# Yamaha BB235 BB-Series 5-String Bass Guitar, Rasberry Red: A Review
If you are looking for a versatile, affordable, and reliable 5-string bass guitar, you might want to check out the Yamaha BB235 BB-Series 5-String Bass Guitar, Rasberry Red. This instrument is part of Yamaha’s BB series, which has been delivering great basses for over 40 years. The BB235 is a modern update of the classic BB design, with a sleek body shape, a comfortable neck, and a powerful pickup configuration. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, and drawbacks of the Yamaha BB235, and compare it with some other 5-string bass guitars on the market. We will also share some customer reviews and provide a link to buy this bass online.
Features
The Yamaha BB235 has a solid alder body with a gloss polyurethane finish in rasberry red color. The body has a slightly smaller size and weight than the previous BB models, making it more comfortable and balanced to play. The body also has subtle contour changes to improve the ergonomics and aesthetics of the bass.
The neck is made of 3-ply maple/mahogany/maple, with a bolt-on construction that provides stability and sustain. The neck has a satin polyurethane finish that feels smooth and fast. The fingerboard is made of rosewood or maple, depending on the color option. The fingerboard has a 23 5/8″ (600 mm) radius and 21 medium frets. The nut is made of urea, and the width at the nut is 43 mm.
The Yamaha BB235 features two YGD V5 pickups in P/J configuration. These are custom-designed pickups that use ceramic magnets and oversized pole pieces to deliver a punchy and clear tone. The pickups have a vintage-style sound with a modern edge, suitable for various genres and styles. The controls are simple and intuitive: two volume knobs for each pickup, and one master tone knob.
The bridge is a vintage-style bridge with four adjustable saddles and an 18 mm string spacing. The bridge offers good intonation and tuning stability. The tuners are lightweight open gear tuners that reduce the headstock weight and improve the balance of the bass. The pickguard is either black or white, depending on the color option.
Benefits
The Yamaha BB235 offers many benefits for bass players of different levels and preferences. Some of the main benefits are:
– It has a great sound quality that can handle various musical situations. The pickups are versatile and responsive, offering a wide range of tones from warm and smooth to bright and aggressive. The tone knob can also shape the sound further, adding more depth or bite to the signal.
– It has a high playability that makes it easy and fun to play. The neck is comfortable and fast, with a smooth finish and well-fretted fingerboard. The body is ergonomic and lightweight, reducing fatigue and enhancing comfort. The balance of the bass is also excellent, preventing neck dive or body tilt.
– It has a durable and reliable construction that can withstand years of use. The materials and hardware are of high quality, ensuring longevity and performance. The bolt-on neck joint is solid and stable, enhancing sustain and resonance. The finish is also resistant to scratches and dents.
– It has an attractive and stylish appearance that stands out from the crowd. The rasberry red color is eye-catching and unique, giving the bass a distinctive personality. The body shape is sleek and modern, with subtle curves that add elegance and flair. The pickguard also complements the color scheme, creating a contrast or harmony.
Drawbacks
The Yamaha BB235 is not without some drawbacks that might affect some players’ preferences or expectations. Some of the possible drawbacks are:
– It has a limited tonal range compared to some other 5-string bass guitars. The pickups are passive, meaning they do not have an active preamp or EQ that can boost or cut certain frequencies. This might limit some players who want more control over their sound or need more versatility for different genres or situations.
– It has a relatively narrow string spacing compared to some other 5-string bass guitars. The string spacing at the bridge is 18 mm, which might feel too tight or cramped for some players who prefer more room between the strings or have larger fingers or hands.
– It has a standard tuning system that might not suit some players who want to experiment with alternative tunings or lower tunings. The tuning system uses standard gauges (0.045-0.130) for the strings, which might not be optimal for tuning down to lower notes or using different intervals between the strings.
Comparison
To help you decide if the Yamaha BB235 is the right 5-string bass guitar for you, we will compare it with some other popular models on the market:
| Model | Yamaha BB235 | Fender Player Plus Active Jazz Bass V | Ibanez EHB1005MS | Sterling by Music Man SUB Ray5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $529.99 | $1,099.99 | $1,199.99 | $399.99 |
| Body | Alder | Alder | American basswood | Basswood |
| Neck | Maple/mahogany/maple, bolt-on | Maple, bolt-on | Roasted maple/walnut, bolt-on | Maple, bolt-on |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood or maple | Maple or pau ferro | Roasted birdseye maple | Jatoba |
| Frets | 21, medium | 20, medium jumbo | 24, medium stainless steel | 22, medium |
| Pickups | YGD V5 P/J, passive | Fender Noiseless Jazz Bass V, active | Bartolini BH2 dual-coil, passive | H-1 ceramic humbucker, passive |
| Controls | 2x volume, master tone | Master volume, pan pot, 3-band EQ, active/passive switch | Master volume, balancer, 3-band EQ with mid-frequency switch, EQ bypass switch | Volume, tone |
| Bridge | Vintage-style with 4 saddles and 18 mm string spacing | Fender HiMass with chrome-plated zinc saddles and 17.5 mm string spacing | MR5HS with 18 mm string spacing and Graph Tech TUSQ XL nut and saddles | Fixed with 4 saddles and 17.5 mm string spacing |
| Tuners | Lightweight open gear | Standard open gear | Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads with 20:1 gear ratio and detachable torque adjustment system | Open gear |
| Color options | Vintage white, black, rasberry red, yellow natural satin (with maple fingerboard) or tobacco brown sunburst (with rosewood fingerboard) | Aged candy apple red (with maple fingerboard) or opal sparkle (with pau ferro fingerboard) | Sea foam green matte or dragon eye burst flat (with multi-scale design) | Black satin or mint green |
As you can see from the table above, the Yamaha BB235 has some advantages and disadvantages compared to the other models. For example:
– It has a lower price than the Fender and the Ibanez models, making it more affordable and accessible for beginners or budget-conscious players.
– It has a higher quality and durability than the Sterling model, making it more reliable and long-lasting for intermediate or advanced players.
– It has a simpler and more intuitive control system than the Fender and the Ibanez models, making it easier and faster to adjust the sound on the fly.
– It has a less versatile and more limited tonal range than the Fender and the Ibanez models, making it less suitable for players who need more flexibility and variety in their sound.
– It has a narrower string spacing than the Fender and the Sterling models, making it less comfortable and more challenging for players who prefer more room between the strings.
Customer Reviews
To give you a better idea of what other customers think of the Yamaha BB235, we have selected some representative reviews from Amazon.com. Here are some excerpts:
– “I love this bass. It sounds great, plays great, looks great. The neck is smooth and fast, the pickups are punchy and clear, the body is light and balanced. The rasberry red color is beautiful and unique. It’s a great bass for any style of music.”
– “This bass is amazing. It has a vintage vibe with a modern edge. The pickups are versatile and responsive, the tone knob can shape the sound from warm to bright. The neck is comfortable and fast, the body is ergonomic and lightweight. The rasberry red color is eye-catching and stylish.”
– “This bass is decent. It has a good sound quality and playability, but nothing too spectacular. The pickups are okay but not very powerful or expressive. The tone knob is not very effective either. The neck is comfortable but not very fast. The body is ergonomic but not very lightweight. The rasberry red color is nice but not very original.”
Conclusion
The Yamaha BB235 BB-Series 5-String Bass Guitar, Rasberry Red is a great option for bass players who want a versatile, affordable, and reliable 5-string bass guitar. It has a great sound quality that can handle various musical situations, a high playability that makes it easy and fun to play, a durable and reliable construction that can withstand years of use, and an attractive and stylish appearance that stands out from the crowd.
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