I had a $150 bass for years and didn’t enjoy playing much just played in bands cos no other bass players around. Then I bought a Stingray and the way it played made me want to practice. There is something to be said for not starting off on terrible gear
Absolutely, but there is also something to be said for not spending more than a month's rent ($350 is a big lot of money for many people on earth) on a hobby you might not stick to. If everyone knew "bass" is something they're going to do with a passion for the rest of their lives, I assume most people would buy a $1200 bass right away and maybe never even get a second one.
Yep! I owned a lower line Spector and never wanted to play it... but I've had even cheaper basses that made me want to play all the time and of course, most of the Fenders I've had were inspirational to play!
I wasn't getting into the $500 range until I had been playing for a few years. I think reviewing sub $250 basses is much more realistic for someone's first instrument.
well you can spend an extra penny to go to the 500$ range and keep them for longer than a 250$ ones (so you save some extra cash by dodging the upgrade from 250$ to 500$ range as well :P ) These basses are also kinda easier to sell/better resale vale.
You can frequently find the TRBX 304 or 305 used for under $300. I picked up mine for $150. I even found someone selling the pickups/wiring harness for the 304 for $40 and put them in another bass. Part of being a beginner is buying used.
There are, in my opinion and contrary to popular belief, VERY few sub-$250 instruments that are suitable for a beginner. They ALL need work to play right, some more than others, and beginners are less likely to know how to do that work or who they can have the work done by, or even that work is needed at all. Without a good setup, almost all bargain basement instruments are hard and/or uncomfortable to play, which sucks for anyone but is WAY harder on a beginner who probably hasn't developed a lot of hand strength/dexterity or calluses yet. Couple that with the fact that they typically aren't as visually attractive or tonally pleasing as the next price tier of instruments, and I see a very high probability of beginners losing interest. Want to save money? Buy used. You'll save a pantload, and the odds are pretty good that it will have already have had any necessary setup work done.
@@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney yeah and even the better ones of the sub250$ range are generaly around 200ish. A good money saving can happen by getting an amplug (like the vox one) instead of an full amp. Costs 50$ and sound is as almost good as an 110$ amp
From my experience with not just Yamaha Basses, but almost any other instrument, Yamaha meets almost any requirement for an instrument, but is only beat out by instruments that specialize in something
I brought the Yamaha 304 and a new love affair began. Six months in I'm still in love. Awesome bass for the money. Thanks guys for the great advice. Bass rocks. John
Have been a bass player for 55 years, mostly used Gibson basses. I purchased a silver Squier Modified Jaguar passive bass a couple of years ago that was intended to be just a kick around bass. Hadn't ever played one before my purchase, bought it on-line, and it ended up becoming my go-to bass. I love the feel & play-ability of the neck, and the controls are simple. The variety of tones available with one P-bass and one J-bass pickup suits my needs well. I was totally blown away at the tonal quality, being that this bass felt so light-weight compared to what I had played in the past. And, at the value of what I feel I got for my money (if anything like theft or fire were to happen) it would be reasonably affordable to replace.
@@TiredMango1 I have a tmb 310,I love it,I had to change the tuners and have to put new stacks in mine,I got screwed from the factory,but at the price range I can't complain,I'm able to dial in any bass sound I want,from a p bass, to the punchy stingray tone,when I flip the switch to just the top half the bridge pup,(310s got the double jazz looking pup at the bridge) and turn my highs and mid highs up at the amp I can make it sound like a jazz bass,my funk machine is one of my favorite in my collection,it was an impulse buy about 3 years ago,I'm really happy about it🤘🤘🤘
I want to play bass guitar. Can I buy ibanez grs205sm guitar as my first bass guitar? Will it be good for me? I will play metal music,hard rock and others.
I am in my 30s and wanted to start learning bass as a hobby, a friend of mine suggested that we go to a nearby shop that sells used guitars and basses from japan, got myself a Fender MIJ jazz bass for cheap, it definitely needs TLC but it’s definitely a gem to play with. Parts are pretty hard to come by here in the Philippines but everything can be ordered online nowadays.
Amazing. I didn't know that anyone did honest gear reviews on youtube. I just bought my bass and amp, and this convinced me to buy your course when they arrive.
I got the SUB Ray 5 back in 2014. Out of all the basses I've owned it was the cheapest at $246 and it sounded the best. I also have a Squier PJ coming in the mail tomorrow and I think between those two I will have all the sounds I will need.
I've got a Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Ray 4 bass ($325 - left handed) & a Sterling by Music Man Ray 4 bass($2,150 - left handed). Been playing the S.U.B. Ray 4 since July, & the Ray 4 since mid-December. I'm just learning to play, & I love the sound & feel of both of these bass guitars.
finally someone that calls his "2 cents" really "2 cents". Sometimes people write essays and say "hahah just my 2 cents guys!1!1!" with a 3000 word long comment
My vote is…. Ibanez Mikro bass. PJ pickups. Short scale. Restring with LaBella flat wounds for smooth feel on your fingers. About $180. I enjoy playing it, sounds good, comfortable.
TRBX304 hands down,tone,look,construction,mahogany body,five piece maple/mahogany neck,hot humbuckers,five way switch selector Yamaha are always Big Bang for the buck,that's why i love this brand.
I’m getting the Cort this weekend, and am stoked. I played one at the shop and it seems right for my needs now. I hope to play lots of bass guitars over time.
The question is beginner bass. Simple is good and in over 40 years of playing bass I've never found much that you can't make a decent job of with a precision or a jazz. Most beginners make the mistake of thinking more knobs and switches will make them sound better when in fact the opposite is true.
Lockdown boredom got the better of me and I ended up buying my first bass (after 30ish years of owning guitars) entirely based on online reviews, this one included. Quite strange buying a new instrument with no real point of reference, but I went for the Yamaha in the end and I'm utterly happy with it. Very solidly built, excellent finishing, the neck, pickups and electronics are all awesome and the sound is incredibly versatile before even adding effects into the mix. I do agree that using the 5 way EQ selector can be quite complex alongside the other controls and having a 3 band EQ would be simpler, but I'll get used to it.
I love randomly going through your catalog. Another great video. Man I wish these were around 25ish years ago. Ypu make them entertaining though, and that's what I find awesome
My first bass was a TRBX174. Tried everything in the store from Squires, Ibanezs, Jaguars, Deans and Schecters, and still preferred the simple look and feel of the passive TRBX174. Sounds great. Paid $169 on sale. The only issue I had was the bridge pick-up was not set-up right from the factory. A few simple turns of the screw to adjust the pick-up height and everything sounds fine now. I still enjoy playing it but have recently upgraded to the BB234. I really like both my Yamaha and would recommend to any beginner on up! And as in any purchase of any stringed musical instrument, it has to be properly set-up regardless of the price you pay for it.
Thank you for this video Josh, Ben, and Gio. Im a beginner and im struggling in choosing my first Bass. But this really help alot. Thanks for the great ideas.
