This thing packs a punch! -- Yamaha TRBX505 Demo/Review -- Nick Latham

[@helloitsnicko]

My DIY debut album 'NICKO_1' is OUT NOW! It would mean the world to me if you gave it a spin. Thank you. LINKS: ditto.fm/nicko-1

[@a-bass-player]

Thank you for playing the B-string!!! Many others don't...

[@tomek9966]

Thx for utilizing B string in demo!

[@helloitsnicko]

You bet!

[@iancheyne2672]

If anyone is still interested in the weight? TRBX505 is 4.25 kilos (using very reliable scales) The 4 string version, TRBX504, weighs 3.75 kilos. I own both basses and I checked their weights this morning...27 December 2023. I also own the TRB1006 6 string bass which is the heaviest at 5 kilos. Cheers! 😎 PS Both my TRBX505 and TRBX504 are fitted with flatwounds...the 5 string has TIs and the 4 string has Fender Custom lites 🙂

[@leongooijer162]

Thank you for mentioning this! I was indeed searching for the weight of the 505. Slightly surprised this 5-sting is lighter than my Sire 4-string haha

[@sehuz7957]

Thanks for the data. And tell me please, does the 5th string sound good with the flatwound strings ?

[@abezwin72]

Thanks...

[@the1khronohs40]

This might be the most useful bassplaying I’ve ever come across in a demo, especially for 5-strings! 😃👍

[@jamesriameigmp]

Proudly owning this beast too.. what's good is the low b string gives the consistent sound which I do not find in some others bass of the same range

[@aliequan6608]

How's your experience so far. I have severe battery drain issues. Before I purchase trbx505, I had Ibanez SR505 on which battery would work around for 6 months without any issue. On Yamaha now, it's hardly few days now. Any advise would be appreciated.

[@jamesriameigmp]

@@aliequan6608 unfortunate, i hope you are using higher priced good quality battery.. i experienced the same batt draining problem in bad quality batt too before.. if the prob doesn’t seem this way better consult the shop’s mechanic

[@aliequan6608]

@@jamesriameigmp What battery brands are you using?

[@jamesriameigmp]

@@aliequan6608 the Duracell works fine for me

[@aliequan6608]

@@jamesriameigmp My battery LED remains ON all the times as soon as I plug in the cable regardless the battery is new or old. Is it normal?

[@lincolnj7520]

Great review! I don’t really think of this bass as metal looking, but “modern looking”. I think bass guitars like this, the Ibanez SoundGear, the Schecter Stilleto, etc get acquainted with metal way too much because this look came out in the late 80’s/early 90’s when those bands were more in the mainstream. But now these sleek active two hum-bucker style bass guitars are played by a bigger, more diverse crowd. The classic Fender design has its place in history and is good for what it’s good for, but can’t meet every demand. I really dig these style bass guitars (and hate metal). I wish they offered the 500 series in the Mist Green color that’s offered in the 300 series. My only complaint about Yamaha is they offer the best color finishes on their cheaper bass guitars.

[@norfloslotcar]

i LOVE that 1st little rift !...i can listen to tht all day

[@helloitsnicko]

Thanks a lot!

[@savanaviolenta]

I have the 4 string version. Love this bass. Very versatile and beautifull instrument.

[@helloitsnicko]

Cool! 😁

[@davidcowley2554]

Hey Nick a great review bud, I have this bass and have been touring and gigging with it for the past 2 years or so. It's a great bass, easy to play and sounds amazing. I am in a death metal band so the look suits me fine haha. I tune a whole step down and sounds grunty as hell!!

[@helloitsnicko]

Nice one Dave! This bass is right up your street so I'm not surprised at all that you got one haha. ⭐️

[@EaterOfBirds]

Still using this David? Looking at these just now but wasn't sure if they were super suitable for metal or not, reviews seem decent though 🧐

[@davidcowley2554]

@@EaterOfBirds I would definitely recommend it mate, looks great, light weight, and is an extremely versatile instrument. My band plays a whole step down and sometimes drop the D to C and it plays great.

[@bryanbodegas7357]

I absolutely recommend it for any kind of metal, I'm in a Symphonic Black Metal band and I tune it middle step down and sounds powerful!!!

[@nathanmcauley121]

Just ordered one 5 minutes ago. Great review

[@mattiusruck8274]

Sounds like Yamaha really slayed the competition with this bass. Those pickups sound incredible, as good as any boutique pickup could sound.

[@Dannys.channel]

Do you get to keep the bass when you're done or do you have to send it back?

[@vrjr48]

Excellent sounding and gorgeous bass!

[@MyDateCoach]

I have this bass. Play it in a heavy grunge band. The b and the e cut through v nicely. This essential in a trio. My rhythms and melodies need to be heard in the mix.

