• 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.

Yamaha TRB 6 vs Yamaha TRB 6ii

Which one?

  • Total voters
    28
#21
This is probably the first poll I really have no clue how to vote on lol. I will say that my fascination for Yamaha TRB 6-strings all started when I first saw John Patitucci (pre-signature days) playing his TRB6PII (I think he used?)... I'd go with that one if it were me, but that's me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dr. Cheese
#22
cenkbass said:
I originally wanted TRB6PII but I found it close to $3000 but for TRB6 and TRB6II both are priced at $2000 with shipping. All of them are Made in Japan

At the moment I have a Pre-Gibson Tobias Killer B6 Bubinga 34" which I'm thinking of converting to a fretless after I get another 6 string bass

here are the links what do you guys say
What are the differences?
At some point I thought of a JP1 also but not sure about it.
I wish I had the chance to try them all out and see it for myself.

TRB6 Yamaha TRB-6 6-strings Bass Cherry Burst | EV3 Gear Collection | Reverb

TRBii Yamaha TRB II Red Burst | Camden Guitars | Reverb

TRB6PII Yamaha TRB-6PII Made in Japan | Japanlots | Reverb
Click to expand...

I've got a bit of practical experience here, so I'll chime in. First off I agree with what others have said; don't mod that Pre-Gibson Tobias. I've done it with two other now desirable basses and regretted it.

Regarding the fretted to fretless mod in general, I also recommend not doing it. I've been there 3 times;
  1. I did myself; fun but terrible idea
  2. I bought from someone else that had it done; just never seemed "right"
  3. I had a luthier do for me; came out beautiful but still never felt right
I'm no luthier but my guess is there's more that goes into a fretless than whether or not the neck has frets...it's got to be a design principal. Now that I own several purpose-built fretlesses, I've noticed a huge difference between them and what I've tried in the past, including low to mid range bolt-on's that just have neck options.

Lastly on the TRBs; what's your intended application for it? I've still got my original TRB-6P from the early 90s and will never sell it. I've played the original series 5P as well, great sound and I've always wanted one just for nostalgia. I've tried the TRB II and TRB-6PII, never really jived with either, I think because of the pickup and preamp design changes. I think it's akin to what @Bijoux said earlier.

All that said, while I adore my TRB-6P, it's not the most versatile sound. I've played a wide variety of music over the years, both in bands and recording, and the TRB wasn't the best choice for much of it. I made it work because it became my primary bass for many years, but it wasn't the best choice. If you're doing your own creative music, or jazz, or some country, or anything low-gain, it's probably a match. For everything else I think it just gets lost in the mix. If you're in a gigging cover band, forget about it as it can't cop a P tone. I also tried playing in metal bands with it for years, but it just wasn't the right sound.

IIRC though the 5P had a much more versatile sound, likely because of the pickup design. Assuming my memory is right I'd take that thing to gigs in a heartbeat.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Wasnex
#24
These old TRBs are going for increasingly expensive prices. I've done a lot of research here on Talkbass and other places and have purchased two - a late '80s/early '90s TRB-6P and 2000s TRB-5II. The "P" models have piezos, are neck-through, and were all top-of-the-line Yamaha models when produced. A now retired member once said of the "P" models (he was referring to the "PII" series) that they look, feel, and play like boutique basses, while the others don't.

General consensus seems to be that TRP-xP > TRB x > TRB-xII, but that all of these Japanese-made TRBs are very good basses. That said, more than about $1300-$1400, even in today's market, seems a little high for a non-piezo model to me. FWIW, I'm a big fan of both of my TRBs - I think they're excellent basses, though quite different.

For whatever it's worth, I am considering selling/trading my TRB-6P to try to get either a used TRB-5P or a BBNE2. I haven't fully made up my mind yet. I've just noticed that I tend to feel more comfortable when playing 5-string. Playing 5-string is like talking to an old friend; playing 6-string is like talking in an interview. I can talk in both contexts, but I just feel more relaxed when playing 5-string. I'm just not sure that I wouldn't regret selling the TRB-6P.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: gscroggin
#25
gscroggin said:
All that said, while I adore my TRB-6P, it's not the most versatile sound. I've played a wide variety of music of the years, both in bands and recording, and the TRB wasn't the best choice for much of it. If you're doing your own creative music, or jazz, or some country, or anything low-gain, it's probably a match. For everything else I think it just gets lost in the mix. If you're in a gigging cover band, forget about it. I also tried playing in metal bands with it for years, but it just wasn't the right sound.
Click to expand...