Thanks a lot for all these reviews man. I own an Yamaha TRBX305, which is the 5 string versión of the one you reviewed. Now more than ever, I'm happy to see that I really bought a good instrument. And, yes, it is SUPER VERSATILE! A funny thing is that, I also own a Fender Rumble 100, and in your amp reviews, you recommended the fender Rumble 40 as the best option. Thanks man, you just boosted my self-esteem. 😁😁
Got a Yamaha Jaguar myself, pretty solid, just have to give it some love with the truss rod and work on the bridge from time to time. (Guess that doesn't really qualify as a beginner bass though.) This video is old and all but I hope you'll read this comment, amazing content. Been getting back into playing after a whopping 10 year hiatus. Thank you so much for all the help.
For any parents looking for their kids first instrument or anyone looking for their own first instrument and found this video, this is a great indication of where ANYone should start. I've been playing professionally for 20+ years and I still take nicer Squiers and other "low end" instruments on gigs and even recording and get great sounds, comparable to my more expensive instruments. Although there's value in spending more than this, spending less is a trap. For example, the low end Squiers (currently called Affinity) are a really big step down, and as you or your kid progress, the build quality will start to be a real pain point. It is almost always worth the extra 1-200 for the next model up in these "low end" brands (brands like squier, epiphone, sterling, etc). For Squier the tier up would currently be "Classic Vibe", as an example. The cheapest thing they make is awful, the 2nd cheapest, crazy good for the price. It's a weird trope that mostly holds true. Another reason to do this is, if you want to adjust or improve the sound of something like a Classic Vibe (or in this video, Vintage Modified) there are a lot of easy/affordable upgrades you can make to the instrument itself (like swapping a pickup). Whereas the bottom tier (Affinity's) are often not well built enough to be worth upgrading (unless you're a full on tinkerer/guitar tech). Anyway, that's just my experience with these, I'm rarely the guy spending $2k+ on instruments, I've mostly gotten away with modding and critically looking for the models that standout for value.
Thanks for the amazing review! I have been debating a beginner's bass for quite a while now and this review helped zero in on the 1 that I thought best to start with. Cort Action PJ Series 4-String Electric Bass, Open Pore Walnut is what I ordered.
A friend and former bandmate of mine had bought his beginner bassist son a white Yamaha TRBX304 and a Fender Rumble 40 a couple of years ago; Looks like the guys at that shop knew their stuff! 😉👍
This "Best Beginner Bass" may be (over)due for an update? I went looking for the winner here, Squier Vintage Modified Jazz, and it seems to be discontinued. Any update as to its replacement? Really nice channel, Josh is really relatable and absolutely no BS here. Too many of these channels are music stores just trying to sell their stuff. Not here. Josh is a musician and a user not a salesman. He's like, hey guys, look what I found!! Keep it up, great content. . . . . and maybe update this vid?
Thank you for your review, especially testing a Squire. I've tried to do my homework, and discovered that although the Squire has many positives, the one negative that destroyed the entire possibility of considering it, is that the machine heads are cheap, and break!
I bought the TRBX204 and that's before watching this comparison video and the other blind test video. It's definitely a good purchase for a beginner like me.
I used to play guitar only. A friend sadly had to quit bass playing due to an injury right at the time when I wanted to switch to bass several years ago. He gave me his cheapo Yamaha bass as a present. I never felt the need for another bass ever since, no matter what style I'm playing.
Same experience. I upgraded it to the one in the video. It's great. I lent it in a bar jam to a friend who is a high quality multi instrumentalist who praised it.
i personally really like the cort action bass v plus (its not on the list sadly) its a 5 string bass for around 300 dollars. i really recommend it for new players. active pickups. great feeling neck and frets. and it sounds so good. probably the best bass ive ever played along with some ibanez basses and fender and yamaha. the cort is a really good choice if you want to get high quality for a *really* fair price. so i really really recommend it for new players that are just getting into bass and thinking about what bass to buy.
I like the TRBX option. Let's see now. First, cut the headstock from behind the emblem and rotate it 180 degrees then glue it back on. Second route a slot between the two pickups and move the neck pickup back and find the sweet spot that Yamaha did not find. This also makes room for slapping. I have already done this and made it mines
You basically picked the J-Bass so you didn't full out recommend the Yamaha. The videos is supposed to be about the best beginner bass but you based your answer on what you need in your life now but thats the wrong premise. What is the best beginner bass? It's the Yamaha
In 2022, a used Sire Marcus Miller four string V7 or P7 will run around $400 on Reverb in mint condition. Combined with a Fender Rumble 40 Bass Amp for $200 new from Amazon or Guitar Center is a setup that plays as good as any high end Fender basses, and can take a player from beginner to playing with a band without having change your setup. The Sire Marcus Miller series basses also have less neck dive than a Fender bass while still maintaining the tone and feel of a traditional fender P or Jazz bass. Which is why Marcus Miller puts his name on these super affordable basses.
I love my Ibanez SR305EB. First bass and I’m not looking back. Been playing guitar for over 15 years, but just recently switched over to bass. Way more fun! 😬
I grew up on a Peavey T40, bought it new in 79 or 80. My ex-wife pawned it while I was on deployment about 20 years ago, broke my heart and I haven't played bass since. I think I'm finally over my lost love and am ready to buy a new bass. Looking in the same price range I narrowed my choices to these 2 as well, just need to go to the city and take them for a test drive and see which one feels better. I also like the Epiphone EB3 but it looks like the position of the neck pickup is not ideal.
I bought one last month and it's a beauty in white. Brought it home, played for a couple of days then return to the shop for a set up. So when i was about to pick up my bass guitar the technician told me this exact word " You have a very nice guitar, i didnt know Yamaha has done good ones". That guy is an old guy and bet has a years of experience with such instrument.
I bought myself Yamaha something 5 string active bass and I love it! Was curious to see what will come from this test and I got the answer. 1 Ben picked Yamaha and cited the right reasons. Gio picked bass that is like his bass but the review says BEGINNER basse... so I count that Yamaha won also because beginner doesn't know in which style he will end up so being able to try more genres is a winner. Josh picked a bass that would complete his collection but again gave reasons that Yamaha is a winner on features alone without what He needs in his collection. So for me Yamaha won with them 3! They were looking for good bass for beginners! I am a beginner and my Yamaha allows me to try so much different genres. I added line 6 low down studio 110 with again a lot of options and I feel like I am motivated to practice because I can try more stuff than just one genre. Too bad Line 6 stopped producing these amps but if you have a chance grab yourself that amp used. There is nothing better, cheaper and lighter than that 75w amp for beginner. When you find what you dig the most then buy specific. I love me Yamaha + Line 6 rig! I think I have the older model than what they tried but whenever one of my friends grabs that bass they are shocked how much they like it.
One other consideration: fret count / string length. The bass I started out on was an Ibanez 24 fret. After a few years I switched to a Fender Jazz, but the muscle memory often had me mis-fretting. Took me a while to be able to switch comfortably between the two. Ive pretty much gone back to all Ibanez 24 fret basses….so for me, the Yamaha. (But that Fender is my favourite colour scheme for a vintage bass)
Popping in - don't sleep on the Yamaha BB235 - It plays and sounds just as good as the $2000 model I played on of a similar model. 5 string, PJ, passive, with lots of body and character. It does it all. Worth every penny, punches far above its weight
Yeah can't go wrong with Yamaha or Squier. For anyone looking at the TRBX304, but wished it had passive electronics and a vintage vibe, check out the Yamaha BB234 🎸
It just so happens that I have 2 Ibanez basses and it's my gigging bass. I too, have no complaints about price. Cool, we both found gear we like, that we could afford. Rock on.