[@silvanikock3512]

i got mine the flat brown color and it’s brilliant, love it

[@helloitsnicko]

Classy

[@primosolo7559]

What are some great replacement pickups for this bass?

[@dernicolas6281]

same bass - love it. B string doesn't seem to sound as good with mine - perhaps an amp thing...

[@richardkinman9268]

I'm gonna get the 504 for me, I like it.👍

[@RRubenAzo]

And the Yamaha bbp34/35? Excelent review!

[@jsanch4892]

I own the TRBX505 and I find it to be garbage. The low B is almost non-existent when the EQ is set to half. I have other basses and have no need to put the low end of the EQ any higher than halfway, but this bass lacks on the low end.

[@danielgulseren9783]

i have one too, didn´t see such a good Bass for that little money. really like it. ^^

[@dee_2001]

My ears enjoyed the video very much😌

[@helloitsnicko]

My eyes enjoyed your comment

[@szrnkabela]

4:00 the melody of the Joe Dart basslines can be heard, but the notes could be shorter shorter - more staccato-feel :)

[@helloitsnicko]

Truuuue. Well, I wouldn't wanna rip the lad off completely! :D

[@mr.t382]

Great demo!!! What strings are you using please? 🙏🙏

[@aaroncorreia9467]

Nice excellent bass and nice way of playing

[@helloitsnicko]

Thank you :)

[@JorgeGomez-um2pn]

Hey Nick! What do you think about its weight?

[@suprbird]

Im split between this bass or an esp ltd 305sm this yamaha sounds excellent!

[@CharlesSwartz-hc4oj]

3:59 What vulfpeck song is that?

[@jg043]

Hi Nick, thanks for the thorough review. One question: given your tests of both the TRBX305 and TRBX505, how would you compare them? i.e. where do you hear/see/feel the price difference, perhaps suitability to different styles due to inherent tone, etc? Thanks!

[@helloitsnicko]

In terms of build quality and playability I literally felt no difference. They are both very very good straight outta the box. I think the price difference on the 505 vs. the 304 comes from the extra string, the pickups, and the different electronics, the 505 has the option to play passive or active which the 304 doesn't. 🤔🙂

[@RealMNeutral31]

I'm going to get one.

[@Beethovan]

Thanks for this video

[@Rumeel12708]

This bass or the sire M2? I want to learn to play the bass, I am a drummer, going to play jazz and fusion later on latin.

[@dluttrell78]

I have the same one in ivory!!

[@roeldeleon8598]

Can make a slop demo...

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I am torn between: Ibanez SR400QM vs. Yamaha TRBX304 ? Any Input? ( I have small hands ) also considering a Stingray Sterling Short Scale?

[@PriyamHalder]

Nice review

[@helloitsnicko]

Cheers Priyam!

[@tyson1ize]

I honestly did not know Carl Pilkington was such a good bass player!!

[@brianman4351]

thanks for the review, i am torn between this trbx 504 vs the trbx 604. 604 has different adler body vs mahgoney on 504. is the 604 worth the 100 dollar plus price tag?

[@silentgaming9292]

Bagus trbx 305/505 menurut anda ?

[@jonathanchevallier7046]

Nice review, thank you ! Does this bass able to run in passive mode without battery ?

[@helloitsnicko]

Thanks Jonathan! I didn't check that, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't!

[@willahumma]

Yep - runs fine in passive mode with no battery inserted

[@jonathanchevallier7046]

@@willahumma Thank you for your feedback ;-)

[@jonathanchevallier7046]

@@helloitsnicko Ok, thank you !

[@JBKeyz88]

Yes it does. I removed the battery on mine and use the active/passive switch as a kill switch.

[@rodrigomatus904]

Q buenos Graves..

[@JS_bass]

I love this review Nick...The bass has great 5th string sound is not? I am looking for a fretless...I think I will buy a TRBX505 and will convert it to fretless...is that a too heavy bass? Regards

[@someoneelse101]

A fret less version might already be available.

[@eysnin]

good sound

[@thiagodeandradeneves4585]

Monster bass.

[@nabarungautam6995]

Hello Nick .. I need some suggestion from . I made my mind I will only play metal and I m going to switch to 5 string . So from which brand should I buy my 5 string ??

[@helloitsnicko]

Sorry for replying 3 months late, but why limit yourself to "just metal"? Your tastes may change at any time! However I will say this - this bass can absolute do a damn good job of metal. It certainly looks the part too, as I said in the video. But here's the good news - the sound is versatile enough to do any style really.

