Yamaha BB300

Not sure of the year. Early eighties? Made in Taiwan. Basic P style configuration. See other reviews. Not sure of the body wood but it appears to be some type of hardwood. It's a LEFTY!! We southpaws don't often catch a break (we pay a premium on new guitars, always from a very limited model selection) so I was thrilled to "steal" this one for $175 Canadian (about $112. US). However, I'm very impressed with this guitar. I would have paid a lot more and would certainly choose it over most every budget or mid-level model on the market today.

Pretty good output from stock PU's especially for a low cost bass. A little muddy But I think this is due in part to the (older) strings when I purchased. If new strings don't make the difference, I'll probably upgrade the pickups for a broader tonal range and a little more snap on the high end. I play with rockers and folkies using 400w, 50w and 10w amps and I know this will be versatile enough for both.

Very impressive great action and intonation. Not a big fan of most Fender style necks having played many and owned a 60's Tele bass but this neck feels great. Nice radius wide but not to flat. My old playing partner and good buddy is the guitar tech in the store where I purchased. I had him give it the once over. He checked everything: PU's, neck body etc. and recommended I purchase it immediately before someone else walked off with it.

The usual condition for a used instruments. But the finish looks like it has retained it's original appearance. No loose hardware. Broken ground on the bridge easily fixed. VERY SOLID construction!

Guitar is not listed on the Yamaha website, even though they do have information on a number of older models.

This thing is built like a brick sh*thouse. Solid as a rock, not like the current crap coming from most of the big mfgs on entry level products. I've seen my kid's friends with the Squire basses that literally fall to pieces within 6 months. I've been playing for 40 years and have owned many guitars and basses. If you're a beginner, on a budget or want an instrument that will deliver real value in the long run, I really recommend you shop around for gems like this. They are out there - even for Lefites!

My first BB300 was made in '82 or '83. It was a Japanese bass, and was brand-new and completely stock when I bought it. Alder body, maple neck with ebony(?) fretboard, body painted gloss black. It had a Precision-style pick-up that was passive, and was fitted with a standard knock-off Fender-type bridge. The tuning keys were cool in that you could loosen or tighten them using a special tool that Yamaha provided. It came with a padded gig bag.

The sound was good out of the box, but I quickly began to customize the bass to my own needs. I was told that the weak point on these instruments was the pick-ups, so I put in a DiMarzio Humbucking Jazz Stack where the stock Precision pick-up was. I accomplished this by taking the DiMarzio out of the Jazz case, and splitting the coils, one coil under each of the stock pick-up cases. Later on, I routed a spot in the neck position for a Jackson Humbucker, and wired the bass in stereo ala Billy Sheehan. This worked really well, and I would use this type of set-up driving two amplifiers.

The action was great to begin with, but in my continuing quest to alter the axe, I fitted it with a Kahler tremolo. The bass seemed to be really suited for a tremolo as it worked perfectly for years until the bass literally started to fall apart in my hands after many years and many gigs. It retained great action, and was very comfortable to play. The finish was really durable, but I ended up repainting it a few times just for a change.

I can tell anyone, from personal experience, that this is a VERY roadworthy axe. While it's true that I customized the heck out of the poor thing, I had to have a good solid foundation to start with, otherwise the bass would have died a lot sooner than it did. And even when it did give up the ghost, I turned around, and purchased another BB300, and did the same exact things to it. Same performance, same durability. This was proving to be a consistant product.

I never really had to call Yamaha for any reason, since I do most of my own work (for better or worse!).

Sadly, my second BB300 was stolen from me about three years ago, and I have NEVER found an equal replacement. Yamaha doesn't even make the original BB300 anymore, and this just kills me. Both of my BB300's were incredible axes, and I am always trying to find one to replace my stolen bass. If I could find this model again, I would buy it in a heartbeat! I literally knew every square inch of the bass, and it took the abuse I dished out and ALWAYS came back for more. The day it was stolen, I literally cried because I felt like a piece of me had been taken. I loved my BB300 that much (and I don't really give a **** if that sounds weird!). I have been performing, recording, and touring for almost twenty years, and I had my Yamaha(s) for 16 of those years.

Made in '83 in Taiwan. 21 heavy wire frets. Full scale 4 string. 2 knob-1 tone, 1 volume. Standard split P config. I assume the PU is Yamaha, plastic boxes with round flat pegs exposed. Swampash body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard. Heavy black high gloss finish, neck is natural maple finish. Standard "Fender Bass" body and head. L-plate bridge with 4 adjustable string saddles. I assume tuners are Yamaha, open backed worm gear type, huge heart shaped thumb tips. Very thin neck. Came with gig bag when bought new nearly 17 years ago.

Typical thump-thump type bass. Nothing fancy. Very clean, very clear from the bottom of the knob to the top. Rather weak through the Crate B10 I bought with it at the time. Improved when flatwounds were replaced with rounds some years later. Through an Ampeg R50 it livened up a lot. It can growl in the background, and it can hold it's own. Definately not a bass to show off with, but a consummate workhorse on the bar-band type of road. Sound depends a lot on the amp, with that Ampeg she can get grumpy, a lesser amp...she's a wimp. Good bass for cheap gigging, can do it's job, no real loss if she dies in a bar fight. Studio work? Forget it.

Laid out well from the start. Action a little high. Dropped at the saddles and loosened up, turned smooth as a baby's butt. Plays very well for a cheap bass. No rattles no dead spots, Fit was excellent for a cheap bass. I've seen a lot of the Fenders which it is a copy of and very few of them were better. All of them were far more expensive. Tuners have tarnished a bit over the years. Only trouble with rust has been the exposed metal parts of the PU. Body is dinged and battered a little, still haven't seen any wood grain through that thick finish though. Looks real good for a piece that's nearly 20 years old and has been played from day one.