☑️ my vote is for Ibanez , generally like their esthetic, but Not the Gio bought one online and returned it, thought the quality was not great but the SR 300 and up and are good value ‼️🤔😊
Had a MIM Fender jazz bass. I traded for a more expensive Warwick Corvette. I didn't realize how much I loved that jazz bass until I got rid of it. That Jazz was built for the way that I play. I can't wait until I can buy another one.
I think a beginner should always start out with a Precision Bass. It is so bassic that the bass itself does not take the attention away from learing the instrument and to shape tone with your fingers. Depending on the budget I would recomend to start with a Squier or a Fender Mexico. After some time and some experience you can start looking at other basses with more tonal options. But learn the bassics with a P Bass.
@@hekzter3895 That's sensible, but I believe that most beginners don't have the knowledge necessary to avoid being misguided by a mere whim. At the very least, a first instrument should be versatile enough to not sound "out of place" in any of the more popular genres. That being said, if the beginner in question has a very specific taste in music, then maybe sacrifice versatility for what's more appropriate for your genre of choice (still a risky decision, I believe, but you do you).
Congratulation, you have do a wide, wise and useful review! It will help a lot beginner players to choose the right bass! Please do not stop, keep doing that with intermediate level, I believe everybody will appreciate it!
I bought the Yamaha trbx304 as my beginner bass. Not for sound. Not for price. Yamaha did something smart and put a place for your thumb and index fingers on the pickups to play. Yamaha made a comfortable bass to play which makes it fun to play.
@@glennhiscock5424 didn't know that, sounds cool! Thanks for sharing :) Edit: just googled it and it looks like I never noticed, but it makes a lot of sense now that I know about it.
I own a Squier VM as my first Jazz Bass, and I am very happy with it. Nice, fun to play, has a nice sound. To me this comparison is a bit like an oranges to apples comparison because they are targeted to very distinct audiences. Anyway, you can't go wrong with any of these. Yamaha does whatever it takes to satisfy musicians with nicely built, budget-friendly instruments.
The SQ VM 70s JB was my restart as a bass player 4 years ago. It's in Candy Apple Red with a black pickguard and a maple neck. Looks, feels and plays absolutely great and the tones you can get from it are real classics. During my test session which included American made JBs, Precis, some Yamahas, a Sterling SUB and some Ibanez material, this one really stood out. I even preferred it over the American JB, that really says something. And it was not only about money. I was ready to spend those 1.100 € on the American but to be honest, there was hardly a recognisable difference between the two, let alone one that would justify a gap of more than 700 €. I love this bass to bits and play it the most, compared to my other basses (Ibanez ATK 305 (MiJ) & Yamaha BBN4F). Can you imagine the sound when played through my G-K 1001RB II paired with an FMC 212 cab including an 8-inch mid-high-range speaker? This is what I call pure satisfaction... :D :D
I have had some G&L basses in the past; a JB2 and tribute L-2000 and IMHO they beat any Squier VM, Yamaha or Cort any day of the week. The price tag of the G&Ls may be a little higher but it is absolutely worthy. The L-2000 packs a good bunch of fun stuff (active-passive, EQ, vol, tone...) and they feel rock solid in hands, just as the well-considered Japanese Fenders or Fernandes.
I have been playing a Yamaha RBX-775 for 16 years now and is still my #1 bass especially after adding in an Aguilar preamp! I can pull pretty much any kind of tone I want from it including a “P-Bass” believe it or not. If I were in the market for a new bass, I’d be looking at the TRBX model that is a step up from the 304.
Believe it or not, I use a Jay Turser Vintage Series Jazz bass in white (which was a *blemish model* or 'B-stock')that I purchased for under $200 bucks that I got from eBay and I couldn't be more happier with it. The neck is a nice buffed-out rosewood fingerboard with superior craftsmanship regarding how well the neck was made. The pickguard is not authentic torty-shell, (just a printed graphic really). It is really very comfortable to play and the stock 'import' pickups did not leave a bad impression on me as they sound above average for a bass in that price range. It is closely similar to the white Fender Squier that you feature on this channel. Definitely worth a look into.
I played P basses for decades. Then started playing guitar. I recently came into a situation to play bass again. I tried a Squire P bass with the added J bass bridge pickup. It was twice the’73 maple P bass I played for years But, I chose the even cheaper TRBX174. Greater versatility, a better more playable neck and if you want the more traditional P bass sound it can be had easily by turning down the volume on the J bass pickup and dialing the tone knob back half or so. And stop slapping it. If you want to slap, turn the bridge pickup back on.
I'm a beginner at bass and I bought a Music Man Stingray Special 5, because... why the hell not. Been a guitar player for almost 20 years and found out the hard way, that a quality instrument is the very best way to learn your craft. It doesn't mask your mistakes, demands clean technique, and at the same time, it'll make you play the instrument more often. And then there's also the technical improvements: better handling, better sound, better tuning stability, easier setup. I've seen necks on "affordable" guitars and basses warp like hell over just a few degrees difference in temperature. Actions that were hopelessly inadjustable, tremolos that refused to work. I'm not saying, that this is case with *every* affordable instrument - there are many affordable instruments out there well worth their money - but with every buck you don't spend, the risk of shortcomings increases. And I'm also not a fan of the classic "just install the expensive pickups and it's all the same", because it is not. I've tried it multiple times. Guitar manufacturers match the pickups to the bodies and woods, so if the affordable version doesn't match that to 100%, it'll *not* sound the same. And now you're 300 bucks short for a pair of pickups +installation that could as well have been invested in a used "original". Yada, yada...
Nice post...I agree with you. The white Jazz looks so much better than the Yamaha. I'd love seeing you compare violin basses such as the Rogue VB100, Epiphone Viola, Hofner Ignition, Brice, Dillion, Jay Turser, Brownsville, etc for their sound/playability rather than their similarity to the original Hofner. As an older player, I'm interested in lighter basses that sound good.
I’ve been in a grueling process (still ongoing unfortunately) on getting a cheap quality bass... I’ve had to return two already and about to have to return a third. The first bass (Yamaha from Guitar Center) simply came used when I ordered a new one. I moved onto AMS and had ordered a Dean Edge 09. The Dean came with poor build quality- had cracks in the body and some dents and other things. Returned that for, what I currently have, is an Affinity Squire bass. I thought it was the one. I loved everything about it... once I noticed it was heavily buzzing I went to adjust the truss rod. There it was: a stripped truss rod. I am unable to adjust it. So the process of a new bass continues. At this point I just want someone thing that isn’t majorly flawed in a certain area and will let me get decent recordings 😭
U try a squier precision? If ur recording, and like the previous squier, it's set up how u like, and u can grab for 200 used, or 350+ new. Have only encountered 1 truss rod problem in 15 yrs. If it's new, truss won't be stripped.
