NBD - Yamaha RBX6JM John Myung Signature

[Machines]

A few months before I even flirted with playing bass, I was getting into very different music to that i'd grown up with (hard rock/grunge) and bought on recommendation 'Dream Theater - Live Scenes from New York' in ~2001/2002. On bass, was John Myung, sporting a rather immense looking 6 blue string bass. I was utterly blown away by how well he played and sounded, and am still a Dream Theater fan today. A year or so later I got into bass, and my parents gave me a  very generous £500 budget for a 21st birthday present, that ended up as a Yamaha RBX775 in Flat Blue, because it looks a bit like the RBX6JM, but it was cheaper. The years went by, and I still have it - just defretted and refinished (red goat leather, yes really).

 

Anyway - late 2020, I see an RBXJM2 in Plum Pearl appear locally on Facebook market, for a decent price. I really wanted that turquoise RBX6JM, but this was the next best thing. It was a little messy, but i've replaced the rusty pickup and it's now sounding great - it's a 6 string Stingray at heart.

 

April 2021, I see an RBX6JM in Turquoise appear on FB market, at a good price ! Quickly I message the seller...he replies fast. It sold 30 minutes ago to someone in Europe, but they hadn't paid yet. I offered a cash deal the next day (a drive to Bristol for me), alas he honourably sold it to the first buyer, after they paid him the next day _ don't begrudge it, but I was gutted for the sake of half an hour. OK - well i'll find another one !

 

The Bass Gallery had 2 on their website, both at £999. This is by far the most expensive i've ever seen these basses, gave them a call and they wouldn't budge more than £100 on price, I wasn't going to be robbed, so held out. eBay alerts, daily checks of the big (and small) websites second hand sections, online pawn brokers..... nothing.

 

*10 months of checking daily later*

 

Friday PM, I load up eBay on the morning catch up of newly listed items, scroll... scroll... oh man. A turquoise RBX6JM, at the right price, I contacted the seller and saved a few quid buying it outside eBay, it took a little while longer than expected to arrive. But it did, along with a genuine fitted Yamaha hard case (never seen one of these before)

 

Behold - the bucket lister.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

Classy, very classy.

[sprocketflup]

I love a story with a happy ending.

[Daz39]

I had an RBX765A but also wanted a JM6. Such lovely things.

[horrorshowbass]

So much yes. Love that dvd, Myung absolutely kills it. Live at Budokan he is awesome also.

[AndyTravis]

Jesus this caused tension for the last 48hrs

 

So happy for you Matt.

[AndyTravis]

I think that hard case is an SB case you know?

[Machines]

6 minutes ago, Daz39 said:

I had an RBX765A but also wanted a JM6. Such lovely things.

 

Oh yes I had one of those too, as some type of intermediate replacement, it didn't work out. It was a decent instrument, it didn't sound that far off to be honest, but the looks weren't there.

[Old Horse Murphy]

Such a good looking bass. Congratulations, I hope you're both very happy together 💐

[Rayman]

Love RBXs, awesome bass.

[Machines]

Had it's first outing tonight. I ended up on the neck pickup with the treble rolled off most of the time.

 

Edited March 9, 2022 by Machines

[mattbass6]

Ace story, and congrats. I used to play those basses and had them in both colours. Great to play, and for me, better than the JM2. Happy playing ☺️

[Chris2112]

I do remember seeing those two models up at the Gallery for nearly a grand each and thought that, even for London prices they were hugely trying it on. 

[Machines]

1 hour ago, Chris2112 said:

I do remember seeing those two models up at the Gallery for nearly a grand each and thought that, even for London prices they were hugely trying it on. 

 

They'd knock £50 off max when I asked. In the end I paid just over half that.

[funkypenguin]

Great story and congrats on finally landing the 6JM!! Scenes From A Memory and Live Scenes From New York were milestone records for me as a bass player, and I still come back to them 15 years after I first heard them!  

Edited March 14, 2022 by funkypenguin

[uk_lefty]

What a beaut

[ambient]

These are nice basses. Congratulations on your new instrument.

[Machines]

Update - took it to my bands recording session today - it recorded very well. Flat EQ, straight into the board - I think it may be a go to recording instrument.

 

Even managed to get a bass solo in there up to 22nd fret on the C

 

Edited April 23, 2022 by Machines

[Steph]

Hello every one. 

My name is Stefano and i have a Yamaha Rbx 6jm too.

Can i ask you what brand and gauge of strings are using on these photos?

I see the tapered core on the low strings and i'm searching something different on my bass because with the 35" scale the tension is too much for me with the normal 32-130 gauge.

Thank you. 

Greetings from Italy!

 

[horrorshowbass]

My close enough

[Machines]

4 hours ago, Steph said:

Hello every one. 

My name is Stefano and i have a Yamaha Rbx 6jm too.

Can i ask you what brand and gauge of strings are using on these photos?

I see the tapered core on the low strings and i'm searching something different on my bass because with the 35" scale the tension is too much for me with the normal 32-130 gauge.

Thank you. 

Greetings from Italy!

 

 

It came with very dead MTD strings (tapered). But I'm using Ernie Balls on it now.

 

Plot twist. I actually bought another one and sold this one as the new one was 9/10 mint and had a much nicer top.

 

 

 

[horrorshowbass]

11 minutes ago, Machines said:

 

It came with very dead MTD strings (tapered). But I'm using Ernie Balls on it now.

 

Plot twist. I actually bought another one and sold this one as the new one was 9/10 mint and had a much nicer top.

 

 

 

Did you buy the bass bros one with the EMGs?

[Steph]

Thank you very much for your reply!

I've got mine in 2001 and it was a new one.

I've tried different brand and gauges of strings.

I also play with Ernie ball and sometimes with D'Addario.

The bass is all original except for the tuners.

I'll replace them soon because one is broke... 😞

[Machines]

1 hour ago, horrorshowbass said:

Did you buy the bass bros one with the EMGs?

 

That is the one at the start of this thread.  I modded it with EMGs as well as a a Delano preamp. Would have kept it happily until the 'prettier' one came up.

[NancyJohnson]

I know there's a lot of love for these, but there's one thing that irritates the pants off me regarding these. 

 

Once you see it, it can't remain unseen.  Even John Myung mentioned it, but Yamaha ignored him!