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NBD: TRB or not TRB? TRB! (1994 YAMAHA TRB6)


Cairobill
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Barring an avalanche of cash falling on my head and a 10lbs Ken Smith turning up, I think my six string search is over.

I've increasingly become a "Yamaha Man" of late with an FG180 (acoustic guitar), TX802 (synth) and a selection of Broad Basses passing through my hands. I've also owned a TRB6P and a TRBJP (MkI).

I've always regretted moving on those sixers. They were both so playable and they sounded great but they were both too heavy to be 100% fun. The TRB6P was too close to 11lbs for comfort and the JP MkI was a bit chunky as well (and a weird orange colour).

Anyway, I came across this MIJ 1994 TRB6 in a gorgeous cherry burst recently; it's in the Goldilocks zone for weight at about 9.75 lbs and has all the good things that the TRBJPI had without the unwanted bling. I'm pretty sure it's the 'version II' so brilliantly detailed elsewhere on the forum as it has a dyed blue laminate layer in the very pretty headstock.

The key thing, of course, is that it's also an incredibly good bass. It has that wide TRB neck that's thin and perfectly carved to be very playable, great balance and a growly tone from the preamp that I'm pretty sure it shares with the JP1... sooooo (drumroll) it might well be 'the one'.


It's the only bass I own at the moment and it's just asking to be played day in, day out which is a really good sign. It also has that special something that makes me play 10% better than usual. It's awesome.

It's also near mint; I'm usually suss about minty 30yr old basses as they either sound weird, have horrible balance or are boat anchors. None of these apply to this one so I can only assume the previous owner took care of it and used it sparingly. Even the case is unmarked....it looks new.

Anyway - no sound or movies as yet but the pics are testament to a seriously well made, simply beautiful instrument. It's killer! 

Anyway....PICS

IMG_3001.thumb.jpg.1bf472ed54244ccbe5d3eb8896092d46.jpgIMG_3004.thumb.jpg.d85256a0fe1a2667ee445ba93021029d.jpgIMG_3003.thumb.jpg.627c44a19d30b206713d127caa8ff2f3.jpgIMG_3002.thumb.jpg.af77690fdd4d4f0c15bab68cca68d499.jpgIMG_3005.thumb.jpg.61e7e962ebcbf3f0e11ba94ea4539a04.jpgIMG_3006.thumb.jpg.a720e3346f4e6a82f737e427e67b9375.jpgIMG_3007.thumb.jpg.47a0f74cdbf336843f3486eae408c03c.jpg

Edited by Cairobill
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  • Cairobill changed the title to NBD: TRB or not TRB? TRB! (1994 YAMAHA TRB6)
13 hours ago, uncle psychosis said:

Very nice! 

 

I tried out a five string version recently and it was fantastic, however I really didn't like the preamp - too noisy - so I passed on it. 

 

Enjoy! 


Yeah I've read that these preamps can be hissy. I'm not finding it an issue as I tend to go for a fuller/darker/middier tone with the treble a bit below the centre detent. But it's still not too bad when set to a glassier sound...

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oh wow, what a stunner.  I had a TRB6p (Mk1) heavy bass but the neck was so great to play...keep thinking of getting another six and the TRB6 is always the one I think about. 

 

Jonny

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21 hours ago, jonnybass said:

oh wow, what a stunner.  I had a TRB6p (Mk1) heavy bass but the neck was so great to play...keep thinking of getting another six and the TRB6 is always the one I think about. 

 

Jonny


Yeah - I really pined after those two Yamaha Sixers I had but argh they were heavy. The TRB6P especially had this density to it so that when you leaned anywhere with the bass strapped on you felt you were going to fall over. This one just feels a lot friendlier. Still has a 'presence' when you wear it but it's comfy. Now that I have one that doesn't weigh a tonne I really have to hold onto it!

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  • 1 month later...
On 28/07/2024 at 18:28, uncle psychosis said:

Very nice! 

 

I tried out a five string version recently and it was fantastic, however I really didn't like the preamp - too noisy - so I passed on it. 

 

Enjoy! 

Not the amber one that was in Bass Direct a few months back? I tried one in there that was bought and subsequently returned as the customer didn't like the preamp 🤔

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On 28/07/2024 at 15:32, Doctor J said:

Used to have one of these in blue, fantastic bass. Congratulations.

You didn't buy it used on here did you? I'm still trying to find my original 1994 blue TRB6 that I regrettably sold on here to I think P-T-P but not sure where it went after...

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@Mikey D

 

no, not from this board. 
 

I was always a bit funny about the Bolt-on TRBs as I confused them with the less inspiring later versions. But having owned the Patitucci MkI this is essentially the same bass minus the ebony, bass clef inlays and gaudy top. But tbh you don’t need the inlay and top (and the amber is a marmite color).  The rosewood board on these basses is beautiful and has a darker tone than the ebony so it’s not a lesser bass by any means. Really fabulous instruments. 

Edited by Cairobill
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