A passive P bass and an active 5-string are enough to take pretty much any gig on the planet. Get the P.
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Fender Player Precision vs Yamaha TRBX504?
- Thread starter jeff foster
- Start date
I too like the trbx line of bass guitars. I plan to get a trbx505 sometime soon. between you're choices, I would say the trbx504. if you happen to like the fender basses, but still like yamaha, I would recommend the bb series. they have a fender-esque look and sound and can handle lower tunings. the bb234 and the bb434 would be excellent choices if you're interested in the bb basses.
P bass, for two reasons:
1- you’re obviously curious about a P bass. You could easily imagine a 4 string version of your current bass, but you won’t really “know” a P bass til you own and explore one. So get in there and see what the fuss is about! you can always trade it later.
2- from personal experience; I played 2 pickup basses (mostly Ibanez and Yamaha) about 20 years, and got my first P about 18 months ago. I absolutely love it, hands down my favorite bass. It’s simple, effective, sounds great with everything.
Now, I don’t play metal, even much hard rock anymore, but I hear there’s a small movement growing that thinks P bass works pretty well for metal...
Good luck!
1- you’re obviously curious about a P bass. You could easily imagine a 4 string version of your current bass, but you won’t really “know” a P bass til you own and explore one. So get in there and see what the fuss is about! you can always trade it later.
2- from personal experience; I played 2 pickup basses (mostly Ibanez and Yamaha) about 20 years, and got my first P about 18 months ago. I absolutely love it, hands down my favorite bass. It’s simple, effective, sounds great with everything.
Now, I don’t play metal, even much hard rock anymore, but I hear there’s a small movement growing that thinks P bass works pretty well for metal...
Good luck!
Lots of Fender love here in recent posts! So I'll temper it with this fact:
I currently own 3 basses: an Ibanez SR495, a StingRay 5, and an American Standard Precision, that I acquired in that order starting in 2003.
The only bass that I've been slightly tempted by since picking up the Precision is a TRBX505. Not that it would supplant my Precision, but just as a well-built modern alternative to it for when I have that itch.
Still, given that the OP already has a 505, my original recommendation still stands!
I currently own 3 basses: an Ibanez SR495, a StingRay 5, and an American Standard Precision, that I acquired in that order starting in 2003.
The only bass that I've been slightly tempted by since picking up the Precision is a TRBX505. Not that it would supplant my Precision, but just as a well-built modern alternative to it for when I have that itch.
Still, given that the OP already has a 505, my original recommendation still stands!
If you want a 504, just pick up your 505 and use the b string as a thumb rest.
The P will give you another sound that you won’t exactly get from the 594.
The P will give you another sound that you won’t exactly get from the 594.
I love the player precision’s and have one tuned down to drop a, one in drop c, and one in standard. All have Ernie Ball cobalt flatwounds and take tuning that low very well.
Sounds like you're feeling out your voice. Get the 4-string P-Bass to see if that's your thing. I love the TRBX line, currently have 2 fives - the 305 and the 505. I think the less expensive 305 front pickup gets closer sonically to a P than the 505, but nothing is exaclty like a straight P. If consistent feel isn't important to you then the Player P (if comfortable to you) sounds like a good idea but try others if you haven't. I like consistent feel across my basses, hence 2 TRBX 5s but if I really wanted the P or PJ vibe I'd look at the BB series if the necks are identical, which by the specs look like they are - I haven't AB'ed them in the store. Also in songs that I've played in Drop D before on a 4-string, sometimes I still drop it on the 5-string, I just have to mute the low B better. An example is Sober by Tool.
I own both. As you might expect, the Yamaha is a bit scooped... but it sounds amazing. It will not cut through the mix like that P, though. The only thing I don't like about the Yamaha is that the fret ends are a bit sharp. I decided to buy a file to deal with it. All in all I think either instrument is an excellent choice and I wouldn't steer you away from them. Both have extremely comfortable necks. You probably get more for your money with the Yamaha. I wouldn't change a thing about the hardware, pickups or the electronics whereas the P is just begging to be upgraded. I've already decided to throw in a parallel coil split switch and a Bill Lawrence Q-filter. POSSIBLY changing the pickup but I want to see how it sounds with flats first.
