It’s just crazy how underrated Yamaha basses are

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 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.

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.

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 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

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!

That's one amazing bass and that's the best review of it in KZfaq.

I just got one today Jonny. INCREDIBLE bass at this price. Far surpassing any Squire Ibanez or Jackson at this price point

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

My trombone is a Yamaha. It's 20 plus years old and they still sell the exact same model.

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'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 dont think i have ever played a BAD yamaha instrument. These guys know quality

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!

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 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.

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.

Honestly, that bridge pickups sounds perfectly usable to me, especially with the tone at half.

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

Bloody brilliant mate! Yamaha makes outboard motors for boats too. No bollocks. High quality.

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

That sounds like an absolute beast, heavy bottom, really resonates!

Awesome video once again Jonny! The 434 really does sound a big step above the 234. And that maple fretboard wowwwweee!

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🍻

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.

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

Has a very “Rage Against the Machine” tone. Very cool

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.

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 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 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.

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 👍

Man your channel really blew up, I'm so happy, you really deserve it! As always amazing work!

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.

I have a Yamaha BB734, it blows away my USA Fender P-bass and Rickenbacker. Superb basses..

Great review! I've always liked what I've seen and heard from Yamaha basses. I need to pick one up someday...

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.

Dang it Jonny, now I want one even more 😀 it wins the sound comparison hands down, imo. The only negative for me personally is the weight, but I guess you can't have everything...really enjoyed the video, keep it up!

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. :)

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 video. Kept it fun and informative all the way through 👍

Yamaha multiple BB owner since the early 80’s here. Pleasantly surprised to see the maple fingerboard!

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. 😉

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!

Loving the review, as usual! Will definitely keep an eye out for this bass in the future!

I was tipped over to slapping that like button when you started singing M People 😂

Sounds great my man! Always a pleasure.

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)

its ok dude even guitarists sleep on yamaha regularly despite the pacifica series being absolute mint since forever.

Holy shit that growl is awesome. I'm in love

Awesome video. \m/ Yamaha makes phenomenal basses. I own a bb and a trbx bass and they sound killer. I highly recommend these basses.

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.

Me: recently restores a 1987 Squier Bullet into my dream P-bass Also me: sees this video ...

I really appreciate a company that can make quality student models.

You are convincing me to buy it...i'm seriuos...i never thought about it...very good bass with a great price 😎👍

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!

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.

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?

Love this. One on my wishlist.

I got a b stock bb235 a little while back, I do wish I had saved up and bought a higher range one. This one sounds brill!

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.

How much do you think the bass weighs?

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?

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.

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

My first bass was of Yamaha's. Good quality for a $. As to the comparison - it's Squier for me ;) cheers!

Thanks for the review? What is the weight of the bass?

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.

I've tried RBX and TRBX basses and they are mediocre, but videos about BB basses sound awesome, specially BB424. Would love to try one.

Hey Jonny, how do you like the BB434 compared to one of the Sire basses around the same price range ... $500 -$600 range??

Really dig my trbx305. Would consider this bass as my next 4 strings. Maybe a pro if I have enough funds 🤣. Yamaha is killing it.

I have a 414x and I'm crazy in love with it

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.

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

I have an RBX750 from 1992 in black. It sounds & plays amazing.

Great video !

3 years later and they are now 660 quid new. Wild stuff

Hi Johnny, excellent review. How was the setup out of the box??? Did you have to tweak it ? Awesome bass. Cheers Johnny 🍻🍻🍻🤘🤘🤘

squier has newer strings?

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've been tempted by the BB734, was a bit sad Lobster only gave it 3 claws lol. As for what I want to see on the channel, well a Dingwall obviously :)

Is the fingerboard lacquered or satin?

at under £500 UK, would this be a better bet than a Squier or a Mexican P bass?

Great video, thanks for the information

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.

Thanks for the video!

I have a TRBX 305. It’s an amazing 5 string bass it also comes in 4 string 304

I am planning to buy that 434 or may be the 734.... They look great and your video sounds good

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!

If you get a change, review the schecter stiletto extreme 4 bass, love to see ya handle that. I wish you lot of good health from Finland.

Is there a reason why you picked a maple wood neck instead of rosewood?

Hey Jonny! I'm thinking about getting a BB435. You still loving this bass a year on?

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!

wathever the instrument , yamaha is ALWAYS the wise/right choice - beginner or confirmed - merciiiiiii

Hi I need your advice Yamaha 434m vs Fender active precision bass Mexico made . Which one is better ? Almost double price Let me know Always thanks

It would be great if you could review the ibanez gsr300. It's a bit cheaper than this one, but the five piece neck reminded me of the gsr300

Out of interest mate what monitor speakers are you using? Recommended? Neil

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

Have you noticed any hum from the pickups?