Yamaha BB424 vs Yamaha TRBX504

[Enrico Hendro]

hello there,
I currently own a yamaha bb424, and the other day I heard Yamaha launched the TRBX series...so I'm wondering which bass is better the Yamaha BB424 or the new Yamaha TRBX504??

 

[4StringsEnough]

I'll try my best.... Both are great basses. The BB424/424X is a fantastic bass that will out-P-bass any Mexican Fender. It also has the option of adding in J-bass tones from the rear pickup. 100% passive. Great, aggressive PJ.

The TRBX504 is equally good, just different. The active tones on it are brilliant. The passive tones are just as nice. It will get very close to a P-bass tone in passive mode but it's not exactly the same. Less aggressive than the BB424.

The TRBX can get close to what the BB does but not the other way around. If you always use passive tones, get the BB. If you need more versatility get the TRBX.

Both basses outperform instruments costing twice their price. They're both fantastic so you really can't go wrong. Though the right answer really is........buy both!

 

[Tubbers]

Was thinking about getting the TRBX myself! Looks fantastic. I've never had/played a bass that can be switched from active to passive. When switched to passive, is the battery still needed?

 

[4StringsEnough]

The battery is not needed in passive mode. But don't think of the passive mode as some 'get me out of trouble if the battery dies'. It's there as a tone choice and is equally valid as the active tones. Besides, there's a low battery LED so there's no excuse for the battery dying on you anyway!

 

[jjk2007]

I've been liking the looks and sounds of the TRBX since Yamaha started promoting it last April. The price tag helps fuel the GAS fire as well.

 

[acmeseed]

Is there a Yamaha bass that is close to the Fender Jazz?

I own both a P and a Jazz and I always gravitate towards the Jazz for the neck.

Thanks.

 

[hrodbert696]

And the word "better" in this context means exactly......?

 

[Mikle]

Hi, I had a Trbx 304 and I can say that I didn't like. First of all the sound is too much "cold" from my opinion. No soul in it. Second, it's an active bass and it's too many buttons to find a sound that you want. I sold it 2 days after I get it to buy bb424. So...

 

[MonTheNicol]

I've tried the new TRBX504, Its a good bass, but I still believe the BB range is the best of the Yamaha range. Wish I had the money to get a BB2024x. But unfortunately my lottery numbers won't come up...

 

[invalidprotocol]

Hi, I had a Trbx 304 and I can say that I didn't like. First of all the sound is too much "cold" from my opinion. No soul in it. Second, it's an active bass and it's too many buttons to find a sound that you want. I sold it 2 days after I get it to buy bb424. So...

You nailed that description. It is cold and dark.

 

[invalidprotocol]

I've tried the new TRBX504, Its a good bass, but I still believe the BB range is the best of the Yamaha range. Wish I had the money to get a BB2024x. But unfortunately my lottery numbers won't come up...

What about a 1024X? I was impressed with the quality of a 1025X in comparison to the 400 series models.

 

[Nikol4ik]

I'll try my best.... Both are great basses. The BB424/424X is a fantastic bass that will out-P-bass any Mexican Fender. It also has the option of adding in J-bass tones from the rear pickup. 100% passive. Great, aggressive PJ.

The TRBX504 is equally good, just different. The active tones on it are brilliant. The passive tones are just as nice. It will get very close to a P-bass tone in passive mode but it's not exactly the same. Less aggressive than the BB424.

The TRBX can get close to what the BB does but not the other way around. If you always use passive tones, get the BB. If you need more versatility get the TRBX.

Both basses outperform instruments costing twice their price. They're both fantastic so you really can't go wrong. Though the right answer really is........buy both!

