Yamaha!

[NoobOnRoad]

I have 4 Yamaha basses though.

Are the 2 in the middles RBX 260? I borowed one to learn to play bass and it is one simple bass to play on.

The best I have played so far. Low action, great sound 24 frets. <--- and this was after staying 4 years in a closet.

I have tried the RBX 170 and it is as good but have some crappy pots (which are replaced easily).

Tough, I didn't tried the RBX 4 A2 but they look like a sure value.

Rock on Yamaha for pro quality instruments at low prices!

 

[René_Julien]

Are the 2 in the middles RBX 260? I borowed one to learn to play bass and it is one simple bass to play on.

Yup, those are two RBX 260 fretlesses.

The one on the left I purchased about 8 years ago. It was my first fretless.
It has done a lot of gigs.
But it's beaten to death. Neck warped, scratches and dents all over.
Fingerboard wear.

I still plays kinda decent though.

On the right is the same bass in near mint condition that I bought about a year ago. I spotted it used and couldn't resist it.

 

[NortyFiner]

In my ongoing hunt for a 5-string, this one is definitely on my list for looks. I need to find one to try before I buy, though, because I've heard that the necks are HUGE and I want to make sure it feels right first...

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[JumboJack]

 

[René_Julien]

In my ongoing hunt for a 5-string, this one is definitely on my list for looks. I need to find one to try before I buy, though, because I've heard that the necks are HUGE and I want to make sure it feels right first...

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My advice is to stay clear from the 300 serie RBX.
There are a lot of complaints about 300s.
I played a 374 once and I didn't thought much of it. You're better off with a 270 IMO, that bass is good price/quality.
And from what I've heard with the 300 series: lousy electronics.
Also, that neck is not huge, on the contrary.

Unless it is gong to be a study instrument, please consider something els.

Especially when there are awesome Yamaha 5-strings in the TRB and BB series.
TRB if you like modern, BB if you like traditional.

My 2 cents.

 

[NortyFiner]

My advice is to stay clear from the 300 serie RBX.
There are a lot of complaints about 300s.
I played a 374 once and I didn't thought much of it. You're better off with a 270 IMO, that bass is good price/quality.
And from what I've heard with the 300 series: lousy electronics.
Also, that neck is not huge, on the contrary.

Unless it is gong to be a study instrument, please consider something els.

Especially when there are awesome Yamaha 5-strings in the TRB and BB series.
TRB if you like modern, BB if you like traditional.

My 2 cents.

Thanks for the tips. None of the shops around here seem to carry Yamaha guitars and basses for me to try anyway, so I guess I can go ahead and cross it off my list.

 

[René_Julien]

Thanks for the tips. None of the shops around here seem to carry Yamaha guitars and basses for me to try anyway, so I guess I can go ahead and cross it off my list.

Not much stores around here carry Yamaha also.

A store owner once told me it had something to do with Yamahas policy.

If a store wants to carry Yamaha, they have to meet some speficications.
Basicly, they must have many items from every thing Yamaha in stock:
guitars, basses, keyboard, amplifiers,...

Only big stores here in Belgium do that.


I can order Yammies online though from Germany at good price.

 

[HMZ]

I bought a Yamaha TRB 1005 brand new about two months ago. I love the sound and looks of this bass but can't get use to a 5 string. I guess I will always be a four stringer. I'm looking to maybe trade it for a TRB 1004 or an acoustic guitar.

 

[kraigo]

In my ongoing hunt for a 5-string, this one is definitely on my list for looks. I need to find one to try before I buy, though, because I've heard that the necks are HUGE and I want to make sure it feels right first...

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C'Thulu sort of outted me above - I prefer more traditional stylings. I'd thought about this quite a bit.

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I play both fours and fives. Both have their charms, but both take adjustments. I like my Skyline 55-01 a lot, but I wanted a four string because a four can feel like a small sporty car when a five string can feel like an SUV. I can't imagine not having both fours and fives around. With fives, tight string spacing can be easier on the hands, but often feels like you can't dig in. I go for wide spacing because it feels more natural to me, but I feel more free when I go back to a four.

I like them both. I learned what I did and didn't like in a five string by owning a bunch. I've had over five others. The Skyline is right (as is my Noguera fretless). Those two are my five strings. Every other bass I buy now is more character - a bass with a Darkstar (not done yet), a P-Bass, a semi-hollow, and now the Jazz-like RBX4 A2.

The three main basses I use are the P (because with no effort at all, it's right, every time), the 55-01 because it's a very nice five and the Noguera fretless because it's a great five string fretless. The other basses are around for when I want something else. Usually that something else is a four string. The 415 is a great bass, but it didn't cover any ground that I didn't already have covered, but it's probably a really good bass and I know it's a really good price.

KO

 

[NortyFiner]

Not much stores around here carry Yamaha also.

A store owner once told me it had something to do with Yamahas policy.

If a store wants to carry Yamaha, they have to meet some speficications.
Basicly, they must have many items from every thing Yamaha in stock:
guitars, basses, keyboard, amplifiers,...

That would explain why the only place around here that I have seen Yamaha guitars/basses (a token half-dozen in all) was on the back wall of a piano store...

 

[kraigo]

A friend opened a drum shop. Yamaha wouldn't extend terms (credit) or take orders until he'd been in business for two years. His shop is thriving, but he's got very little Yamaha gear there. FWIW, he has gotten just drums - he doesn't deal in guitars, basses, PA, keyboards, motorcycles, pianos or boats.

