Yamaha BB735A Review: What the Active 3-Band EQ Actually Changes

By Igor Odaryuk · Updated October 10, 2026

The BB735A is one of those basses that makes you stop mid-sentence. You’re explaining something to a student, you pick it up to demonstrate — and then you just keep playing. The conversation can wait.

Yamaha’s BB700 series sits above the entry-level BB400 line and below the professional BB2000 territory. But the 735A adds something the BB400 line doesn’t have: a 3-band active EQ with an active/passive switch, built around a preamp that actually sounds good when it’s adding something, not just when it’s sitting flat.

Rating: 5/5

Verdict: The Yamaha BB735A is an active/passive 5-string BB with a 3-band EQ that already sounds good flat, a warm, woody passive voice and a tight, focused low B. It is ideal for session and working bassists whose setlists jump between styles, and for advanced students who have outgrown their first bass. If you play one style and already know your sound, the passive BB435 is enough.

What the EQ Actually Does

Most active basses have a 3-band EQ — bass, mid, treble. Cut or boost, done. The BB735A has the same three knobs plus a master volume and a pickup balancer, but Yamaha tuned the active circuit specifically for the BB’s tone. Flip the active/passive switch and the treble knob becomes a master tone control, with no jump in volume between the two modes.

In the video I run through a series of EQ positions to show what each does to the tone. Flat setting first — and this is important — flat on the BB735A already sounds good. That’s how you know the bass underneath the electronics is solid. If a bass only sounds decent with the EQ cranked, something is wrong with the instrument. The 735A sounds great at zero.

Then the differences become obvious. Boost the mid and you get that classic growl that sits perfectly in a rock mix. Scoop the same mid and you’re suddenly in funk territory — that hollow, punchy character that makes slap lines pop. Boost the treble slightly and the attack becomes more defined, better for pick playing or cutting through a loud band.

I’ve played through a lot of active basses over 25 years. Most of them sound similar because most preamps are built on the same basic circuit. The BB735A sounds like Yamaha did something different here.

The BB DNA Underneath

Strip away the active electronics and you still have a BB bass. Alder/maple/alder body, 5-piece maple/mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard. The passive voice of this instrument — when you flip the switch to passive — is warm and woody, exactly what you expect from the BB line.

The 5-string spacing on the 735A is on the wide side. 18mm at the bridge, only a millimetre less than the 19mm on the 4-string BB734A. Some players prefer tighter spacing for faster playing, but if you come from a 4-string background and find narrow 5-string necks uncomfortable, this is your bass. It plays like a 4-string that happens to have a 5th string.

The B string is tight and focused — this is a recurring theme with the BB series. Yamaha gets the low B right in a way that many brands at this price point simply don’t. You can dig in hard without the note turning into mud.

Who Is This Bass For

Players who want versatility without sacrificing the fundamental BB character. The 3-band active EQ means this bass can cover more ground than a standard BB435 or BB434 — it can be warm and vintage for one song, punchy and modern for the next.

Session musicians and working bassists who play across different styles will appreciate this most. If you’re in a band that plays one thing all night, the 435 might be enough. If your setlist jumps from soul to pop to rock to funk, the 735A gives you the tools to sound right for all of it.

I also recommend it to more advanced students who have outgrown their first bass and want something that will reward continued development. The EQ flexibility means there’s always something new to explore — different tones for different contexts, different ways to shape the sound for recording versus live use.

FAQ

What is the difference between the BB735A and BB435?
The BB735A has active/passive electronics with a 3-band EQ, better hardware, and generally higher build quality. The BB435 is fully passive. Both share the BB body and neck philosophy but the 735A gives you significantly more tonal control and refined components.

Can I use the BB735A in passive mode?
Yes. The BB735A has an active/passive switch — flip it and the bass runs passive, with the treble knob working as a master tone. A battery alert LED tells you when the battery is running low. The passive tone is still excellent — you lose the EQ but the fundamental sound of the instrument remains.

Is 18mm string spacing good for slap bass?
Yes, wider spacing makes slap technique more comfortable, especially for players with larger hands. The extra space between strings gives you more room to pop the G and D strings without catching adjacent strings. The BB735A’s wide spacing is one of its best features for funk and slap playing.

How does the 3-band EQ work in practice?
You have three boost/cut knobs — bass, middle and treble — plus a master volume and a pickup balancer. In practice you find a starting point for each application — mid boost for rock, mid scoop for slap — and then fine-tune how much. Once you find your settings you’ll stop thinking about it.

Is the BB735A worth the price over the BB435?
If you need tonal flexibility, yes. If you play one style and already know your sound, save the money and get the 435. The EQ on the 735A is only useful if you actually use it.

The BB735A is the five-string version of one of Yamaha’s strongest designs. That Alnico V pickup setup responds beautifully to different attack styles — dig in hard and it sounds aggressive, back off and play with the heel of your thumb and you get a warmer, rounder character.

What I appreciate about the 735A specifically is the weight. A lot of five-strings are heavy enough to cause posture problems after a long rehearsal. Yamaha managed to keep this one at a reasonable balance point. That matters more than spec sheets suggest.

If you’re moving from a four-string to a five, this is one of the more accessible transitions available in the mid-price range.