TRBboy

Sorry, late to the conversation, but back on pickups: After nearly 10 years and many different Sandberg models /configurations, I've found the following; Sandberg large pole piece standard pickups - they're pretty good all-rounders, some say a bit lacking in output, but I've never found that especially. They are pretty well balanced, but quite clean /neutral (some would say too clinical). Sandberg Black Labels - I ordered a Cali VM5 with these as I'd heard great things, and after 9 months patiently waiting, I ended up selling the bass almost immediately.... I found these pickups to certainly be very aggressive /hot, but to my ears they just didn't seem to have any 'tone' to them, the neck P pickup and the MM bridge pickup sounded almost the same! I know others love them, but that was my experience. TT Passive alnico V pickups - These are probably the best pickups I've ever had, toneful, organic, but plenty of guts. I know my tastes have changed a bit over the years, but these are really great. I believe they're the same as in two of the signature models, the Marlowe DK and the Torsten Sholtz, which I guess says something also. As with everything though, it's entirely subjective/personal 🤷🏻‍♂️

Very nice mate, exactly the same as the one I used to have!

We've kind of assumed we won't be playing until next year now.

I think also this business of being a 'professional' musician will be somewhat of a quandary for pub bands that have a day job, but maybe get paid to play every weekend; most people in this situation will take cash in hand, and will have never declared any of it.... Therefore, on paper, you've never earned any money from being a musician, ergo you're not a professional.... Unless you want to drop yourself in it with the tax man... 😬

I had an RBX270, that I got really cheap and tricked out with Dimarzio model P/J set - what a bass! It was absolutely incredible. If it wasn't for me moving to 5's exclusively, I definitely would've kept it.

Is I had the money spare and it wasn't 4.5kg, I'd be all over it! 😂

I know this is the BB thread, but really it's the superawesomeYamaha thread, and we were talking about TRB's recently. Just spotted this in the FS section.... A fairly early model with the slap cutout and the 34" scale (which suits me better)...... Very tempting!

I get the guidance for pros if rehearsing or recording etc, but what is the deal with actual gigs /events? They seem to be happening in some parts, but as far as I can tell from the guidance, they haven't been given the okay yet, and noise levels must still remain low enough not to raise voices in pubs etc.

So.... I think I've missed a lot somehow. What are the actual rules on gigs etc at the moment? Are you only allowed to perform if you're professional musicians (I. E. Main source of income), and there's social distancing measures in place? When the pubs reopened, the guidance was that any music must be quiet enough that customers don't have to raise their voices to converse - does this apply to band performance also? Sorry if I'm being dim here....

I think the Stu with the 2x15 looks killer! What I've seen though is a LM tube 500 with a 4 ohm STD104 HF.... Seems like a decent rig. I used to have the CMD102p with a Traveller 151p, great rig and never should have sold it tbh! GAS prevailed in that instance too.......

Thanks guys, very helpful! 😂 You're absolutely right though, no point even thinking about it until we're back to gigging, whenever that might be..... It's just.... I have seen a nice markbass rig on ebay..... Must. Resist..

In finding that not gigging is causing me all sorts of stupid thoughts. I got my new fender rumble rig late last year (500 combo and 1x15 cab), and I was really happy with it, it was fantastic. But since we haven't been gigging, and I haven't been using it every week, I keep convincing myself that I need different amp...... I've been through various ideas, the latest of which is that I need to sell it and get a Markbass head and std104hf cab (4 ohm). I had a markbass rig two rigs ago, and it was great. Not entirely sure why I sold it.... Anyway, I keep trawling through amps and agonising over what to do, even though it doesn't look like we'll be gigging until next year sometime. Is anyone else suffering this sort of frustrating insanity?! I don't know what I'm asking anymore, think this is just a cry for help! 😂😔🤪 ... But if anyone can comment on their experiences with the markbass STD 104HF that would be great!

