Yamaha TRBX605 - your honest assessment?

[fourstringbliss]

I'm selling one of my 4-string basses and looking at possibly buying a Yahama TRBX605 as a second 5-string. My remaining 4-string has two Bartolini quad-coil MM pickups where you can choose any coil configuration. My current 5-string is an MM/J with Bart's. Both basses have active preamps. The TRBX605 would be different, in a way, because of the humbucking soapbar pickups in different locations than my other basses.

But, is the 605 a great bass? If you own one or have owned one (or just played one) what do you think? How's the build quality? How does it sound? Does it balance well? I'm more concerned about the bones of a bass - I don't mind replacing hardware. My other two basses both have upgraded electronics, and the other I replaced all the hardware.

Thanks!

 

[Moving Pictures]

I sold mine as I didn't find it particularly inspiring. Having said that, great neck and excellent ergonomics for me. I played a Jazz V and preferred how it sounded.

 

[fourstringbliss]

I sold mine as I didn't find it particularly inspiring. Having said that, great neck and excellent ergonomics for me. I played a Jazz V and preferred how it sounded.

Would it have been better with different pickups? Would a preamp replacement make a difference?

 

[Moving Pictures]

Those things would definitely have made a difference. However the deal I got on the Jazz V made selling the TRBX605 a no brainer for me.

 

[Sauron_]

I sold mine as I didn't find it particularly inspiring.

Me too.

 

[Moving Pictures]

My opinion, you should try one and see if it does it for you. They do feel good in hand.

 

[michael_t]

is the 605 a great bass? If you own one or have owned one (or just played one) what do you think? How's the build quality? How does it sound? Does it balance well? I'm more concerned about the bones of a bass - I don't mind replacing hardware.

I don't own a 605, but have owned a 505 (mahogany body) for the last 5 yrs. I wouldn't consider it a "great bass", but for the money it's more than decent.

Build quality/Fit & Finish - Excellent.
Design features - Excellent.
Balance - Excellent.
Playability - Excellent.

Tone is a subjective thing, so it may require some experimenting. It can be quite fussy about the strings to match well with the stock pickups. Mine currently wears Rotosound Ultramags (Alloy 52 roundwound) and it sounds great in passive mode through my VT Bass DI.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I have looked at the 604. Just can't pull the trigger. It says "yamaha" but it is Indonesian Made , which is not bad. But it's not a real Japan yamaha. So the name loses a little like a indo made Lakland, or indo made G&L. Let me be clear, my main player is a $299 indo Sterling while I leave my more expensive basses at home.

 

[CletusMarley]

I had a 604 and as far as fit and finish and playability it was perfect. I just couldn't get down with the tones. I'm just not into active electronics. Even in passive mode I wasn't able to dial in anything that inspired me. I was told by several that string choice makes all the difference on these basses and I tried 4 sets. Nice bass just not for me.

 

[Dincrest]

I can't comment on this particular bass, but my overall experience with RBX and TRB Yamaha basses is that they're good, solid, reliable workhorse basses. They don't have a signature tone like "the Warwick growl" or " the Spector snarl" or what have you, but they won't let you down. Yamaha necks are pretty comfy to play on.

 

[salmon256]

This bass is on the top of my wishlist. Stuck between a lot from ESP, to Marcus Miller, so it's not gonna be easy to choose. I really loved it when I tried one every time however it's only a try, not actually owning it. Look forward to seeing the owners of one in this thread! Personally I been looking for a used TRB1004J which I believe is kind of a step up but I may be wrong. Good luck looking forward to the thoughts on this post!

 

[Yahboy]

Yamaha TRBX 50x/60x bass are very well build..... except pickups voice and weird onboard preamp MID EQ freq.

Just wish Yamaha launch a replacement model with greater tone pickups.

 

[J Wilson]

The only MIJ Yamaha's are the artist axes, the JP's, the Nate Easts, the Sheehan's. Yamaha, Ibanez, ESP, and others follow the same path, all their less expensive basses are built elsewhere in the Far East. Domestic Japanese production is as expensive now as US or Western Europe.

The 605's are substantial, 24-fret basses with unique tone. Solid construction and would make a solid platform for modding if you don't care for the OEM electronics.

Personally I'd prefer the BB735, which features a pile of terrific engineering, plus the pickup routs are far more common sizes. It's a best seller for all those reasons.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

While I have not played one, it meets my criteria of a well balanced bass in that the upper horn is aligned with the 12th fret and the bridge is near the butt end of the body. As long as the tuners are relatively light weight, in theory, the bones should be good.

I personally think it's a good looking instrument.

 

[And I]

I had a 505... nice bass, but 18mm spacing wasn't comfortable to me. I may have left it stock and kept playing it if it were 19...

 

[flatrat]

Personally I'd prefer the BB735, which features a pile of terrific engineering, plus the pickup routs are far more common sizes. It's a best seller for all those reasons.

The TRBX line is great but I too recommend the BB735.

 

[Clark Westfield]

The bass is very impressive as it is.

I think for me, it has one extra string on it, but the bass is pretty sick.

yamaha makes some great stuff

 

[Kerry Brown]

Haven't played a 605 but my 504 is my go to for live use. It's extremely reliable. Stays in tune. I play covers of 60's to 90's songs. I can easily get a tone that works for all of them. It's light and easy on the fretting hand for long sets. My band members groan when I bring a different bass. They say I play and sound better with the Yamaha. I tried a 604 and a 504 when I bought the 504. I couldn't hear or feel a difference. Not sure if any of this applies to the five string version though.

 

[Aloe]

I owned a 505 for seven years. it was light, ergonomically good (if you like the strap button on the 12th fret, I ended up not to like this), no neck dive or something like this.

I liked it better with another preamp, but never really was content with the B string definition and overall muddy sound. the other thing I wasn't content with was some slightly off overtones (yeah, I know how to set-up intonation and had frets leveled).

if I'd urgently want a Yamaha with buckers, I'd look for a used BBG5A/BBG5S. partly because I like Yamaha's one-piece necks better than laminated ones.

P.S. BTW, please note that pickups and bridge on a 505/605 are highly not standard (even the pot holes are metric), you'll need modifications for anything aftermarket. it's a common thing for Yamaha that makes them a bad 'platform' bass

 

[fourstringbliss]

I owned a 505 for seven years. it was light, ergonomically good (if you like the strap button on the 12th fret, I ended up not to like this), no neck dive or something like this.

I liked it better with another preamp, but never really was content with the B string definition and overall muddy sound. the other thing I wasn't content with was some slightly off overtones (yeah, I know how to set-up intonation and had frets leveled).

if I'd urgently want a Yamaha with buckers, I'd look for a used BBG5A/BBG5S. partly because I like Yamaha's one-piece necks better than laminated ones.

P.S. BTW, please note that pickups and bridge on a 505/605 are highly not standard (even the pot holes are metric), you'll need modifications for anything aftermarket. it's a common thing for Yamaha that makes them a bad 'platform' bass

That seals the deal - I need to be able to modify it if I don't like it.

Thanks!