Samurai, at last

[ilan]

Just bought this yesterday from a friend who got it off eBay two months ago, but now has a better use for the money towards a vintage Fender Rhoads. So, meet my new c.1966-68 Yamaha SB-5A "Samurai bass" in pearl white.

[Basvarken]

Nice score! Congrats

[Pilgrim]

Very classy!

[morrow]

You got an original! I have a yellow reissue , they're 34 instead of 32.

A friend described them to me as being like a Jazz bass on steroids. And they are. I think of them as a Japanese surf bass. I like mine a lot. They're also kind of shaped like an upside down Ric. But the body is much rounder. Congratulations ... they are fun things.

[Dave W]

Nice! And better than a Fender Rhodes.

[morrow]

[gearHed289]

Nice score! Looks great.

[Pilgrim]

[Chris P.]

Super cool! I used to have a sunburst one. A small bass!

[amptech]

Soooo nice. And White! Always wanted one, this doesn't help 

[BTL]

Congrats, those always looked like fun!

[morrow]

A blue reissue Samurai recently popped up on our local kijiji , initially asking a market price. Nobody moved on it. Yesterday it went to our L&M , the big music retailer in Canada , and a friend there called to say one was in and was set aside in case I wanted it. Very good price.
I couldn't resist , and am very grateful that I came to mind when it came in. I'll pick it up this morning.

[ilan]

Nice! Any neck dive? Mine is a 1967, medium scale, I wouldn't call it a neck diver but it's not perfectly balanced so I'm using a counterweight at the body end. Yours is a long scale.

[morrow]

Mine are 34 in scale , the reissue made in Singapore. I just put on a strap and raised both arms above my head , it's perfectly balanced. I have Thomastik flats on the yellow one , the blue has some older rounds , I'm liking how they sound. The blue one is in surprising shape , one tiny ding on the headstock , and one more by the output jack. I've been playing around with the setup. It's feeling really good.
I'm feeling very thankful that my name came up when it arrived in the shop. It did not make it to the floor. They just set it aside with my name on it.
These are mid weight , slightly on the lighter side. The necks are comfortable , they're well balanced similar to a Jazz bass , maybe slightly more aggressive. They are fine basses. Fender style bridges , easy and fast to set up. They sound good. I like 'em despite mostly playing short scale basses these days.

[Dave W]

Congrats! I love that blue.