Yamaha TRBX604FM Review

Love this bass

I've only tested a handful of bass guitars but after lots of research I had to try this bass. Needles to say, this one's a keeper. The tonal versatility is what I wanted and this bass provides it. Beyond that, the bass was easier on my fingers when playing, compared to my jackson js3. Not quite the same price range but it's all I have to compare to for now. The bass feels very… read more well built; has that feel like it'll never break if it's banged up a bit. I enjoy this model so much I'm debating buying the 5 string version as well.

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My new Yamaha TRBX604FMDRB

I owned in the past many good basses. This new Yamaha is leaps and bounds better than all of them. I love the quality and overall performance even more than my MIJ Fender Precision. Wayne Davis, sales engineer, at Sweetwater has made a loyal customer of me. THANKS.

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Bright & Fast

I've had this bass about three weeks now, and it's definitely growing on me. It took me some time and effort to get the action set just right, but it was worth it. For this baby to be what it was meant to be (fast and easy), the action needs to be really low, especially on the G string. If you're into slapping and popping, it just doesn't fly on this bass if it's set even a little… read more bit too high. But even if you're not into that, this bass becomes too stiff and formal for my taste with a high, tight action. Tone-wise, this thing is super versatile in both active and passive mode, but especially in active. Just orienting between the pickups creates a lot of variety. The tone is naturally bright and crisp, but it's got some good bottom end, though I wouldn't mind a little more in that respect. I also wouldn't mind a little more sustain, but I can't say it's really lacking in that department, just not outstanding. It is an outstanding bass when it comes to speed, precision, and almost effortless playability. It's hard to put down. The neck is very thin for a bass, and this one might not be for you if you're into pounding it, digging in deep, or you just like that chunky, sturdy feel of a thick neck. You can get a very modern, almost keyboard-like sound out of this bass, and adding in a little chorus/reverb will make this baby sing. But it can get nasty. Just put it in active mode, dial out all the mids and highs, set the bass knob about halfway, and play angry. I have been getting a little background fuzz in passive mode, but I'm not sure if that's the bass or my amp. In active, it's dead quiet unless you're making noise on purpose. Overall, I'd say this is a keeper. But if Yamaha's thinking about putting out a TRBX704, they might consider an upgraded, higher mass bridge or maybe individual saddles and a string-through design. And they might try to get a little more low-end boost in the active preamp. Just some suggestions.

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TRBX604FM

First off my experience with sweetwater has been excellent. Upon getting this bass i did have some small issues. The neck is so thin i had to play with truss rod a few times. Seems like i would set it and jam, then next day do it all over again. This happened a few times. Very sensitive to temperature change as far as truss rod and staying in tune. The good about this bass is… read more it sounds fantastic. Get any sound you want with these pickups. Briidge pickup with active on and bass cranked and highs turned down sounds just like musicman stingray. Awesome tone. Took some time to get used to the small fret marker inlays. Cant see them at playing angle because behind strings. This is a beautiful looking and sounding bass. Very pleased and sweetwater was excellent.

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Amazing bass

The bass has a beautiful blue tint to it, of course the sound and quality is just as amazing! Thank you Nick Farmer for all the help, I will 100% be coming back to buy from this site again. (Second picture shows the blue)

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Everything you could ever ask for in a 4-string bass

I have been playing bass for over thirty years. Several years ago, I was looking for a bass I could take on the road without worrying about damage. So I picked up one of these mostly on the price. I have been floored by its performance. I honestly can say I find no real negatives to this instrument. The workmanship quality is impeccable. The tonation range is extraordinary. And… read more it has lots of great road features, like easy battery replacement, low battery indicator, and a passive mode that works nearly as well as active. I cannot recommend this enough for a bass player who gigs weekly.

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Great Value Excellent Instrument

I have found the entire range of Yamaha Bass guitars be very good value for the money and this bass in no exception. It is beautifully made, and the enhancements to the TRBX range make is a very desirable instrument. Not only does it look amazing, but the new voiceing for the active pickups is very versitile. Having the active passive mode is almost like having two different instruments.… read more While this bass it's own unique sound the pick ups give a nice range between thump and nasal, the active pickup mode gives you a nice tight modern sound. The new woods give the bass a nice even tone across the neck, everything feels solid and is nicely finished. If you are starting out, or have been playing for a while this bass is well worth considering, Clean, quiet and beefy.

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My First Bass

This is my first electric bass, so I don't have a basis of comparison, but so far, I love this guitar. It's beautiful, it's solid, it stays in tune, and I'm having a blast learning bass guitar for the first time.

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Please Pinch Me!

First, I have to say that this is the best bass I have ever played. I have owned several high dollar and very high dollar basses in my playing history and this one rules over them all. The playability and tone are without peer! Mine is an amber one, 8 lbs even. The neck on this bass is not to be believed, very smooth and fast and the preamp/amp combo sounds like a friends Alembic.… read more Very cool! It is true, this is two basses in one; when played passive with the back pickup selected you get Jaco's "Bass of Doom" tone. Want John Entwistle's latter-day tone, go to active mode. One thing, if your technique is less than excellent this bass will expose you, so get you chops together. I like the fact that there is not alot of sticky finish on this bass, it breathes and I can feel it vibrate when I play it. This bass is an absolute bargain. I hope they come out with a fretless.

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Blown away by the Quality

You just have to watch the videos with James Lomenza, to hear how great these things sound. But the build quailty for the money is wonderful. Yamaha is a huge company, they have their own factories. These aren't made FOR them, they're made BY them. That's why they're such a bargain. I liked my 604 so much, I bought a TRBX 305 as well. A wonderful bass, for very little money.

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