On 2005-02-10, Dwaine gave this Yamaha Bass Guitar a 5


Purchase: About four years ago I was in the market for a new stick. I went to guitar center because they had the largest selection in town. I spent hours in the bass section and test drove every bass guitar in the store using the same modest mid-range Ampeg Amp, price not a consideration. I ended up spending a lot less than I expected, about $500 for the red one. Considering I hadn't owned a bass that cost less than $1000 in over 10 years. I have since bought another RBX765A on e-bay (a blue one) because I couldn't find a new one in the stores. (Out of production I guess)
Pros: I play in a Hard Rock band and tour on occasion with some heavy hitters. Every sound engineer I have worked with has done nothing but Rave about the tone of these basses. The basses play incrediably well right out of the box, but after a tweek or two from the local guitar pro, they surpass custom basses costing thousands. It has more tone control than any one can ask for, check out the 5 knobs on the front, and the EMG active electronics... well, they speak for themselves.
Cons: Unfortunately there are a few "little" things about the basses that can be improved upon. The battery cover only clips on on the back of the bass, a screw securing it would be an improvement and the input jack placement (its a personal thing) kinda sucks.
Quality: The body is made of Alder with a two octave fret board, and did I mention the EMGs. The gold hardware has a flashy/classy touch and I think the bridge is the closest thing to a Bad Ass bridge I've seen, if it isn't a Bad Ass.

Summary: I've played bass for over 25 years and have played Ricks, Fenders, Gibson, Ibanez, Warlock, Musicman, ect., ect., ect. and I'd put this bass in a catagory all its own considering its versatility, playability, quality, sound, and cost. You can not beat this bass with any other comparably priced bass, period! They are only allowing a 5 as the best for rating, this one is a 5 1/2. P.S. anyone got a green one for sale, I'm lookin.

On 2003-02-19, Chris gave this Yamaha Bass Guitar a 5


Purchase: I purchased this bass in late 2002 at a Guitar Center in Houston for $450. I spent approximately three hours in the store playing a wide range of 5 string basses. I initially was unsure of the green color of this bass, but could not ignore the ease in which it played in my hands. I tried many others, including other Yamahas, but none of them played as well, nor felt as good as this one did. Oddly enough, I did try both the blue and red versions of the same make and model, but I found the green one just felt better.
Pros: First, I appreciate the feel of this bass. The ergonomic considerations that went into the design contribute to a very comfortable instrument. Although I am six feet tall with somewhat broad shoulders, I don't consider this bass to be very heavy. While my hands are just slightly larger than average, I have no trouble accessing and manipulating all of the portions of the strings. I play (on a regular basis) in a Christian praise and worship band in my church. The styles that we play tend to range from lite contemporary and traditional hymnals to some calypso and fast rock/mild metal. I am also very pleased with the sound of this bass guitar. The active pickups in this instrument deliver a deep, aggressive, punchy sound. As opposed to some five and six string basses, this Yamaha's low B string emits a deep, clear tone, allowing it's lower range to be very effective in a variety of musical styles.
Cons: While trying to be truly objective, the only complaint I can really think of is that the gold hardware tends to accumulate dust and funk rather easily.
Quality: This five string bass has an alder/ash veneer body, a maple bolt-on neck, rose wood fretboard with 24 frets, 2 active humbucker pickups, gold hardware, and four volume/EQ controls. It is available in three attractive translucent finishes - red, blue and green. As mentioned earlier, mine is green. The overall design makes for a very visually appealing bass guitar. I have had a few Yamaha products in the past (4 string bass and 6 string guitar) and I have found them to be of a high quality when it comes to things like tone/sound, comfort, durability and action. Keep in mind that the fact that this model bass utilizes active pickups means that it will only function if a nine volt battery is installed. I keep extra batteries with me in case the existing battery fails (which can be a bad thing during performance).

Summary: I love this bass guitar. It's design suits me and my playing style better than any I have ever used and it's appearance is both elegant and just plain cool. I have found that since I have begun playing this bass, I do not care for the feel of any other bass that I encounter, regardless of whether it is an old, beat up Ibanez or a new Warwick. This bass suits my every musical need, thus I have no use for any other bass guitar. I realize that everyone is different and that this bass may not be as suitable for every bass player, but if you are a intermediate or advanced player* and seeking a new five string, I strongly recommend going to a Yamaha distributer and taking this model for a testdrive. In any event, take your time when looking for a new bass and try as many basses as possible - sooner or later you will find the one that brings you as much enjoyment as my Yamaha brings to me. * I believe beginners should stay simple when looking for a new bass, at least until they develop their own style and technique.