Good chance you would like flatwounds…brand doesn’t REALLY matter but people have their preferences (I prefer Ernie Ball Nickel Slinky Roundwounds) but they are very bright punchy and articulate (which is sound I like). Flat wounds are quiet when moving around on them, and have a warmer thuddy boom sound.
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I also started with a TRBX 304 (Thanks Josh) and really loved it. I then got a BB734A and i found that I would pick the 304 less over time. I begrudgingly sold her off to a very enthusiastic buyer which left me at ease ( going to a good home)
Now I also have a Fender Ultra Jazz Bass which I fell in love at my local Sam Ash. So I agree with the sentiment, dont knock it before you try it.
Today i play both in a 60-40% ratio. The Yamaha winning. But I guess the reason Ive been playing Tool songs lately. But for funk and slap the Jazz Bass is the clear winner. Hands down.
On my 734 I use StringJoy string. I really like the sound of these strings for some reason.
Anywho. Best of luck in your search for that second bass. You already hit gold with the 735.
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Thanks for all the replies! I want to mention, it’s not the treble response of the TRBX that bothers me; it’s the lack of a low fundamental. The BB has that low fundamental that can shake the room; the TRBX doesn’t. When I turn the bass knob up, I get a warmer tone, but it still doesn’t have the same authority in the lows that the BB does. The BB having less HF response does also warm it up, but even if I turn the treble knob up, the BB still sounds bigger and thicker than the TRBX.
As for playing flatwounds, I’m not looking for a mellow tone; just want more authority in the low end. Or maybe it’s more midrange bite? I dunno. First time I plugged in my BB I plucked a couple notes, turned the bass knob up just a smidge, and grinned. That’s all the EQ I needed and the bass sounded huge. I’ve spent a lot of time fiddling with EQ on my TRBX. OTOH, while I like the liveliness of the Curt Mangan strings, maybe I should try something different. It came strung with D’Addarios, which sounded dull and dead to me, but it was also a used bass so who knows how old those strings were. My BB was new, also strung with D’Addario, and sounded great right out of the box.
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New D’Addario nickel wounds are some of the least dead strings you will find without going to stainless steel rounds. I’d say try a new set 
I think you’re just seeing different characteristics of the basses here though. They definitely have a different sound. The BB is absolutely heavier and thumpier while the TRBX is more midrange and bright. I’ve had no problem getting lows out of my TRBX - in fact I get too much, I usually have to filter it in the DAW - but at this point I can make it sound more or less however I want there too.
They are both really versatile with a lot of range to them and the BB734 is probably one of the best kept secrets in music - it’s one of the best all around instruments I have heard for up to double its price. It’s just simply great.
The TRBX is the same way but a little more modern tone focused. If you’re looking for a P-bass thump you are going to be better served by a BB. I can make my TRBX do that but it requires some work in the DAW.
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I’ve pretty much decided that down the road, I’m going to get a second bass. The 504 I have works fine, and if I want to get down on the low end, I can as long as I make the right adjustments to get it boomy and dark (It does allright with the passive switch).
Probably a J/P Bass.
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Honestly I can make my 604 sound like pretty much whatever I want. Super versatile bass. Definitely plenty of low end, that’s never the problem. If anything it has too much, which makes sense with double humbuckers. I usually end up filtering off some of the low end in the DAW anyway.
It doesn’t have quite as much growl as a single coil J, or do the dull thump quite as well as a P. That’s ok by me. It’s a lot more versatile for the other types of tones I am looking for.
I was realizing how much I love the thing while playing last night.
I also really like the BB line. I could easily see myself owning a BB434 or 734 in the future. Amazing basses too.
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Do it @howard. You will love the BB734. My only gripe is the single coil J pickup which can be super noisy with high gain + active. I will take mine to a local tech to rule out internal misswiring ot something. If not ptob relace it with a dual coil J
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You know how much I loved my BB735. You should do it!
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Oh for sure, I do love them. I have played them extensively in stores (and not just the 734 )
The bassist in our band had a BB way back in college, first bass I played. Fantastic line.
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Man. The color selection on the current BB’s is kind of a bummer. Love the black one, but for years (decades) they offered this really awesome red (Lava Red) and for some reason stopped.
As far as traditional bursts go both the coffee burst on the 734 and the tobacco burst on the 434 are pretty nice though. I kind of hate how the 734 burst often photographs (with this weird yellowish tint to it) but they don’t look like that in real life so no big deal.
i.e. in real life they do not look like this:
but rather much more like this:
But of course, this is where it’s at
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So many basses, so little time. I do like the specs on the BB734.
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pretty much the perfect bass for post-punk. TRBX works great there too though.
I can tell you for sure that my BB sunburt is rhe latter picture not the yellowish. I absolutely love it
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Yeah not sure why they photo that way. They don’t look like that at all.
Here is the Sweateater professional photo of my actual bass
I bought it as a Demo unit but they sent me all the professional photos of it
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Man. What a good looking bass this is. Better looking than my Fender Jazz in Cobra Blue
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Yeah, that’s what every single one I have seen looks like. Looks awesome.
But for some reason like half the online pics for sale are that weird washed out yellowish color. Often with other pics of the same bass looking right. I don’t get it.
Like this one as an example. So weird. Must be an odd lighting thing.
Top pic and the shot of the back look right, then there’s the glaring one.
It really is a nice looking bass, both this and the black one.
Never seen mine look like this even under direct sunlight. Very strange. Mine always look like my photo. I still prefer the Sunburst over the black one to be honest. Even though Im doing Miki Santamaria bass lessons and he has a black one. I just wish I can sound half as good as he does. Or like Josh with his Cyrus. Anyways I digress.
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Miki is truly next level.
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