Yamaha TRBX 504/604 v. Ibanez SR600E

[cheddar]

My hope is that there are some here have played both of these and can give me sense of how these two basses compare in terms of tone in passive mode. I am particularly interested the tones using only the neck pickup.

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[cheddar]

I realize my question might have been too specific, so I'll try again. Can anyone compare the tone of these two basses, active and/or passive modes, for me? Thanks for any input you can provide!

 

[J Wilson]

Tone differences are subjective and others could tell you better than I, but I can tell you that they would be two noticeably different feeling instruments: The SR's have always had slim necks and been streamlined over all, while the TRBX's would be noticeably bigger across the body and a wider neck.

Where that fits you only you can know. I can tell you it would be hard to go wrong with either one, you just have to decide, and others can clue you in about their tone profiles.

 

[cheddar]

Thanks for the information. According to the specs, the TRBX 304 and higher models have the same nut width and neck depth up and down the neck as the SR models, though the latter have a larger radius (12" Ibanez v. 10" Yamaha). Of course the neck shapes are likely to be at least somewhat different.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Thanks for the information. According to the specs, the TRBX 304 and higher models have the same nut width and neck depth up and down the neck as the SR models, though the latter have a larger radius (12" Ibanez v. 10" Yamaha). Of course the neck shapes are likely to be at least somewhat different.

There's near universal consensus that ibanez sr necks are just really slim and quick feeling compared to yamahas. I agree based on playing both.

The passive magic in yamahas for me is in BBs though but the necks have a different feel than TRBXs.

For me, passive tone neck pickup by preference:

BB
TRBX
Ibanez

I dig a (subjectively defined by me) warm overall low end and a nice clear high end.

I think @J Wilson has been playing BBs for decades so I always pay attention to what he says.

 

[cheddar]

There's near universal consensus that ibanez sr necks are just really slim and quick feeling compared to yamahas. I agree based on playing both.

The passive magic in yamahas for me is in BBs though but the necks have a different feel than TRBXs.

For me, passive tone neck pickup by preference:

BB
TRBX
Ibanez

I dig a (subjectively defined by me) warm overall low end and a nice clear high end.

I think @J Wilson has been playing BBs for decades so I always pay attention to what he says.

Thanks for the reply! I have played both of these basses, as well as two BBs, so I am familiar with the neck carves. I have not had a chance to play the SR600e through an amp, which is why I am trying to understand others' perceptions of how they (SR600e and TRBX504) sound in comparison to each other. Hope this makes sense and explains my original question.

 

[cheddar]

Thought I'd give it one more try! Has anyone played both of these basses and, if so, can you give me some sense of how they compare in terms of tone? Thanks!

 

[michael_t]

Thought I'd give it one more try! Has anyone played both of these basses and, if so, can you give me some sense of how they compare in terms of tone? Thanks!

I've owned the Yamaha TRBX505 since 2018. I'll be picking up my new Ibanez SR505N (with Nordstrand Big Break pickups) tomorrow.

I'll let you know how they compare in the next few weeks.

 

[cheddar]

I've owned the Yamaha TRBX505 since 2018. I'll be picking up my new Ibanez SR505N (with Nordstrand Big Break pickups) tomorrow.

I'll let you know how they compare in the next few weeks.

Thanks so much! This would be very helpful. Hope you like your new SR505N!

 

[michael_t]

Thanks so much! This would be very helpful. Hope you like your new SR505N!

I've been curious about the Nordstrand "Big Break" thing, so I was initially looking into the SR605E. Then I came across with the new SR505N with the same pickups for a little less money.

 

[cheddar]

I've been curious about the Nordstrand "Big Break" thing, so I was initially looking into the SR605E. Then I came across with the new SR505N with the same pickups for a little less money.

I noticed this model as well, but I strongly prefer light colored instruments (white, off white, yellow) as I think they look better under stage lights and my focus is on live performance. Part of the appeal of the TRBX504 is that it comes in translucent white. None of the SR600E finishes are ideal either, but they are a bit lighter than the SR500N.

 

[Makoa Johnson]

I've owned the Yamaha TRBX505 since 2018. I'll be picking up my new Ibanez SR505N (with Nordstrand Big Break pickups) tomorrow.

I'll let you know how they compare in the next few weeks.

I'd be interested in your comparison of these two basses as well!

 

[michael_t]

I'd be interested in your comparison of these two basses as well!

Yamaha TRBX505 is still with me, but the SR505N is gone. Does that tell you anything?

 

[crazycloud]

Does that tell you anything?

Not really. Why?

 

[michael_t]

Not really. Why?

I have to admit there were a lot of things I liked about the SR505N, but I couldn't bond with the Big Break pickups. B-E-A sounded fairly decent but G-D sounded thin and wimpy in comparison. Very unfortunate...

 

[Massivexz]

I have to admit there were a lot of things I liked about the SR505N, but I couldn't bond with the Big Break pickups. B-E-A sounded fairly decent but G-D sounded thin and wimpy in comparison. Very unfortunate...

Did you like the playability of the SR505N? I'm torn between the Yamaha TRBX 504 and Ibanez SR500A / SR500N / SR600E.
So far I dig the aesthetics of either SR500N or SR600E, both have the Big Break pups. And in terms of aesthetics comparison the Ibanez SR body and neck just look much more attractive to me. As my first bass it would be nice to pick someone that you like aestheically. The SR500A also looks quite decent to me, but it has the Barts BH2 pups, and overall it seemed like more people preferred the Nords Big Break in comparison to the Barts BH2.

