Machines

RBXJM2 / BB415 / RBX765A

I have 7 currently (8 later if the courier makes it through the snow), it is too many. I use 2-3 for my band (one would probably suffice), the others are purely there for the fact I have the space, can afford to have them sat there, and I like variety. I have 2 up for sale, but which 2 they are could change by the end of the day as my whims change with the weather.

You must be oven a laugh mate. I'm not a fan either but no need to roast them so bad. That said I think it was Ken Woods bass before.

Yamaha for me, it seems. I tend to find they work for me - necks particularly, as well as having unique designs and not-too-boring finishes. I like not having a 'everyone has one' brand that the F logo tends to be (although I do have a P bass for occasional use) but also that they tend to be pretty cheap 2nd hand. I've been through pretty much all the big names (except R*ckenb*cker) and all the others tend to get moved on faster. All the Yamahas I have sold, have been 4 strings. Current stock: Yamaha BB415 Yamaha RBXJM2 Yamaha RBX765 Yamaha RBX775F Previous: Yamaha BB734A Yamaha RBX374 Yamaha TRB4 Yamaha SBV500 Yamaha BB614

I had a natural BB614 in apx 2006, and whilst it played well I did not get on with the preamp - always preferred the 414 but never got round to getting one. Seen a few pop up on FB/eBay etc but never in the right colour, or location. This is the first 415 in OM i've seen for many years, and it was moderately local (we met halfway, 30 min each). As soon as it was serviced and plugged in - it's the orange 414 (plus a string !) I remember trying out in Dawsons Manchester in ~2005, i'd hazard a bet @AndyTravis may have been the man that let me try it out. Me with BB614 (2006 Aston Uni) BBs in Dawson's Manchester (2005- I had one of the first camera phones !)

Moved it on - didn't get on with the bridge pickup at all. Liked the bass mostly passive with the neck pickup, as such it was over engineered for me, sold it for what I paid.

Sounds good to me. Allow me to warn you that this is a wicked place, the admins are tyrants and it will dent any sense of satisfaction with any gear you already have.

And i'm back with this 2005 BB415. Facebook market this time. Needed a clean, a few bits tightening up and new strings. However it's now bang on. May change the bridge purely for the extended saddle aesthetics, but no rush. Was going to take it to rehearsal tomorrow night but they just cancelled 😭

Hi Rob, what instruments/amp you got ?

Contentment is never permanent, it is the human condition.

What strings you got on it ? Took me a while to find the right ones, the B string seems better as a light gauge (.125) for me.

Great score. I've got one identical and it delivers far more than it's price suggests.

@AndyTravis You want me to buy you one of these beauties ?

Had a drummer previously in CID and the guitarist was a PC, never had any issues other than arranging practice/gigs around known shifts.

I could get a better more grippy strap, but wouldn't want any additional hardware really. It's worse than a Thunderbird, extra tuners plus extra length.

Worst - Ibanez EDA900 It wasn't really bad, it's just it was a bit meh. These were the absolute coolest looking basses out in the early 2000s (in my eyes) and I always wanted one. I tried one out in a shop around 2004 and didn't really understand the electronics so skipped it, fast forward 16 years I thought i'd give it another go. Got on eBay for a decentish price, but 'road worn' condition. The controls were magnetic volume, piezo volume, active bass/treble (not separate !) and piezo EQ. The piezo sounded good, if you wanted an acoustic style sound - and the normal pickup sounded generically P bass, but the combined bass/treble didn't allow for much nuance. Used it at a few practices, worked fine - but didn't do enough for me - bye bye. Best - RedSub Coliseum 6 Not my first foray with these, I had one just before lockdown started last year - but it was an early production model, had a few QC issues (e.g. glued in neck pickup !), sold it after 6 months. Then I saw a 'damaged' B-stock on eBay a year later for £110. Looking at the photos, the main issues were a broken nut and a few sanding marks. Hit the BIN knowing if it was that bad I could return it. It arrived fine, with the broken nut still attached to the C string. Replacing it would be very difficult, so I just superglued it back on with no issues. Sanding marks were on the neck heel - who cares ? Compared to the first I had, this one has a better finish on top, sounded better and was £110. It's not an every day bass, but there for when I want to get down and dirty. Is it a Dingwall killer ? No, the headstock dive is crazy and not fixable with that body shape, the pickups and EQ are very average but stick some external EQ on and it makes up a lot of ground. Did I mention it was £110 ?

Nice, I had an ABM300 and went through a few brands before landing back with Ashdown a few weeks ago (RM500/RM112). Have taken the head to a few practices and it was pretty gnarly.

2000s Yamaha RBX contoured body (no TRBX nonsense). 6 string fanned fret (34"-36") MM/MM pickups 3 band EQ with pickup selector positioned knob Metallic finish, perhaps dark blue/teal

My basses do not fit on my sofa anymore, so I have ordered a new one, ETA early Jan

3 sigs for me: Fender Marcus Miller Jazz (2011) - Prefer non-70s spacing it seems Dingwall NG3 (2017) - Wasn't a fan of purple but all they had at the time, also sold it because seems a bit ostentatious for a bedroom player at the time. Yamaha RBXJM2 (2003) The Yamaha is the only one still here. I'm a massive John Myung fan, which ticks one box - but it's actually something suitable for me. I can't think of any other 6 string basses with a lone big fat MM pickup in the sweet spot (Bongo aside, but they cost like - a lot). Neck is great, spacing perfect and looks cool. 50/50 going to get it refinished as the Plum Pearl Metallic is looking a little tired. That said, I don't really fancy the new Bongo JM sig, too black and I like to see pole pieces on those pickups. Plus it costs 3 months mortgage.

Very nice, should have kept my 5HS in Desert Gold, can't afford one now 🙄.

I'm very interested in hearing this I'm both an Ashdown user and Myung fan but no demo to be found ! @Ashdown Engineering sort it out !

I find I can't have less than 6 basses. Perhaps it's because I have a 6 space rack and I feel like it's 'missing something' otherwise. 2 of them are long term not-to-be-solds, the others are generally transient but a couple have hit the 12 month mark which is unusual (most go in 3 months). Of the 6 I have, I could definitely 'cope' with just 2, but I know I would like diversity of appearance, and start collecting them again. Also, for me part of the hobby is finding bargains I can try out for a bit and maybe make a few quid, or at least break even. However since buying a house in the last month, I can see my disposable income is already accounted for for the next few years.

Count me in please. It's replaced a TC Electronic RH750 & RS212, the cab was just too long and didn't fit in this space well. Haven't had an Ashdown rig for about 8 years since my ABM was also heavy, this is the same tone but more than manageable.