The Yamaha TRBX series of bass guitars is one of the most popular and praised guitar lines launched by the company in recent times. The TRBX has a huge family of guitar models that are suitable for just about every market segment that you can think of. Launched back in 2013, the Yamaha TRBX bass guitars have generated much noise from enthusiasts, professionals, and retailers. The reason is not just because Yamaha is a very reputed brand in the guitar industry but because the TRBX series offers everything from entry-level guitars for beginners to premium line guitars for the professionals and artists. Out of the many renowned models from Yamaha, we will be reviewing the Yamaha TRBX304 bass guitar today which is adequately placed in the mid-tier category and is one solid guitar.
The TRBX304 brings a lot to the table including excellent build quality, a great tone, and pleasant playing experience. If you are looking for a neutral and passive bass guitar within the $500 price mark then the Yamaha TRBX304 should definitely be there among your top choices. To understand why it is such a good choice, let us take a look at the guitar and what it offers.
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The Body
Like most of the TRBX family, the Yamaha TRBX304 bass guitar features a pure mahogany body with a shape that is both well-balanced and comfortable. You can choose from a variety of finishes before purchasing, but in terms of aesthetics, the one finish that stands out is Mist Green which gives an elegant and eye-catching look.
Moving on, the neck on the TRBX304 is 5-piece mahogany & maple design which is often found in the more premium and high-end guitars. The only place where this looks like a mid-tier guitar is the fretboard which is made out of regular rosewood with standard dot inlays. Apart from that, Yamaha has almost nailed everything else in the body and design part for this guitar.
Hardware and Electronics
The hardware side of things with the Yamaha TRBX304 is pretty standard and up to the mark for the price range. There is a vintage-style bridge that has 4 die-cast tuning machines on the headstock and 4 adjustable saddles on the other side. These two hardware components work together perfectly and provide you with pleasant playing experience. With this combination, you will not have to worry about losing intonation or dropping out of tune.
When we move on to electronics, we begin to see the true value of Yamaha and how far ahead it is in bass guitars. There are 2 M3 ceramic humbuckers for delivering as much sound output and definition as you need. Compared to single standard coils, humbuckers add much-needed thickness and warmth to the overall sound and reduce static noise as well. All of this contributes to the Yamaha TRBX304 having great pickups, which is perhaps one of its best features.
The true star of the electronics show, however, is the circuitry. The Yamaha TRBX304 bass guitar comes with 4 control knobs and a select switch that lets you select presets to quickly adjust the two band equalizers for different styles of music. While the system itself is complicated, it works like a charm in helping you tune the guitar according to your needs and makes life much easier once you get the hang of it.
Sound Quality
The sound quality of the Yamaha TRMX304 is excellent and it honestly plays just like one of the premium and expensive options out there. The tone on the guitar has focus and punch, particularly on deeper frequencies. There is great depth to the M3 humbuckers and you can work with a wide range of tones with this configuration. The two-band equalizer on the bass guitar works quite well on its own as well.
The pickup of the guitar’s neck has a powerful growl while the pickup of the bridge has much better punch than other guitars in this price range that come with the single standard coil. Mid-range frequencies do not get enough emphasis though so this bass guitar may be a bit restrictive when it comes to old-school sound. However, in terms of modern tones, the Yamaha TRMX304 is an absolute beast.
There are a variety of presets available and configuring them can be quite fun. You can adjust them to make sure you have the tone that you are looking for. However, for professionals and advanced bassists, having presets is always restrictive since you cannot configure the equalizer completely.
Pros & Cons Of Yamaha TRBX304:
Pros
- 2 Band EQ (treble and bass) through control knobs and an easy preset toggle switch for different sound profiles
- Two-band equalizer (bass and treble) through control knobs with a preset toggle switch for different profiles.
- A versatile and solid tone that works great for modern rock and metal to mellow funk and jazz music.
- Superb overall build quality with a die-cast bridge and pure Mahogany body.
Cons
- The cost might seem a bit high if it is your first bass guitar – though the sound and hardware offer great value for money.
- The presets work great but do not over much control over mid-range frequencies which can be annoying for experienced bassists.
Conclusion
The Yamaha TRBX304 is a brilliant choice for beginners and enthusiastic bassists. The price might seem a bit steep at first, considering it is a mid-tier bass guitar, but this bass guitar offers great value for money. The sound and build quality are right up there with the more expensive options and its preset configuration allows you to cover all kinds of modern genres with this single guitar. When you account for everything, the Yamaha TRBX304 is actually on the cheaper side compared to other guitars that offer similar features. In short, it is comfortable, accurate, and reliable which makes it a great choice to consider.