This beast will survive anything. Like all "Fender" type early basses it's indestructable. It weighs a ton and handles like a telephone pole. But if it falls off the truck on the way to a gig, stop and pick it up, it ain't hurt any. Nothing has worn out any over 17 years, it just looks a little older. Truss rod has never been touched, never been a problem with it so far. Throw it behind the truck seat and forget about it...it's the only one you'll ever need as long as you don't get good enough to try something fancy.

I think it had a 1 year warranty...been so long ago I can't remember. Never had a problem with it so I can't say anything about service.

Been playing some twenty years. Started as an accoustic rhythm player, went to electric bass, then to electric 6 string rhythm. My current darling is a 360 Rickenbacker. Also fond of my Seagull 12 banger dreadnought. Started on a Fender Gemini. I've accumulated several cheapies and odds and ends over the years, not worth naming. Several Crate amps, big ol' nasty Ampeg R50...it keeps the neighbors awake...and a Laney twinhead HC50. All bought new. Have a phobia about buying used equipment. Bought a used Fender Frontman 25 only because I wanted an amp to throw in the truck for gatherings and picnics. If I lost this bass I would replace it with something much better. I didn't know much about basses 17 years ago. Now I do. As far as cheap basses go, this is a good one. It needs a good amp to do it's best, and its best is only adequate. Ideal for a beginner or an amateur gigster. Again...nothing fancy. Only thing it ever did that aggravated me was the jack socket kept unscrewing itself like clockwork. But I've had it so long now I find that little quirk rather endearing. What do you want for $300 brand new?

The BB300 is an awsome bass. I just started though too, but it is really awsome. I bought it used, the only problem is on of the tunners dosen't work right, but that can be fixed.The neck is maple.It came with extra strings, a case, a stap, and some picks.

It works really well in my punk band. You nedd a powerfull amp to use with it, but that is good because it also projects better. If you turn it up past like 8, it becomes loud and scratchy. It has a rich sound. I don't like how it hangs with a long strap, but i have gotten used to it.

It was set up okay at the factory, but the person who owned before fixed it up. The pickups are very adjustable. Every thing was mounted right when he got it.

I use the guitar for every thing, from praise and worship to my punk band. The hardware has lasted a extremly long time and lots of playing. The buttons used to be lose, but i fixed em'. It has been very dependable. I woldn't use it without a back up version, but that is the same way with every thing in the band, we are always prepared.

I had to fix the the tunnners, but it was simple cuz i had a years warrenty. It was like a year at buddy rogers where my friend sold it to and then i got it.

This is an update to my erlier review. Japanessee made bass. Has twenty-one fretts on a maple neck. One volume knob and one tone knob. Jet black finish on alder body. I got it with a black hardshell case.

Sounds great when played through a powerfull enough amp. It is a good bass for playing rock, pop, and blues styles. Sounds great with or without efects petals. It has a rich and full sound, like I said when played through the right amp. You can play a wide variety on a bass like the one I have.

I can relly on this bass for many years to come. The hardware is in almost perfect condition. The tuning keys are a little dirty but like I said, I bought this bass used. The strap buttons have came a little loose every once and a while. If I ever got a gig I would have a backup bass just to have incase something went wrong.

Japanese made 4 string bass. Has double pickups with one volume knob and one tone knob. Maple neck with 21 fretts. Jet black finish. Comes with black hardshell case.

Good sound. Pickups aren't that strong. Gets the best sound when used with a preamp. Gets good sound when used with stainless steel round wound strings.

When I bought it the sound was pretty good. There were some scratches on the back and the sides.

It is a good bass. It would stand up to a live performance. The finish seems it will last for a long time. The strap buttons come loose sometimes, but if put on tight enough they will hold up. I can depend on this instrument for years to come.

I used to look around for new pickups, but I couldn't really find any that would fit. The people were very helpful but none of the pickups would fit.

I've been playing this instrument for 8 months and 7 days. I wished I would have asked to hear how it sounds before I bought it. If it were stolen I would just get another bass.

Solid body bass, split single coil (ala P bass)double pole per string. Volume and tone controls passive. Maple neck rosewood fingerboard w/21 frets. Body has the weight of basswood or poplar, solid color so it's hard to tell. I assume the tuners are factory, they rattled quite a bit at the joints when I got it but a few turns of dental floss in the joint fixed that. The bridge is your basic piece-o-cheese adjustable, works fine just not very attractive.

I play mostly blues and old R&R (Beatles, Cream, British, R&B, hey I'm old )Sounds good no matter what I play. Good deep bass and snappy trebs if you want them. Using an old Quantum 25W practice amp 12" w/ a 10" ext cab. Sounds like a bass should.

As I said I bought it used, sight unseen. I was a bit worried about what would arrive. Whoever had it before took good care and fit and finish are fine save a few buckle scratchs and the inevitable ding hear and there. Looks like Yamaha builds a decent instrument.The neck is fantastic, smooth and fast. Intonation is about perfect.

Used it held up fine for at least one other and I expect it will do the same for me. Well built!

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Been playing for the better part of 35 years. Stopped for a long time and bought this because I missed it. For the price I paid I would by another in a heartbeat. I don't gig anymore but I wouldn't have any second thoughts about using this bass with no backup if I did. I've owned just alot of other bass's 66 Hofner Beatle bass (what a piece of crap) 62 Epiphone (would be an EB-0 now I think my fav guitar I ever owned). P bass , Gibson , Rick. The Yamamha is as good as any of them except the Epi, that was sweet.