Yamaha Pulser Bass 400 - Natural, Lawsuit era, 1978

Yamaha Pulser Bass 400 is a Japanese instrument made in 1978 at the Nippon Gakki factory, a replica of the classic PB. The Natural finish, combined with the maple neck and fingerboard, showcases the grain of the ash body. The instrument features traditional passive electronics. It is fitted with a white pickguard and chrome hardware. The bass has undergone a full luthier service in our workshop, including fret dressing, finish care and shielding of the electronics.

Technical specification

• Manufacturer: Yamaha
• Model: Pulser Bass 400
• Year of production: 1978
• Body: Japanese ash (Sen)
• Neck: Maple
• Fingerboard: Maple
• Frets: Medium (Condition: 100% – after dressing)
• Pickups: 1x Yamaha Split-Coil
• Electronics: Passive (1x Volume, 1x Tone)
• Visual condition: 8 out of 10
• Finish: Natural

Body and construction The solid body is made of Japanese ash (Sen). The Natural finish leaves the wood grain visible. The body and neck are joined with a standard Bolt-on construction, and the joint is secured by a metal neck plate engraved “Made in Japan”. A white pickguard is mounted on the front of the body. In our workshop, the lacquer finish on the body has been polished and protected with wax.

Neck and ergonomics The maple neck has a “C” profile. It uses a two-piece construction (a maple neck with a glued-on maple fingerboard, commonly known as a “maple cap”), so the back of the neck is completely smooth, with no strip covering the truss rod (skunk stripe). The fingerboard has been polished and protected with wax. The Medium frets have been dressed (levelled, crowned and polished), which allows an even string height along the whole neck.

Sound The instrument is fitted with a single Split-Coil pickup in a passive circuit.

• Characteristics: An even response with a tight low end and a pronounced midrange, typical of this type of pickup and the ash body.
• Dynamics: The passive circuit responds directly to fingerstyle articulation and pick playing. Volume and tone are controlled with metal potentiometer knobs. Thanks to the cavity shielding we carried out, the circuit is isolated from electromagnetic interference.

Additional information

The Pulser series was part of Yamaha’s range at a time that coincided with the growing production of traditional replicas by other Japanese manufacturers of the period (the so-called Lawsuit era).

The use of Japanese ash (Sen) is characteristic of 1970s Japanese guitar making.

The instrument has undergone a comprehensive technical inspection. The work included: fret dressing, shielding of the electronics, polishing and waxing of the body and fingerboard, cleaning of the metal parts and intonation adjustment.

Small mounting holes are visible on the body, indicating that the instrument was originally fitted with metal pickup and bridge covers (so-called ashtrays).

Hardware

• Bridge: Vintage Style – a steel design with four adjustable saddles ensuring correct intonation.
• Tuners: Open Gear – classic open-gear machine heads. The instrument’s serial number is stamped on the back of the headstock. After cleaning, the chrome hardware is fully functional mechanically and shows a natural patina.

Musical application

• Music styles: Rock, Blues, Funk, Punk, Soul.
• Environment: Rehearsals, live performances and studio recording, where the shielded electronics are an advantage.
• Who it’s for: For bassists who prefer the PB neck profile, a smooth neck back without a walnut insert, and the look of natural wood.

Instrument condition

• Technical condition: 10 out of 10 – the instrument is mechanically and electronically functional after a full luthier inspection. The truss rod works correctly.
• Visual condition: 8 out of 10 – the instrument shows signs of use. Minor scratches and dings are visible on the lower and rear parts of the body. There is a surface scratch on the neck that does not create any resistance when sliding your hand along it. Holes from the removed metal covers and tailpiece are visible.
• Setup and Modifications: Shielding of the electronics, full fret dressing, care of the lacquer finish and hardware, neck relief adjustment and intonation setup.

Why choose this instrument

• Maple Cap construction: The absence of a skunk stripe on the back of the neck gives a uniform, smooth one-piece wood surface for the thumb.
• Maple fingerboard: Lacquered maple offers a slightly brighter tone and a faster response compared with unfinished rosewood fingerboards.
• Natural finish: The transparent lacquer showcases the figure of the Sen wood, so every example in this finish has a different grain pattern.
• No extra investment needed: After the service work, including fret dressing and shielding, the instrument is ready to play without further visits to a luthier.