Yamaha SB2A Flying Samurai bass, pearl blue, made in Japan 1967. Here's an exceptionally cool little piece of history! The Flying Samurai basses were the first electric bass models ever made by Yamaha, and this example dates to 1967, the first year of manufacture. The shape was influenced by designs from both Fender and Mosrite, but copies neither exactly and is sure to turn heads just as readily now as five decades ago. It's a surprisingly intuitive player: the long bottom horn, 'hockey stick' headstock, quirky offset body, slim neck and medium scale length make for a quick and easy player that's, both lightweight and remarkably well balanced. The neck is a very soft V profile, almost a C shape really, and features some gorgeous birdseye grain in the maple and a lux dark choc rosewood board. Plugged in, the tone is huge. There's a heap of punch in the attack, the pickup is quite hot so there's plenty of growl and grit through the midrange and for a 'neck pickup only' configuration, it's fairly bright and sparkly. The tone is somewhere between P-bass thump and Rickenbacker grind, it's very likable indeed. The pearl blue finish is my favourite factory hue on these models, it's aged fairly gracefully to a deep oceanic aqua and radiates sixties coastal cool. It's unusual to have the original bridge cover attached and the original mutes and case included, so that's a handy bonus. I'm more than a little in love with this one, so do me a solid: buy it quickly and save me from myself, yeah?

Model: Yamaha SB2A Flying Samurai Bass
Made: Japan, 1967 (serial 2878)
Finish: pearl blue
Body: nato (not verified)
Neck: maple with rosewood board, 10" radius, 31.5" scale, soft V shape, 43mm nut
weight: 3.950kg
Mods: bridge mutes removed (included)
Pickup: Yamaha single coil 
Case: original Yamaha case, good quality and condition

Cosmetic condition notes: mild finish wear. Headstock has a bunch of dimples on the end, bottom edge and back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, just a few dimples on the back. The back has widespread scuffs, dimples and rub wear, as well as a couple of minor chips on the top horn and back edge near the strap pin. The sides have a couple of small bald patches on each horn and some dimples and marks all the way around the body, nothing nasty. The front has a decent bald patch on the back edge near the rear strap pin, some extra screw holes from a since removed thumb rest above the guard and some widespread dimples and scuffs around the body. Overall: good condition (7/10)

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. Frets have minor wear only, 8/10 for life left. Wearing fresh 45/105 Moonshiners strings.