Hi,there I own these two bases BB424X and TRBX504.What I can say is that I love them.Here's a track I made using BB424X www.soundcloud.com/savannaviolenta/treip and TRBX504 used on this one Invalid Link Removed .I use a bass preamp to shape up the passive tone of the BB bass and the passive tone of the TRBX504 when in passive mode.Soon I'm getting the new BB734A and my family of Yammi basses will be complete .I mainly play at my church ,and process all the signal trough compressor and pre amp,in my DAW I use a lot of plugins to master the final tone.Cheers to all!!!

 

[Nikol4ik]

What about a 1024X? I was impressed with the quality of a 1025X in comparison to the 400 series models.

424 and 1024 sound very similar.You can get the 424 to sound 99% close to the 1024 if you use a bass preamp and play with the mid frequencies( it's what those Alnico V pickups are eq-Ed to have that warm round full tone) and save your money for the new BB series if you're interested in ofcourse( I am).

 

[Nikol4ik]

hello there,
I currently own a yamaha bb424, and the other day I heard Yamaha launched the TRBX series...so I'm wondering which bass is better the Yamaha BB424 or the new Yamaha TRBX504??

They're both great basses.I have them both.They sound very different that's why I bought them to widen the range of tones I need for my recordings.If you can afford to buy both go for it.Im waiting for the new BB734A to show up and I'll be ordering it.These three basses will be enough for my studio needs.Anyway I can get many sounds of these basses ,I mainly use compression and pre amp.

 

[CTSIA-100]

They're both great basses.I have them both.They sound very different that's why I bought them to widen the range of tones I need for my recordings.If you can afford to buy both go for it.Im waiting for the new BB734A to show up and I'll be ordering it.These three basses will be enough for my studio needs.Anyway I can get many sounds of these basses ,I mainly use compression and pre amp.

Your input is very helpful. I'm considering the BB434 or 734. However, I will need to make friends with the body style . From all I've read, both basses have the outstanding Yamaha quality. ...wish I could test-drive them first because if I buy the 434 and really like it, I will want the 734. But, if don't like it I will be glad I spent the lesser amount...I don't have a for need both. Thanks. Peace.

 

[rpt50]

Old thread, but if anyone is interested in the original comparison of the OP, a big difference not mentioned is neck width. Both basses have really nice necks, but if you like a narrow jazz style neck, go with the TRBx.

 

[Orpheus55]

The TRBX504 is my main player. Just looking for the right case for it now that I know it is a keeper. Thinking the Gator polyfoam, since there are very few of these lighter "hybrid" cases on the market these days.

 

[CTSIA-100]

Old thread, but if anyone is interested in the original comparison of the OP, a big difference not mentioned is neck width. Both basses have really nice necks, but if you like a narrow jazz style neck, go with the TRBx.

Yes, I do gravitate to Jazz necks more often than not; but recently I played a Jazz with a Warmoth neck and though it was a little wider, the fretboard was flatter and that felt great with low string height. I also like the necks on the new Fender Player P-Basses. Thanks...necks can be deal breakers.

 

[CTSIA-100]

The TRBX504 is my main player. Just looking for the right case for it now that I know it is a keeper. Thinking the Gator polyfoam, since there are very few of these lighter "hybrid" cases on the market these days.

I really want to try a TRBX504...but test drives are next to impossible these days. ...especially interested in passive tones. They are certainly great looking and Yamaha quality is unquestionable.

 

[Orpheus55]

I really want to try a TRBX504...but test drives are next to impossible these days. ...especially interested in passive tones. They are certainly great looking and Yamaha quality is unquestionable.

I bought it sight unseen once I saw a used one pop up on the GC used site. I didn't even know what color I was getting. I snagged it for $300 and it looked brand new. The neck is much like a Jazz bass, and it sounds best when you push the controls past the standard mid-indent and into deeper ranges. The passive mode is great too, as the treble control takes over as the master tone knob. In passive, with neck pickup on, you can recreate a very passable P-bass sound. I prefer the active. EBMM slinkys work well on t, but I have since switched to EBMM colbalt flats. The truss rod is super easy to tweak if necessary.