CA Guitar Repair Blog: 1976 Yamaha SB-800 Super Bass

Monday, July 01, 2024

1976 Yamaha SB-800 Super Bass | Part 1

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Yamaha Super Bass Series - An Introduction

The Super Bass [SB] series was featured in Yamaha catalogs from 1976-1979. These four-string basses were manufactured in Japan and comprised the SB-500, SB-600, SB-700, and SB-800. Seen below are pages 10-11 of the 1977 Yamaha Electric Guitars Line Up catalog highlighting all four Super Bass models.

Yamaha 1977 Catalog, pp. 10-11
©2024 Vintage Japan Guitars

Thanks to Google Translate, I've been able to decipher most of the Japanese text. Features shared by all SB basses include the following:

Hardwood body
One-piece maple bolt-on neck with 20 frets
Butt-end truss rod adjustment
"Batwing" open gear machine heads
Three-ply black/white/black pickguard
Chrome die-cast bridge with an "engraved floral pattern"
Two J-style "single-bobbin" pickups
Two volume controls
One tone control
Three black speed knobs

1977 SB Series - Shared Features
©2024 Vintage Japan Guitars

Super Bass 500 and 600

Both the SB-500 and SB-600 feature the same construction, materials and design elements. For example, you'll find nato bodies, one-piece maple necks and black dot fretboard inlays on both models. The one and only difference is in the color of the finish:

SB-500, 1976-1979: Black [BL] or Brown [BR]
SB-600, 1976: Natural [NT] or Sunburst [SN]
SB-600, 1977-1979: Natural [NT] or Sunburst [YS]

1977 Super Bass 500 and 600
©2024 Vintage Japan Guitars

Super Bass 700 and 800

Only two features set the SB-700 and SB-800 apart from the SB-500 and SB-600; namely, their alder bodies and pearloid block fretboard inlays. Both the SB-700 and SB-800 are similar in terms of construction and design elements, but differ when it comes to finish color:

SB-700, 1976-1979: Black [BL] or Brown [BR]
SB-800, 1976: Natural [NT] or Sunburst [SN]
SB-800, 1977-1979: Natural [NT] or Sunburst [YS]

Comparing the SN and YS Sunburst Finishes

In 1976, the first year of production, both the SB-600 and SB-800 were available in the "SN" shade of sunburst. Then, in 1977, "YS" was introduced. "YS" appears to be lighter and more yellowish than its predecessor. Henceforth, "YS" remained the only sunburst shade available for the SB-600 and SB-800. The images of the 1976 SB-600 and SB-800 below were taken from pages 5-6 of the 1976 Yamaha Electric Guitars Line Up catalog.