MusicRadar

PRODUCED: 1966-71/72

ORIGIN: Japan, Nippon Gakki factory

TYPE: Solidbody, reversed twin cutaway, 4-string

BODY: Alder

NECK: Maple, bolt-on, 20 medium frets & fretless available

SCALE LENGTH: 800mm (31.5-inch)

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood, bound, white dot inlays

HARDWARE: Chrome cover-over bridge/tailpiece, 4-saddle bridge, open gear tuners

PICKUPS: Two single-coil units with white plastic surrounds

CONTROLS: Volume, tone & balance

FEATURES: string mute fitted, headstock colour matches body, finger rest below strings for thumb playing

FINISHES: 3-tone sunburst, various sparkles

COMMENTS: The original SB-2 had a more conventional twin-cutaway body but it was the reverse body design of the revamped SB-2A that really caught the attention. In spite of the reverse body shape this is a relatively well-balanced bass thanks to the slim headstock and it was this distinctive shape that earned it the epithet of the Yamaha Samurai Bass!

Curiously, Yamaha used to stamp the serial number into the rosewood fingerboard towards the body end. With such a widespread for the positioning of the pickups this bass is capable of producing super hollow and funky sounds, but its delivery is generally full and warm as the angled neck pickup is set to favour the neck for the top strings.