Yamaha TRB5 for 4string player?

[Meric Ozadak]

Hi guys,

I have question as a 4 string bass player.

I’ve never played 5 string bass before. I know the difference but never needed B string on my partitions.

Last week I found a Yamaha TRB5 on listings and we have talked to the seller. In the end had a deal to trade one of my cameras with his bass.

As we both left handed, left handed guitars are hard to find in the market, also its hard to sell because there are not much demand. He told me it will be easier to sell the camera then a left handed bass guitar.

So as a 4 string player do you recommend 5 string bass? I love Yamaha TRB basses but as long as they are 6 or 5 string. Thats why I have never considered to buy a Yamaha.

Currently I have Cort B4LH, Hofner Ignition Bass and ordered a left handed Music Man Stigray 4.

What do you think about this trade? Do you think a 5 string bass would be useful on my bass collection or totally useless?

 

[bholder]

I think adding a 5 string can be useful in many ways. Learning to play a 5 as well kind of shakes things up musically and can improve overall playing. Besides proving useful directly - the benefits of a 5 aren't just limited to a few lower notes, it's the increased fingering position flexibility that's more important for many of us.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...Last week I found a Yamaha TRB5 on listings and we have talked to the seller. In the end had a deal to trade one of my cameras with his bass.

What do you think about this trade? Do you think a 5 string bass would be useful on my bass collection or totally useless?

Without knowing any details about the camera (make-model-year, lenses, accessories?) you are trading we can't tell you if the trade is fair.

 

[Meric Ozadak]

I have a video agency. And this is one of the retired cameras of our "repertoire", Sony a6000 with Sigma 17-50mm 2.8 EX DG lens. If I sell this camera and lens today, its the same price with the guy who sells that TRB5. Thats why it will be a fair trade. When you convert in dollars costs like USD510.

What I am thinking is if I ever need a 5 string bass... It's very hard to find good quality left handed basses in market. Also I wont pay any money. Just replace with an unused tool in my office.

 

[Moving Pictures]

I think you did really well to get that bass. Having a 5 string leads to more options musically and Yamaha makes a really nice bass. As this is TB you should post some pics so people can lavish it with positive attention

 

[Meric Ozadak]

Here is the link for pics of the bass Invalid Link Removed

Korea made Yamaha TRB1005 left handed. Lacking of bass and treble knobs but I think its easy to find replacements in market.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Good trade. Those knobs should be relatively easy to find, I'd think. Yamaha makes great basses, I've owned a couple of older ones from the mid/late 1980s. I got my first 5 string bass in the summer of 1987 (Yamaha BX-5). These days, my 5 string bass needs are filled with two Martin Keith Elfin basses, one fretted, the other fretless.

If playing a 5 string bass doesn't come to you quickly, be patient; they offer a lot more than just a few extra lower notes than a 4 string bass does.

 

[Moving Pictures]

Here is the link for pics of the bass Invalid Link Removed

Korea made Yamaha TRB1005 left handed. Lacking of bass and treble knobs but I think its easy to find replacements in market.

Looks great! I like the quilting on that bass.

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

I am a lefty and was in the same situation. After playing a 4 for 30yrs I got a TRB1005 (the one for sale could be my old bass in fact since it is exactly the same one). It was my first 5. I really loved the neck and the playability. Since I play a lot of reggae, after awhile I sold it and got a Warmoth Jazz Bass 5. But yeah it is a great bass and I got adjusted to the 5 after 2/3 month of playing. Now I switch between 4 and 5.

 

[Marhmol]

I'd trade a camera for that any day of the week. It's a looker.
Especially my Pentax

 

[Meric Ozadak]

I am a lefty and was in the same situation. After playing a 4 for 30yrs I got a TRB1005 (the one for sale could be my old bass in fact since it is exactly the same one). It was my first 5. I really loved the neck and the playability. Since I play a lot of reggae, after awhile I sold it and got a Warmoth Jazz Bass 5. But yeah it is a great bass and I got adjusted to the 5 after 2/3 month of playing. Now I switch between 4 and 5.

If you sold that to a Turkish guy most probbably it was yours lol.

 

[Meric Ozadak]

I'd trade a camera for that any day of the week. It's a looker.
Especially my Pentax

Its just a good luck of mine to find it and convince the owner for a trade

 

[Marhmol]

Yeah I'm with you.
I don't have a "need" for a five string and have had them on and off over the years and I get that empty feeling when I "don't" have one.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I'd trade a camera for that any day of the week. It's a looker.
Especially my Pentax

So long as it is not an LX or a 67! Those were/are great camera systems.

 

[troy mcclure]

nice looking bass

 

[Wasnex]

Hi guys,

I have question as a 4 string bass player.

I’ve never played 5 string bass before. I know the difference but never needed B string on my partitions.

Last week I found a Yamaha TRB5 on listings and we have talked to the seller. In the end had a deal to trade one of my cameras with his bass.

As we both left handed, left handed guitars are hard to find in the market, also its hard to sell because there are not much demand. He told me it will be easier to sell the camera then a left handed bass guitar.

So as a 4 string player do you recommend 5 string bass? I love Yamaha TRB basses but as long as they are 6 or 5 string. Thats why I have never considered to buy a Yamaha.

