Yamaha TRBX505. NBD (sort of)

[dave_bass5]

I got this a few weeks ago but only just got around to taking shots of it. As we all know, no pics means it didnt happen so ive had to wait :-)

Ive been meaning to get a 5 string for a while, and almost have a few times recently. Mainly Squier and Fender Modern players. What put me off those was that i really didnt feel i needed a new bass, i was more than happy with my Jazz bass. Then all of a sudden someone pointed out the Yamaha and on paper it seemed like a good idea.

Its has a lovely narrow nut, feels really nice when strapped on (and when sitting), i love the brown stain look and best of all, its got a lovely passive tone, that works even if there is no battery in the bass. Lucky really as it went dead on me at the last gig so i had to do the last set in passive mode. Its actually quite warm sounding in passive mode, so good for the older Motown stuff we do.
The overall active tone is quite modern, and quite bland. This is ok, its a good starting block. I guess im used to the Fender tone so im still getting used to it. Its working out really well at gigs.

If i have any issues with it its the fact that i cant get the action as low as id like without fret buzz. Although a 5th sting and wider neck is a step up from what im used to, its very easy to play. I just wish i could get the action down a bit, especially on the G sting. Ive shimmed the neck (as i do with all my basses) and im sure a lot of people would say its a low action anyway. Yamaha suggest 3mm on the E at the 12th fret, i prefer 2mm. This is achievable but not on the G string (especially between the 5th and 9th fret).
Still, its just me being picky really. Thinking about maybe getting it Plek'ed but i probably wont, due to the cost.

This is the first Yamaha bass ive ever played, and while its not the last bass ill ever buy its a bass im happy to have. I doubt ill ever really love it, due to the tone and action, but its a bass that will serve me very well for a while.

[url="https://flic.kr/p/pf4Ya5"][/url]
[url="https://flic.kr/p/pf4Ya5"]Yamaha TRBX 505 Bass.[/url] by [url="https://www.flickr.com/people/30114189@N05/"]Dave Pearce (London)[/url], on Flickr

[url="https://flic.kr/p/q9LVGC"][/url]
[url="https://flic.kr/p/q9LVGC"]Yamaha TRBX 505 Bass.[/url] by [url="https://www.flickr.com/people/30114189@N05/"]Dave Pearce (London)[/url], on Flickr

[url="https://flic.kr/p/pfijH2"][/url]
[url="https://flic.kr/p/pfijH2"]Yamaha TRBX 505 Bass.[/url] by [url="https://www.flickr.com/people/30114189@N05/"]Dave Pearce (London)[/url], on Flickr

[mentalextra]

That's a lovely looking thing! You can't go wrong with a Yamaha

[gary mac]

Nice looker Dave and great pics.

[dave_bass5]

Thanks guys.
Yes, it's a lovely looking bass. If it had vintage style frets then it would definitely be a keeper. For some reason I just prefer those frets and all my necks have them other than this one.
I really can't see me getting rid of it though, if nothing else I want at least one 5 string bass, even if I don't use it all the time (at the moment I am).

[Marvin]

Lovely looking bass.

Although I'm biased, I've got a TRBX504 in the black, and it's my go to bass

[CamdenRob]

I really think these are superb looking instruments.

Look very good value to me.

[Marvin]

People always look stunned when I tell them how much these basses are. They expect them to be a lot more expensive

[HowieBass]

Re shimming the neck and the action; did you run out of adjustment on the saddle height screws? I'm a little puzzled why you shim the necks on all of your basses unless the saddles won't go any lower. It's a lovely looking bass anyway, I like the colour!

[dave_bass5]

Thanks guys. Yes, the Yamahas are excellent value for money. I supose the narrow neck isn't for everyone but it suits me down to the ground.

The reason i shim my necks is for two reasons (on some bassses).
I started doing it because I tend to rest my hand on the bridges. On some of the cheaper basses the saddle posts would dig in to my hand, so shimming the neck allowed me to raise the saddles to the point where the posts weren't exposed, but still keeping a lot action.
The other, more common reason is to keep the stings more parallel to the fretboard at the higher frets. It's just a personal thing but I like to see the gap even and not getting larger.

[HowieBass]

I understand that setting up a bass is a very personal thing done to suit an owner's preference, which is why I always do my own; I know that setting the neck relief (using a string as a straight edge) takes no account of the neck angle and I wonder if tilting the neck back using the shim could cause the fret buzz issues you're hearing?

[dave_bass5]

I take your point but it was like this before I shimmed it.

I've done various truss rod adjustments as well but I don't want to throw everything else out just for this. the other stings are fine at the same point on the neck. I supose it might be a slighty high fret but I've placed a straight edge on them and can't see any issues.

It's really not that bad, and only noticable at home, and when I play a bit harder with a thick pick. My other basses have the G string sitting at 1.5mm above the 12th fret, this has it at about 2.2mm. Yamaha recommend a high 3mm I believe so I'm doing well. The overal action is a bit higher on this bass, but that might be to do with the fact that I'm so used to vintage frets, so still getting used to the slightly higher frets this has.

I've done 4 gigs so far with it and other than the battery dying at the last one (and me fumbling and getting lost at the first) I really have nothing bad to say about it.