Are you in the UK? Are we allowed to get back to it?! 😮🤞🤞

Ooooh, just realised I had a BB605 for quite a while too! Incredible bass, but I didn't like the NE1 preamp.... Unpopular opinion, I know. 😬

Heads up 4 string BB fans; just spotted a BB604 on ebay that looks absolutely immaculate, as in brand new with tags! And the starting bid is £179..... These have the NE1 preamp in them, and are fantastic! Personally my favourite era of BB's. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133475052777

Having used one for years, I don't think a 2x12 gives me quite what I want. They're loud and sound great, but it never had quite enough low end authority. I'm back with a 2x10 +1x15 setup now (like I did before the 2x12,albeit a different brand), and it's giving me much more of what I want, certainly more ballsy in the lower frequencies, but still plenty clear and punchy. As with everything though, it's all entirely personal, subjective, and dependant on the application. There's no right or wrong, you've just gotta find what works for you.

Currently: Customised BBN5 Previously: BB435 BB605 BB414 BB614FL (plus Pimped RBX270, TRB 1004, TRB 1005) I thought I'd had more, but then realised its because I used to work in a Yamaha dealership and played lots of different models! 😂

I have the 1x15 with mine, and I have to say it sounds monsterous! I have been wondering recently if I should've give with the 210 though... I wish I could have tried both side by side at the time. Also, I was after a bigger low end response, so figured the 210 would just give me the same frequency response as the combo, just louder, whereas the 15 would probably be a bit gutsier down low (I'm a 5 string player). The 15 has certainly delivered on the low end!

They just look great on everything!

And very smart they look too sir! 😍

Good score @BassApprentice, congrats! Would definitely look cool with a tort pg, although black looks badass too. I'd be tempted to see how much it would cost to get a gold anodised one made.... Or maybe tiger pattern! Getting carried away now..... 🤪 If they made a 5 string Electra, I would have bought one a long time ago.

So, I think the TRB 4/5/6 and TRB II 4/5/6 were all ash bodies and bolt on, one or the other may have had the slap cutout (or neither! 😂). The TRB 4/5/6 P was the PJ one, lovely woods and through-neck with piezo Bridge saddles, and the TRB 4/5/6 P II was the newer version with the humbuckers. The 1000 series as far as I can see were the same pickups and preamp as the others, but made in Indonesia or somewhere. And then there's the John Pattituci. Maybe it's not as confusing as I thought! 🤪 If I could have any TRB, it would be this model: https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Yamaha_TRB_5P.html

No problem, and I'm sure someone far more knowledgeable than I might come in shortly. @javi_bassist it may be worth starting a new thread to ask about them. @Al Krow I think there have been many different iterations of very similar basses over the years, so it depends specifically what era /model we're comparing I guess. I think some of the early ones had PJ pickups and were 34"scale, before they went to 35" and humbuckers. I know some of them had ash bodies, whereas the 1000 series is alder /quilted maple. Some of the Japanese ones I think have 5 piece necks vs the 3 piece on the 1000's,and I'm not sure if there have been some through - neck ones! Some have the 'slap cutout' in the body in the G and D string area. And then there's the Pattituci model also, which is different again. It's a minefield, and I certainly don't know the full run - down. It doesn't help that there seems to be little or no difference in model designations, unlike the BB's where you know what it is by the model number. I found an old thread of it helps at all.

The TRB models are fantastic, I used to have a 1004 and 1005 which were my main basses for some time. You won't miss the through body stringing imho, these basses are very resonant with great attack and sustain. I believe the standard Hi-mass bridge is solid brass. The Yamaha Alnico humbuckers are famously awesome, and although there's no passive bypass on the preamp, it sounds great and I never missed not having a passive option. You could always change the preamp if required. The TRB's can be pretty weighty, so that's something to consider. The 1000 series are incredible instruments for the money, and clearly any of the Japanese models are a step up in quality of materials, construction and finish.

Cuzzie's right, I think the main difference is the shape, plus the newer one probably has the newer lightweight tuners. Fwiw the newer shaped californias are generally a bit lighter, and for me the ergonomics are better.