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YAMAHA TRB CLUB

#721
kosmas58 said:
Hi,

after 15 years of usage I decided to replace the electronics of my beloved TRB 6 II.

Since the dimensions of the original pickups are very special (133 mm x 38 mm), it ain't easy to find a replacement. EMG size pickups have a width of 38 mm, but they are only 115 mm in length. After a while I found that Delano SBC 7 HE/S pickups, that should fit very well. They use blades instead of pole pieces, so those 7-string pickups work on my 6-string Yamaha TRB. The dimensions of the pickups are 133 mm x 32 mm. I've put two stripes of 3 mm foam rubber beside each pickup to close the width-wise gaps.

Yamaha TRB 6 II with Delano SBC 7 HE/S

Yamaha TRB 6 II with Delano SBC 7 HE/S

  • Media owner kosmas58
  • Date added
  • Comments 1
My Yamaha TRB 6 II with Delano SBC 7 HE/S soapbar pickups and Delano Sonar 3 onboard preamp.

I also replaced the preamp by a Delano Sonar 3.

Now my bass has an active/passive electronics switched by the push/pull volume control and a passive tone control (double stack treble pot). Each pickup can be switched (serial/single/parallel).

Converted Yamaha TRB 6 II Controls

Converted Yamaha TRB 6 II Controls

  • Media owner kosmas58
  • Date added

Some woodworking was necessary to build in the new electronics into the electronic compartment. I'm not a luthier, so the conversion was done by the pros at the Munich Repair Shop. Thank you guys.

The bass sounds awesome and has more useful sound options. You can see, how the bass looks after the conversion (the black strings are DR Black Beauties - the knobs are from ETS like on Marleaux Basses).

Cheers,
Kosmas
Click to expand...

Very interesting mod!
How do the new pickups sound compared to the stockers?
 
#722
My toys.
image.jpg
 
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#729
I've now installed my new pickups in the TRB5F. I ended up getting Nordstrand Dual Blades for 6 string in the EMG45 form factor. This was purely due to availability as 5 string in the EMG45 are a special order and I was trying to order online from someone who would ship to Australia so was limited to what they had in stock. I was also investigating the dual coils, but again it came down to availability, plus they are quite a bit more expensive.

As Jamie_Funk mentioned, there is a bit of gap length-wise. I also used a bit of foam to space them up to the correct height as they quite a bit a thinner than the stock pickups.

I haven't played through my proper rig yet, just an old Roland Cube, so it sounds a little bit boxy, but tone-wise I'm very happy. There's no doubting it's the same bass, even with new pre and pickups, but electronics are now super quiet even on full treble boost, and there is plenty of warm fretless tone.
 
#731
JohnPativens said:
How did you compensate for the extra lenght?
Click to expand...

I didn't really. It's only a few mm, even to the extent where I reused the same screwhole on the treble side and thus had more of the gap on the bass side. If you zoom in to this photo you can see it, as it's taken from an angle to exaggerate the gap, but it's normally not that noticeable. Even the standard pickups don't sit in the route that snugly.

Nord Installed

Nord Installed

Nordstrand Dual Blades installed in TRB5F
 
#732
Callum Gibson said:
I didn't really. It's only a few mm, even to the extent where I reused the same screwhole on the treble side and thus had more of the gap on the bass side. If you zoom in to this photo you can see it, as it's taken from an angle to exaggerate the gap, but it's normally not that noticeable. Even the standard pickups don't sit in the route that snugly.
Click to expand...

I'm also interested in changing my stock pickups on my TRB5iif. Have you changed your preamp? What are the two switches next to the volume/pan knobs?

Thanks!
 
#733
benito said:
I'm also interested in changing my stock pickups on my TRB5iif. Have you changed your preamp? What are the two switches next to the volume/pan knobs?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes, see my earlier post - moral of the story is pre and pickups need to go together in these basses (although note I had mk i).

The switches put the dual blades in single coil mode (the Nordstrand DB's come with the wiring diagram to do this). I drilled through from the cavity and installed submini switches that I bought from my favourite electronics parts store. Truth be told for the amount of effort it was to do this (there's not a lot of room in there and lots of wires to connect together) and the usability of the settings (since it disables hum cancelling and the sound is not much different) I actually wouldn't bother.

One thing I think did work out nicely though is that the switches are flush-mount and glued in with super glue because the sub-minis weren't long enough to extend through the top to fit the nut. Looks cool even if not that functional.
 
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#735
irbass said:
Selling custom pup's for TRB JP2

For Sale - Custom pup's Yamaha TRB JP2 | TalkBass.com
Click to expand...
MetalKen said:
I play my TRBs in my band, the TRB6 for most stuff, and the 6PII for the fretless stuff. If I show up with anything else at practice, they complain. Like, when I showed up with the Ibanez BTB, they didnt realize at first I had brought a different bass. Then after the first song, the singer was like "What happened to your bass sound?" She then asked me to bring the TRB back next practice once she realized I was playing the BTB.

Got rid of the BTB like 2 days later - traded it in at GC for a Yamaha RBXJM2. That one stands up at practice, but they still want me to only use it as a backup to the TRBs.
Click to expand...
 
#736
OldDirtyBassist said:
I've always wanted an upper end Yamaha TRB6. It's one high end bass I'd never tire of. Great bass!
Click to expand...
OldDirtyBassist said:
I've always wanted an upper end Yamaha TRB6. It's one high end bass I'd never tire of. Great bass!
Click to expand...
Hi there - I managed to find a TRB JP2 new in the UK (first one I've seen for years) and snapped it up.
I must admit, I wasn't really that impressed at first, so I put some DR Sunbeams on it. Didn't like those much either. I was getting ready to give up when someone told me that the standard strings on this model are EXP half wounds, so - I put a set on, and what a difference! The strings on mine came with round wounds, which someone must have put on at some time, either that or that IS the original string, but with the ground wounds you get everything - massive bass end and plenty of ping on the top end if you want it. The pre seems more like they usually do now too - with the other strings, I couldn't get much of a range of tones, but with the half wounds - well! If you do get one and it hasn't got the half wounds on it, I'd really say put a set on - you won't be disappointed. My other basses are gathering dust at the moment, much as I love them.
By the way, the build quality is 10/10, it's just a shame that I've managed to put a ding on it in two weeks, when my other six, which I've been using since '02, hasn't got a mark on it. Doesn't matter I suppose, but it's like putting a scratch on a Ferrari!
Cheers from the UK
Mark
 

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