Yamaha BBP34 4-string Bass Guitar at a Glance:

• Alder / Maple/ Alder Body Construction
• 6-Bolt Miter Neck Joint
• 5-piece Neck
• YGD Custom V7 Pickups (AlnicoV)
• Vintage Plus Bridge : Convertible Bridge and Saddle
• Lightweight Open Gear Tuners
• I.R.A Treatment
• Made in Japan

The BB bass legacy

When the first Yamaha BB basses rolled off the line in the late '70s, the bass world quickly took notice. A diverse array of high-caliber players took to these unique instruments, such as Van Halen's Michael Anthony, No Doubt's Tony Kanal, and legendary session ace Abraham Laboriel Sr. Their comfortably contoured bodies, clear-as-a-bell electronics, and immediately identifiable look keep these basses at the forefront of many different genres. The Yamaha BBP34 is among the latest additions to this storied line of lauded instruments.

Familiar construction with modern twists

What truly sets Yamaha's BB basses apart from other basses are their comfortable and familiar contours. Carefully crafted from maple and alder, the BBP34 4-string boasts that same identifiable character. Its rounded edges and forearm and belly cuts seem to melt into your body while playing. The bass's 5-piece maple and mahogany bolt-on neck sings with a new level of punch and sustain, thanks to its 6-bolt miter design. And its slightly thinner profile is a welcome addition to a more modern style of players.

Flexible and easy-to-use electronics

Whether you're a session player or a specialist, you know the benefits of a P/J pickup combination. The pickups in this BBP34 4-string are Yamaha's punchy VSC7 single-coil design. Dial in more of the neck pickup for that all-important P-style growl. And nail punchy fingerstyle tones with the bridge pickup — a favorite for many Music Experience bassists. The BBP34's passive volume/volume/tone control layout couldn't be easier to dial in.

Initial Response Acceleration

Once a Yamaha BBP34 has been assembled, it is then put through Yamaha's IRA process. This is a subtle vibration that simulates the tone, feel, and resonance of a vintage instrument with a perfectly broken-in feel. As soon as you hit a note on your new BBP34, you'll notice that each fret speaks; there are no extraneous rattles in the hardware, and you can feel each pitch throughout your entire body. Many instrument companies have their own way of treating their products, but Yamaha's IRA process is among the favorites here at Music Experience.

What Yamaha Says...

For the bassist that won't settle for anything less than the best, the Pro lineup represents the pinnacle of everything the BB designers have sought to achieve over four decades of striving for perfection. Carefully crafted one at a time by a select team of master artisans at Yamaha's headquarters in Japan, and featuring a unique Alder/Maple/Alder laminated construction finished with Yamaha's proprietary IRA (initial response acceleration) technology, the Pro BB offers a rich, organic tone and incomparable resonance and playability—this is the bass that you've always dreamed of.

Alder/Maple/Alder Body Construction

The new BB features an Alder/Maple/Alder multi-laminated body construction. The hard maple center increases body stiffness and accentuates midrange to cut through the mix of a band, and allows a more uniform transmission of vibrations between the body and the maple neck for unparalleled resonance and sustain.

6-bolt Miter Neck Joint

Miter bolting holds the neck closer and tighter to the body fusing these two separate components into one. Compared to a conventional bolt-on joint, miter bolting offers more efficient transfer of string vibration throughout the body, for improved sustain and outstanding resonance that brings every note to life.

YGD Custom V7 Pickups

Alnico magnets produce a fat yet penetrating tone that works in combination with the unique Alder/Maple/Alder construction of the 700 and Pro models for an organic, well-defined sound.

Active Circuit

The new BB700 models feature a specially tuned active/passive circuit for fine tonal control and extreme flexibility. This updated circuit has been retuned for the BB for a crisper tone and improved mids via a level-matched output whether in passive or active mode and tone-switching circuitry that seamlessly moves from treble control to master passive tone. High-quality gold plated parts are used for key signal chain contacts, providing increased conductivity and reliability and a battery alert LED installed on the back panel gives instant indication of low power to eliminate sudden power loss during performance.

Control

The 700 models feature active pickups with a 3 band EQ, a pickup balancer, and an active/passive switch, for enhanced versatility and flexibility when shaping your sound.

Convertible Bridge and Saddle for Precise Tone Shaping: Vintage Plus Bridge

The 700 and Pro are equipped with the Vintage Plus Bridge, which incorporates “Diagonal Body Thru Stringing,” where strings are angled at the saddle and pass through the instrument to the bridge at a 45º angle, as opposed to the traditional vertical stringing method which places more stress on the strings. Diagonal Body Thru Stringing significantly reduces this stress while transferring string vibration to the body reliably and efficiently. Strings can also be set to the tail end of the bridge, which comes equipped with a convertible saddle that can be adjusted to 2 different angles for more precise tonal shaping and feel. The rounder side of the saddle gives a slightly softer sound, while the more angled area produces a slightly tighter one. The brass saddle of the Vintage Plus Bridge delivers a slightly deeper low-end, and the steel bridge plate offers a brighter tone. All screws and springs are made of stainless steel to guard against corrosion.

Five-piece Neck

The new series features a 5-ply maple and mahogany laminated neck, in a bolt-on design that delivers a sharp attack, and quick response. This durable construction resists warping and twisting and adds the tight, penetrating character of maple combined with the warmth of mahogany to the instrument’s tone.

New Neck Shape

The New BB models feature a slightly thinner neck than previous BB basses, improving playability and feel for both modern and traditional players.

Leightweight Tuners

Lighter weight tuners offer a better balance and complement the overall feel, providing a perfect match for the smaller, lighter body of the new BB.

I.R.A. (Initial Response Acceleration)

Any bass benefits from being "played in," a process in which the instrument matures and opens up as the stresses between the wood and finish, neck and fingerboard, and body and hardware are released, resulting in better sound and playability. Yamaha’s exclusive Initial Response Acceleration (IRA) technology releases those stresses by applying specific vibrations to the completed instruments as part of the crafting process and gives a "played in" bass from day one.