mcc

Hi guys, I hope all of you are staying safe. 

I have a Yamaha Trb4 MK1 (two jazz pick-ups) and love everything about it .... except for the electronics. I have always though it sounds OK ... but just OK. I would love to get a more modern sound out of it and a broader palette (would love something like the Yamaha BB2004 I once had but regrettably ended up selling).

I have seen in a couple of TRB threads people that complained against the MK1 eq section branding it as noticeably inferior to the "upgraded" MKII and have seen many of these basses for sale with replacement electronics so I guess I'm not alone.

In the past, I have swapped pickups and electronics out with varying degrees of satisfaction. Sometimes it has been a "wow, this sounds like a completely different instrument" and others more like "meeee ... the difference is not that great". So I would like to get some guidance, even if it is subjective, on where the biggest improvement can be achieved. I would usually start with changing the pickups, but I have mostly upgraded basses that came with fairly cheap pickups and in this case it is not obvious for me, specially due to the bad press the eq section has received, that this is the best approach given that on paper the specs of the pickups look respectable. 

My question is: among those of you that have dealt with this model in particular and have swapped electronics, in your opinion, is the EQ section the weakest link, the pickups or both.

best, 

Marcus

I doubt it would have left the factory with the problem, but maybe a previous owner "played" with it or lateral pressure has taken its toll. Thanks. I'll tackle it when I get home and see how it works.

Hi guys, thanks for the answers and sorry if it is a bit confusing... after pondering I think the question is not exclusive to zero frets...

I guess I just wanted to know if anyone has changed the nut on their basses for a narrower option and if intonation and everything (after setting up the bridge) was OK. The issue about the zero fret is that the nut only functions as a string guide for the width not for the height.

Just to give you context, here is a photo of the bass... The spacing at the bridge is 18" so I only want to narrow nut width down a very tiny bit (I have always found the strings look a little too parallel as opposed to fanning out slightly).

Hi guys,

I have had a (headed) Status Matrix bass for about 15 years now and love it's sound and most things about it. However, over the years I have been using it less and less given that I moved on to 5-string. In the process I found the string spacing at the nut on my 5'ers much more comfortable (A Yammi TRB5II and a MM Sub5 ... for those wondering).

Now i'm trying to spend more time on the 4-string and I have picked up a TRB4 (have a thing for TRBs) and again love the comparatively narrower string spacing.

I would love to "copy" the string spacing over from the Yamaha to the Status and in theory at least I think it should work. The frets on the Status are visually fine (light string gauges and increasingly less usage over the years) and the nut has already been repaired once so it would not mean hacking into a pristine instrument.

Has anyone done it? Any suggestions?

I should mention the bass is back home in South America, where I'll be moving back soon, so taking it to a luthier here is not an option.

any comments welcome.

M.

Passed on to fellow basschatter.

_______________________________


Hi Guys,

picked this up here some time ago for my attempts at playing guitar. I'm moving back home in a couple of months and have to get rid of unessentials.

As it was kindly given to me, I believe I have to do the same thing.

Collect in North London (N12)

if there is no interest, I'll just drop it of at a charity shop.


M.

Have a bump. I have an identical one and love it. Great deep tones and powerful passive pu's.

I would like it if you still have it. I live in North London.

You are right about it using TL062... two of them. The board us a bit cluttered for me to give it a try. And any money I have to spare I think will go into a fret dressing...

thanks for the comments. Maybe a gather up the courage to change the op amps some time in the future.

m.

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1447860056' post='2911017']
Something in the back of my mind says they used TLO62 op amps.

Try warming them up, tip of a soldering iron or a hairdryer. if the hiss gets worse, and if your up to it replace them. or just replace them anyway, theyre probably only pennies each.

Not sure but I think RS stock a FET replacement which should be quieter and draw less current from yer batteries, someone on here wil no doubt be along in a minute with more knowlege than me about that.
[/quote]

Its definitively not single coil hum and according to the specs it has stacked J pick ups. Its an underlying hiss that increases when you turn up the highs. I found that overall output is very low so I cranked up the output inside the control cavity. Maybe I went too far.

Anyone out there replaced the electronics only?

Hi guys,

I recently picked up a slightly worn but overall very nice TRB4 (JJ pick-ups bolt on) and am loving it. I had read before getting it that many people complained of noisy electronics and I do think it has a hiss that is loud even for 90’s standards. From what I read, many people simply upgraded the electronics.

I wondered if anyone had pinpointed if it was the pickups or the circuit or both.

Also, I’ve read that changing this or that capacitor might help for hissing problems... has anyone tried it?

best,

Marcus

Hi,

I picked up a reasonably priced second hand BB1025 based only on the on-line reviews and WOW!!! I love the sound. Roll-off the tone a bit and you get a great P-Bass sound. Combine with the bridge pick-up and you get instant focus without loosing the warmth. I guess a BB1024(X) should be similar.