I think the TRB-6P can be versatile. The bass excels in jazz fusion, Neo-soul/R&B, and similar genres. I have, though, enjoyed playing the bass in Gospel and praise and worship settings. That said, I make use of the preamp (which is more versatile than it appears when you make use of a combination of boosting and cutting) and some sort of external preamp-type pedal (Aguilar Tone Hammer Pedal, Tech 21 Q/Strip, or, most recently, my Yamaha NE-1). Finding the right strings matters, too.

Here's me playing the bass in an unplugged, contemporary praise & worship setting:


Here's me playing the bass on a Neo-soul/R&B tune.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LadyLoveStingRay5 and gscroggin
#27
Quintessence said:
I think the TRB-6P can be versatile. The bass excels in jazz fusion, Neo-soul/R&B, and similar genres. I have, though, enjoyed playing the bass in Gospel and praise and worship settings. That said, I make use of the preamp (which is more versatile than it appears when you make use of a combination of boosting and cutting) and some sort of external preamp-type pedal (Aguilar Tone Hammer Pedal, Tech 21 Q/Strip, or, most recently, my Yamaha NE-1). Finding the right strings matters, too.

Here's me playing the bass in an unplugged, contemporary praise & worship setting:


Here's me playing the bass on a Neo-soul/R&B tune.
Click to expand...


Nice playing man! This is inline with what I was saying, the TRB-6P fits well in many low-gain settings. I probably should have been more specific that the places I didn't think it sat well were higher-gain styles, or anything that's calling for the traditional P sound.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: LadyLoveStingRay5 and Quintessence
#29
Don't de-fret that Tobias!

If you are looking to get into a fretless, All In One does fretless 6s in the $500 range. That'll save you some coin and save the Tobias. Their 6s are Bolt on string through made in Korea. I have a Wolf J and the quality is really good for the price. They tend to be heavy though. they only have lefties right now, but their stock moves fast.

AIO Wolf KTB-6 6 String *Left-Handed *Fretless Bass - Red Burst | All In One Guitar | Reverb
 
  • Like
Reactions: gscroggin
#30
Here's what I could come up with for a MIJ TRB timeline. Please edit.
  • 1991 - TRB Custom
    • first 6 string Yamaha
  • 1991 - TRB-6P / 5P / 4P
    • Neck through
    • 4 and 5: PJ pickups
    • 6: narrow soap bars (single coil, stacked?)
    • piezo
  • 1994 - TRB-JP 6 / 5
  • (year) - TRB-6 / 5 / 4
    • Made in Japan
    • Bolt on neck
    • 34 inch scale
    • 4: J pickups, stacked
    • 5: humbuckers
    • 6: slim soap bars (single coil, stacked?)
    • Mid-range tone selector (flat / custom cut / custom boost or cut)
  • (year) - TRB-6ii / 5ii / 4ii
    • Made in Japan
    • Bolt on neck
    • 35 inch scale
    • humbuckers all models
  • (year) - TRB-6Pii / 5Pii
    • Made in Japan (last series made in Japan?)
    • Neck through
    • piezo
    • 35 inch scale
 
  • Like
Reactions: gscroggin and Lackey
#39
JPK_DK said:
OK, thanks - so, it is more a question of demand than of quality!?!
Click to expand...
Yeah maybe. Not knocking the bass. It was really well made. Sounded amazing. The original 1991 TRB for me is the one.
1622316391_YamahaTRBCustom1991.jpg.0daa3e73d9612d43ce1628b3d6dc9ded.jpg
You might find this interesting. Some experts over in the UK. Yamaha TRB history
 
  • Like
Reactions: gscroggin and JPK_DK

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back