YAMAHA TRB CLUB

[Nihilism]

Link Removed
I apologize for the bad quality But here's my 1991 poorly-defretted Yamaha TRB6P
Am I in the club?

 

[bassmann5118]

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

• kosmas58
• Feb 27, 2015
• 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

• kosmas58
• Feb 27, 2015

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

I have the exact same bass and was contemplating the exact same conversion of electronics. My only other practical option was getting a custom Reed James set of pups made. The Delano setup is a bit expensive for me based in Australia but I'm really interested in them . How about the sound? How would you describe it compared to the original electrics? Would you recommend the conversion and was it worth it? I am in the process of changing the bridge to an ABM one as I'm sick of the buzzes and constant tweaking needed to maintain string height. I would appreciate your thoughts. Cheers.

 

[CMtz]

Hi,
Anyone know where to buy parts for a TRB 6ii in USA,
I need the bridge and other parts. Thanks!

 

[irbass]

TRB 6 II.

SGD dual coils pups
Aguilar OBP2 w/ tone knob.

 

[Melik]

Hey, could someone please tell me what type of finish does the older TRB models have on their neck? I have a Mk1 fretless and can't tell if it's poly or nitro, something real plastic feeling anyway.

 

[Melik]

Or in other words, has any of you kept your old TRB in a guitar stand that had in its product information the "not recommended for guitars with nitro lacquer" warning text?

 

[irbass]

I'm looking to join the club.
How do i get a number?
tks

 

[JohnPativens]

My toys.
View attachment 603787

Hi, what did you use to fill the unused pot holes?

 

[irbass]

In

Hi, what did you use to fill the unused pot holes?

i got the bass like that. It's a small piece of wood.

 

[Mat K]

Greetings to all!I own a left handed TRB-1005.I was planning to upgrading it with a Glockenklang 3-Band Electronic - 5 Poti Preamp. I was wondering whether someone managed to install it without the intervention of a buffer and how! I really love the tone/colorisation of the instrument and i d really like to keep the option ''change pickups'' as a last resort.Plus im left handed so this trb is my precious one!Thanking you in advance.

 

[JohnPativens]

Greetings to all!I own a left handed TRB-1005.I was planning to upgrading it with a Glockenklang 3-Band Electronic - 5 Poti Preamp. I was wondering whether someone managed to install it without the intervention of a buffer and how! I really love the tone/colorisation of the instrument and i d really like to keep the option ''change pickups'' as a last resort.Plus im left handed so this trb is my precious one!Thanking you in advance.

What do you mean for "without the intervention of a buffer"?
If you change the preamp you lose everything of the original preamp.
Also, in this case you lose the phantom coil in both pickups gaining the 60hz single coil hum when using them

 

[Liam Wald]

I had an absolutely mint TRB-4P in the 90's that I sold during a period of obvious insanity.
It is probably the only bass of the dozens that I have bought and sold that I am truly sorry that I don't still have.

 

[Mat K]

What do you mean for "without the intervention of a buffer"?
If you change the preamp you lose everything of the original preamp.
Also, in this case you lose the phantom coil in both pickups gaining the 60hz single coil hum when using them

message from glockenklang. ''
Hi, Yamaha pickups need a buffer to be used with a blend pot. They are the only company who are using pickups that need a thing like that , I don't know why because it has no positive effects on sound. If you want to use our preamp you have 3 options - first you need a buffer stage, second you only use one pickup and connect it direct to the volume pot or third you use different pickups.'' my question is if someone found a wiring or another solution without the buffer,resulting in proper function of course.

 

[JohnPativens]

message from glockenklang. ''
Hi, Yamaha pickups need a buffer to be used with a blend pot. They are the only company who are using pickups that need a thing like that , I don't know why because it has no positive effects on sound. If you want to use our preamp you have 3 options - first you need a buffer stage, second you only use one pickup and connect it direct to the volume pot or third you use different pickups.'' my question is if someone found a wiring or another solution without the buffer,resulting in proper function of course.

The only special feature of the original Yamaha preamp that I can think of is the ability to handle the signal from the dummy coils in each pickup in order to obtain single coils with no hum.
Maybe they're referring to that.
Lots of people changed the preamp in their TRBs on this forum anyway. I did too many years ago, and now I'm gonna convert it passive with new custom pickups since I tend to never use the on-board EQ with my active basses.

 

[Callum Gibson]

Lots of people changed the preamp in their TRBs on this forum anyway. I did too many years ago, and now I'm gonna convert it passive with new custom pickups since I tend to never use the on-board EQ with my active basses.

Hmm, now you've got me thinking... Since I've got DPDT switches in there, I could rewire to use one switch to split coils on both at the same time (can't see any reason to do one at a time anyway) and use the other to switch from active to passive.

 

[JohnPativens]

Hmm, now you've got me thinking... Since I've got DPDT switches in there, I could rewire to use one switch to split coils on both at the same time (can't see any reason to do one at a time anyway) and use the other to switch from active to passive.

What pickups + electronics do you have?

 

[Callum Gibson]

What pickups + electronics do you have?

Aguilar OBP-3 and Nordstrand Dual Blades.

 

[moretolife]

What is a good replacement preamp, while keeping the same pickups?

 

[Callum Gibson]

What is a good replacement preamp, while keeping the same pickups?

I doubt you'll be able to buy an off the shelf replacement for what is essentially a proprietary Yamaha part.

 

[JohnPativens]

What is a good replacement preamp, while keeping the same pickups?

To me, none. Only the original preamp can handle the dummy coils of Yamaha Pickups with their proprietary humbucking system. Swap preamp and you get very noisy single coils.