If the Yamaha comes in a natural finish I'd buy it right now.. not that I really need another bass. I just want a bass with a natural finish with cool grain.
I've got the Yamaha TRBX174EW with tobacco sunburst finish which I bought 2 years ago. I played bass in high school but this is the first bass I ever owned. It gives you a lot for just under $220.00 MSRP. Full 2-octave fretboard, P-J pickup configuration, satin finished neck.
Nice video and a clean, fresh take on the entry-level bass options. One I would throw in is the Squier Standard Precision PJ Vintage Modified bass. You can pick them up for $130-160 and play them right away. I own one which I upgraded with CTS 250k audio pots and the Seymour Duncan PJ bass pickup set. I've now got just under $300 invested and it plays extremely solid.
i bought the yamaha 174ew (sunburst tobacco brown), 305 (white), and 605fm (satin natural flame maple& alder) for a great price for the three so its nice to see that the yamahas are worth the bang for the buck. i start my first lesson this weekend so im hoping to make my investments worth while.
I have a 28 year old RBX550M, had from new and its still good! A good bass is a good bass, it doesn't need to cost more! I have had more expensive basses and the RBX wasn't my first bass, but I still have it!
Personally, I think anything with a P/J is a good beginner bass. You get jazz and funk tones as well as your rock, pop, and country tones. Although, a great option is the Ibanez SR300 with its splittable humbuckers and 3-band EQ as well as it feeling like a well built instrument. It's basically the TRBX with more tonal variety
I got an SR300 in a trade and my tiny hands love that thing. The EQ is great too. Bass is not my main instrument but I can't think of a reason to upgrade until I outgrow it.
That's it, no reviews anymore ? *You did it so good !* You have to continue with it, not just Bass for beginners, do general reviews or some topics (EQ, bass boost, custom made, etc. )
As a guitarist who recently got a bass i will admit that bass is fricken fun and amazing for coming up with songs when you don't have anyone to play with
I enjoyed this series. That typed, the end result from our host seems off, as this wasn't supposed to be about what you'd add to your collection, but what the best beginner bass is. Granted, the TRBX was the overall winner. Ha.
I literally just came back from the guitar shop with ibanez gio gsr 180. I had a little struggle to choose between the basses you just shown on this video. Final call was between Yamaha and Gio and I chose it because I prefer the more dark tone and neck is slightly thinner. But it was a really close call😅
Straight up dumb luck I bought my Yamaha TRBX305 two years ago. Wanted something affordable and reliable, figured Yamaha would be a good bet but I also really liked the shape and colour. Bought it for AUD $549 and now I see exact same bass in the same store for $699. Plays well enough for me, pretty glad I chose it.
I've been playing bass for 30 years, but I bought Yamaha's TRBX305 for the first time. It's a unique specification at this price. Conductive paint is applied, the weight is well-balanced, and there are a wide variety of tones. The fret processing is perfect and there is no dripping of paint. The best.Also, the wood removal of the maple part was a straight neck.
Absolute beginner here. I just bought a Yamaha TRBX174EW. Not only my first bass, but my first ever instrument! It cost $230 brand new from Amazon. Thoughts?
I have the same bass and couldn't be happier w it. Been playing for 15 years but didn't have one of my own for the past year or so. Looking for a budget bass and found one of these at a music shop. After having it for a few months it definitely punches above it weight.
NGL I've been eyeing the Ibanez SR250 for my first upgrade from my 15 year old $100 Fender (former guitar player recently switched to bass) but holy shit that Yamaha 304 looks and sounds amazing.
I had a $150 bass for years and didn’t enjoy playing much just played in bands cos no other bass players around. Then I bought a Stingray and the way it played made me want to practice. There is something to be said for not starting off on terrible gear
Indeed.
Indeed. There is something about the quality of the guitar (electronics, pickups, tone and overall design).
Absolutely, but there is also something to be said for not spending more than a month's rent ($350 is a big lot of money for many people on earth) on a hobby you might not stick to. If everyone knew "bass" is something they're going to do with a passion for the rest of their lives, I assume most people would buy a $1200 bass right away and maybe never even get a second one.
@@BlommaBaumbart yeah good point. It’s about finding the happy medium isn’t it
Yep! I owned a lower line Spector and never wanted to play it... but I've had even cheaper basses that made me want to play all the time and of course, most of the Fenders I've had were inspirational to play!
I wasn't getting into the $500 range until I had been playing for a few years. I think reviewing sub $250 basses is much more realistic for someone's first instrument.
well you can spend an extra penny to go to the 500$ range and keep them for longer than a 250$ ones (so you save some extra cash by dodging the upgrade from 250$ to 500$ range as well :P ) These basses are also kinda easier to sell/better resale vale.
You can frequently find the TRBX 304 or 305 used for under $300. I picked up mine for $150. I even found someone selling the pickups/wiring harness for the 304 for $40 and put them in another bass. Part of being a beginner is buying used.
There are, in my opinion and contrary to popular belief, VERY few sub-$250 instruments that are suitable for a beginner. They ALL need work to play right, some more than others, and beginners are less likely to know how to do that work or who they can have the work done by, or even that work is needed at all. Without a good setup, almost all bargain basement instruments are hard and/or uncomfortable to play, which sucks for anyone but is WAY harder on a beginner who probably hasn't developed a lot of hand strength/dexterity or calluses yet. Couple that with the fact that they typically aren't as visually attractive or tonally pleasing as the next price tier of instruments, and I see a very high probability of beginners losing interest. Want to save money? Buy used. You'll save a pantload, and the odds are pretty good that it will have already have had any necessary setup work done.
@@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney yeah and even the better ones of the sub250$ range are generaly around 200ish. A good money saving can happen by getting an amplug (like the vox one) instead of an full amp. Costs 50$ and sound is as almost good as an 110$ amp
Apothecy ,for example , I live in Russia , and I can’t buy even bass that costs 150$ , because 150$ is more than half of my salary
I'm a sucker for that yamaha design. I just love it.
Edit: update: I bought it and I'm super happy with it :)
Same nice and simple
@@MrEvan-xw6nn yeah and I like those clearly defined, sleek edges
100%
Its a great bass. I just wish they had a wood tone design for it. Not a fan of the color schemes.
Yamahas don't really get the respect they deserve.
If everyone has Yamaha in the Top 2, that says something.
Yes you never see anyone playing a Yamaha on stage....I see FAR more Squiers.
@@michaelbell75 squier quality control is shit,and did you ever heard of Billy Sheehan
From my experience with not just Yamaha Basses, but almost any other instrument, Yamaha meets almost any requirement for an instrument, but is only beat out by instruments that specialize in something
Hate the sound and lack of weight of every yamaha bass i've ever played which is several, I keep trying to find one I can dig on.
@@fastestdrawinthecommentsec5770 Well put!
I brought the Yamaha 304 and a new love affair began. Six months in I'm still in love. Awesome bass for the money. Thanks guys for the great advice. Bass rocks. John
Glad you're enjoying it John!
