Bhav Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 howdy everyone taking the plunge and going to buy my first bass so i have a few questions about a few contenders (well...mainly the 1!) my friend has offered me a Yamaha BB414 for £110 which seems reasonable considering the reviews it's getting. However, the electronics need a bit of work, the tone knob doesn't seem to work and the pick-up switch is broke. as well as these problems (easily fixed by a soldering iron/new parts) there is a veeeery small, hairline crack in the neck where it meets the body on the join and i'm not sure whether to be put off by it or not. I guess what i'm trying to say is whether it's worth it. The other basses i'm looking at are some of the Yamaha's RBX range as well as some others. Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 I think the new Squires are well cheap...and good! Im sure there are some mint ones for sale on here. Perfect first bass Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelman Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 I've got an RBX760 - not sure how old it is but got it second hand off fleabay. It was top of the range in its day but there doesn't seem to be many around lately. I absolutely love it. It does everytrhing I need and I keep getting compliments about my sound. The action is low and the neck is very fast compared to most of the basses I've played over the last 20 or 30 years. I think its latest generation is something like RBX774? Can't recommend it highly enough! C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 If your anywhere near the Midlands then this: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54304"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54304[/url] 3 bargains here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=49266"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=49266[/url] If you can stretch your budget a bit: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54442"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54442[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhav Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 Thanks for the advice, that RBX 260 is quite tempting... Another question (if you don't mind!): Would it be worth getting the RBX260 or something similar and then upgrading in a few months time or going straight for the BB414 for a little more cash? Again, any input is appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussFM Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Surprised the MIM Jazz hasn't sold yet, a Fender for a Squier price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 No postage though, if he'd post it it would be gone by now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Don't buy that bass, Bhav! You're condemning yourself to life on the backline, making friends with drummers, being sneered at by guitarseholes, and getting ignored by totty in short skirts and plunging cleavages. There's still time to take up a sensible instrument, like - oh, I dunno - clarinet, maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Burpster Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 [quote name='Bhav' post='540164' date='Jul 14 2009, 11:25 AM']Thanks for the advice, that RBX 260 is quite tempting... Another question (if you don't mind!): Would it be worth getting the RBX260 or something similar and then upgrading in a few months time or going straight for the BB414 for a little more cash? Again, any input is appreciated![/quote] [color="#FF0000"][size=5]Sensible reply alert.......![/size][/color] Bhav, at the price rance your looking at its a matter of image and style. All Yams can be set up play very well (my first bass was a budget Yam...... :wub: ) and after about 6 months I got the pimping bug. It was easy to set up, played well, sounded great (with new pups) and was dead easy to upgrade..... The differing Yam models have quite closely related neck diemensions, but the BB have 4 aside a tuners and the RBX series have 2 a side tuners..... If you can live with either then play a few until you find one you cant put down, and buy it..... If its gotta look like a fender then it can only be the BB...... Enjoy.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rOB Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Hurray another bass player in the world! no experience of those basses but I'd recommend trying a Vintage V4 (about 150 quid new), nice P style bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhav Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 Thanks for the replies. They've been most helpful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 (edited) I'm actually a big fan of Yamaha basses.... which is why I don't play one at the moment The BB is a good bass - although basically a Fender copy (it is reputed to stand for Big Bass, i.e. chunky neck). I started out with the 5 string version of that bass and they're really good. BUT... the problems (particularly the crack) require some caution. Unless you are *sure* the crack is cosmetic I would walk away. Cheap enough would need to be much nearer to free! I once bought an as-new Yamaha TRB4 for a touch over 200 quid which is a different thing altogether so it's worth hanging out for a bargain. There's always good deals in the for-sale section here. Much better than evil-bay generally. EDIT: Offer him 150 quid - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=53853"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=53853[/url] Edited July 14, 2009 by thepurpleblob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 [quote name='The Burpster' post='540702' date='Jul 14 2009, 08:58 PM'][color="#FF0000"][size=5]Sensible reply alert.......![/size][/color] Bhav, at the price rance your looking at its a matter of image and style. All Yams can be set up play very well (my first bass was a budget Yam...... :wub: ) and after about 6 months I got the pimping bug. It was easy to set up, played well, sounded great (with new pups) and was dead easy to upgrade..... The differing Yam models have quite closely related neck diemensions, but the BB have 4 aside a tuners and the RBX series have 2 a side tuners..... If you can live with either then play a few until you find one you cant put down, and buy it..... If its gotta look like a fender then it can only be the BB...... Enjoy....[/quote] The RBX range has a much skinnier neck than the BB range - for better or worse. I don't like them much (the neck shape I mean). The RBX range has been around for ever and runs from dead cheap to fairly fancy and expensive. The bigger the number the better the bass generally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhav Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 Hmm...interesting, I don't have the biggest hands or finger spread so i think i may be better suited to the RBX range. I'll try some out and decide i think. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 My second bass was a Yamaha RBX, my third was a BB. Yamaha make great value beginner instruments. To be honest I would avoid that iffy BB414, it sounds like it hasn't been especially well cared for, and the obvious problems might not be the only ones it's got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 I'm surprised no one has mentioned lower end Ibanez basses! They're surprisingly good for the money in both sound and build quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhav Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 (edited) Tried out a few basses today, tried an Epi EB-3 and sounded lovely and played well too. Also tried a few Yamaha RBX basses which also played well. Didn't get a chance to try out any Ibanez's though but i've heard good things. Thanks for the input, been very helpful edit: stumbled across a few short-scale basses and seeing as i enjoyed the feel of the EB-3, i was thinking about the EB-0 but they seem to be getting mixed reviews...would getting a short-scale bass as my first bass limit me? I've heard they can have issues with tone although after doing a quick search, these claims seem to be fairly inaccurate! I guess it depends on what i feel comfortable with. (I know you can't make up my mind for me but i can do with the advice!) decisions decisions! Edited July 16, 2009 by Bhav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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