KO

 

[René_Julien]

That would explain why the only place around here that I have seen Yamaha guitars/basses (a token half-dozen in all) was on the back wall of a piano store...

They have a strang policy when it comes to motorcycles also.
Like I said above, I have a Honda motorcycle dealership.
Yamaha wants so much that I also become a dealer for them. (They don't have a dealer in the region where I live.)
But they demand that as a dealer we have the "line-up". We must have each model in our showroom, and when one is sold they send one to replace it.
"Not in my store you wont", I told them.

Well, this is the case with the Belgian distributer. Don't know how it is elsewhere in the world.

 

[Kwesi]

Just got my hands on a Yamaha TRBJP and its one of the best basses I've ever played. It feels great and is lighter than the horror stories I've heard putting it anywhere from 10 to 12 pounds. The neck is wide but the shallow "D" neck profile makes it easy to navigate. And I never used to care before but the 34" scale feels great, nothing seems out of reach.The action is super low with next to no buzzing and I've got a good idea on how to fix those 2 or 3 frets. The sound is tick and the B string is awesome. It's got a goods amount of tension and doesn't suffer from low volume or a general lacking of presence relative to the other strings like so many other basses do. When I first got the bass I thought it would have a mellower tone because Patitucci's tone is far from aggressive but this bass growls! Very super jazz-like. I think the only thing I'd change would be the mid selector. Instead I'd prefer a traditional mid pot with a mid selector switch for even more versatility.

I'd say of all Yamaha 6ers that I've played (a TRB6, TRB6-II, TRB1006, and an RBXJM) this is by far the best and Yamaha puts out some great stuff. I'd like to try a TRBJP2 sometime.

 

[kraigo]

The RBX4 A2 arrived yesterday. It is very good construction and the action needed no adjustment. It may just be the strings, but that is one mid-rangey tone. Definitely not a bedroom tone, but it can't be missed when you're in an ensemble. If I were a slapper it'd be great - in fact it may turn me into one. I'm not sure if I like it or not. It's a change for me though.

KO

 

[MNAirHead]

Anyone played the starwars plastic 4/5 string thing.. saw one at Best Buy..

Wondering what they're like after you get them home.

My yammi stuff has always been great.

 

[kraigo]

In thinking about the RBX4 A2, I think that any failure in the marketplace it may have encountered would be that the looks don't match the tone. The looks say "classy, smooth" but the tone is super aggressive (to my ears) - put it through an SVT and the guitarists will be looking for a second Marshall stack. Visually, it's not a bass I would want to use in a hard rock band, though. Maybe the black one, who knows.

Perhaps it's my bass or my ears (or the strings).

KO

 

[kraigo]

Anyone played the starwars plastic 4/5 string thing.. saw one at Best Buy..

Wondering what they're like after you get them home.

My yammi stuff has always been great.

Which Best Buy? I may have to check it out. I didn't see anything like it on the Yamaha site, but then again, the RBX4 A2 is still listed on the site, but it's discontinued.

KO

 

[SteveC]

In thinking about the RBX4 A2, I think that any failure in the marketplace it may have encountered would be that the looks don't match the tone. The looks say "classy, smooth" but the tone is super aggressive (to my ears) - put it through an SVT and the guitarists will be looking for a second Marshall stack. Visually, it's not a bass I would want to use in a hard rock band, though. Maybe the black one, who knows.

KO

Yeah, I think the pin stripes and lighted knobs (except the tone) are kind of lame. Makes it seem like a toy.

Yet, the sound is pretty darn good. The technology seems sound, and Ed Freidland's demo is pretty convincing.

 

[kraigo]

I have no problem with the pinstripes - they're subtle enough that no one in the audience would ever notice them. The lights are easy enough to defeat. It's just that the look says "smooth jazz" and the tone says "aggressive rock".

I still think it's a cool bass. I think it will be easy for me to find in a mix. Happy Kraig and happy band mates, because I can turn down and still hear myself. I'm looking forward to being able to play with it some more. I must like it. Or I just have new toy syndrome.

KO

 

[kraigo]

FWIW, after a bit over a week of owning the RBX4 A2:

I keep going back and forth on whether I like this bass. Because of watching Ed Friedland's review on YouTube I have played with the controls more aggressively. On multi-pickup basses I usually end up dialing one pickup or the other. I generally just leave the tone control wide open on passive basses (flat on actives). With this bass the best tones are gotten by blending, IMO. The tone control is also highly recommended.

Build-wise, I have no complaints - the pots that everyone complains about ("only good in the first 10% of the sweep"), the action as delivered, the nut, the fretwork, all seem very good on this bass. I haven't tried the trussrod yet or adjusted the bridge. It plays like a dream. The hardware seems good - the tuners are smooth.

I suppose I'll be keeping it for a while. It's a good bass, but it sounds and looks different than what I'm used to. I can get over the looks, I think it's attractive. I think I've got a few settings that get me what I want tonally*. The down side is that I have to blend pickups and possibly tweak the tone control to get there and I've totally gotten lazy over the years of playing a P-Bass.

KO

* Settings I especially like:

1) Tone and neck pickup wide open, bridge all the way up then back off until you start to hear the hum.

2) Bridge pickup wide open, neck pickup up only about a 1/4 turn, tone backed off about a quarter turn.