Yamaha Billy Sheehan "Attitude Limited 3" Signature Bass - Sonic Blue

Attitude’s low-end is powerful and bold, yet tight and controlled. The highs are clear and musical and the mid drives with a power rarely heard. The latest technology, including our spline jointed body and exclusive ARE and IRA wood treatments together with newly designed pickups and a totally reworked neck joint make this bass something else. And with Billy’s involvement every step of the way, playability is like no other guitar. It’s clearly an Attitude, but it’s an Attitude like you’ve never heard it before.

Pickups and Electronics

Billy’s signature sound comes from Yamaha Designed DiMarzio Woofer Pickup. Combining its heavy, powerful low-end and solid fundamental with a DiMarzio designed pickup at the middle position delivers an incredible tonal range and a strong presence within the band. While stereo output jacks provide separate outputs for the front and middle pickups, mono output is also available. A high cut switch in the front pickup tone control boosts bass output from the front pickup.

Miter Bolting Neck Joint

Miter bolting holds the neck closer and tighter to the body fusing these two separate components into one. Compared to a conventional bolt-on joint, miter bolting efficiently transfers string vibration throughout the body with little loss. This delivers greater body resonance making each note come alive.
Spline Joint

This body structure makes Attitude LTDIII far more resonant than conventional 2 or 3-piece body instruments. Vibrations are transferred easily through the body for an immense, vibrant and loud tone that is unmistakably Attitude.

ATTITUDE LTDIII Neck

A big, thick neck features jumbo frets from frets 1-16 to produce outstanding sustain. The neck is held to the bass body with 4 screws to create a solid bond and tone. The neck also features scallops from frets 17 through 21 and a slap cut ground into the neck that provides greater string access.

ATTITUDE LTDIII Bridge

The solid brass bridge captures and transmits string vibration directly to the body, creating great low-end tone and attack.

Hipshot "D" Tuner

The Hipshot tuner drops the "E" string down a whole step to "D" with the flick is a lever. A gear adjustment provides precision tuning.

A.R.E / Acoustic Resonance Enhancement

A.R.E. (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) is an original wood reforming technology developed by Yamaha. Through precise control of temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure, the molecular properties of the wood can be manipulated into a more acoustically ideal condition, similar to the molecular characteristics of woods in instruments that have been played for years.

I.R.A. / Initial Response Acceleration

If you've ever played another guitarist's instrument and not been able to get the same sound, it's probably because you are playing a different style than what the guitar is used to. After playing the same guitar for years, the guitar adapts to the guitarist's playing style. It takes time for a new guitar to adapt to your own way of playing. Stress found between parts like finish, woods, body, neck, fingerboard, nut, bridge, etc., must be released before all of the parts can resonate together as an instrument. It takes time and a lot of playing for this to happen.Using IRA technology, stresses like those between the finish and wood are release by applying specific vibrations to the completed guitars. Once this treatment is complete, the guitar responds accurately to the guitarist's performance, and produces sound more easily. It also shortens the time needed for the guitar to adapt to your playing style. And it delivers excellent sustain.