Yamaha BB800

This is a Yamaha bass strongly inspired by the Fender Precision.
Made in Japan from 78 to 81, it is part of the BB series from Yamaha. It is also called the BroadBass 800 for the first non-exported from Japan models. The name BB comes when Yamaha started to export to the U.S..
Unlike other 1000/1200/2000 models, the handle is not crossing, it is screwed, as the sisters BB200/300/500. She did not have much to do with its big sisters in the end, if not the same bridge, and of course the same quality of violin at the top.
Alder body, maple neck 21 frets room, rosewood fingerboard. A micro split P, volume, tone, passive electronics. As a 70's P, unlike the pavers microphone are in opposite positions of tradition. The serious part is side easel and acute portion to the handle. It comes in shiny red violin translucent black finish. The pickguard resumes Precision shape, with a hint more towards the bridge and another notch handle side. The bridge is cast as the 1000/1200/2000, where a floral pattern in bas relief is added as the SG guitars of the time series.

UTILIZATION

Profile handle well P, a weight in the standard. The Gotoh tuners of Japanese origin are perfect. It is used as a Precision ... what! But with a quality violin, a handle worthy of Yamaha made in Japan great time ahead that was Fender in the same period. And flight-case is of the same quality, even if the green velvet water is questionable!

SOUNDS

The microphone is very powerful, the sound is typically that of a Precision 70's with a little more treble "thick" and serious a little tighter. And a good ball midbass bonus. The molded bridge gives more sustain and resonance than the original model. In fact a typical U.S. P sound without its faults ...

OVERALL OPINION

Low inspired if not copied to the accuracy of Fender, the superior quality of the original U.S., and quite rare to find. And all it takes to make a single model and not a simple copy: the pickguard, pickups reversed, the bridge ... a unbeatable price, I got mine to 350 roros. I saw one on 3bay U.S. without flight case, from more than $ 900 ... Nicknamed "P-Bass killer", and it is not for nothing, it honors the legendary Japanese violin 70's and early 80s.