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Any Yamaha Bass Players?

#21
My main bass is an Attitude LTD 2 in seafoam green. An incredible instrument that gives any fender P a run for it's money, and full of useful innovative ideas.

My newly acquired backup is an early 90s Attitude Std in crimson red that is a wonderful take on the classic P/J configuration. Imagine if Yamaha made a Pacifica bass and you're about there. I plan to do some mods to this to make it a true backup to the LTD (upgrade P and J pickups to Dimarzios, add a neck woofer with separate output and install hipshot).

The above replaced an RBX4/A2. Not a bad bass at all, very light weight, comfortable to play, but just lacked something in the tone department. A little generic sounding and no growl or punch.

My last Yamaha is the RBX/JM2 in inca silver. Found in cash converters (pawn shop chain, for you colonial types) at a great price. Had been thinking about getting a 6 string, and this model had already piqued my interest, being a DT fan, but couldn't justify the price of a new one. Then spied this one in the shop window and had a holy grail beam of light moment, so snapped it up. I don't play it often, as I prefer 4 strings, but as monstrous as the neck is, it's a delight to play. The action is incredibly low, and get's that classic musicman punch and growl that my other basses don't.

I have a couple of Warwicks (Thumb BO 5 string, and Corvette Std fretless) but they rarely see the light of day compared to my Yamahas.
 
#22
Among tons of other Yamaha products (amps, MIDI gear, my '81 studio upright piano, etc.), I have about 15 Yamaha electric guitars at any given time, most from the 80s / early 90s. Their guitars are always fantastic / fantastically undervalued sleepers, rock solid, and that company knows how to make a neck better than any other far as I'm concerned. I just had a guy make me a custom Telecaster at quite some expense using the neck profile from a "higher-end" Pacifica (yes, they DO exist) as the model.

I've had a couple of the recent RB series basses. They are excellent instruments for the money... which is always stupid short money, even new but especially used (I see an RBX160 or 170 on our local Craigslist for $50-70 at least three times a year). The RBX170 is my first recommendation to any kid who asks me what kind of bass they should get to start on. They aren't oozing with personality but they play wonderfully and are very versatile.

I've had my eyes peeled for years for an early MIJ or at least 80s-era Taiwan BB at the right price. Those basses absolutely kill and they are getting difficult to find. I haven't been as impressed with the recent BB reissues, strangely lacking in vibe. Wish I could say otherwise, they still look pretty killer.

smcd said:
I have an SBV-500. I bought it because I liked the styling of it.
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Oh man, I see the naughties-era SGV guitar reissues on eBay all the time but I had NO idea they ever made a bass like that. Now I gotta find one. Especially that elusive P/J. So thanks for the GAS, but yeah, that's an awesome bass, congrats.
 
#23
Oh yeah...

:hyper:
 

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#25
I've never played a Yamaha bass but have a yamaha acoustic guitar. I've finally found the perfect strings for it. Ernie Ball Earth wood medium-lights. I also have yamaha v-star. I think I'm gonna search for a bass to add to my yamaha collection
 
#26
GirouxJB said:
I had a TRB1006 for about a year and just got rid of it at the beginning of the summer. The bass was awesome. Great feel, great sound, I just couldn't adjust from 4 to 6 string. If it had been a 5er I'de still have it.

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Yeah, I know where you're coming from. I owned a 1st gen JP and loved everything about it.....the neck was just a little too wide and I'm a 5 string guy. If I could have that same bass in a 5, it would probably be my #1 player by a long shot.
 
#27
In the late 80's, the BB 5000, and Guild Pilot V, were about the only 5 strings available, to learn how not to abuse the use of the low "B" string. If you were not careful, you could over use that lower register, because it sounded so delightful! HeeHee!
 

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#30
Munjibunga said:
Yamaha basses are underrated and underdiscussed. The craftsmanship is first-rate in the price range, and their high-end basses are second to none in tone, fit and finish. I have a TRB5P-II, and it is a fantastic sounding bass - it sounds as good as it looks. Neck-through with ash body, ovankol top and ebony 'board. Piezo pickups, too.

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I agree, Munji. I find them to be of very good integrity. A lot of their mid-priced models have that "good-fender" feeling that feels right in my hands.

That's a nice looking one you've got there.
 
#32
I owned a BB415 that was inexpensive, well built, sounded great, and played exceptionally well, but I ended up selling it 'cause I needed some money at the time, probably a mistake. I still have a BBN5a that I use weekly, a very fine instrument that I will most likely keep forever. As someone else said, highly underrated, and a high degree of craftsmanship and quality at a very attractive price point.
 

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#33
Can't go wrong with yammies. Whether its an entry level budget bass or a high end you get your monies worth and a whole lot more. The good trb's, bb's, and artist models are top notch. And the vintage ones can be found on the cheap for inexpensive vintage tone.

My first gen trb5p will go to the grave with me!
 
#35
In my first "real" band, I used one of the RBX170s (budget, starter Yamaha). The thing played great and felt wonderful, but I didn't so much care for the pickups. I put a set of EMG HZs in it after about a year of owning it and gigged with it extensively. I also used it for every song on my band's EP. The tone was killer - it had a very modern, grinding, clunky, chunky tone. Excellent for hard rock and metal.

I gigged it all the way into my early 20s, until I was able to finally afford nicer gear. I do not regret a single minute spent with that bass. I also got compliments on the looks as well as the tone - it was the sexy, crimson/candy apple red color. It looked great shining under the stage lights. :)
 
#38
jjk2007 said:
I'm still waiting for some news about U.S. release dates on the new TRBX basses that are coming out.
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It will be worth the wait. We have had them for a bit over here and I bought a TRBX 504 about 3 weeks ago. Really, really impressed in every way (apart from the mid control's frequency, which is too low for me).
Usual Yamaha quality construction. Great action out of the box. Very characterful tone from these Alnico humbuckers. Light. The neck is slim and thin, more like an Ibanez SR than a BB.
What's not to love ? All for about 400 quid brand new.

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#39
hamfistUK said:
It will be worth the wait. We have had them for a bit over here and I bought a TRBX 504 about 3 weeks ago. Really, really impressed in every way (apart from the mid control's frequency, which is too low for me).
Usual Yamaha quality construction. Great action out of the box. Very characterful tone from these Alnico humbuckers. Light. The neck is slim and thin, more like an Ibanez SR than a BB.
What's not to love ? All for about 400 quid brand new.

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Hey Hamfist, thanks for the reply. Good to see these out in the wild. I'm really interested in trying both models out. Do you have any clips of you playing the bass?
 

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