It seems not many come up second hand, however for some reason Yammies are frowned upon, so if one does it will probably be a lot cheaper than new and not that much more expensive than a new BB424.

good luck with the search.

Wow.... I really like it. If I had my SUB with me now I might try it.... luckily I don't.

Just picked up one of these in natural.... really nice basses!!! GLWTS.

I drool over this bass!!! Unfortunately its a bit out of my budget. GLWTS

I haven't played a true P-Bass in an incredibly long time but I remember it being quite thick. Would say this is like a Jazz but a bit more of a C shape from what I recall from the 4 string jazz's I have played.


[quote name='King Tut' timestamp='1442044313' post='2863959']
What's the neck width like on this? More akin to a J or a P?
[/quote]

Hi, according to the manual 4.3 kg.

Subjectively it is one of the lighter basses I have played.

[quote name='flippyfloop' timestamp='1441964527' post='2863258']
What is the weight please ?
[/quote]

Gone... thanks for looking.

_______________________________________________


Hi guys,

Bought this from a fellow bass chatter about a year ago. I love its sound and feel but have been missing the B string too much lately and definitively cannot afford the 5 string version of this (if I could find one).
It’s in very good condition and taken care of, but has been used regularly so it has some very small knocks, some buckle rash on the back, which does not go through the finish, and some on the top edge.

Although it hasn’t been available for a while, retail price on GAK comes up as £800 so it gives you an idea. This is the description that they had for it:
“Designed with a sleek, deep-cutaway body profile, this new bass offers many of the features that have made Nathan East's BB-NE2 the deserved flagship of the BB range. The maple/mahogany through-neck promotes maximum sustain in conjunction with individual bridge assemblies for each string, while the playing range is a full two octaves. The rosewood fingerboard is decorated with sumptuous pearl block markers.
A stunning palette of sounds comes via two powerful single-coil, controlled by two-band EQ and a pickup balancer, plus the additional tone-shaping facilities of a variable mid cut frequency control and cut-off switch.”

Here's a nice clip of Nick Fyffe from Jamiroquai playing a Yamaha BB2004 just if you were wondering if it was up to gigging standards:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95fvHCz6d6c[/media]


Ideally looking for one of the following 5 stringers in trade/part-exchange depending on which one it is:
- Yamaha TRB5/TRB5II/TRB1005
- Fender Jazz V MIM/MIJ
- Warwick Corvette 5
- Spector Legend 5

Would consider a part-exchange/trade for another 5 string.

I like making business in person so pick up ONLY in North London and cash on collection.

cheers

Marcus


________________________________________

Specifications from Yamaha manual:

Scale Length: 863.6mm
Construction: Through Neck
Length: 1137.0mm
Width: 315.0mm
Net Weight: 4.3kg
Body Material: Maple, Alder
Body Depth: 47mm

Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
Fingerboard Width: 0-F40.0mm,12-F56.4mm
No. of Frets: 24

Neck Material: Maple, African Mahogany
Neck Thickness: 1-F21.1mm,12-F26.4mm

Hardware: Chrome Plated
Nut: Bone
Bridge: BPZ-8Diecast (Chrome)

Controls:
Master Volume, Bass, Treble, Mid Cut Freq, Balancer, Mid Cut Toggle Switch

Pickups:
Front: Humcancel (Split Single Coil)
Rear: Stacked type (Single Coil)
Magnet: Alnico V
______________________________________

Hi guys,

has anyone tried a Taurus Qube-300 (http://www.taurus-amp.pl/bass/head/black-white-line/qube-300.html).

The features look amazing and the reviews for the bigger Qube 450 seem really good. Can't find much info online.

would love to hear anyone's thoughts about it.

cheers.

Man!!! I knew this wouldn't last long enough for me to grab it....congratulations to the new owner....

I have a SUB5 and love it. Great growly tone. That[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] pickguard looks nice. Good luck selling it.[/font][/color]

Man, I like this bass !!! I hope it is still there when I get back to the UK in September... I find it hard to believe that no one will take it before that, though. Hope it finds a nice home.

Had one of these with a graphite neck but sold it due to its limited tonal ability when compared to my Status Matrix. The body shape and pick up placement makes it one of the most comfortable bass I have ever played. I've been wanting a wooden neck one for a while, ideally a five string, but If you still have it when I get back to the UK in September I might go for it. Good luck selling it.

I had a 6 string of these and loved it. Super fast neck... I was to good for me so I passed it on to a pro and he has been playing it since. The EQ is a bit limited, but nothing you can't fix on your amps. Pity it is not a 5 string... good luck with the sale.

One question .... where is it made?

I like the non traditional shape !!! I had a Korean Dean in the past and after a pickup change it was really great... only a bit heavy (It was a six string though). Can't make my mind up between this one and your Overwater .... its a pity I'll get back to the UK in September and I guess both will be gone by then.

Good luck with your sale.

I literally drool over this bass... unfortunately I will not be moving back to the UK until September and I'm sure it'll be gone by then.
Good luck with the sale (if it makes it to September I'll snatch it in no time)