DaveB

I use Duracell rechargeable and my volume/ tone hasn't differed at all. Not sure what the ones are I have but they last ages

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='1194595' date='Apr 10 2011, 01:56 PM']What did they say?

Thats a fair reason!

I was on the phone with the repair guys just to talk about some older models and how they delt with repairs![/quote]

Well the first time I lost all sound from instrument, sent it back they replaced something but wouldn't say what but I didn't care as it now worked.
Then when it got back I got a massive buzzing when I touched the pickups. Sent it back again, they blamed on me using coated strings which is total bollocks as I used the same strings before it went to them the first time and never had that issue. They refused to hear other wise. At the same time it came back the jack barrel was now knackered. I spent £80 getting a guy to replace the jack barrel and put a lacquer over both pickups to sort out the blatant earthing problem. That fixed that.
Then the jack barrel has broken again (I accept this is something I could have done)
Now the pickups are giving off a very wierd sound which sounds like an echo/ chorus.



[quote name='TRBboy' post='1194637' date='Apr 10 2011, 02:33 PM']The quality of components and construction, even on the cheapest models is always perfect, and they are well thought out.[/quote]

Simply put, no it isn't else I wouldn't of had any problems.

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='1194534' date='Apr 10 2011, 01:06 PM']Who were you dealing with?

I've always found Yamaha customer service amazing! And all my Yamaha stuff has seemed bomb proof [/quote]

The repair department when it got sent back from a local music shop, they gave me such bull sh*t excuses and fobbed me off.

[quote name='Lorne' post='1194483' date='Apr 10 2011, 12:14 PM']in fact I wouldn't have swapped the Attitude LTD (That gave me no end of problems) for one either[/quote]

Ok this has definatly cemented my decision now.

[quote name='4 Strings' post='1194174' date='Apr 9 2011, 11:47 PM']Apart from snobbishness, I would add blandness. I've never played a bad one either (haven't played many I'll admit) and heard only good reports but ... what is there to attract? Seems rather characterless somehow.[/quote]

Any more bland than another Fender P-bass???

[quote name='benebass' post='1194311' date='Apr 10 2011, 09:13 AM']I've always thought that the fact that Yamaha haven't diversified with branding has stopped them from being accepted as a pro instrument by some. Fender have Squier, Gibson have Epiphone etc., but a Yamaha's always a Yamaha whether it's a RBX or a TRB. I think this does put some people off taking the higher end stuff seriously.

Personally, I think they make consistently decent instruments at every price level, but can see how they are perceived as being a bit safe by some. Funnily enough, I had a SBV for a while & although it looked a bit mad, I thought it sounded more like a traditional Jazz than a lot of modern Fenders...

Cheers,

B.[/quote]

I think it comes down to experience. When I went out to buy a 5 string I settled on an RBX375 as all the other (new) basses I tried up up around my £600 budget didn't feel or sound as nice, nice looking instrument as well. That was 18 months ago and it has just broken for the 4th time.
It was a good instrument when it worked but this has put me off Yamaha now. I know the more expensive gear will be better quality but my first bass was a £120 squire p-bass and that still works fine 12 years later. A £320 Yamaha breaks four times in 18 months along crap customer service stops me being a Yamaha customer again. The Billy Sheehan signature has always appealed to get at some point but I don't think so now.
When i've got some spart cash one day I'll rip all the electronics out and start again on this bass.

On the save for a decent 5 string now, looking at Warwick Infinity or a Roscoe as this has put me off cheap gear completely.

if you want a cheap 8 string to buy to de-fret see my sig matey

I'm still loving the fretless I bought off you mate

Then your got the really weird slap stuff from Mr Claypool lol

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4P_OofC3xM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4P_OofC3xM[/url]

First Bass Owned: Fender Squire P Bass

'Go To' Bass: Yamaha RBX375 (only as it's my only 5 string)

'Your' Bass: Ibanez RB850

I always find these things to be so pointless, like the numerous top100 guitarist polls which you get the same top 10 (usually highly over rated players) then the rest are just flavour of the month. I was pretty shocked also that a Roscoe didn't make it in there though, but then quite a few high end basses didn't.
Things like this annoy me though as it's just personal opinion and doesn't actually mean anything. Like I occasionally visit www.jemsite.com for my guitaring needs and make a big point of avoiding the "polls" sections. Full of "Paul Gilbert vs Steve Vai vs Slash, who is better"? Seriously stupid and opinionated question to ask, utterly pointless, doesn't achieve anything and is then argued out by 13 year olds who claim to own £10k's worth of equipment and know everything about music.

Anyway, pointless article is my point lol.

