Yamaha BB235 5-String Electric Bass Guitar

Five-String Range. Clean Ceramic Punch. Yamaha BB Playability.

The Yamaha BB235 brings the purposeful design of Yamaha's BB family to an accessible five-string bass. Its solid alder body, full 34-inch scale and passive ceramic PJ pickup set deliver a clean, defined foundation for focused practice, rehearsals, recording and the stage.

More than simply a four-string with an extra string, the BB235 gives developing and experienced players a practical route into five-string playing. The extended low-B range adds depth without complicating the controls, while the slightly thinner modern BB neck, balanced hardware and 18 mm string spacing keep the instrument approachable.

Extended low-B range without added complexity

The B–E–A–D–G layout reaches below a conventional four-string bass, opening up deeper notes, alternative positions and greater flexibility for contemporary arrangements. The 34-inch scale preserves a familiar long-scale feel.

Solid alder body for balanced fundamentals

Alder gives the BB235 a clear, balanced tonal platform with useful midrange presence. The contoured BB body is designed to sit naturally against the player whether standing or seated.

Custom V3 ceramic PJ pickups deliver clean definition

The VSP3n split-coil neck pickup provides weight and rounded punch, while the VSC3b bridge single-coil adds focused attack. Ceramic magnets produce the clean, well-defined response Yamaha designed for the BB200 Series.

Simple passive controls make tone shaping intuitive

Separate neck- and bridge-pickup volume controls allow precise blending, while the master tone adjusts overall brightness. The fully passive circuit requires no battery—plug in, set the blend and play.

Player-friendly five-string neck

The satin-finished maple neck uses the slightly thinner profile of the current BB generation, paired with a rosewood fingerboard, broad 600 mm radius and 21 medium frets. The 43 mm nut keeps the five-string layout manageable.

Lightweight tuners improve balance

Lightweight open-gear tuning machines reduce unnecessary mass at the headstock and complement the smaller, lighter current-generation BB body for a more balanced feel during longer sessions.

Dependable vintage-style hardware

A vintage-style bridge provides straightforward adjustment and reliable performance, while 18 mm string spacing gives the picking hand useful room without making the five-string neck feel unnecessarily wide.

Q. Who is the Yamaha BB235 best suited to?

It suits players buying their first serious five-string, four-string players expanding their range and working musicians who want a straightforward passive bass with dependable Yamaha build quality.

Q. Is the BB235 active or passive?

It is fully passive. The controls are neck-pickup volume, bridge-pickup volume and master tone, so no battery is required.

Q. How does the BB235 differ from the BB234?

The BB235 is the five-string version of the BB234. It adds a low-B string, uses 18 mm bridge spacing and has a flatter 600 mm fingerboard radius; the BB234 is a four-string model with 19 mm spacing and a 250 mm radius.

Q. How does it compare with the BB435?

The BB235 is the value-focused route into Yamaha's five-string BB range, with a maple neck, ceramic V3 pickups and vintage-style bridge. The BB435 upgrades to a five-piece maple/mahogany neck, six-bolt mitre joint, Alnico V pickups, Graph Tech nut and convertible-stringing bridge.

Q. What is the standard tuning?

Standard five-string tuning is B–E–A–D–G, from the lowest-pitched string to the highest.

Q. Is the string spacing suitable for fingerstyle and pick playing?

The 18 mm bridge spacing provides useful picking-hand room while keeping the five-string neck manageable.

Q. Which string gauges are fitted?

Yamaha specifies a .045–.130 five-string gauge set.

Q. Is a case or gig bag included?

Yamaha does not list a case with the BB235. YMS can help select a suitable five-string bass gig bag or hard case.

Q. Which finishes are available?

This listing offers Raspberry Red, Yellow Natural Satin, Vintage White and Black, subject to current stock. Yellow Natural Satin has a satin polyurethane body finish; the other listed colours use gloss polyurethane.

Why Buy Your Bass from YMS?

• ✓ Authorised Yamaha Premium Retailer: Buy a genuine Yamaha instrument with official manufacturer warranty support.
• ✓ Bassist-focused guidance: Get help choosing between four and five strings, passive and active electronics, string spacing and suitable amplification.
• ✓ Setup and accessory support: Ask us about action, intonation, string choices, straps, stands, bags, cases, cables, tuners and bass amplifiers.
• ✓ Pan-India delivery: Order from anywhere in India, subject to serviceability for your location.
• ✓ Physical-store support: YMS teams in Bengaluru and Mangaluru are available for product enquiries and after-sales guidance.