Unfortunately there's not a single SR500/600 to try in this country, none of the stores carry them. I did however try the TRBX 504 in Black in store, and honestly it was quite nice, I liked the neck, couldn't really complain about the looks, looked quite decent in person although ideally I'd prefer the SR shape. But overall it seems like the TRBX 504, is highly recommended by many, and should be more than sufficient for a first bass.

I'm just wondering since you've had experience with both, besides the pickups, is the SR505N more pereferrable to you? And secondly, if it had different pickups that would be more to your liking, would you have kept the SR505N instead of the TRBX 505? Thanks in advance!

My other alternative is to go for the Ibanez MDM1000, although a bit expensive at $1,000, but still within the upper limit of my budget.

Really appreciate any feedback or advice! I'm not a complete beginner as I've been playing electric guitar for over 20 years and relatively proficient at doing my setups. I'm not that that great at dialing good tones tho haha.

 

[Aloe]

Did you like the playability of the SR505N? I'm torn between the Yamaha TRBX 504 and Ibanez SR500A / SR500N / SR600E.

I had a trbx505 and now have an Ibanez (a bit higher-end, originally with Barts).

both have great ergonomics, Ibanez body is slimmer, but it's more ergonomic to rest your elbow on Yamaha's big lower bout. the main ergonomic difference is string spacing: 18mm for Yamaha, 16.5mm for Ibanez (4-stringers both have 19mm). aside from this, both are pretty good.

on my Yamaha I've upgraded the pre, the rest was fine. on my Ibanez I've upgraded tuners, preamp, pickups and a battery box. I'd say, out of the box Yamaha was more useful and had notably better pickups.

hope that helps.

 

[Massivexz]

I had a trbx505 and now have an Ibanez (a bit higher-end, originally with Barts).

both have great ergonomics, Ibanez body is slimmer, but it's more ergonomic to rest your elbow on Yamaha's big lower bout. the main ergonomic difference is string spacing: 18mm for Yamaha, 16.5mm for Ibanez (4-stringers both have 19mm). aside from this, both are pretty good.

on my Yamaha I've upgraded the pre, the rest was fine. on my Ibanez I've upgraded tuners, preamp, pickups and a battery box. I'd say, out of the box Yamaha was more useful and had notably better pickups.

hope that helps.​

Thank you so much for sharing that! The info about Yahama's big lower bout being more ergonomic is actually very useful as %95 I'll be sitting in my bedroom practicing! The different string spacing on 5-string models is completely irrelevant for me haha, I'm not there yet lol.

Did you feel like you on the Yamaha the mid freq switch was ever missing? That's pretty much the only feature it doesn't have in comparison to the Ibanez. I guess if in the future I ever replace the pre I can get one with that supports a mid freq switch and perhaps use the existing active/passive switch changed for a mid freq switch, and change the active/passive for push/push on one of the knobs, but that's very fat fetched thinking that will probably never happen lol. Can the pickups be replaced on the Yamaha or are they their own special size?

I'm curious which exact more premium Ibanez model do you have referenced here? So far as much as I want to love Ibanez (damnit it's only because I'm attracted to the visual aesthetics of it) and get SR500A (Barts BH2) or SR500N / SR600E (Nords Big Break), it seems that probably the Yamaha TRBX 504 / 604 will be the better bass beginner choice, especially since you mentioned it's ultimately better out of the box, because I'm not gonna start modding it until I've got at least solid 6-12 month with it, so I can at least appreicate the stock equipment. The only other Ibanez that I'm considering is the MDM1000, but that's like a whole nother beast and is $1,020 vs $600 Yamaha.

Thank you so much, very useful indeed! I'm so glad to have found this forum. People here are so friendly and helpful!

 

[Aloe]

Did you feel like you on the Yamaha the mid freq switch was ever missing?

I did upgrade the preamp to the one with a mid switch (Aguilar OBP-3) and was totally content. that gave me all tonal controls I ever needed. well, except of a HPF, not usually found on onboard preamps. mine was wired active-only (a 500k volume and a 250 m/n ungrounded blend), but if you want, you may wire a mid switch on a push-pull pot and still have the active/passive switch.

please note that for upgrading pre you'll need either metric pots, either a slight widening of pot holes. both for Yamaha and Ibanez. I widened them on both.

I'm curious which exact more premium Ibanez model do you have referenced here?

I have an SR675.

one more thing to notice: the matte finish on Ibanez basses wears out, you might like this or not. a matte finish on my Yamaha didn't grow a single blemish over almost a decade when I owned it.

 

[Massivexz]

I did upgrade the preamp to the one with a mid switch (Aguilar OBP-3) and was totally content. that gave me all tonal controls I ever needed. well, except of a HPF, not usually found on onboard preamps. mine was wired active-only (a 500k volume and a 250 m/n ungrounded blend), but if you want, you may wire a mid switch on a push-pull pot and still have the active/passive switch.

please note that for upgrading pre you'll need either metric pots, either a slight widening of pot holes. both for Yamaha and Ibanez. I widened them on both.



I have an SR675.

one more thing to notice: the matte finish on Ibanez basses wears out, you might like this or not. a matte finish on my Yamaha didn't grow a single blemish over almost a decade when I owned it.

Very informative, thank you! Yeah I've read about their finishes wearing out, a little unfortunate. So far seems like the Yamaha could be a better choice out of the box, especially for a first bass.