m so happy with this one (quite the price of a today Mexican Fender with a very random construction IMO). Great high middle range instrument.
I agree
The best sounding P/J configuration is with the J pickup further from the bridge and closer to the P pickup (the width of a J pickup closer)
The angled string through configuration provides less strain on the strings, which in turn help prevent them from prematurely breaking. Great video by the way and keep on keeping on!
Thanks, Gary- seems like why they would do that.
@@ManotickGuitarTech I have a Vintage bass that is string through with brass block saddles, if you’re not careful when adjusting string height, you’ll break the string at saddle. This version if the BB Bass seems to remedy that! Thanks again for the videos, I find them helpful when setting up my instruments!
@@garyreimer9408 glad you like them!
Angled through-body loading allows flat wounds to be passed through the body without damage due to the severity of the angle over the bridge saddles. As far as I know the BB is the only bass that has this feature.
Good point - I generally prefer string thru the bridge anyways
It is. The angled string through was a development by Yamaha’s design crew in the previous version of the BB. I read an article where one of the design team stated how he was on the way into work one morning and in traffic, was behind a Corvette. As traffic inched along the guy was thinking about their new BB innovations while half paying attention to the exhausts of the Corvette in front of him... then suddenly, the Eureka! moment snapped into place, and the idea we enjoy today with the BB’s excellently and very functional string-through angle engineering, went into motion.
I just ordered my BB734 last night. My local music store Tony’s Music Box gave me an excellent price (45 years of patronage has its perks!). Wanted a BB since I saw their last version (ironically) the 2024… and will be using flats string-through. OP is right about flats being difficult with traditional right angle string-through designs.
I’m one who feels the string-through method does make a tome difference: more percussive thud, so will work great with flats-thanks to the Corvette exhaust inspired angle.
I have one of these basses and it's the most versatile bass I own. The EQ is set flat and the only knobs i touch are the volume and blend (set either both pickups on or all the way forward to the p bass pickup.
They are really one of the nicest out there
Great vid but you may want to check the string count in the title.
Lol- thanks for telling me!
lovely bass. i have the bb234 and the exact same issues with the truss rod
interesting... glad to see I am not the only who struggled 😀
@@ManotickGuitarTech I have the 734a since they came out and its a brilliant bass. Truss rod adjustment, i found its best to take off the plastic protection thing and that lets the hex key in better to the TR.
I use flats so I get a low action of 2mm on 4th and 1.8mm on 1st. neck relief at .010"
I actually removed the plastic liner as well - the client brought the bass back to see if we could get the allen key to fit... we did! @@whamni
Does the blend control work when the bass is in passive mode?...and does it work at all if the battery dies?
Yes, the blend works in both active and passive modes
Please, for the pickup height, how can you tell the best setting? Thanks!
Color is great
I love your shameless plug
Well, you never measure the height of the strings on a lying neck. You measure it in the playing position! We didn't go to the same school, I think, because everyone I know in lutherie does it with the guitar or bass in the playing position, and if necessary, and if the saddles (bridge and nut) are the right height, then it's easy to measure the string height according to the brand and factory measurements ... but I don't particularly like Yamaha guitars and basses, but rather Fenders and Gibsons ...
@@Dennis.B7 I measure with the instrument on the bench and I get very consistent measurements that way- it important to do it the same way everything whatever method you choose.
@@ManotickGuitarTech Yeah,... on the bench, sure but in the playing position , not on a lyin' neck ..