ive read literally hundreds of reviews on cheap and beginner basses and no one really seems to have a bad thing to say about this one! im getting mine in a week, metallic blue. gonna get some sexy DR strings on there soon as and upgrade pick ups n tuners if n when i think i need it. will be my second bass but i havent played in years, id love to spend a lil more but it just isnt an option really. i do need an amp though, most importantly cheap! but not rubbish quality if poss, any help? just a wee practice amp, proper cheap bottom range, i have no idea what to look for! any help much appreciated cheers!
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Yamaha RBX170 Owners
- Thread starter scottder
- Start date
I have a Marshall MB30. I like it. You can also look for a Fender Rumble or a Peavey Max 110.
No way get a Acoustic B20. It's got 4 bands of EQ a 12" speaker and around $150 less if you buy it from GC on sale. That and it's 20 watts.
My B20's serial number ends with 666. It lives up to it too it sounds like a tube amp I swear but, it's solid state.
My B20's serial number ends with 666. It lives up to it too it sounds like a tube amp I swear but, it's solid state.
Got me a used Yamaha RBX-170 recently.
After a simple setup, it plays wonderfully. It's relatively light, which I'm actually not very comfortable with - I got used to heavier basses. The pickups are high-output and produce a nice range of tones. The bridge pickup can hum rather loudly.
Overall however, to me this bass lacks low end measurably - at least compared with the Chinese Squier (Affinity?) Jazz I've borrowed from a friend. In spite of being much quieter, the latter has much more solid, bassy tone. This may be my subjective perception however, because the overwhelming majority of reviews of this bass are extremely positive.
Anyway, I'm going to sell it soon.
After a simple setup, it plays wonderfully. It's relatively light, which I'm actually not very comfortable with - I got used to heavier basses. The pickups are high-output and produce a nice range of tones. The bridge pickup can hum rather loudly.
Overall however, to me this bass lacks low end measurably - at least compared with the Chinese Squier (Affinity?) Jazz I've borrowed from a friend. In spite of being much quieter, the latter has much more solid, bassy tone. This may be my subjective perception however, because the overwhelming majority of reviews of this bass are extremely positive.
Anyway, I'm going to sell it soon.
I got mine in 2002 (give or take a year) and played it pretty often in my church's band. It's fine for a beginner bass, but about a year ago two of the tuning heads just broke off. I epoxied them back on and haven't had any problems since then. I didn't mod it until recently, when I defretted it. (It is now my beater/backup/project bass). I think it's built very well other than that problem with the tuning heads, and with a pickup upgrade it could make its way back into regular use.
Final judgment: Decent beginner bass, but you'd be better off spending a bit more on a used Ibanez or something.
Final judgment: Decent beginner bass, but you'd be better off spending a bit more on a used Ibanez or something.
I disagree if you swap the pickups and maybe the bridge too. It'll be phenomenal as a gig bass or studio stuff.
I use mine for recording my punk/metal band and at the moment it's all stock however soon it'll get a QPD'er P pickup. I think it is a great knock around for the traveler, a best buy for the beginner, and the perfect backup for the pro/weekend warrior with alternative tunings.
I use mine for recording my punk/metal band and at the moment it's all stock however soon it'll get a QPD'er P pickup. I think it is a great knock around for the traveler, a best buy for the beginner, and the perfect backup for the pro/weekend warrior with alternative tunings.
Purchased my new RBX170 ($180) a couple of weeks ago. It's metallic red. It's going to the dealer later this week just for its first professional setup; however, its been nice to play right out of the box so far.
I also bought a new Hartke A70 bass combo amp ($300). I really like it; it has 7-band equalizer, headphone output, CD/iPod input, has a lot of volume, and can "kick back".
Also bought a Korg Pandora PX5D ($160). Besides being a multi-effect processor to adjust my tones, its also a string tuner, phrase trainer, recording interface for computer recording, and more. I can also practice my bass with headphones and no amp with this. Nice gadget for the money considering all it does.
I played trumpet in high school but didn't do much musically after that. Have always loved the electric bass. My teenage son is learning drums and plays in a rock band, and this renewed my interest in music and in bass. So at age 56, I went out and bought my rig and so far am having a great time learning to play along with my favorite YouTube vids.
I also bought a new Hartke A70 bass combo amp ($300). I really like it; it has 7-band equalizer, headphone output, CD/iPod input, has a lot of volume, and can "kick back".
Also bought a Korg Pandora PX5D ($160). Besides being a multi-effect processor to adjust my tones, its also a string tuner, phrase trainer, recording interface for computer recording, and more. I can also practice my bass with headphones and no amp with this. Nice gadget for the money considering all it does.
I played trumpet in high school but didn't do much musically after that. Have always loved the electric bass. My teenage son is learning drums and plays in a rock band, and this renewed my interest in music and in bass. So at age 56, I went out and bought my rig and so far am having a great time learning to play along with my favorite YouTube vids.
I just pulled the trigger on a RBX 170! I tried one at GC and I was very surprised at how great it sounded and felt both plugged in and un-plugged. I'm getting the violinburst one. Wanted to get back into bass after not having one for a while and then getting a six-string Rogue just for fun and this seems to be the best tool out there amongst the ones I've tried. I'm sure I''l end up modding this baby and making it one kick ass machine.
