Model Year: 2005
Price: $550.00 Canadian (new)
Where Obtained: Martha's Music (Camrose Alberta Canada)

I actually have the 5-string version of this bass, but they're basically the same, so I thought I'd put it with this item. It has dual active humbucking MMSR copy pups, individual pickup volume controls (active), master tone control (active), and master volume. 24 frets on a long scale neck (34"). Nice shape, fits very comfortably to play (although it's made my back a bit sore after playing for a long time standing.... could be posture, who knows..). Mine is the flat silver finish, which is actually kind of cheesey. It wasn't polished (big mistake) so the paint can chip rather easily... not a big deal, just an eyesore if you wear belts or sweaters with buttons/zippers.. anything of that nature. All in all not a bad entry level 5 string (I wouldn't go any lower from Yamaha personally)

I'm fortunate enough to have a veteran guitar tech in my immediate family, so I've got this axe set up VERY nicely. It plays buttery smooth all across the fretboard without buzzing, but the tone gets a touch sloppy in the higher registers. The neck is gorgeous, I've got average sized hands and this 5-string fits very comfortably, and plays very easily. I can pull of very fast slides on it (much faster than I did on my old P-Bass copy). I've played quite a few basses, and this one ranks quite highly (up there with the trusty Jazz basses).

I use a Laney RBW300 1x15 kickback combo amp with a BOSS Compression/Sustainer stomp box and a Behringer Bass EQ pedal (which btw is a very nice/affordable addition to any rig). I play mostly Praise and Worship music, but also some blues, rock, punk and jazz. This bass handles fingerstyle, pick, and slap/pop quite nicely, but requires a bit of tweeking to maximize the possibilities of any of these styles. It's got a warm, somewhat boomy tone, but if you work your EQ right, you can get a nice full sound from it (I normally boost around 150-200Hz a few dB, but the need to do that could be the fault of my amp... not the greatest articulation). The only real fault with the tone is that the master tone control seems to generate a bit of a hiss/static sound if you boost it at all... I don't know if this happens with other basses though... doesn't bother me as I keep my tone knob relatively low in most cases. I've never done any recording with it, but it's very predictable and reliable for live play, I use it all the time at Church

I trust this bass for live playing. I use it frequently at church, and in regular practices/jams at in dorms. I've had it adjusted about once a month, but only for good measure, and because a family member does expert repairs on my gear for free. I installed Schaller strap-locks on it, but the stock ones were ok... I just didn't like the idea of my bass plummetting to the ground during church or anything of that nature. I haven't had it long enough to know how it handles climate changes.... ask me in the spring

Model Year: 2004
Price: $500.00 Canadian (new)
Where Obtained: Steves Music

Made in Us Maple Neck 4 strings on 24 frets Volume, Tone, Tint, Treble 2 pickups It has active pickups Sparkling red finish Rock I don't know, it's just a nice bridge 1 Boss and 1 Roland locking tuners

I most definately can perform anything on this bass It's better because the neck isn't bulky like my Vantage I think it plays better because people that have seen my bass hav bought the same model No it does not

I use my yorkville 300 watt amp with it I play pretty much all classic rock It is also very well suited for like any rock style It's a full sound Actually it's better than most basses except for Rickenbacker's, Warwick's, and the Fender P Jazz Bass Huh? It's only noisy when my teacher blasts it No, use it anywhere

It is very reliable It's never been adjusted cause i've never busted it Everything's good Still the same quality

Model Year: 2005
Price: $325.00 (new)
Where Obtained: Guitar Center

I just liked the thumb rest and it looked pretty cool

The active pickup take up to much battery power to sound good so you have to keep replaceing the 9-volt battery like every so often and the e gets this wierd clicking sound and the paint rubs off so you have to carry a black shapie where ever you go.

Well I like to play metal and it gets me there just I wish the freaken e wasn't so damn clicky, its got a nice clean tone if you hook it up to a good amp but not a crapy berhinger like I do.

Its lasted me so far.

Model Year: 2005
Price: $470.00 Can. (new)
Where Obtained: local Shop

This is a Yamaha that is made somewhere other than North America, I'm not sure where. For the price, I'm pretty sure that it was not made in Japan. Alder body with a maple neck that is painted black. Rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays. twenty four frets with easy access to the upper register due to the shaved RBX body design. It looks kind of like the higher end RBX body types without as many contours. This bass has two passive humbuckers and an active preamp that puts out a very hot signal. It has a really great drop in type bridge that you don't have to feed the strings through to install.

I like a medium-low action and this bass is now set up perfectly. the bridge is completely adjustable and the truss rod works in very small increments. The neck is in between a P and a J neck with a nice round feel to the back. It plays very fast and easy. I instantly became a better player. I thought the painted neck would be sticky, but it works just fine. This is the best playing bass I could find under $1000. I played lots while searching and I fell in love with this one.

This bass sounds great played through any amp I can find. I play Blues, Rock, Jazz, Gospel, and country and this bass can pull it all off well. With the two pickups and active preamp, I can get all kinds of great sounds. I actually have a hard time making it sound bad at all.

I have only had it for a couple of months, but it still works like new. I have senn many Yamahas last for 15 to 20 years.