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Yamaha SA-70

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Page last updated Apr 10, 2026

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Description

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Discover the Yamaha SA-70, a distinctive addition to any bassist's collection. This electric bass guitar is a harmonious blend of vintage design and modern craftsmanship, offering both seasoned musicians and budding bassists a reliable and expressive instrument. Drawing influence from classic semi-hollow body styles, the SA-70 delivers a warm, resonant tone that's perfect for a variety of genres, from jazz and blues to rock and funk.

Crafted with precision, the SA-70 features a semi-hollow body that not only enhances its visual appeal but also contributes to its rich sound. Its dual humbucking pickups provide a versatile range of tones that can be easily adapted to suit your playing style. Whether you’re recording in the studio or performing live, the SA-70 offers a balanced output that ensures your sound is both clear and powerful.

The neck of the SA-70 is designed for comfort, allowing for smooth transitions across frets. This makes it an ideal choice for long jam sessions or live performances where comfort and playability are key. Additionally, its vintage-inspired aesthetics are sure to capture attention, making it not just an instrument, but a statement piece on stage.

Key Features:

Semi-hollow body design for enhanced resonance and tone
Dual humbucking pickups for versatile sound options
Comfortable neck profile for easy playability
Vintage-inspired aesthetics

Videos

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Mateusz Piotrowski

Yamaha SA70 Hollowbody Bass Japan 1966

Mateusz Piotrowski

A VERY SPECIAL Bass, A Very Special Cause // 1967 Yamaha SA-70 Hollow Body Bass

The Bass Channel

Yamaha SA 70 Original Vintage Bass Guitar Demo (no talking)

Sound Xperience

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Yamaha SA-70.

User experience

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Owners emphasize the Yamaha SA-70's beefy, resonant tone with a distinctive midrange growl, outperforming even vintage Fender Coronado II basses.
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After watching Josh Homme play the SA-70, one owner purchased it and shared their satisfaction with its performance.
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Some owners believe the Yamaha SA-70 uses flatwound strings for specific tones, while others hear roundwounds, indicating its versatile tonal capacity.
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Comparisons

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The Yamaha SA-70 is compared to Hofner hollow bodies, noted for superior build quality and tonal clarity, unlike Hofners which can feel fragile.
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The Ibanez Artcore series is recommended as an alternative for those seeking hollow body basses, noted for their quality and affordability.
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The Yamaha SA-70's intonation issues are likened to a detuned sound, setting it apart from the more precise tones of a Fender P-Bass.
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Features and functionality

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The SA-70's hollow body design contributes to its unique tonal profile, making it a standout choice among 1968-1972 era basses.
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It's reported that Joe Barresi reamped the Yamaha SA-70 through a Sovtek MIG 50, contributing to a distinctive distortion sound on recordings.
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Use cases and applications

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These basses are favored for live touring due to their reliable performance and standout tone in a band setting.
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The Yamaha SA-70 is noted for its deeper, thumpy sound, similar to a Hofner, and is particularly highlighted in songs like "Avon" and "How to Handle a Rope."
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Mods and upgrades

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Owners suggest removing the pickguard for a cleaner look, and some may opt to change the pickups for a personalized sound.
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Setup and maintenance

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Some users have experienced issues finding the Yamaha SA-70 in good condition due to its rarity and age, implying potential maintenance needs.
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4.5 out of 5

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Artist usage

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Josh Homme

Guitarist

Kyuss

Verified via YouTube

He used it to record 'Mantra' for Dave Grohl's Sound City project (01:38)

He can also be seen playing it with QOTSA in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxX5Mj9Fc8A during Burn The Witch (23:43).

Alex Turner

Guitarist

Arctic Monkeys

Verified via Photo

Alex Turner can be seen playing a Yamaha SA-70 bass in this photo.

This bass belongs to Josh Homme and was used during the recording sessions for Humbug.

Trent Reznor

Keyboardist, Singer

Nine Inch Nails

Verified via YouTube

At 1:38 of this mini-documentary, Reznor can be seen playing a Yamaha SA-70.

John Paul Jones

Bassist, Keyboardist

Led Zeppelin

Verified via YouTube

John Paul Jones can be seen playgng Yamaha SA-70 at 0:01 in this video.

Troy Van Leeuwen

Guitarist, Bassist

Queens of the Stone Age

Verified via YouTube

Troy can be seen playing Josh Homme's Yamaha SA-70 bass here.

Nick O'Malley

Bassist

Arctic Monkeys

Verified via Photo

This photo, from this Sound on Sound article, shows Nick playing a Yamaha SA-70.

Michael Shuman

Singer, Guitarist

Queens of the Stone Age

Verified via PhotoBucket

Shuman can be seen playing a Yamaha SA-70 in this photo.

Alain Johannes

Singer, Guitarist

Queens of the Stone Age

Verified via Photo

In this photo and in QOTSA concerts when Alain was in the group, he could be seen playing a black Yamaha sa-70

Jesse Hughes

Singer, Guitarist

The Desert Sessions

Verified via Photo

Hughes can be seen playing a Yamaha SA-70 bass in this photo.

Ahmad Dhani

Singer, Guitarist

Dewa 19

Verified via Photo

In the image, Ahmad Dhani is seen with a red Yamaha SA-70 bass guitar positioned behind a woman.

Justin Cary

Bassist

Sixpence None the Richer

Verified via Photo

Justin Cary uses a Cherry Yamaha SA-70 bass, which is based on the Gibson ES-335, as evidenced by the image provided.

Masayoshi Kabe

Guitarist, Bassist

Speed, Glue & Shinki

Verified via Photo

Masayoshi Kabe is seen playing a Yamaha SA-70 in the studio, as evidenced by an image from around 1970.

Album Usage

The Yamaha SA-70 has been featured on the following albums:

In The Fade (Original Soundtrack Album)

Josh Homme & Troy Van Leeuwen & Michael Shuman (2017)

Humbug

Arctic Monkeys (2009)

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Similar

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1 alternative for Yamaha SA-70, curated by the Equipboard community.

Yamaha SA-75 Electric Basses

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The Yamaha SA-70 and SA-75 are vintage semi-acoustic basses manufactured in the late 1960s and 70s. The main differences lie in their internal construction, control layout, and cosmetic details.

Comparison of Key Differences

Internal Construction SA-70: Features a full-hollow (or nearly full-hollow) body design. It is exceptionally lightweight and produces a deep, resonant acoustic tone. SA-75: Built with a semi-hollow structure featuring a wooden center block. This provides more sustain and makes the bass more resistant to feedback compared to the SA-70.

Control Configuration SA-70: Equipped with 1 Volume, 1 Tone, and Yamaha’s unique "Balancer Control" for blending the pickups. SA-75: Uses a more standard 2 Volume, 1 Tone layout. Pickup switching and blending follow a conventional style rather than the balancer system.

Inlay Design SA-70: Features standard rectangular block inlays on the fretboard. SA-75: Adopts the "Chevron" (V-shaped) inlays similar to higher-end models like the SA-90.

Color Variations SA-70: Commonly found in Sunburst, Red, and a distinctive Dark Green. SA-75: Most frequently seen in Natural or Sunburst finishes.

Common Features Both models utilize a 30.5-inch (770mm) short scale, making them easy to play for those with smaller hands. They both deliver that warm, "thumpy" vintage character unique to hollow-body basses. In short, choose the SA-70 if you want a lightweight, acoustic feel, or the SA-75 if you prefer better feedback control and modern playability.

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