Have been a bass player for 55 years, mostly used Gibson basses. I purchased a silver Squier Modified Jaguar passive bass a couple of years ago that was intended to be just a kick around bass. Hadn't ever played one before my purchase, bought it on-line, and it ended up becoming my go-to bass. I love the feel & play-ability of the neck, and the controls are simple. The variety of tones available with one P-bass and one J-bass pickup suits my needs well. I was totally blown away at the tonal quality, being that this bass felt so light-weight compared to what I had played in the past. And, at the value of what I feel I got for my money (if anything like theft or fire were to happen) it would be reasonably affordable to replace.
Your content is great, you definitely need more attention
Ibanez Talman TMB100 is a great bass, i just happened to play one at the store,, i could not believe how good it is for the price.
I was just about to say something about the Ibanez tmb Talman series,I have a 310 and absolutely love it
I have a TMB100 sitting right next to me. The active pickups are absolutely amazing, it sounds really punchy, and sounds even better with a pick
@@TiredMango1 I have a tmb 310,I love it,I had to change the tuners and have to put new stacks in mine,I got screwed from the factory,but at the price range I can't complain,I'm able to dial in any bass sound I want,from a p bass, to the punchy stingray tone,when I flip the switch to just the top half the bridge pup,(310s got the double jazz looking pup at the bridge) and turn my highs and mid highs up at the amp I can make it sound like a jazz bass,my funk machine is one of my favorite in my collection,it was an impulse buy about 3 years ago,I'm really happy about it🤘🤘🤘
@@TiredMango1 same here
I want to play bass guitar. Can I buy ibanez grs205sm guitar as my first bass guitar? Will it be good for me? I will play metal music,hard rock and others.
I am in my 30s and wanted to start learning bass as a hobby, a friend of mine suggested that we go to a nearby shop that sells used guitars and basses from japan, got myself a Fender MIJ jazz bass for cheap, it definitely needs TLC but it’s definitely a gem to play with. Parts are pretty hard to come by here in the Philippines but everything can be ordered online nowadays.
You are in the Philippines? I pity you. Philippinos stole my gear. To heck with them. Never going back.
Amazing. I didn't know that anyone did honest gear reviews on youtube. I just bought my bass and amp, and this convinced me to buy your course when they arrive.
I would suggest the Sterling by Musicman SUB. Nice punchy MM sound and really comfortable to play. Just my two cents
I got the SUB Ray 5 back in 2014. Out of all the basses I've owned it was the cheapest at $246 and it sounded the best. I also have a Squier PJ coming in the mail tomorrow and I think between those two I will have all the sounds I will need.
I've got a Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Ray 4 bass ($325 - left handed) & a Sterling by Music Man Ray 4 bass($2,150 - left handed). Been playing the S.U.B. Ray 4 since July, & the Ray 4 since mid-December. I'm just learning to play, & I love the sound & feel of both of these bass guitars.
finally someone that calls his "2 cents" really "2 cents". Sometimes people write essays and say "hahah just my 2 cents guys!1!1!" with a 3000 word long comment
I second that!
The stingray sub is my choice as well. Lots bass for $300. Sounds really close to the MM $2000 big bro
I went and listened to some sound samples of the TRBX304. After hearing the metal sample, I'm in love with this thing!
My vote is…. Ibanez Mikro bass. PJ pickups. Short scale. Restring with LaBella flat wounds for smooth feel on your fingers. About $180. I enjoy playing it, sounds good, comfortable.
TRBX304 hands down,tone,look,construction,mahogany body,five piece maple/mahogany neck,hot humbuckers,five way switch selector Yamaha are always Big Bang for the buck,that's why i love this brand.
T.I.N Mateus yamaha trbx sucks i have one its awful to play not worth the price i prefer ibanez btb or Sr premium class
The look I dislike a lot
@@recordlabeldao7820 I think you're crazy my man, but a bunch of stuff about this is subjective. So whatever
I have one it's a beaut.
@@lil_weasel219 they yamaha is my favourite looking
I’m getting the Cort this weekend, and am stoked. I played one at the shop and it seems right for my needs now. I hope to play lots of bass guitars over time.
The question is beginner bass. Simple is good and in over 40 years of playing bass I've never found much that you can't make a decent job of with a precision or a jazz. Most beginners make the mistake of thinking more knobs and switches will make them sound better when in fact the opposite is true.
It is not the more is better. It is the added versatility of the 2nd pickup that you get.
Im super excited to get my first bass! Thanks so much for all the work you did to whittle down some reasonable choices for your viewers!
What did you eventually buy?
That's what I was going to ask, what did you end up buying?
@@sbentsen2714 I'm still saving up, but I'm going to get the Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass!!!
@@taija8041 Did you get it
@@theentirestateofalaska.4983 i did not! fallen on hard times lmao. thanks for asking! (not joking)
Lockdown boredom got the better of me and I ended up buying my first bass (after 30ish years of owning guitars) entirely based on online reviews, this one included.
Quite strange buying a new instrument with no real point of reference, but I went for the Yamaha in the end and I'm utterly happy with it. Very solidly built, excellent finishing, the neck, pickups and electronics are all awesome and the sound is incredibly versatile before even adding effects into the mix. I do agree that using the 5 way EQ selector can be quite complex alongside the other controls and having a 3 band EQ would be simpler, but I'll get used to it.
I love randomly going through your catalog. Another great video. Man I wish these were around 25ish years ago. Ypu make them entertaining though, and that's what I find awesome
My first bass was a TRBX174. Tried everything in the store from Squires, Ibanezs, Jaguars, Deans and Schecters, and still preferred the simple look and feel of the passive TRBX174. Sounds great. Paid $169 on sale. The only issue I had was the bridge pick-up was not set-up right from the factory. A few simple turns of the screw to adjust the pick-up height and everything sounds fine now.
I still enjoy playing it but have recently upgraded to the BB234. I really like both my Yamaha and would recommend to any beginner on up! And as in any purchase of any stringed musical instrument, it has to be properly set-up regardless of the price you pay for it.
I'm so happy the Cort action is the best budget bass! I have it for a while now and it kept me satisfied all these years playing in a band
Where can I buy one?
@@sgordon5043 local music shop! There are many around so you can scout all shops for better deals and get to try them out at the same time.
Thank you for this video Josh, Ben, and Gio. Im a beginner and im struggling in choosing my first Bass. But this really help alot. Thanks for the great ideas.
Thanks a lot for all these reviews man. I own an Yamaha TRBX305, which is the 5 string versión of the one you reviewed. Now more than ever, I'm happy to see that I really bought a good instrument. And, yes, it is SUPER VERSATILE!
A funny thing is that, I also own a Fender Rumble 100, and in your amp reviews, you recommended the fender Rumble 40 as the best option. Thanks man, you just boosted my self-esteem. 😁😁
I been playing a music man SUB ray4 for over 4 years and I still love it, such a nice bass for less than 400 bucks
Got a Yamaha Jaguar myself, pretty solid, just have to give it some love with the truss rod and work on the bridge from time to time. (Guess that doesn't really qualify as a beginner bass though.)
This video is old and all but I hope you'll read this comment, amazing content. Been getting back into playing after a whopping 10 year hiatus. Thank you so much for all the help.
You're welcome Kathul!