[@1random.guy.on.youtube]

if i may, how is the contour for the plucking arm on this bass? i find so many instruments are just to edgy with no real contour , and i'm uncomfortable resting my arm on it. Sometimes the finish helps smoothing all that creating some bevel ("fillet"). I wonder about this trbx... thanks

[@helloitsnicko]

I found it very comfortable to play, the edges are nicely rounded and the extra contouring helps it further

[@burricanecarter]

I really wanted to like this bass and tried it out many times, but just wasn't happy with the way it sounded, especially in passive mode. I found the super comfortable though and this is why I was considering it for so long. I love the looks too and I agree, the price is very decent. It looks like it's well built too.

[@helloitsnicko]

That's a shame, but it happens sometimes. I personally thought the passive tones on this bass were really good, but hey if ya don't like it then ya don't like it. I realise your comment is from a month ago (whoops, sorry), did you end up getting a different bass? Curious to know what you settled on in the end!

[@dstudent985]

@@helloitsnicko I ended not buying anything. But if I needed a bass with 2 humbuckers and I was on a budget I'd probably buy this Yamaha anyway.

[@ashnpikachu]

Superb review! I own the 4 string trbx504 and u it very much. May I know what is the riff u are saying in 4:00?

[@Volodjah]

Great review! 👍

[@helloitsnicko]

Thank you!

[@jamestom2510]

ooooooo is that a Dreamtheater lick there !!!!

[@helloitsnicko]

Funny you should say that, Mr. Myung played a Yamaha RBX for ages didn't he! But no, all riffs are my own in all my demos (unless stated otherwise). I guess the opening riff was somewhat DT inspired though! It does kinda sound like 'Glass Prison' or 'As I Am' or something, somewhere in between. 😄

[@bobmusikk]

Hello, looking at your channel for a while, I just decide yesterday to buy my first bass, whole lot different than guitar !! I'm wondering a little thing, the output of the bass when plug in my audio interface is very low. I have to set the interface level to 10 in order to hear something out of the speakers and about 1,5 level with my guitar and keyboards. Its an active pickups Yamaha TRBX 304 volume to the max and new battery. Is it normal or a bass cant be directly plug into an interface? I have no amp. Thanks for replying !

[@helloitsnicko]

Thank you for your comment, it means a lot to me that I might have influenced you in starting to play the bass! I wish you well on your bass journey. 😁 Now to answer your question, it isn't *entirely* unusual, I experience something similar. I have to have my interface set to 75%(ish) gain when I'm recording most basses without an amp, including these and including my own basses. I am curious as to why your guitar requires such a lower gain though, that's something I'm not so sure about. Maybe guitars are just different. 🤔 Back to the bass though, I do have a question. I'm assuming you have the main volume knob turned up all the way, but how about the EQ controls? Particularly the bass control, is it turned up at least half way? That would affect the volume of your signal pretty significantly. Hopefully we can work out what's going on!

[@bobmusikk]

@@helloitsnicko Thanks for replying. I found the problem. A connector inside the bass with multiple wired was not plugged. I'm no engineer but I guess the pre-amp was not powered. Now my interface is on 1 and full of output. If you want to see. robertgilbert.tv/trbx.jpg

[@bobmusikk]

@@helloitsnicko And that was a brand new bass.

[@tuuta8902]

hey man would this be good bass to play korn? maybe if i use big gauge enough strings?

[@helloitsnicko]

Provided that you get the bass set-up so that it can handle the low tunings of Korn, sure!

[@someoneelse101]

Most 5strings I've come across have been wired with .045-.105. Fieldy may play a heavier gauge but as Nick said, if the bass is properly set up for both slap and pick playing it shouldn't be an issue.

[@irawanindra4150]

vs trb1005j? how?

[@helloitsnicko]

In terms of quality they are very similar, but the TRBX505 probably has a little more "growl"... The TRB1005 has more hi-fi top end. :)

[@tintan1216]

La pila no le dura nada, es una lastima es muy bonito bajo

[@jonathangillham571]

I had one of these about 5 years back...I bought online as it ticked all the boxes and unfortunately there just are not enough stockists nearby to try one. Mine had a few high frets that I needed to get a local luthier to sort which he did very well, it was a vast improvement. But I just couldn't get on with either the 18mm string spacing (for slap or even fingerstyle) or quite dial in the tone I wanted so swapped it for an amp. The guy who gave me the amp (and took the bass) sounded great on it through the new amp (so did ii which was a bit of a disappointment!) I've now been playing a 19mm 5 string for a while which just works much better for me. But about 24 months ago I tried a 305 and had none of these issues found it great and easy to play so I may reconcile with a 505 for another go....if I can get to try one again!

[@Potarnul]

I had one. Good sound but the neck was shit. Lucky me