NBD!!! Yamaha TRBX 305

[jjk2007]

My TRBX305 arrived about a month ago.

It is a great bass for the price, but it can perform a lot better with a few upgrades.

I'm getting a new graphite nut because the stock one is cheap painted plastic.

The preamp is quiet, no noise or hissing but OTOH the pickups are noisy and make loud pops when the polepieces are touched. To get things worse, they are cast in epoxy, making them impossible to shield to get rid of the noise. Already ordered a set of RJ NEO s from James Reed.

Hardware looks and feels sturdy. Tuners are holding the strings in tune properly so no need to change them.

Stock strings look like daddario XLs (no silk, ball ends have same color code) and B is kinda floppy, so I'm getting stiffer taper core rounds to try to get a better string tension.

All that being said, I must add that the bass is very good, plays really well and sounds good, but better pickups sure will make this one a keeper.

I have no issues with mine. I know what you're saying on the p/u's, but I don't have any issues. I play somewhat light though so maybe that makes a difference. We played at a big community poolside event last night and I was so impressed with how the bass sat in the mix. I've got it set up nicely and really enjoy it overall. Here's last nights gear.

 

[rafitoprtx]

I have a red 4 string model that I play through a TC BG250. I have owned Fenders, Musicmans, fancy Ibanez`s, Status, almost everything bar a Ric. This £250 bass is by far the most satisfying bass I have owned and I just love playing it. Comfy, light, great build quality, good range of sounds, for me, it`s got the lot.

I am now on the lookout for a BB of some description for when I feel in a passive frame of mind.

I have the same set up. They match perfectly. I'm thinking of and amp upgrade to the rh750 with a 2/12.

 

[Dragan]

I 'll chime in too. I bought one in CAR too couple days ago. I love the bass, as with any Yamaha bass, it is a very playable and comfortable instrument. And looks great too! They did fantastic cross between TRB and RBX series.As for the sound, it has surprisingly well preamp and pick ups, but for live situation (only had one gig since these two days I have it) I play it through Aguilar Tone hammer pre/DI and EBS compressor pedal. What I didnt like is lousy fret work, but I did my own frets dressing yesterday and now its much better and comfortable. For the money (I paid it some 250 USD on the discount at local store) it is unfair to complain about anything about this bass and so far, except the frets - I have none!
In fact, I play it almost non stop

 

[Draculea]

I 'll chime in too. I bought one in CAR too couple days ago. I love the bass, as with any Yamaha bass, it is a very playable and comfortable instrument. And looks great too! They did fantastic cross between TRB and RBX series.As for the sound, it has surprisingly well preamp and pick ups, but for live situation (only had one gig since these two days I have it) I play it through Aguilar Tone hammer pre/DI and EBS compressor pedal. What I didnt like is lousy fret work, but I did my own frets dressing yesterday and now its much better and comfortable. For the money (I paid it some 250 USD on the discount at local store) it is unfair to complain about anything about this bass and so far, except the frets - I have none!
In fact, I play it almost non stop

What you say about the frets is quite uncommon on these basses, mine came with perfect fretwork. However, I have to say that some Indonesia-made basses do have lowsy fretwork, I've seen this with Ibanez and Schecter, but never with Yamaha.

 

[Dragan]

What you say about the frets is quite uncommon on these basses, mine came with perfect fretwork. However, I have to say that some Indonesia-made basses do have lowsy fretwork, I've seen this with Ibanez and Schecter, but never with Yamaha.

Well, it was pretty painfull to slide on the fretboard below G string I have to add that I became converted D addario strings admirer after getting this bass! They re just perfect fit and I am planning to continue string this bass with them. Ofcourse,my Fender jazz stays with DR Marcus Miller.
Do you or anyone knows is these are light gauges (certainly feels like that) 40-120?

 

[giacomini]

Well, it was pretty painfull to slide on the fretboard below G string I have to add that I became converted D addario strings admirer after getting this bass! They re just perfect fit and I am planning to continue string this bass with them. Ofcourse,my Fender jazz stays with DR Marcus Miller.
Do you or anyone knows is these are light gauges (certainly feels like that) 40-120?

I don't know if they're 40s or 45s, but they feel like light gauge/tension strings. How do you know they're d'addario strings? They surely look like XLs (colored ball ends, no silk) but I didn't find anywhere in the Yamaha site that states those strings are d'addario...

