Yamaha BB 1600 1984 Natural

A tale of two basses...

 So I was at the Orlando guitar show this past weekend and it was Saturday afternoon. I'm standing in our booth, minding my own business when I see a fellow walking down the isle with two long cases in his hands. One was in very nice condition and the other was beat to hell. I was immediately attracted to the clean case so I asked the gentleman if I could look at what was inside. "Sure" he replied and I put the black case up on the table. I opened it and there lay a very well- played, split headstock Kramer bass. Nothing exciting in terms of appearance and condition- I quickly looked it over and put it back it's case. "I don't think this would be for us" I told the guy which was my way of politely saying that the bass didn't even come close to the standards and condition we require. I wasn't even going to look at the other case because it was so hammered but then, as he turned to leave, I saw the Nippon Gakki badge on this case. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back and just because there was nothing else going on, I asked to see what was in this case. Up on the table it went and when I opened it up, a large smile crept across my face. There lay this bass and I just knew immediately that it was going to be killer (I'm a huge fan of Michael Anthony, so these natural 80's BB basses always remind me of him.) I picked it up, ran over a couple of quick runs and my suspicions were confirmed- this is one smokin' slab of beef! "I'll take it" I said and as soon as the gentleman and I had finished the deal, I sat my butt right down in a chair and started playing. Lee walked into the booth and asked, "You buy that?" and after seeing the grin on my face, said "Good scoop" and was back out into the show again. We don't buy a lot of bass guitars because I'm so funny about how they play and sound, but with this BB 1600, I think we hit a home run. It's a superior instrument which can be had for not a lot of money and I immediately hung it on the wall in the office when we returned from the show. That got me the stink eye from my business partner because that's where I put the basses I wouldn't mind keeping. But, as my dear Father often said, "You can only play one at a time and you can't keep them all." so here she is, in all her 80's glory. Story's written and now it's time to play- think I'll dust off some old Van Halen as a tribute to Mike!