Hi just starting the course and my wife is buying me a new bass. Josh recommended the TRBX 304, she is looking to buy me the TRBX604 for my 74th birthday. Wondering if it’s worth it to have Sweetwater do the pro setup.
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That 304 is a great bass.
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Welcome to the forum @vgrana9008 .
It depends on what they charge, but for a newbie who has never done a setup before, I’d go for it. That way, if there’s an issue, you know it’s you and not the bass. 
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Your bass shouldn’t need to be plek’ed, and a setup is something that you should learn to do, and it’s easy to boot. When they ship it there is a chance that it will settle and need a setup again anyway. Changes in humidity from Sweetwater to your domicile can cause the neck to move for example.
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I don’t disagree, but my concern would be if the setup out of the box is way off, like the one on my new purple Glenn Hughes O bass. It was a mess out of the box.
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The O bass has a reputation for poor QC, and Yamaha has a good one. But if you want a setup then by all means, but the additional cost of plek seems unwarranted. Just get a regular setup is what I would do
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Thanks guys. Going with no plex. Really great to have this type of knowledge available.
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PLEK (not plex) is a computerized fret leveling and dressing process. Some of the best luthiers, boutique shops and a few large manufacturers PLEK all of their instruments.
It is highly unlikely that the bass you’re getting will have out-of-the-box uneven frets, so a PLEK job would be a costly expense for no reason.
A setup, on the other hand, is setting the neck relief, string height at the bridge, overall string intonation, and individual nut slot depths for maximal playability.
You might need a setup on your new bass, but maybe not. Get one, if you like, but there are plenty of videos here and in YouTube that are clear and easy to follow. It’s also very satisfying to tweak your instrument to your particular liking.
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Your Yamaha has already been plek before leaving the factory. Not at the same level Sweetwater will provide but it’s done.
I’d wait a few years before sending it through the machine again.
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A Google search came up with this info:
Yamaha uses the Plek machine in their quality control process for certain bass models, ensuring optimal fretwork and playability.
Specific models, like the BB734A, are identified as having been Plek’d, suggesting that it’s not a standard procedure for all Yamaha basses, but it’s rather applied to select models or batches.
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I’d imagine a 604 would be also if the 734 is. They’re pretty much the same level of quality from what I can tell. I’m leaving that a little open in case @howard needs to correct me.
Not sure about that.
Google:
The information available does not explicitly state that the Yamaha TRBX604 bass guitar comes from the factory with a PLEK fret dressing
While some forum discussions mention the general benefits of PLEK fretwork and how it can improve playability, particularly regarding fret leveling, these discussions are not specific to the TRBX604 being factory-pleked. The Yamaha website describes the TRBX604FM’s neck as having a comfortable profile and being constructed for excellent tone and stability, as well as superior tuning stability, but it does not mention PLEK.
Some users have chosen to have their Yamaha basses, including potentially the TRBX series, PLEKed after purchasing them to address fret issues or improve playability. This suggests that it’s not a standard factory procedure.
Therefore, based on the provided search results, it’s not confirmed that the Yamaha TRBX604 is PLEKed from the factory.
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One would think if it were plek’d they’d be bragging
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More search results:
- Gibson: Some reviewers have specifically mentioned purchasing Gibson guitars because they are Plek’d.
- G&L: G&L instruments are also Plek’d before leaving the factory
- Mayones: This brand does in-house PLEK on all their guitars.
- Lakland: Lakland basses are known to come Plek’d from the factory.
- Sandberg: [Bass Direct mentions that every Sandberg bass is Plek’d.]
- Klos: This company uses the PLEK machine.
- Suhr: Suhr utilizes PLEK on both their custom and production models.
- Other manufacturers: Some smaller brands and custom builders also use PLEK technology, either in-house or through collaborations with PLEK service providers.
I don’t think the 604 is. I would say the quality level of all the top of line Indonesian Yamahas is similar though, however the 734a and Revstar Standard are kind of special cases where there’s a bigger jump from the prior model than the 604 over the 504, which are more similar. I do prefer the alder body on the 604 over the mahogany on the 504 though.
I would say that since they are all made in similar numbers in the same factory, I would be more surprised if only one model was plekked than if all of the top end ones were.