the countersunk bridge is a really smart touch because hi mass bridges often need neck shims because the baseplate is so thick the saddles can't go low enough. This is one of many innovations designed by a very experienced bassist. There are tons of complaints from Geddy Lee owners because the "badass" bridge has such a thick baseplate they have to shim the neck to get the saddles low enough. So in this bass you get the benefits of hi mass with the adjustability of thinner baseplates.
Thanks for his, there aren't many reviews except for Billy himself so well done. I have the Model 2 which I bought second hand 8 years ago for £600 (less than $1000!). I love it and for all the reasons you mention and have played every gig on it since. In fact it's so good I have only bought 1 other bass in all that time. I just don't gas for them any more.
Neck pickup was designed by Yamaha and made by them not DiMarzio. And the will power middle is Billy's signature pickup (no longer in production since his new pickup was released, the DiMarzio Relentless)
Both pickups say Dimarzio right on the pickup cover. That tells me they're Dimarzio. Why would Yamaha design and build the neck pickup only to put the Dimarzio logo on it??
I could be wrong, so don't take it as gospel. I'm pretty sure the neck pickup was designed by YGD/Yamaha, as seen in the BB714BS. However, whether it's a YGD X Dimarzio job, exclusive for Billy could possibly be the answer. From my knowledge, Dimarzio don't actually sell the neck pickup with exposed magnets like that, especially rails (they're somewhat like an EB0 with exposed poles or fully covered) hope this helps. Either way, beautiful bass and a sterling review, maestro.
I think the countersunk bridge might be due to the Yamaha replicating his P-Bass (The Wife). I think Billy put a Leo Quan Bad Ass 1 bridge on it in the early '70s & you had to countersink the bridge on Fenders until the Bad Ass II came out. I think the Bad Ass bridge was for Gibson & Rickenbackers and the Bad Ass II was developed later for Fenders. Jeff Berlin did the same on his P body with the Jazz neck & 2 Bartolini pickups. Imo, I wouldn't think a countersunk bridge would improve the tone. Maybe Billy does. I'm just guessing.
"Haptics" is the word you want when describing the knob looseness. - it's the science of touch-interface. There's a recent video of Gordon Murray obsessing over the haptics on the knobs of his new multimillion dollar supercar the T50. And one should obsess over haptics, esp over high-end items. I checked the user manual for the bass, it shows how to adjust everything but that. Did find this video of a kid adjusting knobs on his bass, assuming this is how yours works: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-R45UCh_U6-Q.html That aside tho, I've owned two $3000 guitars. Anytime you own a $3000 guitar, it's always your best guitar. Thanks for the great review.
