A Five-String Workhorse with Serious Tonal Range
If you've been hunting for a five-string bass that genuinely covers every gig — from the recording booth to a loud stage — the Yamaha BB735A in Translucent Matte Black deserves a serious look. The BB series has been around long enough to earn real credibility, and this model distills decades of that lineage into a bass that's built tough, plays comfortably, and gives you a lot of tools to shape your sound.
What stands out right away is how well thought-out the construction is. The alder/maple/alder multi-laminate body pairs with a 5-piece maple/mahogany neck locked in place by a six-bolt miter joint — not your standard bolt-on arrangement. That joint pulls the neck tight against the body in a way that actually makes a difference in sustain and resonance. Couple that with diagonal body-through stringing from the Vintage Plus bridge, and you're looking at a bass designed from the ground up to transfer every bit of string energy into sound.
The matte black finish is understated in the best way — no flashy gloss or distracting hardware. If you want a bass that disappears into the music and lets the playing do the talking, this one delivers that vibe without sacrificing any of the build quality that makes the BB series so well-regarded.
This item is a B-Stock guitar sourced directly from the manufacturer. It is new and has never been previously owned. The photos shown are of the exact instrument you will receive. Before shipment, our licensed technician will inspect and professionally set up the guitar to ensure it is playing its best. During our inspection, we noticed MINOR DENT ON BACK OF NECK NEAR HEADSTOCK, MINOR PAINT BLEMISHES AND DENT ON BACK OF NECK NEAR BODY, 1/4" DENT ON BOTTOM EDGE OF BODY NEAR PICK GAURD.. (see pictures) Please note, these may not be the only cosmetic imperfections. As a B-Stock instrument, there may be additional minor blemishes that are small in nature and do not affect playability or performance.
Body and Construction: Built to Last
The BB735A's body is a three-piece alder/maple/alder sandwich — a design choice with a clear purpose. The hard maple center increases body stiffness and reinforces midrange presence, while the alder layers on the front and back provide the warm, even tonal foundation the BB series has always been known for. This is a solid-body electric bass built with real materials and intentional engineering, not cost-cutting compromises.
The six-bolt miter neck joint is one of the standout features here. Standard bolt-on joints can leave a gap between the neck heel and body pocket; the miter approach angles the joint so the neck is pulled flush and tight. This translates to better sustain and improved resonance — a spec Yamaha borrowed from their Billy Sheehan signature models and brought to the production line. The neck itself is a 5-piece maple/mahogany construction that adds stiffness and stability, finished in a satin polyurethane that stays comfortable even through long sets.
The rosewood fretboard spans 21 medium frets over a 34" scale, with a 23-5/8" (600mm) radius that's flatter than most vintage-spec basses — a practical choice for a five-string that makes playing up the neck feel natural and comfortable. Nut width comes in at 43mm (1-11/16"), which is on the tighter side for a five-string and makes navigating the low B feel less like a stretch.
Pickups and Electronics: Active, Passive, and Everything Between
The BB735A runs Yamaha's YGD Custom V7 pickups — a split-coil (P-style) at the neck and a single-coil (J-style) at the bridge, both using Alnico V magnets. It's a PJ configuration that covers a lot of sonic ground: the neck pickup delivers the punchy, mid-forward thump that made Precision basses famous, while the bridge pickup adds definition, edge, and that classic Jazz-bass bite when blended in. You control the balance with a continuous blend knob, so you're not locked into either-or choices.
On top of the pickup configuration, Yamaha layers in a 3-band active EQ for independent control over bass, midrange, and treble — plus the ability to flip into fully passive mode with the flick of a switch. The circuit is level-matched between active and passive modes, meaning you won't get a jarring volume jump when you switch. A battery alert LED on the back panel warns you when power is running low so you're never caught mid-set without warning. Gold-plated contacts on key signal chain points round out the electronics package.
The Vintage Plus bridge rounds things out with convertible saddles that can be set to two different angles — one for a slightly warmer, fuller sound, one for a tighter, more focused response. Diagonal body-through stringing is standard, reducing string stress while reinforcing vibration transfer to the body, and you can also run strings over the saddles if you prefer that feel.
Product Features:
- Body: Alder/Maple/Alder multi-laminate construction
- Neck: 5-piece Maple/Mahogany, 6-bolt miter neck joint
- Fretboard: Rosewood, 23-5/8" (600mm) radius, 21 medium frets
- Scale Length: 34" (863.6mm)
- Nut Width: 43mm (1-11/16")
- Pickups: YGD Custom V7 P/J configuration (Alnico V magnets)
- Electronics: 3-band active EQ (bass/mid/treble) with active/passive switching and battery alert LED
- Bridge: Vintage Plus with convertible saddles and diagonal body-through stringing
- Tuners: Lightweight open-gear
- Finish: Translucent Matte Black (Satin Polyurethane), 3-ply black pickguard
- String Count: 5-string
Brand: Yamaha
Model: BB735A
SKU: BB735A TMBL-2ND
Condition: B-Stock
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