[quote name='daz' post='1179836' date='Mar 28 2011, 06:25 PM']I can just make out the name on the amps at the back. [b]Engl.[/b] never heard of them are they any good ? No come to think of it i have heard of them i just know n othing about them.

they apparently go well with Marshals acording to [url="http://www.performing-musician.com/pm/may08/articles/guitartech.htm"]this pic[/url][/quote]

I tried em out an really didn't like the sound at all, don't rate the clean channel and the distortion isn't to my tastes. I ended up buying a Mesa and have been happy with that

Very nice find mate. I have an RB850, the differences I can see is mine doesn't have the flash maple top, blinding or coil switches, and the body is a slighty different shape. You got a good buy there, mine was £120 lol

I always find this bass is my go to bass and is one i've got the perfect setup on for me.

good to see you got a good customer service, make a change these days. I wouldn't use their products just because the strings feel like they are caked in glue to me, but still if people like em go for it

Havn't seen it but I think they must be having a big over haul at the moment. When I went on Warwicks website yesterday for the first time in a while they seem to be branching out in their model range, e.g. cheaper solid body bootsy infinity sig. hardly any one seems to stock anything above the standard series now all quoting prices going up too much, so something must be going on in a sales drive

I didn't go, I considered it but just saw it as a massive waste of money. When i've been to shows in the past it's been too loud to appresiate any thing and I find the traders don't have alot of time for you. I'm looking at new basses at the moment but i'd rather spend the petrol money going to bass direct or the gallery knowing i've got time and low volumes to check stuff out.

Thanks for the inputs there guys, more food for thought

Quick point on the amount of people mentioning about 5's now. I've played a 5 string for almost 2 years now, which ok i played 4 strings for 12 years but I fell alot more comfortable on a 5 than a 4. I'm not someone that buys a bass for the investment so resale value is not a real concern as I intend to buy the bass as a keeper, which means it has to be right. Gonna go to the gallery as well at some point to see what they have. It's actually so limiting the amount of stores out there that specialise in bass gear, shows how small the market must be.

Just been on the phone to mark at bass direct, really nice chap so it looks like i'm going on a road trip up there in the next few weeks.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1153165' date='Mar 7 2011, 11:02 PM']Rather than wait for a massive list of everyone's favourite basses, get out to some music shops and just sit down and play.

Start with whatever is in your immediate locality and try everything with 5 strings. Don't look at the name on the headstock or the price tag. Just play. Put the ones that don't speak to you back on their stands and move on. Make a note of the ones you like.[/quote]

Yeah it's what I intend to do but I find it too much walking into a shop and having about 30 different brands to pick from lol. I found it easier when buying a guitar as i have so many guitarist friends with all different models, I could count the bassists i'm friends with on one hand though.
I just feel very guilty going into a music shop and sitting there playing knowing full well I won't be buying that day, just hope they are nice people there lol

After that de-fret it, theres a good one for ya

Sounds like a trip to bass direct is on the cards, it's only an hour and half away. Not too keen ont he styling of those Vigiers.

Thanks for all the really useful info guys, it helps just to have a make recommended as there are so many out there it's hard to know where to start.

Forgot to mention I do prefer bolt on neck to a neck through

quick edit rather than post again: Oh my god those Roscoes look stunning, I think i may be in love and have to check one out. Hope it's not like a seeing a stunning girl only to be dissapointed when she has a mouth like a sewer.
This looks just awesome:

[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/SKB3005_Cocobolo.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...5_Cocobolo.html[/url]

Cheer NJE that's pretty indepth. I honestly don't mind getting it second hand, so would you say the NY Sadowsky's are that much better than Metro's?

Anyone played a Zon here?

I feel very guilty going into a shop and playing at the moment as i don't have the money right now to buy

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1152920' date='Mar 7 2011, 08:23 PM']Start with the music.

What sort of music do you play, or want to play?

What sort of band are you in, or want to be in?

What sort of gigs do you do, or want to do?

Just having people chuck brand names at you isn't really going to get you very far, IMHO.

Lakland make some great 5-string basses and the 35" scale produces an epic B-string sound, but if you play in a Beatles tribute band that's not really very helpful. [/quote]

Sorry yeah this would make sence for me to write what I play. I know what you mean about a load of brand names being thrown at me but any pointers in the right direction is nice

What sort of music do you play, or want to play? I play many different styles, so intruments needs to be diverse

What sort of band are you in, or want to be in? Currently in a heavy rock band which is getting heavier and heavier so on the verge of leaving now, possible new band on the books think Alter Bridge.

What sort of gigs do you do, or want to do? small to medium sized venues at the moment but fingers crossed bigger soon

ok they are really odd frets, i don't think i like the idea of that

Cheers buddy i'll check em out now