Hi! Yamaha TRBX304 MGR 4-String Electric Bass Guitar
I’m fairly new and wonder if this is a good model/brand bass to start with. I think it was a recommended one on the list I saw when I signed up. Thanks…I mistakenly bought something not great at first and I don’t want to repeat that!
Great starting bass
Can’t go wrong with a Yamaha.
It’s good enough for the legendary pro Abraham Laboriel, although his is not Matallic Green but white, 
I have the 5 string version and can concur with the awesomeness.
Thank you!
Great! Thank you!
Yeah others covered it but it’s one of the best choices you could make.
I got the TRBX304 in Mist Green. It’s is definitely not a hard metallic green. It is a very soothing color that looks more grey or more green depending on how the light is hitting it. Every piece of that thing looks and feels high quality. Nice chunky tuning keys, smooth firm knobs, keeps tune very well, and came out of the box nicely setup. I’ve had it about 5 months now and I still love it.
I’ve heard great things about this bass.
However, as a noob myself, my advice would be to visit a music store, two or three if you have to, and get your paws on as many basses as you can. Try them and see what YOU like.
As my bass tutor said to me when I asked his advice, “It doesn’t matter what I think, nor your wife, your mother, your priest or your social worker. It’s your money, your bass, you have to play it and live with it. Buy the bass that works for you”
If you’re a righty, you should have no problems in trying dozens of different basses out.
I know within seconds if I love a bass. I have bought a few blind that I am not gaga over but like them just fine. Some I’ve bought because I love the look of them.
But when you know you know. Pro tip - if you have to ask yourself “do I love this bass?” - you don’t.
Fair points, John. However, my question to you is - over how many years experience have you come to know within seconds if you love a bass?
Ok, when @howard made me buy my basses in Tokyo last year, I knew within a minute or three, easy, but that’s only now that I’ve had the opportunity to try, and subsequently, buy a few. Our new friend here is also a noob and has said he/she already made a mistake with their first bass and is now asking whether or not to buy a Yam TRBX304. With that in mind, test driving a number of basses first would be the sensible option.
Not many - I have been playing various instruments for years, so I already know whay feels good. That said, the more you fiddle with the more you know.
I went on a 5-string odessy and when the Lakland went in my hands and I tried all the tones, I knew - and I kissed a lot of frogs first. Same with my hollow body.
So, where does the feeling come from? = Same thing I say when hiring folks (which I also have a knack for over the years) - I took the advice of a mentor who I asked how he hired folks as he had such a great team and great insights into whomever we used to interview - he simply said “I use the force”, It actually works.
@darrenann - part of the journey is buying basses that don’t work for you - because, you don’t know what you don’t know. I have played piano, trumpet, sax prior and go deep into reaseach when buying. I collect saxes and mouthpieces now, it all helps to ID what I like musically and does apply to bass.
Best advice - at first - buy used, buy good deals, let someone else pay lose the new instrument value once purchased. Sell what you don’t like for as close to or more than you paid, cheap lessons.
I’ve got 35+ basses, only sold ~4 so far, will sell another 2-3 and that’s it, good averages, but, I’ve learned how to use the force, lol.
Hi! Yamaha TRBX304 MGR 4-String Electric Bass Guitar
I’m fairly new and wonder if this is a good model/brand bass to start with. I think it was a recommended one on the list I saw when I signed up. Thanks…I mistakenly bought something not great at first and I don’t want to repeat that!
Thank you! All helpful!
I might get a Yamaha 174 that is light and less expensive. I’ve seen good reviews for it as a beginner bass. …then I can see how I like it and expand later! Thanks everyone!
“made” - I knew it!
My very first bass was a TRBX174. I started the course the day I got it. Within 3 days, I knew I wanted more features. So I returned the TRBX174 for a TRBX304.
I went through the course on the TRBX304, but I wanted more EQ control and the passive switch so I returned the TRBX304 and upgraded to the TRBX604.
I still have, and love the TRBX604. I played an open mic set with it yesterday evening.
This is the only pic I have of the TRBX174.
Here are the others.
Yes, the Force is strong in @howard
That’s Plek fingers,
I started on a 174. It’s not a bad bass. That said, the difference between a 174 and a 304 is signifigant enough in both build quality and sound quality that I’d suggest going with that. If it’s a matter of saving up to buy, well worth the extra time imo.
