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New Yamaha RBX5 A2

#22
RedsFan75 said:
It's been a long time since I played a Yamaha bass.

How would you relate the neck feel.

IE... Feel more like a P or a Jazz, etc...

VERY Tempted by this deal!
Click to expand...

Very much in between the two and comfy. Not nearly as comfortable as my Ibby or my Peavey 5-strings, which have flatter necks (front to back), but definitely more comfortable than Fender 5-strings. Still my hand doesn't fatigue on this neck. Anyone else want to chip in on this one?
 
#23
I want to subscribe to this thread.

I just got one of each. I haven't had much time with them, but I'm impressed so far. The 4 string is 6 lbs, 13.5 oz. The 5 string is right at 8 pounds.

I've been interested since they came out, but I was always on the fence. At these prices, I had to take the chance.

Pat
 
#25
I have an old Yammy RBX200 and I love this thing so much I have wanted to try a higher end Yamaha. But it seems my fav body style Yammy is the one with the huge chunky upper horn and the little off set lower horn and so far (from what little I know of yamahas) that style is on the lower end ones???

All I know is someone showed me this killer Yammy the other night and I was blown away. It breaks my heart to say that the deal for the 77-78 Fender Precision (the 'Haggard P') may fall through because the owner has decided to be a **** about it :crying: and since I have the money right now I am seriously considering this particular Yamaha (yea considering the Fender Cowpoke I passed up for that P got sold here last week...:bawl:).

I appreciated the comments about the neck on this beast. The neck on my RBX isnt my narrowest or my thinnest but man, theres just something about it, I can't explain it, Im just in love with it. I think the description of it being a cross between a J and a P is a good way to put it. I gather the neck on this RBX4 A2 (Id be interested in the 4 string) is similar to my RBX200?
 
#27
I got my RBX5A2 back from my tech. He had to lower the nut, it was a mess... too high, uneven, and it made the bass play out of tune. Yamaha should be shot, for letting a great bass out of the factory with such the mess they made out of the nut. If someone were a novice and picked up the bass for the first time, they would have passed it up because it played so bad.

The good part. My tech did a great job, I used it on a gig today and it played great! I got to use the pickups individually, no hum whatsoever. The bass sustained like crazy and it has no dead spots anywhere! I played a couple of solos and the bass felt and responded like I'd been playing it for years.

The RBX5 is a great slap bass too.. the flat radius makes it a natural for that playing style.

Get one of these basses while they are still available at such a great price and be prepared to spend a few bucks getting the nut tweaked.
 
#34
I just placed my order for my RBX4 A2 and Im stoked!!!! I got mine for less then what some other sites have them sale priced for, thats all I can say about it.... :p Check out my thread on the RBX4 A2...Merry Christmas to me, Merry Christmas to me....booyah. I can't wait to get it!!! From the other comments on the neck and the one where the neck is close to my RBX200 Im so stoked!!! I don't know what it is about the neck on my RBX200, as I said, its not my narrowest or thinnest front to back but theres just /something/ about it...man....
 
#35
Ok. The five string model came today.

The Good:

It's light. Really light. Has a nice growl and really sustains. Pickups are quiet for being single coil. With a proper setup it would be a comfortable bass for a lot of people.

The Bad:
Horrible setup (yeah I know it's out of the box but still). Whoever talked about the nut being off was right, mine won't play in tune, and the action is quite high. All indications are that this is just a setup issue though, the neck is straight with no dead spots. Also, I think the major problem I'd have with this bass is the neck dive. Because the body is so light the neck really weighs this down. It's not that bad with a strap (but still present) but it's a huge factor sitting, it falls off my knee constantly.

Additionally - like some other Yamaha basses the layout and spacing of this one didn't feel quite right for me, like some dimensions are off (neck to pickup is too short, wrong angle etc) so I'd try an RBX series body before you buy one to make sure that you get a good fit.

I'm doing some bass recording tonight so I'll post some sound clips.
 
#36
I've never noticed a dimension/layout/spacing issue with my RBX200. Mmm maybe its unique layout is a good fit for /me/ perhaps, (my RBX is so stinking comfortable to me). I know everyone is different which is why there are so many choices out there for basses. ^_^
 
#37
nonfatmatt said:
Ok. The five string model came today.

The Good:

It's light. Really light. Has a nice growl and really sustains. Pickups are quiet for being single coil. With a proper setup it would be a comfortable bass for a lot of people.

The Bad:
Horrible setup (yeah I know it's out of the box but still). Whoever talked about the nut being off was right, mine won't play in tune, and the action is quite high. All indications are that this is just a setup issue though, the neck is straight with no dead spots. Also, I think the major problem I'd have with this bass is the neck dive. Because the body is so light the neck really weighs this down. It's not that bad with a strap (but still present) but it's a huge factor sitting, it falls off my knee constantly.

Additionally - like some other Yamaha basses the layout and spacing of this one didn't feel quite right for me, like some dimensions are off (neck to pickup is too short, wrong angle etc) so I'd try an RBX series body before you buy one to make sure that you get a good fit.

I'm doing some bass recording tonight so I'll post some sound clips.
Click to expand...

This is a deal killer for me, I have spent many hours playing a neck heavy bass and I will never do that again.
Thanks for that info, I should have thought of that, maybe that is why it is discontinued?
 
#39
nonfatmatt said:
Yeah I'm thinking that's going to be my deal killer, but it's not that bad when you use a strap, which is clearly what that oversized horn is meant for.
Click to expand...

It's a disaster! If it is neck heavy. Apparently it is not enough of a horn based on what was said earlier. You can always stand on the cord if you loop it through the strap first. A neck heavy bass will wear you out by the end of four sets. Try playing while pushing up on the neck. Just the hint of this
will turn me off. Can you tell I've been there done that?
 
#40
The RBX4 A2 and the RBX5 A2 is discontinued? I thought they just came out???? And I know this is a thread about the 5 string version of it but I wonder if the 4 string version is that neck heavy as well? I have a real front heavy Levy strap (its the leather and big metal chain one on my RBX200 in the pics of it I have posted recently)... I could turn the strap around where the chain is on the bottom and maybe that would balance it? LOL Just a thought. Knowing they are somewhat neck heavy didn't kill the deal for me. I will be prepared for it if the 4 string has the same problem. What has me concerned is the nut issues... I know of no tech around here that Id trust to shave that nut down and relevel it. Guess I get to learn how to level a nut (IF my 4 has the same problem)...

And yea I have dealt with a neck diving monster years ago. It was my first T40 that had some luthiers nightmare of a custom neck on it. Neck dove to beat all!!! I never gigged with it so there I cant comment on /that/ aspect, but I can imagine what a fatigue inducing monster that could be.
 

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