I have been playing bass for about 3 years, just jamming with friends on small practice amps and a crappy cruiser bass. I have decided that the time has come to upgrade to something a bit better. My final two choices are either the yamaha RBX374 or Epiphone thunderbird IV. I know the yamaha is more expensive, but due to various links in the music industry i get 35% off all yamaha products. The style i play is very much funk bass, level 42 or Red Hot Chili Peppers like. Therefore i need a bass that is repectable for slapping. Which would you guys recomend, or do you have others in a similar price range that would be better?
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Thunderbird V Yamaha
- Thread starter hennerbean
- Start date
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
For the style you're looking to play I wouldn't go with the epiphone. Don't know anything about the yamaha, but the epiphone is deep dark and thumpy. Some say muddy. Not much goin on there for slapping. Nor would it be my choice for fingerstyle funk.
Don't know much about the yamaha, but it looks like it would be much better suited for the music you're looking to play.
Any particular reason you've narrowed it down to only these 2 choices?
Don't know much about the yamaha, but it looks like it would be much better suited for the music you're looking to play.
Any particular reason you've narrowed it down to only these 2 choices?
I narrowed it down to those two because they were the only two i got on with when i tried a load out at my local digital village. The others i tried were: peavey zodiac BXP, Ibanez SR300M and the fleabass Pro and streetbass. Ironically, i didn't like the fleabasses, despite the fact he's the bassist i take most of my influence from. The Ibanez and Peavey i could take or leave, but the T-bird i really liked, as with the yamaha.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I dindn't know the zodiacs were out. I'd love to see, play one of them. 
Something you might want to think about. Flea was one of my main influences, and for reasons unknown I kept gravitating towards basses that weren't giving me what I was looking for. I think it took a while for my ear to develop and really know what was going on in regard to sounds of different basses. Anyhow, I had an old fender, an alvarez, a warwick, and an american P deluxe and I used to stand on my head with all those basses trying to get them to sound like what i was hearing in my head. Wasn't until I bought a Musicman that I felt I arrived. The sound I was always struggling to get with the EQ on my bass and amp was just there, instatnly, with no hassle.
A lot of things can affect the way a bass feels and sounds in a store, so while the 2 basses you played may have jumped out on you, I wouldn't count that as an accurate guage as to whether these will be basses that will ultimately make you happy. Not saying this to throw a wrench in your works, just to possibly save you a little future frustration.
For the sound you're going for you might want to save a little longer and go for a MM of some sort. A sterling by musicman will give you exactly what you want, and there are other basses out there that might suit you little better. I'm not an Ibanez fan, but I recently picked up an ATK for dirt cheap that is blowing me away.
Bottom line, while I completely and totally understand the desire for new equipment, you might want to hold off just a bit longer before pulling the trigger on something. I could almost guarantee that if you go with the epiphone you ultimately won't be happy.
Something you might want to think about. Flea was one of my main influences, and for reasons unknown I kept gravitating towards basses that weren't giving me what I was looking for. I think it took a while for my ear to develop and really know what was going on in regard to sounds of different basses. Anyhow, I had an old fender, an alvarez, a warwick, and an american P deluxe and I used to stand on my head with all those basses trying to get them to sound like what i was hearing in my head. Wasn't until I bought a Musicman that I felt I arrived. The sound I was always struggling to get with the EQ on my bass and amp was just there, instatnly, with no hassle.
A lot of things can affect the way a bass feels and sounds in a store, so while the 2 basses you played may have jumped out on you, I wouldn't count that as an accurate guage as to whether these will be basses that will ultimately make you happy. Not saying this to throw a wrench in your works
, just to possibly save you a little future frustration.For the sound you're going for you might want to save a little longer and go for a MM of some sort. A sterling by musicman will give you exactly what you want, and there are other basses out there that might suit you little better. I'm not an Ibanez fan, but I recently picked up an ATK for dirt cheap that is blowing me away.
Bottom line, while I completely and totally understand the desire for new equipment, you might want to hold off just a bit longer before pulling the trigger on something. I could almost guarantee that if you go with the epiphone you ultimately won't be happy.
Well, I have tried either of the basses and I don't play funk, BUT! I do like T'birds.
And if you have tried and think it is nice and get it to work with the funk you play... woop you might just start a new trend - Funk on T'birds.
There are no rules!
And if you have tried and think it is nice and get it to work with the funk you play... woop you might just start a new trend - Funk on T'birds.
There are no rules!
out of the two you're looking at, i would definately go with the yamaha.
yamaha makes some of the best basses out there, no matter the budget!
the epiphone is a cool bass, but for funk? not really...
yamaha makes some of the best basses out there, no matter the budget!
the epiphone is a cool bass, but for funk? not really...
Ahhh, too much to think about haha. I'm only 18, i don't earn much each month. I took me a while to save up to the £300 i currently have, and it would take far too long to save up for an MM, as much as i would love it. Based on your oppinions, i think i'll get the yamaha. If i find i really start playing properly, i can probably justify £700+ on an MM bass
try an epiphone t-bird pro 4 the active one,great slap sound and good alround bass,hats off to epiphone on bringing versatility to the t-bird.
Gibson would cause a riot if they went active.
Gibson would cause a riot if they went active.
