Members L-1329 Posted November 14, 2008 Members Share Posted November 14, 2008 It's everything I don't like in a bass. Gas finally got the best of me and I just got this bad boy this afternoon. It's a Yamaha BB415, and one really cool little bass! It's all passive with just a volume, tone, and a three way pickup selector switch. Fit and finish are very nice. It's not in the league of what I've seen from other makers at higher price points, but for $450 it's damn nice. There isn't a scratch or dent on it, and it really looks cool in person. This bass has been growing on me for a while now, and even influenced the style of my last Warmoth P/J fiver. Anyway... The bass really needs a setup, there are several issues to correct but even still it plays very easily. The neck feels just right. It's not paper thin, but it has a slender and real comfortable profile. The bridge is a bent metal but it has a really cool feature in that the B string nut anchor plate is about 1/4 back from the rest, to reduce the break angle of the thick B string over the saddle. It really looks and feels like a solid, well made bass that's nice and light, and easy to play. What more is there? Tonewise it's really cool! The P pickup is really deep and copes a great P bass tone. The bridge pickup has equal output to the P, and a pretty aggressive tone that can easily stand on it's own. Together they capture my favorite bass sound, a more filled out but still recognizable P bass tone. I like it, a lot! It's got a deep character to it also, those pups are powerful and the lows are certainly not lacking in this beast, even on the solo bridge pup. I don't know what the SS rounds are on it, but I think after I decide it's not leaving I'll switch to nickel rounds. So my first impressions of it are that it's a super cool looking bass that sounds just like I want for a live bass, and it definitly is worth it's price. It's a bass I can leave plugged in, drag around to practices, use as a backup or even a main player. I like it a lot right now, and it's never a bad thing to have another black bass in the stable. So even though I swore I'd never buy another flat headstock, cloverleaf peg all passive bass I have to say I really dig this one! The proof (cheap super quickie pics): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Retrovertigo Posted November 14, 2008 Members Share Posted November 14, 2008 very nice.I've always wondered: How is the B string on that bass? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members poomwah Posted November 14, 2008 Members Share Posted November 14, 2008 very nice, I have the 4 string version in metallic orange and I LOVE it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jasper383 Posted November 14, 2008 Members Share Posted November 14, 2008 The B on those is not bad. Not great, but I've played worse. I had one of those, and put D'Addario Chromes on it. Awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L-1329 Posted November 14, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 14, 2008 very nice. I've always wondered: How is the B string on that bass? First impression is it's not bad at all. I'll post back after I've spent some time with it and have some comparisons, but initially it sounds good and feels good to my hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted November 14, 2008 Members Share Posted November 14, 2008 I was so close to getting one of those a couple months ago. I had never given them a shot, but out of the blue I picked one up at a shop to test an amp. Very, very nice basses. Spent my money on a new amp instead of a bass that day. Still thinking I'll pick up one of these Yammies soon - in black of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L-1329 Posted November 14, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 14, 2008 Still thinking I'll pick up one of these Yammies soon - in black of course. Of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sugarskull Posted November 14, 2008 Members Share Posted November 14, 2008 Goodstuff. I've always like Yamaha stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PrestiaRules Posted November 14, 2008 Members Share Posted November 14, 2008 nice! I played the four string and it was very nice. Good score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted November 15, 2008 Moderators Share Posted November 15, 2008 Looks cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xOriginalNinjax Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 So....when are we gonna have another get together? As much new gear as I've acquired...I think it's starting to be close to time...I'll have a new bass coming in (hopefully) in the next week and a half or so... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pickdust Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 Me digs the matching head-stock! Hears the chant...............GTG.....................GTG...............GTG...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 Slummin' it, eh? BTW, nice PJ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Death Hands Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 So....when are we gonna have another get together? As much new gear as I've acquired...I think it's starting to be close to time...I'll have a new bass coming in (hopefully) in the next week and a half or so... If paypal will ever spit that money into my bank account, I can get the bass and the pod out. It's been a PITA, man. Hopefully I can ship monday. Speaking of, toss me a PM plx. I love Yammies. The P40 has pretty much aleviated all of my bass needs. The only one I've decided to keep is the GSR, as a modding platform and hopefully the newb that's headed my way soonish. I'd like a Yammy 5er though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SB900LE Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 I like that BB414 a lot, even in Orange That's pretty much my GAS bass at this time (yeah, I'm a low-budget guy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonathan_matos5 Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 i almost bought one of those, but the store decided that they didn't want to order one in a different color for me. apparently they had the "same" bass in stock so management wouldn't let them order any more of them. i left and wont even consider returning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 Sweet ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ender_rpm Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 There is an Inca Silver one on teh bay... GAS I've played em in stores, and really liked them when they are set up properly. Good grab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members solderjunkie Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 It reminds me of the Peavey Zodiac-series basses... good stuff:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted November 15, 2008 Members Share Posted November 15, 2008 How's it compare with the Aria 505 of mine you were gassing for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L-1329 Posted November 16, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 16, 2008 How's it compare with the Aria 505 of mine you were gassing for? From what I can remember of the Aria, this one feels a lot bigger. The BB body is fender size with shorter horns, but feels big to me. The Aria felt more like a modern bass, this more of an older style of bass. The BB body is also thinner than the Aria, and most of my other basses. It balances well and is to me easier to play. I don't remember enough of the tone of the Aria to say, but this one sounds just like what I want a P/J to sound like. Build quality wise I'd say they are about the same. I do like that Aria! One other thing I've noticed is it's real sensitive to technique. Sloppy playing, as well as where on the bass I'm playing makes a huge difference on this bass. It might be that I'm just not used to passive bass response, but there's a difference here. I really dig it so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L-1329 Posted November 16, 2008 Author Members Share Posted November 16, 2008 Looks cool. So... got time for a setup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members basste Posted November 16, 2008 Members Share Posted November 16, 2008 Nice bass ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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