For any parents looking for their kids first instrument or anyone looking for their own first instrument and found this video, this is a great indication of where ANYone should start. I've been playing professionally for 20+ years and I still take nicer Squiers and other "low end" instruments on gigs and even recording and get great sounds, comparable to my more expensive instruments. Although there's value in spending more than this, spending less is a trap. For example, the low end Squiers (currently called Affinity) are a really big step down, and as you or your kid progress, the build quality will start to be a real pain point. It is almost always worth the extra 1-200 for the next model up in these "low end" brands (brands like squier, epiphone, sterling, etc). For Squier the tier up would currently be "Classic Vibe", as an example. The cheapest thing they make is awful, the 2nd cheapest, crazy good for the price. It's a weird trope that mostly holds true.
Another reason to do this is, if you want to adjust or improve the sound of something like a Classic Vibe (or in this video, Vintage Modified) there are a lot of easy/affordable upgrades you can make to the instrument itself (like swapping a pickup). Whereas the bottom tier (Affinity's) are often not well built enough to be worth upgrading (unless you're a full on tinkerer/guitar tech).
Anyway, that's just my experience with these, I'm rarely the guy spending $2k+ on instruments, I've mostly gotten away with modding and critically looking for the models that standout for value.
Thanks for the amazing review! I have been debating a beginner's bass for quite a while now and this review helped zero in on the 1 that I thought best to start with. Cort Action PJ Series 4-String Electric Bass, Open Pore Walnut is what I ordered.
You're welcome Sean, hope you dig your new bass!
A friend and former bandmate of mine had bought his beginner bassist son a white Yamaha TRBX304 and a Fender Rumble 40 a couple of years ago; Looks like the guys at that shop knew their stuff! 😉👍
This "Best Beginner Bass" may be (over)due for an update? I went looking for the winner here, Squier Vintage Modified Jazz, and it seems to be discontinued. Any update as to its replacement? Really nice channel, Josh is really relatable and absolutely no BS here. Too many of these channels are music stores just trying to sell their stuff. Not here. Josh is a musician and a user not a salesman. He's like, hey guys, look what I found!! Keep it up, great content. . . . . and maybe update this vid?
4:59 How do you get that sound, Im a beginner bassist and I wanna play like that
Try to play near to the bridge
@@remley8877hi, do you mean mids five or six?
@@remley8877 thanks.
Its just fast plucking
Thank you for your review, especially testing a Squire. I've tried to do my homework, and discovered that although the Squire has many positives, the one negative that destroyed the entire possibility of considering it, is that the machine heads are cheap, and break!
I bought the TRBX204 and that's before watching this comparison video and the other blind test video. It's definitely a good purchase for a beginner like me.
I used to play guitar only. A friend sadly had to quit bass playing due to an injury right at the time when I wanted to switch to bass several years ago. He gave me his cheapo Yamaha bass as a present. I never felt the need for another bass ever since, no matter what style I'm playing.
Same experience. I upgraded it to the one in the video. It's great. I lent it in a bar jam to a friend who is a high quality multi instrumentalist who praised it.
I got the Cort Action PJ. I’ve learned to play Bass on it, and I love it.
i personally really like the cort action bass v plus (its not on the list sadly)
its a 5 string bass for around 300 dollars. i really recommend it for new players. active pickups. great feeling neck and frets. and it sounds so good. probably the best bass ive ever played along with some ibanez basses and fender and yamaha. the cort is a really good choice if you want to get high quality for a *really* fair price. so i really really recommend it for new players that are just getting into bass and thinking about what bass to buy.
Hey what do you think should i buy beetween ibanez gsr320 and cort action?
Sorry for bad english ✌️
I like the TRBX option. Let's see now. First, cut the headstock from behind the emblem and rotate it 180 degrees then glue it back on. Second route a slot between the two pickups and move the neck pickup back and find the sweet spot that Yamaha did not find. This also makes room for slapping. I have already done this and made it mines
You basically picked the J-Bass so you didn't full out recommend the Yamaha. The videos is supposed to be about the best beginner bass but you based your answer on what you need in your life now but thats the wrong premise. What is the best beginner bass? It's the Yamaha
seconded
Well said Brik. I noticed that too.
Music is subjective. 3 pro bassists all picked different winners based on what they individually look for in an instrument.
Dude. Local bass legends jam sesh. Loved this hermano!
In 2022, a used Sire Marcus Miller four string V7 or P7 will run around $400 on Reverb in mint condition. Combined with a Fender Rumble 40 Bass Amp for $200 new from Amazon or Guitar Center is a setup that plays as good as any high end Fender basses, and can take a player from beginner to playing with a band without having change your setup. The Sire Marcus Miller series basses also have less neck dive than a Fender bass while still maintaining the tone and feel of a traditional fender P or Jazz bass. Which is why Marcus Miller puts his name on these super affordable basses.
I love my Ibanez SR305EB. First bass and I’m not looking back. Been playing guitar for over 15 years, but just recently switched over to bass. Way more fun! 😬
You guys deserve waaaay more subscribers! Well done guys!
Thanks Linus!
Wow, I am so glad that my first bass(still in use till now) is Yamaha Trbx 304. I bought the bass 4 years ago when I knew nothing about bass!
I grew up on a Peavey T40, bought it new in 79 or 80. My ex-wife pawned it while I was on deployment about 20 years ago, broke my heart and I haven't played bass since. I think I'm finally over my lost love and am ready to buy a new bass. Looking in the same price range I narrowed my choices to these 2 as well, just need to go to the city and take them for a test drive and see which one feels better. I also like the Epiphone EB3 but it looks like the position of the neck pickup is not ideal.
Quincy Berman man you can get a 79 t40 for so cheap.
I bought one last month and it's a beauty in white. Brought it home, played for a couple of days then return to the shop for a set up. So when i was about to pick up my bass guitar the technician told me this exact word " You have a very nice guitar, i didnt know Yamaha has done good ones". That guy is an old guy and bet has a years of experience with such instrument.
Well hell, now we're gonna need a tutorial on that riffage your buddy was doing at 0:51 !!!
I bought myself Yamaha something 5 string active bass and I love it! Was curious to see what will come from this test and I got the answer. 1 Ben picked Yamaha and cited the right reasons. Gio picked bass that is like his bass but the review says BEGINNER basse... so I count that Yamaha won also because beginner doesn't know in which style he will end up so being able to try more genres is a winner.
Josh picked a bass that would complete his collection but again gave reasons that Yamaha is a winner on features alone without what He needs in his collection.
So for me Yamaha won with them 3!
They were looking for good bass for beginners! I am a beginner and my Yamaha allows me to try so much different genres. I added line 6 low down studio 110 with again a lot of options and I feel like I am motivated to practice because I can try more stuff than just one genre.
Too bad Line 6 stopped producing these amps but if you have a chance grab yourself that amp used. There is nothing better, cheaper and lighter than that 75w amp for beginner. When you find what you dig the most then buy specific. I love me Yamaha + Line 6 rig! I think I have the older model than what they tried but whenever one of my friends grabs that bass they are shocked how much they like it.
