Yamaha BB350 Customized

Disagreeing with another entry on Harmony, my BB 350 has two Jazz Bass style pickups, which because the originals were so poor, I have replaced with MEC active pickups from a Warwick.

The bridge too was the pits, very dissapointed with Yamaha's choice here. And why? Because the rest of the instrument is so good.

It may be a simple 2 volume and a tone system, but the solid wood construction and that stupedius neck is such a waste when teamed up with the original kit.

Body is alder in a wonderful honey matt finish, and still just about the only damage after 5 years is where I dropped my car keys onto the top cutaway/waist when I got it home. It has a maple neck and a quite smelly rosewood fingerboard, why it smells is anyone's guess, it has, though, since new.

Dot inlays and a really stupid position for the edge mounted socket.

I can easily get the PP3/9 volt battery for the pickups into the very spacious cavity on the back, which has a black cover on it. Well fitted to. There's space to store sandwiches!

The bridge I have replaced, actually when it was 2 days old, by a Wilkinson locking type. The sustain and punch that this gave the bass is unbelievable.

The original sound was very woolly and because I use Trace Elliot equipment it sounded worse. This was sorted with the MEC's.

The sound with the Wilkinson bridge unit is comparable to a JayDee, or a Spector, but not that good if you know what I mean.

I used the bass on Heronimus Fin's 'Purple Pictures' EP and some of the first album 'Fenshaw Grammer Lives On' from "The World According To... ", for instance, and was more than pleased with the results. 'Steelball Wind' was using the Gordy which is also on Harmony Central.

I generally play Jazz or slap-bass, and the BB is very adaptive to both.

It is definately a stage instrument and very rarely does it go out of tune.

Harmonics just ping out of it just like Jaco Pastorius.

Action is very good indeed. I have had the bass from new and all I have done is set the truss. It is stable through seasonal changes too, not needing constant attention.

The neck is stable in the lateral sense too. It fits extreemly well into the body.

I have never ever had a problem with construction with any Yamaha peice of kit in about 30 years of buying them. I had a BB300 years ago and even that was supreme.

The only thing I wish they had done was had the body a lighter finish, it looks good until you are under lights.

Not one rattle, not even a fret buzz. I have a very low action too, with Trace Elliot stainless strings.

Playing live seems to be the basses forte, or in this case fifte, because it does it so good.

Bear in mind I have differant bridge and pickups, it sounds spectacular in a variety of ways. It is also very easy to play standing or sitting.

Yamaha really put some thought into what at first glance looks such a basic piece of kit.

Never had strap problems because the buttons are large enough to cope.

I can always trust it to get me through the end of a show even if it is 2-3 hours long.

With this bass I have never had a problem yet.

I had a machine head break on an old BB300 about 25 years ago, and it was sorted out in a matter of days. Brilliant, Milton Keynes is our nearest base for Yamaha and they are always helpful and friendly on the phone even if the problem (usually it is anyway) is self inflicted.

Yamaha is such a professional organisation that I can't see ever having problems.

If that means Yamaha are going to give me a BB 1200 as a gift, , , , please do, check my E-mail.

I have been playing bass now exclussively as my first instrument for about 22 years I think. I have played guitar too for about 35 years total.

I have a variety of basses and guitars, and home made equipment plus Trace Elliot GP11 and a stack of other goodies to get my sound.

I was actually looking for a Fender Jazz Bass the day I bought the BB, and was won over because I needed it ready for a gig on that night. The Fender needed setting up, I slung the Yammie into the car and it didn't let me down.

I love it, but my son keeps using it now too, I have to book up to get hold of it.

If you were only able to have one bass, and you needed it for a wide variety of music sorts, you really could not chose a better bass than a Yamaha. They look good but not flashy, they do the job without drama, and it is always so predictable.

Just bear in mind to change the old pickups though. But, who knows, Yamaha's current pickups on the equivalant bass which is the BB4N, I think, may be better made. You can't beat actives though, no interference.