Yamaha artist Miki Santamaria collaborated with the Yamaha Guitar Development Custom Shop in Calabasas, Los Angeles, to design his dream Yamaha bass, an instrument which reflects his personal sound and artistic vision. We had the pleasure of speaking with Miki about this custom project, as well as his journey and inspirations.
First Impressions
When Miki first received his custom bass, the excitement was palpable. “The bass is just as I imagined. It has killer looks, an in-the-face sound, and great playability all over the neck. I wanted a BB with a humbucker pickup in order to get a punchy funky sound, and the guys at the Yamaha Custom Shop nailed it.“
“The bass is just as I imagined. It has killer looks, an in-the-face sound, and great playability all over the neck.”
Design Inspirations
The customization process was heavily influenced by the sounds of legendary bassists. “I’ve always loved the sound of bassists like Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Bernard Edwards from Chic”, explains Miki, “they have been a big influence in my playing and my sound. It’s a punchy sound with lots of character, and it’s difficult to get that sound from a pickup configuration other than a humbucker pickup with an active onboard preamp. Also, I love the instant attack you get from a maple fretboard, and all my Yamaha BB’s had rosewood fingerboards.”
The Process
The collaboration with the luthiers at the Yamaha Custom Shop was a key part of the design process. “Yamaha Music Europe got me in touch with Luthier Pat (Campolattano) via e-mail. He asked me about the specs of what my dream bass could have, and I sent him my wish list. I wanted a specific pickup (Lane Poor Legacy) and an Aguilar OBP-1 preamp. I was very specific about the neck; I asked for an extra fret (22) and a quarter-sawn maple neck. Also, a D-Tuner for the E string. I was also very specific about the color. We discussed a few things, but he agreed with everything I asked and started building the bass,” Miki explains.
The two were in touch throughout the whole process, and after a few months, the bass was ready. The reveal happened in person, at the NAMM Show. “He didn’t want to show me any pictures of it,” Miki recalls, “he wanted me to see it in person for the first time. The moment I took the bass out of the case, I was the happiest man in the world.“
“The moment I took the bass out of the case, I was the happiest man in the world.”
Why the BB Series?
Miki has a long-standing appreciation for the Yamaha BB series. “It has always been my favourite. They have everything a classic bass should have—big sound that suits any music genre and a very comfortable neck with a vintage/classic feel. It feels like home to me. I always loved the looks too.” He elaborates, “I’ve been playing BBs since 2013. The first one I had was an old BB1600 from the 80s. Killer bass!“
He now has quite the BB collection, he talks through his vast collection, “I have a couple of BB2024Xs (one of them is painted in chrome), a BB2000 from the 80s too, a BBP35, and several BB734 and BB735, they are all great.”
Putting this custom bass to work
Fans looking to hear Miki perform with this custom model are in for a treat, “I’ve been using this bass on tour with my band ‘Doctor Prats’ and also with my Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band ‘Californicators.’ I’ve also used it on some YouTube videos and some lessons in my online school ‘Escuela de Bajistas,’ and I’ll continue to do so.“
Hear Miki’s custom BB in action here, in this Slap Bass tutorial on Miki’s YouTube channel:
Keep up with Miki on his Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/mikisantamaria/