Yamaha SB-50 Bass Red 1972
Yamaha SB-50 bass, made in Japan 1972, red. I'm a big sucker for German carves, short and medium scale basses and vintage Yamaha stuff, so when this came up... well, it was an easy decision. Yamaha started making electric basses in 1966, so these SB series instruments are certainly pretty early in their story. Like many Yamaha instruments from 1966-75, this is both super quirky and brilliantly made. It's got a comfy, slim, sturdy 32" scale neck, with frets in good order and a functional truss rod, paired with the lightweight, comfy body. It's very easy to play, and at 3.5kg it's a good 1kg lighter than many P or J style basses. The little details like the round tuner buttons, cute inlays, vintage logo, fretboard binding and vibrant bright red finish all add a little pop to the old-world-sci-fi look, it's very cool. A previous owner replaced the bridge and installed a mudbucker style neck pickup, and while those changes mean it's no longer all original, they're great from a functionality angle. The neck pickup sounds brilliant: fat, warm, wide and immediate, with a huge fundamental note. The bridge is stable and easy to adjust and fast to re-string, so I reckon that's a win too. If you're after a super affordable vintage showstopper that will deliver the goods for indie, pink, grunge or doom stuff, this is surely your friend.
Model: Yamaha SB-50
Made: Nippon Gakki, Japan; 1972
Serial: 8095
Finish: red, gloss poly
Body: katsura
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 32" scale, 12" radius, slim C shape
Weight: 3.575kg
Mods: covers removed, bridge replaced, re-wired with 2-way switch, knobs replaced, routed for mudbucker style neck pickup, neck pickup replaced
Pickups: Yamaha single coil, mudbucker style humbucker
Accessories: none
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dents on the end, dimples on both edges and back and scuffs on the front around the posts. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and rub wear on the back only. The back has surface scratches on both horns, dimples in the elbow area and along the back and bottom edges and scuffs all over the body. The sides have dimples around the whole body and some scuffs near the jack. The front has scratches around the bridge, extra holes from removed covers around the bridge and neck pickup, some patches around the neck pickup from tidying up the route, dimples along the back edge and elbow area, chips on the top horn and widespread minor scuffs and rub wear around the whole body.
Overall: good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 45/105 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 8/10, minor wear only