Bass / Yamaha

PRE-SALE: Yamaha Pulser Bass 400 – Sunburst, 1979–1980

Listed on Reverb

915.00 EUR

Original Reverb prices in EUR. Check the listing for shipping and the final total.

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Model
Pulser Bass PB400
Year
1979-1980
Finish
3TS (3-tone Sunburst)
SKU
B25069
Condition
Used — see description
Instrument certificate ↗

Service and condition at a glance

Work and modifications

The scheduled service work includes: setup (truss rod, string action and intonation adjustment), fret cleaning and polishing or – if required – fingerboard planing with a refret, cleaning and polishing of wooden and metal parts, servicing and shielding of the electronics.

Technical condition

The instrument is currently being prepared for playing (pre-sale). Once the scheduled luthier work has been completed, it will be fully functional both mechanically and electronically. Cosmetic condition: We rate the cosmetic condition at 8 out of 10. The guitar shows signs of use consistent with its age – details are visible in the photographs.

About this instrument

Instrument description in English.

PLEASE NOTE! This instrument is presented as a pre-sale item. It will undergo luthier work, including, among other things, polishing of the finish, refurbishment of the metal parts and shielding of the electronics. Depending on the assessment of the neck geometry, the original frets will receive an advanced levelling and polishing, or – if levelling (planing) of the fingerboard proves necessary – the instrument will receive a completely new set of frets. The final price includes the above work. This listing does not constitute a commercial offer within the meaning of Article 66 § 1 of the Polish Civil Code.


About the instrument
The Yamaha Pulser Bass 400 (PB-400) is a Japanese bass guitar from the late 1970s / early 1980s, produced by Nippon Gakki – the company known since 1987 as Yamaha Corporation. The PB-400 was the basic Precision-type bass in Yamaha’s range and appeared in the company’s Japanese catalogues from November 1976 until 1981, when it was replaced by the PB-450. The instrument presented here has a Sunburst finish, a Japanese ash (sen) body, a maple neck and a maple fingerboard; the metal bridge and pickup covers (ashtray) have also been retained. The instrument is currently being prepared and will undergo the scheduled luthier service in our workshop before being released.


Technical specification

Manufacturer: Yamaha (Nippon Gakki)


Model: Pulser Bass 400 (PB-400)


Year: 1979–1980 (Japan)


Body: Japanese ash (Sen)


Neck: Maple


Fingerboard: Maple


Frets: Vintage Style (planned levelling and polishing / new frets if required)


Pickup: 1x Yamaha Vintage Split-Coil


Electronics: Passive (1x Volume, 1x Tone)


Bridge: Vintage Style + bridge and pickup covers (ashtray)


Cosmetic condition: Pre-sale / 8 out of 10 (see description)


Finish: Sunburst (SB)


Weight: 4.22 kg



Body and construction
The solid PB-shaped body is made of sen – a Japanese species with a grain pattern similar to ash, used by Yamaha in this series. The instrument has a Sunburst lacquer finish. A traditional bolt-on neck construction (Bolt-on) is used. Metal pickup and bridge covers (so-called ashtray) are mounted on the body. In line with the terms of the pre-sale, the finish and wooden components will be cleaned and polished in our workshop, and the electronics cavities will be shielded.


Neck and playability
The maple neck is paired with a maple fingerboard – on the PB-400 this was a fingerboard glued onto the neck rather than one made from a single piece of wood. The Vintage Style frets are original. Depending on the assessment of the neck geometry, the original frets will undergo a thorough levelling and polishing, or – should the fingerboard require levelling (planing) – the instrument will receive entirely new frets. This will ensure correct intonation and appropriate string action along the entire length of the fingerboard. The fingerboard surface will be cleaned and conditioned.


Sound
The instrument is fitted with a single split-coil pickup (Split-Coil) – the factory Yamaha split-coil pickup – in a passive circuit with Volume and Tone potentiometers.



Character: The combination of an ash (sen) body and a split-coil pickup produces the classic PB-type frequency response, with a clear midrange and a well-defined low end.


Dynamics: The passive electronics respond proportionally to the force of articulation, both with fingerstyle and pick playing. The scheduled servicing of the circuit and shielding of the electronics cavities will reduce susceptibility to ambient noise.



Additional information

The Pulser Bass series comprises Precision-type basses produced by Yamaha (then Nippon Gakki) from the second half of the 1970s. The PB-400 was the entry-level model; alongside it, the 1979–1980 catalogues listed the more expensive PB-600.


Sen (Japanese ash) was a typical body material in this period for Japanese replicas referencing American instruments with ash bodies.


The serial numbers of Pulser basses take the form of consecutive numbers with no encoded date, which is why dating of this example relies on catalogues and construction features.


The bass is offered on a pre-sale basis, which allows this particular instrument to be reserved before the full luthier work in our workshop has been completed.



Hardware

Bridge: Vintage Style PB – steel construction with adjustable saddles, covered by a metal cover (ashtray); a second cover is mounted over the pickup. As part of the scope of work, the hardware will be cleaned and refurbished, and the bridge will receive a full adjustment of intonation and string height.


Tuners: Original tuning machines. The hardware will be thoroughly cleaned and lubricated to ensure tuning stability.



Condition

Technical condition: The instrument is currently being prepared for playing (pre-sale). Once the scheduled luthier work has been completed, it will be fully functional both mechanically and electronically.


Cosmetic condition: We rate the cosmetic condition at 8 out of 10. The guitar shows signs of use consistent with its age – details are visible in the photographs.


Setup and modifications: The scheduled service work includes: setup (truss rod, string action and intonation adjustment), fret cleaning and polishing or – if required – fingerboard planing with a refret, cleaning and polishing of wooden and metal parts, servicing and shielding of the electronics.



Why choose this instrument

Nippon Gakki production: A late-1970s instrument from the factory of one of the most highly regarded Japanese manufacturers of that period.


Complete ashtray covers: The retained metal bridge and pickup covers are a component often missing from instruments of this era.


Pre-sale offer: Purchasing on a pre-sale basis makes it possible to reserve this particular instrument and receive it directly upon completion of the luthier work in our workshop.


Comprehensive service: Within the agreed price, the bass will undergo all the scheduled preparatory work, which eliminates the need for any additional investment after collection.