Received my new bass today..trbx 605..not real happy with it

Finally after so long I got one. In trans black. I had to order out of state to get it.

Unfortunately...its just not my tone. I tried new strings, pickup height, passive, active, you name it.

I tend to finger pick a little harder than most, its almost a slap type sound but not slapping. The ergodyne handles it very well. I have never had a problem with the way the ergodyne sounds. I also drop the B to an A a lot, ergodyne handles that without problem, good string tension, mostly clear low A for a 34 scale.

The trbx on the other hand seems to turn that into a thud type sound and muddles the notes, they all thud, instead of tone with a touch of click. The B on this thing sounds pretty good as a B if I don't hit it too hard, but when I drop it to an A...mud, whether I hit it hard or soft..frumpy..

Maybe its because the pickups can go to passive with the flick of a switch, something with that that changes the tone even in active mode? I don't know.

disappointed is what I am..now I have to send it back up to WI, wait for the money to come back and shop some more.
Thing is I have played one before, although that was about two years ago when i first got on this trbx kick...I don't remember it sounding like this though. I remember really liking it.

Any thoughts? Not on how to fix the sound. It is what it is, but thoughts on another bass that I can check out.

 

Tried that, pretty much the same, with a small lose in volume.

String wise, I tried a new slinky set I had, and I even tried a cobalt set I was saving.

 

It was new..however Im pretty sure I see some pick marks on it.

I tried:
My Apeg porta flex 800, ashdown 4x10, Alpha Omega.

Also from just the pedal with head phones, and then I tried through podfarm into reaper.

 

Yeah, its just not my flavor I guess.
I did see an Ibanez SRMS 805 that sounded pretty good.

 

So kraftmusic is being super cool about the return. I will have a return shipping label in the morning. I will just be out about 30$ in shipping.
If anybody is looking for a trbx they have them, comes with a set of extras as well, stand, strap, cable, some other stuff. They were cool to work with just wish it worked out.

So...I guess come this time next week I will order the srms 805. From what I have heard on you tube videos, it seems to have pretty similar tonal characteristics that my ergodyne has. I know I said GC sucks and they mostly do, but they actually have them in stock sooo...going to deal with the devil I guess. At least if I have to return it there is a store 3 min from where I live. Not to mention I will get it shipped to them demo it in store and if I dont like it I can immediately return it.

Just out of curiosity, can anybody offer a reason as to why two bass guitars with the same scale have such differing B string tension? The only thing I can think of is its not just the scale but a matter of the bridge and the nut..but I don't know.