One other consideration: fret count / string length. The bass I started out on was an Ibanez 24 fret. After a few years I switched to a Fender Jazz, but the muscle memory often had me mis-fretting. Took me a while to be able to switch comfortably between the two. Ive pretty much gone back to all Ibanez 24 fret basses….so for me, the Yamaha. (But that Fender is my favourite colour scheme for a vintage bass)
Popping in - don't sleep on the Yamaha BB235 - It plays and sounds just as good as the $2000 model I played on of a similar model. 5 string, PJ, passive, with lots of body and character. It does it all. Worth every penny, punches far above its weight
Yeah those BBs look great, I wanna play with them more!
@@BassBuzz Definitely do - this model has lightweight tuners pre-installed, so there's no neck dive.
Yeah can't go wrong with Yamaha or Squier.
For anyone looking at the TRBX304, but wished it had passive electronics and a vintage vibe, check out the Yamaha BB234 🎸
100% agree!
I got 2 Yamaha and it’s my gigging bass! No complaints especially how inexpensive it is!🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
It just so happens that I have 2 Ibanez basses and it's my gigging bass. I too, have no complaints about price. Cool, we both found gear we like, that we could afford. Rock on.
☑️ my vote is for Ibanez , generally like their esthetic, but Not the Gio bought one online and returned it, thought the quality was not great but the SR 300 and up and are good value ‼️🤔😊
Very good review. I went with a Squire C Vibe `60s Precision. The Squires are pretty good and I had all the American models.
Had a MIM Fender jazz bass. I traded for a more expensive Warwick Corvette. I didn't realize how much I loved that jazz bass until I got rid of it. That Jazz was built for the way that I play. I can't wait until I can buy another one.
I think a beginner should always start out with a Precision Bass. It is so bassic that the bass itself does not take the attention away from learing the instrument and to shape tone with your fingers. Depending on the budget I would recomend to start with a Squier or a Fender Mexico. After some time and some experience you can start looking at other basses with more tonal options. But learn the bassics with a P Bass.
imo a beginner should start with whatever intrigues them. if it doesn’t spark joy, what’s the point?
@@hekzter3895 That's sensible, but I believe that most beginners don't have the knowledge necessary to avoid being misguided by a mere whim. At the very least, a first instrument should be versatile enough to not sound "out of place" in any of the more popular genres. That being said, if the beginner in question has a very specific taste in music, then maybe sacrifice versatility for what's more appropriate for your genre of choice (still a risky decision, I believe, but you do you).
Congratulation, you have do a wide, wise and useful review! It will help a lot beginner players to choose the right bass! Please do not stop, keep doing that with intermediate level, I believe everybody will appreciate it!
Will do Ignacio. :)
I bought the Yamaha trbx304 as my beginner bass. Not for sound. Not for price. Yamaha did something smart and put a place for your thumb and index fingers on the pickups to play. Yamaha made a comfortable bass to play which makes it fun to play.
Can't it be done on every other bass though?
There is an actual cut out in both pickups where you can place your thumb.
@@glennhiscock5424 didn't know that, sounds cool! Thanks for sharing :) Edit: just googled it and it looks like I never noticed, but it makes a lot of sense now that I know about it.
I own a Squier VM as my first Jazz Bass, and I am very happy with it. Nice, fun to play, has a nice sound. To me this comparison is a bit like an oranges to apples comparison because they are targeted to very distinct audiences. Anyway, you can't go wrong with any of these. Yamaha does whatever it takes to satisfy musicians with nicely built, budget-friendly instruments.
The SQ VM 70s JB was my restart as a bass player 4 years ago. It's in Candy Apple Red with a black pickguard and a maple neck. Looks, feels and plays absolutely great and the tones you can get from it are real classics. During my test session which included American made JBs, Precis, some Yamahas, a Sterling SUB and some Ibanez material, this one really stood out. I even preferred it over the American JB, that really says something. And it was not only about money. I was ready to spend those 1.100 € on the American but to be honest, there was hardly a recognisable difference between the two, let alone one that would justify a gap of more than 700 €. I love this bass to bits and play it the most, compared to my other basses (Ibanez ATK 305 (MiJ) & Yamaha BBN4F). Can you imagine the sound when played through my G-K 1001RB II paired with an FMC 212 cab including an 8-inch mid-high-range speaker? This is what I call pure satisfaction... :D :D
I have had some G&L basses in the past; a JB2 and tribute L-2000 and IMHO they beat any Squier VM, Yamaha or Cort any day of the week. The price tag of the G&Ls may be a little higher but it is absolutely worthy. The L-2000 packs a good bunch of fun stuff (active-passive, EQ, vol, tone...) and they feel rock solid in hands, just as the well-considered Japanese Fenders or Fernandes.
Like your videos, you come over very friendly and have good content and are very informative.
Thanks Deon!
I’m buying my first bass and I think I am going to go with the Yamaha. Thanks a lot. 👍
I have been playing a Yamaha RBX-775 for 16 years now and is still my #1 bass especially after adding in an Aguilar preamp! I can pull pretty much any kind of tone I want from it including a “P-Bass” believe it or not. If I were in the market for a new bass, I’d be looking at the TRBX model that is a step up from the 304.
How much?
Believe it or not, I use a Jay Turser Vintage Series Jazz bass in white (which was a *blemish model* or 'B-stock')that I purchased for under $200 bucks that I got from eBay and I couldn't be more happier with it. The neck is a nice buffed-out rosewood fingerboard with superior craftsmanship regarding how well the neck was made. The pickguard is not authentic torty-shell, (just a printed graphic really). It is really very comfortable to play and the stock 'import' pickups did not leave a bad impression on me as they sound above average for a bass in that price range. It is closely similar to the white Fender Squier that you feature on this channel. Definitely worth a look into.
I played P basses for decades. Then started playing guitar. I recently came into a situation to play bass again.
I tried a Squire P bass with the added J bass bridge pickup. It was twice the’73 maple P bass I played for years
But, I chose the even cheaper TRBX174. Greater versatility, a better more playable neck and if you want the more traditional P bass sound it can be had easily by turning down the volume on the J bass pickup and dialing the tone knob back half or so. And stop slapping it.
If you want to slap, turn the bridge pickup back on.
My first bass was a Yamaha TRBX304, it's pretty darn awesome
I've been playing a Japanese Fernandes J-bass for 15 years and I have never felt much need to upgrade.
I'm a beginner at bass and I bought a Music Man Stingray Special 5, because... why the hell not. Been a guitar player for almost 20 years and found out the hard way, that a quality instrument is the very best way to learn your craft. It doesn't mask your mistakes, demands clean technique, and at the same time, it'll make you play the instrument more often.
And then there's also the technical improvements: better handling, better sound, better tuning stability, easier setup. I've seen necks on "affordable" guitars and basses warp like hell over just a few degrees difference in temperature. Actions that were hopelessly inadjustable, tremolos that refused to work.
I'm not saying, that this is case with *every* affordable instrument - there are many affordable instruments out there well worth their money - but with every buck you don't spend, the risk of shortcomings increases. And I'm also not a fan of the classic "just install the expensive pickups and it's all the same", because it is not. I've tried it multiple times. Guitar manufacturers match the pickups to the bodies and woods, so if the affordable version doesn't match that to 100%, it'll *not* sound the same. And now you're 300 bucks short for a pair of pickups +installation that could as well have been invested in a used "original". Yada, yada...
