DEAN EDGE 1-5 BASS
RRP: $499.00
YAMAHA TRBX174 BASS
DISTRIBUTOR: NATIONAL AUDIO SYSTEMS (NAS) GUITAR TYPE: 5 STRING BASS
DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA GUITAR TYPE: 4 STRING BASS
RECOMMENDED FOR: The bass player who wants to take his or her tone lower than normal should take a look at the Edge 1-5 bass. It offers a classic design with a darker edge that will appeal to both fans of Dean Guitars and bass playing purists as well.
RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginners and intermediate players or part timers that want a good playing bass for not a lot of cash. SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Although sitting at the entry level end of Yamaha’s bass range the TRBX174 still has a solid range of tones on tap. With its P/J pickup setup you can dial in clear, big neck pickup tones when you need to fill out your sound or more bridge for a little extra zing if brighter and edgy is your thing. Classics to modern, slap, funk, pick and a whole lot more!
SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: With pickups that have some real grunt to them, you can make a statement with your bass sound with the Edge 1-5. It delivers a high output tone that still has plenty of life when you pull out the higher frequencies to get extra power. PLAYABILITY: I loved the feel of the neck on this instrument. Even though it seemed fairly wide at first, the flat contour makes it easy to play and really has you feeling like you are playing a four-string rather than a five-string neck.
PLAYABILITY: At this price point and general intended audience you don’t want to be fighting your instrument– and Yamaha have put together an easy playing neck, simple to understand and operate controls and a light weighted body that will withstand plenty of abuse.
CONSTRUCTION: It is all pretty simple with the Edge 1-5. The bolt on neck has a smooth gloss surface that feels great and the bridge is solid without adding unnecessary weight to the end of the body. It’s simple and understated, yet it just works. OVERALL: With a neck that is wide enough to still play slap bass on, this 5-string bass offers a wide range of possibilities and still feels great to play. It isn’t fancy to look at. It is just black. I like that. It delivers in tone and feel and doesn’t try to compensate for any lacking with fancy looks.
CONSTRUCTION: Tough with all the right appointments. Solid bridge, accurate vintage styled tuners, an option of 3 different colours and a bass that’s fine to take to school for lessons, chuck in the car for rehearsals, record, jam and practice til the cows come home.
SPECS NECK: BOLT-ON MAPLE FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: BASSWOOD PICKUPS: DMT DESIGN BRIDGE: DIE CAST TUNERS: SEALED DIE CAST CASE INCLUDED: NO MADE IN: CHINA
YAMAHA TRBX504 BASS
RRP: $899.99
OVERALL: Yamaha sell a tonne of these and it’s easy to see why. The perfect beginner instrument backed by Yamaha’s know how brand name. Super competitive at this price, check out the TRBX174 if you’re in the market for a entry level bass.
DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA GUITAR TYPE: 4 STRING BASS
RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, pop, metal, progressive. Players wanting a quality instrument from a well known brand name on a smaller budget.
RECOMMENDED FOR: This is a great all-rounder that will suit a variety of bass players from beginners to advanced. While it works well as a rock bass, it can easily be used for jazzier works as well.
SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: Some classic rounder type tones through to sharper slightly aggressive tones when winding in the bridge pickup. Yamaha have added the ability to switch between active and passive mode with the TRBX504’s H5 pickups so you can also dial in extra ‘oomph’ if needed. Either way the TRBX504 is flexible and can pull a range of tones quite easily.
NECK: MAPLE FRETBOARD: SONOKELING BODY: AGATHIS/MAPLE/MAHOGANY PICKUPS: SINGLE COIL AND SPLIT BRIDGE: VINTAGE TUNERS: COVERED CASE INCLUDED: NO MADE IN: INDONESIA
RRP: $599.99
SOUND/TONE/VERSATILITY: The dual humbucking pickups and selector switch that is reminiscent of the previous TRB range offer a variety of tones that are all very usable. With a gritty rock punch when driven hard, to a mellow blues tone when wound back, there is something for everyone in here. PLAYABILITY: Like the previous RBX374 this is a bass that feel like it is above the actual price range that it sits in. The ergonomic body is easy to work around and the smooth neck just glides through my left hand. With a well-spaced nut, there is plenty of scope for this to be played as a slap bass too.
PLAYABILITY: Super slim neck on this baby means getting around the fretboard shouldn’t be an issue. The body is also nicely weighted and the curved edges allow you to nestle in comfortably. Great for younger players or those with small hands. CONSTRUCTION: Typical Yamaha goodness here–clean and slick with some nice touches. The translucent finish looks great with its almost matte appearance and the top sided fret markers give a fresh modern look to the instrument.
PG. 44 / MIXDOWN NO. 240 / APRIL 2014
SPECS
YAMAHA TRBX304 BASS
DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA GUITAR TYPE: 4 STRING BASS
OVERALL: Tough to beat at the price the TRBX504 is another welcome addition to Yamaha’s existing bass line-up. Players on a budget, beginners, intermediate, bedroom bashers or gigging folk could all rustle some sweet tones from the TRBX504 and do so without spending their life savings. Also suited to those modern, techy type players that love to whip around the neck and dial in a range of active and passive tones on the fly.
RRP: $349.99
SPECS
CONSTRUCTION: Being a combination of both the TRB and RBX models, this bass draws a little from both in the body and the neck. It is finished very nicely, it has a great balance to the weight and it feels like it is going to take just about anything you can throw at it, making it ideal for stage use.
NECK: 5-PIECE MAPLE/MAHOGANY FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: MAHOGANY PICKUPS: ALNICO V HUMBUCKERS WITH QUAD POLE-PIECE DESIGN AND ACTIVE/PASSIVE SWITCH BRIDGE: DIECAST TUNERS: DIECAST CASE INCLUDED: NO MADE IN: INDONESIA
OVERALL: I have always enjoyed playing Yamaha basses and this one is no exception. As an entry level bass, you are getting so much more bang for your buck than with similar priced instruments. Beyond that, the TBX304 is a bass that will carry on with you as you develop as a bass player and will not necessarily be replaced when you advance, but should stay in your collection for years to come.
SPECS NECK: 5-PIECE MAPLE/MAHOGANY FRETBOARD: ROSEWOOD BODY: MAHOGANY PICKUPS: CERAMIC HUMBUCKERS WITH OVERSIZE POLE PIECES BRIDGE: DIECAST TUNERS: DIECAST CASE INCLUDED: NO MADE IN: INDONESIA