Yamaha BB435 Review

Nice 5 string

I've played bass for 25+ years, from weekend warrior to praise and worship. I've always been a dedicated 4 string player, never needed a 5 string until very recently. When the time came to add a five string bass to my collection I had a few different basses in my sights but when the Yamaha BB435 in teal blue became available from Sweetwater I immediately made the call to my longtime… read more representative Alex Campos. Alex, as usual made the process of ordering the bass seamless and enjoyable. After a quick set-up the bass is nearly perfect. Thanks again for the great service.

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Very happy

This is my first 5 string - my band plays a lot in D and C so I wanted more low end options I went back and forth with a few 5 string options in and went for the Bb_435 based off strength of reviews alone - never even played a Yamaha before. I'm delighted with the choice. The neck is extremely playable and fast. Lots of sound options via EQ. It's on the heavier side but I play… read more a Stingray 4 string so pretty used to having a tree round my neck.

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My First Bass

I picked this bass for the construction, versatility, Yamaha's reputation, and value. I've played guitar (hobbyist) for a long time but wasn't informed about basses. After some research I knew a 1) 5 string, 2) P/J, 3) passive bass was what I personally wanted. That would give me tons of versatility and I wouldn't have to finagle with batteries. As far as the construction goes,… read more I love the 5 piece satin neck. It has a comfortable profile and the 6 bolt mitered joint is very interesting and purposeful. I like the 45 (instead of 90) degree angle string-through and the quality soldering and shielding on this model. The action on mine is low and the pickups sound great. I've also discovered through playing this one that I appreciate a rosewood fretboard. It's already one of my favorite I instruments to play and I use it regularly.

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Great at any price. Absolutely unreal at this price.

I have a number of Fenders that ran in the $1300-$1600 range. At about a third of the cost this thing keeps pace with all of them. It's clear, it's articulate, the B string is tight, the neck feels good. I even like the color. Seriously, this thing punches way above its weight. It's become one of my favorite recording basses. I love the tone with the P pickup soloed. I would… read more recommend it to anyone.

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Excellent all around

This is my first 5 string. I've played a Lakland Jazz as my primary for over a decade and wanted a cheap way to diversify. Wow, this bass checks every single box. It's affordable, feels great, sounds great, looks great. I'm not easy to please and I really have nothing but love for this bass. If you're looking for an excellent PJ 5 string for not much money, here it is. Thanks… read more Yamaha for an excellent product.

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After a few years...

I thought I'd add my review. I'm a guitar player that plays bass to complete my recordings, so I am no expert at the intricacies of what is good and bad regarding bass guitars. I own 3 and this is superior. Like another reviewer said, tight big sound, awesome action and intonation. QC is superior. The neck fastening seems awesome. The string thru angled anchoring just intuitively… read more seems like a great design. Looks wicked. Chose 5 string cuz I play in drop C. Very easy to play. IMO better looking than a P. Always wanted one (since zee '80's). Yamaha case for this model is also beautiful.

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A superb bass worthy of wider recognition

I was looking for a good 5 string P bass, the USA Fender was out of the question at $1600 and the Squier P5 was discontinued long ago. While searching Sweetwater, I came across the newly redesigned Yamaha BB Series. I already own a BB405 and a RBX5A2, so, the question of quality was already answered and I went for the BB435. This bass is incredible, probably the best sounding… read more and feeling P/J 5 that I've ever heard or played. The 5 piece neck feels like a vintage Fender C shape and is thin and very fast, not chunky like previous BB basses. The 6 Bolt neck pocket and the 45 degree string thru the body angle sets this bass far apart from any other bolt on bass. It is as solid as a neck thru and it sustains like crazy, my particular bass has ZERO dead spots on the G string. The stock Yamaha Alnico 5 pickups are excellent, they are using industry standard pickup sizes now, so you have the option of changing things out. And, that is what I did with the J pickup. The work that I do demands a totally quiet bass and while the stock J pickup sounds great but it suffers from the standard 60Hz single coil hum. I replaced mine with a Duncan Apollo 74 / 5 string linear humbucking pickup, which is a perfect match for the stock P pickup. I added a blend control in place of the bridge volume control and it gives me infinite tone possibilities. The bass is well shielded from the factory and is dead quiet. The body shape is standard BB but is somewhat thinner than previous BB's reducing the weight and the increasing comfort. It balances perfectly with no neck dive when seated or using a strap. The 434 and 435 are the sweet spot in the BB series in regards to price and value for the buck. This bass is as good, if not better, than basses costing 3 times the price.

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If I was famous...

...this bass would be my pick for a signature model. Every note rings equally, setup is fantastic (and very easy to change, if one wishes), and the tone is unbelievably versatile. The miter joints on the neck, and the bottom string-through points just feel amazing. This is a neck and body camp of its own, blending the peace of mind from being bolt-on with the singular feel of neck-through.… read more As for the neck itself, holy moly... satin finish, radius as comfortable as the earth, and soooo thin, with just enough mass for the thumb. I see now, why bassists who try Yamaha BBs, like Peter Hook and many others, never go back. This bass is simply, truly, and absolutely amazing. Thanks Dave and the curators of the guitar gallery for helping me get my hands on this instrument!

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Great Bass

This bass plays amazing. I decided to add a 5 string to my bass collection and this one was better than I expected. The through body design really increases the sustain and lets the notes ring out. Miles was great answering all my questions and the Sweetwater experience is one I highly recommend to other musicians and audio techs.

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Impressed!

Truly a great instrument. I didn't know what to expect and I was impressed with the monstrous sound, specially for a passive 5 string.

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