Nice post...I agree with you. The white Jazz looks so much better than the Yamaha. I'd love seeing you compare violin basses such as the Rogue VB100, Epiphone Viola, Hofner Ignition, Brice, Dillion, Jay Turser, Brownsville, etc for their sound/playability rather than their similarity to the original Hofner. As an older player, I'm interested in lighter basses that sound good.
That would be super fun! We'd have to play Beatles lines all day. :)
I’ve been in a grueling process (still ongoing unfortunately) on getting a cheap quality bass... I’ve had to return two already and about to have to return a third. The first bass (Yamaha from Guitar Center) simply came used when I ordered a new one. I moved onto AMS and had ordered a Dean Edge 09. The Dean came with poor build quality- had cracks in the body and some dents and other things. Returned that for, what I currently have, is an Affinity Squire bass. I thought it was the one. I loved everything about it... once I noticed it was heavily buzzing I went to adjust the truss rod. There it was: a stripped truss rod. I am unable to adjust it. So the process of a new bass continues. At this point I just want someone thing that isn’t majorly flawed in a certain area and will let me get decent recordings 😭
U try a squier precision? If ur recording, and like the previous squier, it's set up how u like, and u can grab for 200 used, or 350+ new. Have only encountered 1 truss rod problem in 15 yrs. If it's new, truss won't be stripped.
After a long break i got back into bass again, dropped $110 on a Mitchell mb200 pj with an active EQ and its a really solid instrument.
If the Yamaha comes in a natural finish I'd buy it right now.. not that I really need another bass. I just want a bass with a natural finish with cool grain.
I wish it did, all the 304s are that modern metallic finish.
I've got the Yamaha TRBX174EW with tobacco sunburst finish which I bought 2 years ago. I played bass in high school but this is the first bass I ever owned. It gives you a lot for just under $220.00 MSRP. Full 2-octave fretboard, P-J pickup configuration, satin finished neck.
Nice video and a clean, fresh take on the entry-level bass options. One I would throw in is the Squier Standard Precision PJ Vintage Modified bass. You can pick them up for $130-160 and play them right away. I own one which I upgraded with CTS 250k audio pots and the Seymour Duncan PJ bass pickup set. I've now got just under $300 invested and it plays extremely solid.
Thanks for that addition, they really nailed it with a lot of those Vintage Modified instruments.
Great video. Great breakdown. Great description showing exactlyw hat people thought. Liked and Subbed!
It all boils down to how a bass feels. The rest you can fix up. Those Yamaha basses feel real nice.
Amazing videos. The whole series was worth the watch even for veteran players. Thank you for your time, effort and honesty. Cheers
Thanks Marcus! More to come.
Great job on all the reviews. Helped a great deal to narrow things down.
Glad they helped Andy.
i bought the yamaha 174ew (sunburst tobacco brown), 305 (white), and 605fm (satin natural flame maple& alder) for a great price for the three so its nice to see that the yamahas are worth the bang for the buck. i start my first lesson this weekend so im hoping to make my investments worth while.
I have a 28 year old RBX550M, had from new and its still good! A good bass is a good bass, it doesn't need to cost more! I have had more expensive basses and the RBX wasn't my first bass, but I still have it!
I went w a used Squire VM 70's Jazz Bass. Love it!
Charles Garcia How much was it?
These were great videos, thanks for the content!
You're welcome! More on its way...
Personally, I think anything with a P/J is a good beginner bass. You get jazz and funk tones as well as your rock, pop, and country tones. Although, a great option is the Ibanez SR300 with its splittable humbuckers and 3-band EQ as well as it feeling like a well built instrument. It's basically the TRBX with more tonal variety
Also no mention of the Samick P-Bass, Made in Korea. Samick is the largest guitar manufacturer in the world,
[and also Cort too].
I bought a used Fender 60th anniversary jazz bass (MIM) for a great price, and i really love it
I saw Ibanez in the the thumbnail and I clicked on it bc I recently got one for my first time and I love it
I got an SR300 in a trade and my tiny hands love that thing. The EQ is great too. Bass is not my main instrument but I can't think of a reason to upgrade until I outgrow it.
I have had 8 Cirrus basses in the past, really nice bass...
That's it, no reviews anymore ?
*You did it so good !*
You have to continue with it, not just Bass for beginners, do general reviews or some topics
(EQ, bass boost, custom made, etc. )
Hey Andy, we're still here! We've been doing a lot of stuff behind the scenes but we'll be putting out TH-cam videos more regularly in coming months.
Great, I'm looking forward to it
As a guitarist who recently got a bass i will admit that bass is fricken fun and amazing for coming up with songs when you don't have anyone to play with
I enjoyed this series. That typed, the end result from our host seems off, as this wasn't supposed to be about what you'd add to your collection, but what the best beginner bass is. Granted, the TRBX was the overall winner. Ha.
I was thinking the same thing about the adding it to my arsenal comment
I'm really not surprised at the Yamaha doing so well. I may try one to see for myself.
Josh, you are making a terrific job!!!! THANK YOU:)
I literally just came back from the guitar shop with ibanez gio gsr 180. I had a little struggle to choose between the basses you just shown on this video. Final call was between Yamaha and Gio and I chose it because I prefer the more dark tone and neck is slightly thinner. But it was a really close call😅
I just started playing and I bought a Fender Squier P bass and I wouldn't trade it for anything
Thank you for this video. I am going from guitar to bass and this is helping me so thanks
Well since I'm a newbie to playing the bass 🎸 i have a yamaha (it was a gift for my birthday) so i know i still have a lot to learn. 🤷🏽♀️😊🎸
Straight up dumb luck I bought my Yamaha TRBX305 two years ago. Wanted something affordable and reliable, figured Yamaha would be a good bet but I also really liked the shape and colour. Bought it for AUD $549 and now I see exact same bass in the same store for $699. Plays well enough for me, pretty glad I chose it.
I've been playing bass for 30 years, but I bought Yamaha's TRBX305 for the first time. It's a unique specification at this price. Conductive paint is applied, the weight is well-balanced, and there are a wide variety of tones. The fret processing is perfect and there is no dripping of paint. The best.Also, the wood removal of the maple part was a straight neck.
Absolute beginner here. I just bought a Yamaha TRBX174EW. Not only my first bass, but my first ever instrument! It cost $230 brand new from Amazon. Thoughts?
Congrats on your new bass Ali! I think those are solid.
@@BassBuzz Thank you. Great to know. I wanted a TRBX304 but just couldn’t afford it. Love your channel.
I have the same bass and couldn't be happier w it. Been playing for 15 years but didn't have one of my own for the past year or so. Looking for a budget bass and found one of these at a music shop. After having it for a few months it definitely punches above it weight.
NGL I've been eyeing the Ibanez SR250 for my first upgrade from my 15 year old $100 Fender (former guitar player recently switched to bass) but holy shit that Yamaha 304 looks and sounds amazing.
TMB100 Ibanez, great price,
great sound!