I decided against the -174 when some more experienced bass players led me stretching the budget a bit to look at Sire and the BB434 as basses that could last a lifetime, as well as leave me less likely to consider upgrades to the bass as quickly. Also I didn't need 24 frets. At the end I was deciding between the BB234, BB434 and Sire P5R, but through my rep I got a $458 deal (15% off) on a new BB434 from Guitar Center - although that was before Yamaha raised its prices from $539 to $599
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Thoughts and opinions please
- Thread starter tinymike66
- Start date
I decided against the -174 when some more experienced bass players led me stretching the budget a bit to look at Sire and the BB434 as basses that could last a lifetime, as well as leave me less likely to consider upgrades to the bass as quickly. Also I didn't need 24 frets. At the end I was deciding between the BB234, BB434 and Sire P5R, but through my rep I got a $458 deal (15% off) on a new BB434 from Guitar Center - although that was before Yamaha raised its prices from $539 to $599
So I've decided the Yamaha TRBX174 felt really good in my hands. Neck was great, weight was perfect and I like the look
And cant go wrong with the price for what ya get.
Only one thing now.
Do I get the violin Starburst or do I get Black? Lol
The metallic blue or red im not big on.
Thank you so much everyone
Great advice
And cant go wrong with the price for what ya get.
Only one thing now.
Do I get the violin Starburst or do I get Black? Lol
The metallic blue or red im not big on.
Thank you so much everyone
Great advice
Just get a bunch of basses in your hands. Pay attention to weight, feel and thickness of the neck, string spacing and height, scale length.. You'll get to know your preferences as you put more basses in your hands
ahah, color is the most important yet less publicly declared reason to buy a new bass
(I have just seen the Jack Casady Alpine White and felt in love, but fortunately is almost impossible to find).However, is Sunburst, not Starbust - it's classic, if you like that style. I hate sunburst in general, but the TRBX version is not bad at all.
Happy playing! And make the shop do a setup mentioning these terms: action (the distance from string to fret), intonation at 12th fret (they might need to move the saddles a little bit to reach it).
FYI some shops have access to additional colors. There is or was a root beer color, and there's a slightlier pricier mango-topped tobacco-burst model with matching headstock floating around, but I don't know about Canadian availability.
Buy a bass, play for a year or so while you figure out what does and doesn't work for you, then go for your second bass (or trade). It's really hard to tell what you'll like until you have some experience playing. You can't really go wrong starting out with a P, J or the Ibanez 304.
The root beer is awesome, but seems to be only available on the EW I think its called.Exotic wood model
$50 more
So now that I have the bass, anyone recommend a tuner ? Id like something quality and accurate. Also forgot to pick up a strap lol.
For cheap, this
For extra good this
If you want a pedal, tc electronic
Amazon.com: D'Addario Nexxus 360 Rechargeable Guitar Tuner - Clip On Guitar Tuner - Acoustic Guitar Tuner - Electric Guitar Tuner - 24 Hours of Tuning Time per Charge - Rotates 360-degrees : Musical Instruments
Buy D'Addario Nexxus 360 Rechargeable Guitar Tuner - Clip On Guitar Tuner - Acoustic Guitar Tuner - Electric Guitar Tuner - 24 Hours of Tuning Time per Charge - Rotates 360-degrees: Tuning - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
For extra good this
If you want a pedal, tc electronic
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I can get a Polytune 3 used in great shape for about 50-60 dollars, they sell new here for $90
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I saw a used Polytune 3 for ~ $50 on Reverb this morning. But if you do that you'll need another instrument cable, so maybe just get a clip on tuner.
Honestly, it's not something I would spend much nowadays, the D'Addario mentioned by @bdplaid is more than honest (I have a similar one by D'Addario, Eclipse: Amazon.com ) . The only thing I recently found discriminating is being rechargeable with USB - no more messing with CR2032 batteries. And perhaps the rotation capabilities - I put it under the headstock, so the head should rotate conveniently.
But at the end? 174 violin sunburst? Do not let us with all this suspence
But at the end? 174 violin sunburst? Do not let us with all this suspence
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As I mentioned earlier in the thread, make sure to budget not just for the bass, but also for essentials like a practice amp or headphone amp, cables, strap, tuner, maybe a spare set of strings, and ideally a visit to a guitar tech during the return window for a proper setup and evaluation.
If you're on a tight budget, a clip-on tuner will work just fine. Technology has improved enough that many multi-effects pedals under $90 now include tuners, making a $100 standalone tuner pedal unnecessary for beginners. Clip-on tuners from brands like D'Addario, Korg, and Snark can be found for under $30—some even under $20. Also keep in mind: if you buy a tuner pedal and already have an amp, you’ll need an extra cable to hook it all up.
Don’t overlook the importance of a proper setup. A tech will usually inspect the instrument and make essential adjustments—like the truss rod, string action, intonation, pickup height, and possibly nut filing. They’ll also check for any loose or scratchy pots, switches, or jacks. As I mentioned before, budget basses like the TRBX174 often come with low-quality, generic Chinese strings. If you plan to upgrade to better ones (like D’Addario or Fender - there are many options), bring them with you to the setup so the tech can adjust the nut if needed.
Lol, I ended up going with black. They didn't have a sunburst and I didn't want them to order one ok only to not like it. I am happy with blackHonestly, it's not something I would spend much nowadays, the D'Addario mentioned by @bdplaid is more than honest (I have a similar one by D'Addario, Eclipse: Amazon.com ) . The only thing I recently found discriminating is being rechargeable with USB - no more messing with CR2032 batteries. And perhaps the rotation capabilities - I put it under the headstock, so the head should rotate conveniently.
But at the end? 174 violin sunburst? Do not let us with all this suspence
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A set up is included in my purchase within the first 12 months so they told me when the season changes to come in for it. As for amp, I currently have a Fender Rumble 15 amp to start with and an extra cable kicking around , so if I get one od thw better tuners I only need to by one more cable. As for budget, none of this will put me out. Peterson,boss, polytune or the cheap clip on ones.
That free setup later on is a nice perk, especially after the seasons change, as wood movement can throw things off. But if there’s any chance the bass has an issue, it’s worth having a tech look it over now, while it’s still within the return period.
A paid setup or inspection might catch something the free one won't. Often, the free setup that comes with a purchase is done quickly and somewhat generically. It may be enough to make the instrument playable (if the person there knows what they're doing and spends the time), but it's rarely as thorough or personalized as a full paid setup by an experienced tech.
And you’d still be able to use the free setup later on anyway, once the bass settles in.
As for the tuner, if you don't expect any time soon to be using additional pedals a good clip-on tuner saves you money and a bit of cabling mess, and it works without being plugged in. You could spend the money saved on a more comfortable, wider, back-saving strap.
A paid setup or inspection might catch something the free one won't. Often, the free setup that comes with a purchase is done quickly and somewhat generically. It may be enough to make the instrument playable (if the person there knows what they're doing and spends the time), but it's rarely as thorough or personalized as a full paid setup by an experienced tech.
And you’d still be able to use the free setup later on anyway, once the bass settles in.
As for the tuner, if you don't expect any time soon to be using additional pedals a good clip-on tuner saves you money and a bit of cabling mess, and it works without being plugged in. You could spend the money saved on a more comfortable, wider, back-saving strap.
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