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Yamaha RBX4 A2
- Thread starter kiel83
- Start date
Huge thread on the rbx5 a2 5-string which includes a bunch of posts on the four. Included are a bunch of long posts I wrote about solving some of the problems with them.
Run a search.
Run a search.
I had one. Nice neck, great sound, but I couldn't get over the plasticy toy-like feel of the thing. But it was definitely light. Mine was about 7 lbs.
If I had it to do over, I would have passed.
The sale price was deceptive because Yamaha had downsourced the build from Cor-Tek to PT Indonesia saving a bundle, but kept the old MSRP. The closeout sale price was no big bargain for a PT at the time.
There are a lot of really Mickey-Mouse aspects to the thing like fake top binding, a jokey stamped bridge, top graphics that are just screened on and begin to rub off in use, silly lights on only two of the three pots, etc., etc.
The real problem was that wretched sticking trussrod. :scowl:
I've adjusted mine a couple of times and it still has to be laboriously backed off and broken loose from whatever is gluing it up solid in the channel before you can adjust it.
After that it's perfectly fine, but what a nuisance!
My big concern was the body holding up or folding up, and I think mine has remained stable, but I would not put higher-tension strings on it, just for my peace of mind. A hardwood skin over balsa (which was the A.I.R. body concept) seems more fragile than it probably is.
After stacking a bunch of coupons, I got mine for under $200, but frankly I don't think it was worth much more. Aside from the trussrod business, it's an adequate bass with decent detailing.
Unfortunately, I (as always!) got the heaviest one of all the TB buyers!
If it would have been lighter I would have liked it much more.
The sale price was deceptive because Yamaha had downsourced the build from Cor-Tek to PT Indonesia saving a bundle, but kept the old MSRP. The closeout sale price was no big bargain for a PT at the time.
There are a lot of really Mickey-Mouse aspects to the thing like fake top binding, a jokey stamped bridge, top graphics that are just screened on and begin to rub off in use, silly lights on only two of the three pots, etc., etc.
The real problem was that wretched sticking trussrod. :scowl:
I've adjusted mine a couple of times and it still has to be laboriously backed off and broken loose from whatever is gluing it up solid in the channel before you can adjust it.
After that it's perfectly fine, but what a nuisance!
My big concern was the body holding up or folding up, and I think mine has remained stable, but I would not put higher-tension strings on it, just for my peace of mind. A hardwood skin over balsa (which was the A.I.R. body concept) seems more fragile than it probably is.
After stacking a bunch of coupons, I got mine for under $200, but frankly I don't think it was worth much more. Aside from the trussrod business, it's an adequate bass with decent detailing.
Unfortunately, I (as always!) got the heaviest one of all the TB buyers!
If it would have been lighter I would have liked it much more.
I have one that I originally bought as a backup bass when my un-ergonomic Thumb became too much to handle on long gigs. I've since switched to an Attitude as my main bass that is more bearable than the Thumb so the A2 has become relegated to 'spare' status and occasional home practice.
The sound is what I would call 'classic' as it has it's character in the right place for most styles and sits well in most mixes and situations. It is however a little sterile sounding - more of a low end thump rather than an organic, gooey, shimmery voice you get from higher end basses. I also think it feels quite stiff, even with the same strings I have on my Attitude they feel quite high tension in comparison (although that darn stuck truss rod doesn't help).
If you want something that is primarily light for a mid/low end price then it's ok, but if weight isn't an issue there's better sounding basses around for the money.
The sound is what I would call 'classic' as it has it's character in the right place for most styles and sits well in most mixes and situations. It is however a little sterile sounding - more of a low end thump rather than an organic, gooey, shimmery voice you get from higher end basses. I also think it feels quite stiff, even with the same strings I have on my Attitude they feel quite high tension in comparison (although that darn stuck truss rod doesn't help).
If you want something that is primarily light for a mid/low end price then it's ok, but if weight isn't an issue there's better sounding basses around for the money.
My experience - one of my favorite 4-string necks ever. The tone is punchy as all hell, very mid-focused. Criminally lightweight. I actually own three of these 
just cause there were *so* cheap and I couldn't resist. I've had all Indonesian ones btw, no problems with trussrods. The are loud enough acoustically that I use one to work out parts I'm stealing off of YouTube.
/rick
just cause there were *so* cheap and I couldn't resist. I've had all Indonesian ones btw, no problems with trussrods. The are loud enough acoustically that I use one to work out parts I'm stealing off of YouTube./rick
Well, yours were. I mean, that was the intent of the design.
Mine, of course, was the heaviest one they probably ever made.
Another luck-out on your part. The batch that everyone here got theirs from in the closeout had some kind of paint or glue in the neck that kept fusing to the trussrod so that it was always stuck solid.
To adjust, you had to backload the neck until there was no pressure on the trussrod and then carefully try loosen it until there was a big *CRACK!* and the pressure point of the trussrod broke loose from the glue or paint. Then you could go ahead and adjust it normally. Giant hassle. Seems to me that after a while whatever is causing this will dry out and stop sticking to the trussrod, but who knows?
I went ahead and traded my millinium five for it,and I'm am very happy with the bass overall,it has great harmonics,my truss rod hasn't needed to be adjusted(yet) ,the neck feels great but I'm not happy at all with the fret ends,however my luthier here in town is crowning and dressing the frets as we speak and slapping a new set of Ghs boomers on it,I can't wait to get it back,it should be the best funk/metal bass ever
Yes, it was discontinued a while back. Here in the US, it's getting harder to find even used ones now.
