• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Weak Mids on my Yamaha TRBX174

Derp

Derp

May 29, 2013
157
144
#1
Last weekend I bought me a brand new Yamaha TRBX174. I walked into the store and there it was: 24 frets, PJ setup and a nice fat neck. I hate thin necks and I have been wishing a 24 fret bass with a chunky neck for a while now. I tried it and fell in love.
I saw the bass of my dreams hanging on the wall right in front of me! I mean this beast feels so natural to me. It plays like butter. It's an amazing bass and it's just perfect for me. And it was dirt cheap. I bought it right away.
... However...
After 4 days of playing I realized the horrible lack of midrange in the pickups. My Squier P-Bass has much more juice. The sound of the Yamaha feels kinda empty, with lots of powerful bass and treble and not much in between. Hell, it pisses me off to have such a nice instrument with such a flaw! I managed to get a bit of juice out of it by running it into Garageband with 2 amp simulators side by side both with maxed out mids. But it still bugs me you know... Maybe I should swap out the pickups? What if I drop in MIA Fender pups or maybe some other brand? (rhetorical question)

I really just wanted to do a review and let you people know what it is like to own a TRBX in case somebody is considering buying one. Not to mention also looking for a shoulder to cry on. :D
 
#3
Yea, I found the stock pickups definitely lacking for my liking. So, I replaced them with the DiMarzio Model P/J set, for a budget bass it sounds real nice now. I did change the pots and jack as well. Also, installed a Hipshot vintage bridge just because I had it laying around. Turned out great. I have always been a fan of the budget Yamaha's.
 
#5
I played one just today. I thought it was a great bass for $199. I've debated simplifying my life. This is a contender. No, it doesn't have the miss my current custom bass has "baked in" but there's amp/board eq.
 
#6
I played this the other day - TRBX504 - and though it was really nice. Nice to switch between active and passive and no volume difference. Nice 3 band EQ in active mode, passive tone control. Pickup blend and master volume. Pretty nice for $499.

I have been doing my yearly seasonal debate - do I really need $5,900 worth of Roscoe bass (as AMAZING as they are) to play 2 Sundays a month at church. Could reduce some debt and still have a very playable bass.
 
#8
Derp said:
Last weekend I bought me a brand new Yamaha TRBX174. I walked into the store and there it was: 24 frets, PJ setup and a nice fat neck. I hate thin necks and I have been wishing a 24 fret bass with a chunky neck for a while now. I tried it and fell in love.
I saw the bass of my dreams hanging on the wall right in front of me! I mean this beast feels so natural to me. It plays like butter. It's an amazing bass and it's just perfect for me. And it was dirt cheap. I bought it right away.
... However...
After 4 days of playing I realized the horrible lack of midrange in the pickups. My Squier P-Bass has much more juice. The sound of the Yamaha feels kinda empty, with lots of powerful bass and treble and not much in between. Hell, it pisses me off to have such a nice instrument with such a flaw! I managed to get a bit of juice out of it by running it into Garageband with 2 amp simulators side by side both with maxed out mids. But it still bugs me you know... Maybe I should swap out the pickups? What if I drop in MIA Fender pups or maybe some other brand? (rhetorical question)

I really just wanted to do a review and let you people know what it is like to own a TRBX in case somebody is considering buying one. Not to mention also looking for a shoulder to cry on. :D
Click to expand...
A bass preamp with a sweepable midrange can fix that mid range lack.No need to buy new pickups.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Derp

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back