Those stock strings sure sound great on this bass, but the low B is kinda dull in my bass. I'll try some different strings to get a better B.

 

[Dragan]

Yep,funny thing - Yamaha didnt specified which strings/gauges on these basses. But these coloured balls is tell tale sign for sure. They could be regular light set 45-60-80-100-130 in fact. But if you think these are low tension, try DR Marcus Miller. I agree with "weak B" maybe different strings,higher action..

 

[Toptube]

I think Daddario now colors the ball ends specifically for each set. So you should be able to match the colors to their gauge charts.


*also, holy moly that CAR looks good in broad daylight!

 

[Tynker]

I have the TRBX 304 in pewter. I have had it since December and I have to agree that I love it, so much so that it has me looking at the TRBX 305 or TRBX 505 to add to my collection. I prefer flat wound strings and really enjoy the action on this one. Been wanting to find the 5 string to try it out before I get one tho.

 

[Dragan]

here is mine:

and with my lovely Jazz,birthday gift from my also lovely and beautiful wife......

 

[giacomini]

and with my lovely Jazz,birthday gift from my also lovely and beautiful wife......

Your wife, my friend, certainly is a woman of refined taste for musical instruments!

The TRBX looks great, but it is tough to beat a Jazz 5er with a maple fretboard.

 

[Dragan]

haha thank you, but I choose the bass. she choose me and my happiness!

 

[Crystalman85]

That's a cool looking bass you got there. recently I've been interested in purchasing a yamaha trbx305. It's got a great sound and it looks pretty cool. I'll be saving my cash on buying one.

 

[jjk2007]

That's a cool looking bass you got there. recently I've been interested in purchasing a yamaha trbx305. It's got a great sound and it looks pretty cool. I'll be saving my cash on buying one.

They really are a great bass, especially for the $$. Keep us posted if you get one.

 

[Crystalman85]

They really are a great bass, especially for the $$. Keep us posted if you get one.

Okay...I also tried out the yamaha trbx174 and I think that bass sounded pretty cool. it's passive and has such a great sound. I thinking about getting that bass too.

 

[Crystalman85]

Someone has started a yamaha fan club here. if you guys like yamaha basses, visit this thread.

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/yamaha-fan-club.1100435/

 

[Crystalman85]

While looking for a six string bass but not finding anything convincing, i found this Yamaha TRBX 305, new. The price was right, and after some thinking on whether it would be the right bass for me or not, I decided to take it home with me.

I loved the sound, and the tonal options this bass has, and being white possibly my favorite color for basses, It was just too enticing at the end.

It's got a mahogany body, five piece maple-mahogany neck, two humbuckers, volume, balance, bass, treble, and a switch that allows you to choose five different tone options that suit the playing style you choose. Money well spent today I guess. Here are some pictures.

I've noticed you have a fender rumble amp behind your yamaha bass. I got one too. I have a fender rumble 150. I plan to get the fender rumble v3 200. I tried those fender rumble v3 amps a few months ago and they sounded pretty cool. I even tried out the yamaha trbx305 and the yamaha trbx174 with those amp and they sounded pretty cool.I plan to buy them real soon.

 

[mexibass]

thinking of buying one of these babies just to try a A-F tuning, what u guys think? will it hold nicely??

 

[Draculea]

I've noticed you have a fender rumble amp behind your yamaha bass. I got one too. I have a fender rumble 150. I plan to get the fender rumble v3 200. I tried those fender rumble v3 amps a few months ago and they sounded pretty cool. I even tried out the yamaha trbx305 and the yamaha trbx174 with those amp and they sounded pretty cool.I plan to buy them real soon.

They're surprisingly good amps. I've heard stories about the big ones (150 W and up) being blown up after some time, but I can't tell for sure how much truth there is to those stories. Mine is a 30W amp, small but just enough for the amp to provide serious low end, at least for rehearsing. I plan on buying a combo some time in the near future, possibly when I get into playing with a band again and get the hang of making music with more people once again.

 

[Draculea]

thinking of buying one of these babies just to try a A-F tuning, what u guys think? will it hold nicely??

I personally think it will hold up just fine. The B string is pretty decent sounding, at least in mine was not floppy at all, and with a proper set of strings with a heavier gauge it might give you also a nice tight and good sounding A string.