Currently I have Cort B4LH, Hofner Ignition Bass and ordered a left handed Music Man Stigray 4.

What do you think about this trade? Do you think a 5 string bass would be useful on my bass collection or totally useless?

I started on 4, transitioned to 5 around 1992, and then transitioned to 6 around 1995. My first and only six is a series I Yamaha TRB6P. Prior to that I played a Yamaha BB5000. Yamaha makes fine instruments.

My collection includes 4- and 5-string basses, but my number one is my 6. I rarely take any of my other instruments out of their cases. Since the 6-string has been my primary instrument for so long, it would be a bit risky for me to do a short notice job on a 4- or 5-string instrument, as I would need to use different finger patterns and shifts than I have grown accustomed to.

IMHO. I consider the low B essential for a working commercial bassists. The biggest advantage of the low B is it is very common that vocalists cannot sing high enough to cover songs in the original key. The low B allows you to transpose down as much as a fourth, and continue playing the intervals of original bass line. There is also a fair amount of pop repertoire that extends below the open E string in the original key. Some of music was recorded using detuned 4-strings, 5-strings, or synthesizers. In some instances, the pitch dropped when the recordings were slowed down.

The next advantage of an extended range instrument is you can play a wider range of notes without having to shift up and down the neck. What I find is there are certain types of musical patterns that are easier on my 6 and certain types of patterns that are harder, so there are costs as well.

Many bassists who perform only pop styles will find the high C is of no use. I found the high C useful as my job involved playing jazz standards and improvising solos over changes. Another potential advantage of the high C is it provides a different texture or tone.

If you want to learn the 5-string quickly and thoroughly, I would advise you to play the instrument exclusively for an extended time. The length of time is up to you, but I would recommend 6 months to a year minimum. It could be two years or more. If you continue playing your 4-strings and only pick up the 5-string occasionally, it is likely that you will always find the instrument frustrating and confusing. It will take some time for your brain to adjust to the extra string, and IMHO the transition will be much quicker and easier if you avoid playing your 4-strings until your mind feels at ease with the low B.

If you don't have much repertoire that requires the B string. Practice transposing material you know down different intervals. The ability to transpose can be a very useful skill for a working musician.

Good luck.

 

[Meric Ozadak]

Thanks Wasnex! Thats very important advice I could get about this issue. I will consider all things you said. Thank you very much.

 

[jamro217]

Welcome to TB. You found a quality lefty bass without having to part with any cash, just a piece of equipment you no longer use. I can't imagine a Yamaha 5 string will depreciate that much, it may actually increase in value. Can the same be said for the camera? Personally, I don't think you can have too many basses. Have a great day.

 

[jamro217]

I started on 4, transitioned to 5 around 1992, and then transitioned to 6 around 1995. My first and only six is a series I Yamaha TRB6P. Prior to that I played a Yamaha BB5000. Yamaha makes fine instruments.

My collection includes 4- and 5-string basses, but my number one is my 6. I rarely take any of my other instruments out of their cases. Since the 6-string has been my primary instrument for so long, it would be a bit risky for me to do a short notice job on a 4- or 5-string instrument, as I would need to use different finger patterns and shifts than I have grown accustomed to.

IMHO. I consider the low B essential for a working commercial bassists. The biggest advantage of the low B is it is very common that vocalists cannot sing high enough to cover songs in the original key. The low B allows you to transpose down as much as a fourth, and continue playing the intervals of original bass line. There is also a fair amount of pop repertoire that extends below the open E string in the original key. Some of music was recorded using detuned 4-strings, 5-strings, or synthesizers. In some instances, the pitch dropped when the recordings were slowed down.

The next advantage of an extended range instrument is you can play a wider range of notes without having to shift up and down the neck. What I find is there are certain types of musical patterns that are easier on my 6 and certain types of patterns that are harder, so there are costs as well.

Many bassists who perform only pop styles will find the high C is of no use. I found the high C useful as my job involved playing jazz standards and improvising solos over changes. Another potential advantage of the high C is it provides a different texture or tone.

If you want to learn the 5-string quickly and thoroughly, I would advise you to play the instrument exclusively for an extended time. The length of time is up to you, but I would recommend 6 months to a year minimum. It could be two years or more. If you continue playing your 4-strings and only pick up the 5-string occasionally, it is likely that you will always find the instrument frustrating and confusing. It will take some time for your brain to adjust to the extra string, and IMHO the transition will be much quicker and easier if you avoid playing your 4-strings until your mind feels at ease with the low B.

If you don't have much repertoire that requires the B string. Practice transposing material you know down different intervals. The ability to transpose can be a very useful skill for a working musician.

Good luck.

Excellent advice.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

Transitioning from a 4 to a 5 can be easy or hard. It will be easier if you play with a pick. If you play finger style then you will have to adapt to a floating thumb technique. I had difficulty the first time I tried to play a 5 as I was playing finger style and I anchored my thumb on the E string. Going to a 5 was awkward as my orientation was off. I have now changed over to pick playing and the transition was very easy because I place my wrist on the body and strum from the wrist. I go from 4 to 5 with no problems. Also, needing a 5 will depend on what type of music you are playing. For 60s and 70s classic rock a 4 will do very nicely. For 80s and up you may need a 5. A 5 is also great for prog, jazz and praise and worship. Good luck.