Hi all new to talk bass, and to bass playing in general. all ways wanting to learn.
after searching Google for good bass for beginners i found this forum.
and after reading all the comments about the Yamaha rbx 170 i went looking for one.
lucked out found a mint silver rbx 170 for $100 made in Indonesia, not a mark or scratch on it. i looked on Yamaha web site they do not offer silver any more so what year ??? who cares anyway its mine now lol.
so i am learning to play now. thanks to you all Don
after searching Google for good bass for beginners i found this forum.
and after reading all the comments about the Yamaha rbx 170 i went looking for one.
lucked out found a mint silver rbx 170 for $100 made in Indonesia, not a mark or scratch on it. i looked on Yamaha web site they do not offer silver any more so what year ??? who cares anyway its mine now lol.
so i am learning to play now. thanks to you all Don
i've only seen it in silver as of recent years. when i bought mine in 2006 they only had black, red and blue, and did the few following years. at it's earliest i'd say probably 2009 or more likely 2010.
Update: After reading the numerous posts on flatwound strings here on TB, I decided to put some Labella Deep Talking flats on my RBX 170. Got to know that I grew up on the old school rock and R&B and I like the change in my sound.
I put the strings on myself, and when tightening the E string it broke a small piece off the end of the nut. I took it to my luther who replaced the original plastic nut and did a new setup.
I love the smooth feel of the flats on my fretting hand, and no more sqeeking while sliding my fingers on the fretboard. It did take a while to get used to the smooth strings with my plucking hand; they almost seemed a little too slippery. The sound is what I feel a bass should sound like.
I had always admired Eddie Van Halen's pinstriped red guitar and decided to try some pinstriping on my bass. I loosely copied my patterns from a photo of someone's bass here on TB.
I put the strings on myself, and when tightening the E string it broke a small piece off the end of the nut. I took it to my luther who replaced the original plastic nut and did a new setup.
I love the smooth feel of the flats on my fretting hand, and no more sqeeking while sliding my fingers on the fretboard. It did take a while to get used to the smooth strings with my plucking hand; they almost seemed a little too slippery. The sound is what I feel a bass should sound like.
I had always admired Eddie Van Halen's pinstriped red guitar and decided to try some pinstriping on my bass. I loosely copied my patterns from a photo of someone's bass here on TB.
This was my first electric bass ever!!! I sold it recently but no regrets in the time that I had with it for the price. The body, neck, and weight- were all very comfortable and easy to start out on. I did have a faulty jack on mine which was annoying but I soldered it and it seemed to be okay after that. That was the only issue I had with mine. (and that was after years of ownership)
hi all Did my first mod on my Yamaha RBX 170 to day lol. just could not help it, i am a fan of tube stereo amps and use paper and oil caps in my amps. i had some spare .033uf pio cap laying around so i swapped out the .047µF Polyester-Film Capacitor. well i made a differences the tone knob works across the entire sweep of the pot and it smoothed out the tone of the guitar not as metallic. i like it and that is all that counts.
Don
Don
I've been playing bass for about 4 years and the RBX 170 was the first and only bass I have so far. I'm more of an intermediate player now and I'm looking to change to a 5 string very soon but I absolutely love the Yamaha. The neck is fantastic and it has proved to be very durable, nothing on it has broken (and I've dropped it several times and haven't taken great care of it). It stays in tune very well. I ordered it after doing a very thorough search...I found it to be the best reviewed bass under $200. The only regret I have is I wish I would have ordered it in black instead of blue.
Bought a black RBX170 at GC on Black Friday ($153 + tax).
Impressions:
- Nice neck
- Somewhat high action as shipped (will lower)
- Unshielded cavity (some noise)
- Stays in tune
- Minimal neck dive, easily tamed by neoprene strap
- Heavier (9 lbs.) than I'd been led to expect
- Poor alignment of strings and pole pieces (cosmetic, I know)
My only complaint is that the threads of one of the string tree's screws rub against the E string.
Impressions:
- Nice neck
- Somewhat high action as shipped (will lower)
- Unshielded cavity (some noise)
- Stays in tune
- Minimal neck dive, easily tamed by neoprene strap
- Heavier (9 lbs.) than I'd been led to expect
- Poor alignment of strings and pole pieces (cosmetic, I know)
My only complaint is that the threads of one of the string tree's screws rub against the E string.
I had a black one, and it was such a great platform, that I gave it to a friend whose son wanted to learn bass. He loves it as I did.
Good choice.
Good choice.
I got my RBX270 as a backup in 2007. Overall, it's a great bass for the price! it is light, seems durable, plays great and sounds Ok. I think the difference between the RBX270 and RBX170 is the body wood, tuners and the pickups. Although no mods on, mine an improvement would be shielding the cavity as mine is noisy. It might be the pickups too though.. The finish on mine seems thin but I got the natural color so it would look Ok if I lose the finish. A bridge with the saddle groves might be an improvement too. Great beginner/backup bass w/out any mods.
I had always admired Eddie Van Halen's pinstriped red guitar and decided to try some pinstriping on my bass. I loosely copied my patterns from a photo of someone's bass here on TB.
Looks like you and I had a similar inspiration, I believe I know the bass you mentioned, it is the same that made me do this to my RBX170
Yamaha RBX170 with Delanos von benja-man auf Flickr
My first bass by the way, I decided to mod it with Delano Pickups instead of getting a new bass. While I was at it, I shielded the cavity, added a blend pot (mine was still one of those that shipped as VVT) and a push-pull to put the pickups in series. Sounds fantastic. Less mid heavy than the stock pickups but incredible lows and highs.
