This is my first bass. It's a '90 Yamaha RBX200F I bought new in 1991 for around 250.
I always thought the bass lacked something so in '99 I replaced the pickup and put an active Basslines APB-1. The tone improved considerably but the sustain, mainly on the E string never really satisfied me. People would tell me "it's a cheap bass, it's the neck, what a waste putting that pickup there". But I knew that Yamaha uses good woods and good workmanship even in their cheaper basses. Fast forward to 2007 and I join TB forums. After reading many a thread I ordered a gotoh 201 bridge from Warmoth and bought a set of ernie ball flats. All I can say is WOW. I want to thank this community for sharing so much knowledge.
Now I have a great sweet singing tone, but the basslines PU has a bass boost switch that also makes this bass thunderous.
The gotoh bridge gives me real good action and great sustain (and believe me, the bridge really made a BIG difference in my case). The old bridge didn't have routes for the saddles so the E string moved sideways real bad.
And the Ernie Ball flats, man I didn't know flats could have such a sweet MWAAAHH! (I had used chromes before, and lately half rounds). I'm really happy with this bass now, it has a versatile tone, good sustain and playability after spending 200 on it. Just wanted to share my thoughts in these mods I've done, they're worthwhile.
The pickup has been discontinued, they don't make it with the switches, but I really recommend it if you find one on Ebay. Switch 1 shifts the coil resonance downward from 22 KHz to 6.4 KHz and switch 2 gives a broad band bass boost of 4 dB. Rolling down the tone pot has a dramatic effect darkening the sound without losing "tightness".
The gotoh 201 bridge improved the feel of the bass so much it's not even funny.
The EB flats can do the fretless mwah thing, but also that vintage thump pick style tone, and fat fingerstyle funk.
Man I'm happy
Sorry for the long post, I had to share!
Peace,
Nuno
I always thought the bass lacked something so in '99 I replaced the pickup and put an active Basslines APB-1. The tone improved considerably but the sustain, mainly on the E string never really satisfied me. People would tell me "it's a cheap bass, it's the neck, what a waste putting that pickup there". But I knew that Yamaha uses good woods and good workmanship even in their cheaper basses. Fast forward to 2007 and I join TB forums. After reading many a thread I ordered a gotoh 201 bridge from Warmoth and bought a set of ernie ball flats. All I can say is WOW. I want to thank this community for sharing so much knowledge.
Now I have a great sweet singing tone, but the basslines PU has a bass boost switch that also makes this bass thunderous.
The gotoh bridge gives me real good action and great sustain (and believe me, the bridge really made a BIG difference in my case). The old bridge didn't have routes for the saddles so the E string moved sideways real bad.
And the Ernie Ball flats, man I didn't know flats could have such a sweet MWAAAHH! (I had used chromes before, and lately half rounds). I'm really happy with this bass now, it has a versatile tone, good sustain and playability after spending 200 on it. Just wanted to share my thoughts in these mods I've done, they're worthwhile.
The pickup has been discontinued, they don't make it with the switches, but I really recommend it if you find one on Ebay. Switch 1 shifts the coil resonance downward from 22 KHz to 6.4 KHz and switch 2 gives a broad band bass boost of 4 dB. Rolling down the tone pot has a dramatic effect darkening the sound without losing "tightness".
The gotoh 201 bridge improved the feel of the bass so much it's not even funny.
The EB flats can do the fretless mwah thing, but also that vintage thump pick style tone, and fat fingerstyle funk.
Man I'm happy
Sorry for the long post, I had to share!
Peace,
Nuno
