YAMAHA Silent Bass SLB300PRO

A hollow chamber and side slits help to reproduce natural acoustic resonance while minimizing unamplified volume

With an ebony fingerboard, which is a rare feature on an upright bass, and a beautiful curly maple neck, this instrument offers outstanding response as well as natural tone playability.

In addition to featuring A.R.E treatment*, the thickness of the maple bridge has been carefully optimized for this instrument. Aluminum adjusters specially selected for the SLB300PRO also provide a notable upgrade that contributes to improved response and clear tone.

* A.R.E stands for Acoustic Resonance Enhancement, an innovative process that matures the wood in a short period of time to achieve tone and resonance that would normally only be found in an older instrument that has been played for many years.

The tuning machine head handles are machined out of heavy-duty stock and feature an original shape for smooth, easy operation. Overall durability and operability have been significantly improved.

The SLB300/SLB300PRO Silent Bass™ employs SRT Powered System technology to deliver acoustic instrument sound and response that is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.

<About the SRT Powered System>

The Yamaha SRT (Studio Response Technology) Powered System is a digital technology that employs in-depth analysis of the acoustic properties of actual musical instruments to add natural-sounding body resonance in real time to instruments such as the Silent Bass™ that do not have a physical resonant body.

This system adds simulated body resonance to the analog signal output from the instrument’s pickup so that the performer’s own playing technique and nuances are delivered without compromise. No sampling or sample playback is involved.

Acoustic body resonance as picked up by three well-known and prized studio microphones is realistically simulated. (SRT Powered System)

The SRT Powered System is used to simulate the response of three well-known and prized studio microphones. The microphones can be selected via the MIC TYPE selector, and the sound adjusted via the BLEND and BASS/TREBLE controls to ideally match a wide range of musical genres, ensembles, performance locations, and more.

Three Microphone Types

1. Rich : A highly valued vintage tube microphone that delivers smooth, well-balanced sound.

2. Simple : A dynamic microphone that is often used for its clear, well-defined sound.

3. Warm : With a different tube microphone character than number 1, this classic microphone is known for a more emphasized low range and overall warmth.

Blend Control

The BLEND control adjusts the mix between the simulated microphone signal and the signal from the instrument’s pickup. The blend can be seamlessly adjusted from direct pickup output with no microphone simulation to full microphone simulation when maximum depth and harmonic richness are desired.

EQ Controls (Bass / Treble)

The BASS and TREBLE EQ controls are optimized specifically for this instrument, allowing tonal response to be matched to a wide range of performance situations.

The SLB300/SLB300PRO exterior design is inherited from the SLB200. A compact, simplified shape does away with nonessential mass and volume. An acoustic bass shaped frame and a center of gravity designed to minimize rotation further enhance playability, while the bridge, fingerboard, neck and other critical parts are in positions that require no change in hold or playing technique from traditional acoustic basses.

The SLB300/SLB300PRO also uses standard contrabass strings, so the user can choose the strings that he or she prefers.

- The neck is made of beautiful tiger-stripe curly maple with an extremely thin finish that feels like a well-played instrument.

- The body features an antique-like finish that simulates The color and tactile wood grain of a vintage acoustic bass.

- Special-order gold-plated machine heads and a simulated tortoise shell control panel provide elegant accents to refined overall appearance.

* The wood grain will be different in each individual　instrument.

When packed in its dedicated soft case, the SLB300 takes up just approximately 25% of the volume of an acoustic bass.

Tail wire that previously consisted of 49 x 0.22-millimeter strands has been upgraded to a more flexible wire consisting of 343 x 0.06-millimeter strands.

A flexible tail wire developed specially for the SLB300PRO contributes to soft body resonance and response that are similar to those of acoustic instruments.