• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Musicaroo

Learn to Make Music Like a Pro

  • Home
  • Singing
    • Buying Guides
    • Great Singers
    • Learn To Sing
      • How To Sing Better
      • Best Online Singing Lessons
      • 30 Day Singer Review
      • Christina Aguilera Masterclass Review
      • Roger Love Singing Academy Review
      • Singorama Review
      • The Vocalist Studio Review
    • Tips & Advice
  • Guitar
    • Acoustic
      • Acoustic Buying Guides
      • Info & Tips
    • Baritone Guitar
      • Baritone Buying Guides
        • Best Acoustic Baritone Guitars
        • Best Electric Baritone Guitars
        • Best Baritone Guitar Strings
        • Dean Icon Review
        • ESP LTD BB-600 Review
        • ESP LTD SCT-607 Review
        • ESP LTD Viper-201B Review
        • Ibanez Iron Label RGIB21 Review
        • Squier Cabronita Telecaster Review
      • Info & Tips
    • Bass Guitar
      • Bass Buying Guides
        • Best Bass Guitars
        • Best Bass Practice Amps
        • Gretsch G2220 Review
        • Fender American Performer Review
        • Ibanez GSRM20 Review
        • Squier Bronco Review
        • Sterling Ray34 Review
        • Yamaha TRBX 504 Review
      • Famous Bassists
      • Info & Tips
      • Music With Bass
    • Electric Guitar
      • Buying Guides
        • Best Combo Amps For Metal
        • Best Electric Guitars
        • Best Metal Guitars
        • Best Electric Guitar Amps
      • Info & Tips
    • Famous Guitarists
    • Guitar Care
    • Guitar Music
    • Info & Tips
    • Playing Guitar
  • Violin
    • Buying Guides
      • Best Electric Violin
      • Best Violins For Beginners
      • Best Violin Bow
      • Best Violin Case
      • Best Violin Rosin
      • Best Violin Shoulder Rest
      • Best Violin Strings
      • Best Violin Tuner
    • Reviews
      • Bunnel Clearance Violin Review
      • Bunnel EDGE Review
      • Bunnel NEXT Review
      • Bunnel Pupil Violin Review
      • Cecilio CEVN-2 Review
      • Cecilio CVN-300 Review
      • Cremona SV500 Review
      • D Z Strad Model 101 Review
      • Mendini MV500 Review
      • NS Design WAV5 Review
      • Ricard Bunnel G2 Review
      • Yamaha SV-200 Review
      • Yamaha YEV-105 Review
    • Tips and Advice
  • Trumpet
    • Buying Guides
      • Best Trumpets
      • Best Pocket Trumpet
      • Best Plastic Trumpet
      • Best Trumpet Mouthpiece
      • Best Valve Oil For Trumpet
      • Best Mic For Trumpet Recording
    • Reviews
      • Allora MXPT 5801 Review
      • Bach TR300H2 Review
      • Carol Brass CPT-3000 Review
      • Eastar ETR-380 Review
      • Jean Paul TR-430 Review
      • Jupiter JTR710 Review
      • Mendini By Cecilio Review
      • Mendini MPTL Review
      • Sky Band Bb Review
      • Yamaha YTR-2330 Review
    • Tips and Advice
  • DJing
    • How To Become A DJ
    • Equipment For Beginners
    • Learn To DJ
    • Set Up DJ Website
    • Get First DJ Gig
    • Grow DJ Career
  • Great Music
    • Bands Like…
    • Great Songs About Things
    • Song Meanings
    • 27 Great, Forgotten 90s Songs
    • Best Karaoke Songs
    • Songs To Sing To Your Girlfriend
You are here: Home / Guitar

Yamaha TRBX 504 Review (Incredible Value For Money)

January 19, 2021 By Camila Leave a Comment

Yamaha is always a safe bet.

They make excellent instruments at all price levels. And every one of them is great value for money.

But the Yamaha TRBX 504 stands out.

Yamaha TRBX504 Premium Electric Bass Guitar
Yamaha TRBX504 Premium Electric Bass Guitar
4.5
$519.99
Pros:
  • Really good deal for the price
  • Controls bring a lot of tone-shaping options
  • Choose between active and passive electronics
  • Ergonomic and eye-pleasing design
Cons:
  • Nothing at this price level
View on Amazon
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
09/25/2023 07:44 pm GMT

It is the best bass guitar under $500 on the market.

The sound quality and playability are unmatched at this price level.

Even many higher priced instruments can’t come close.

But the tone it produces is not for everyone, even though it is incredibly versatile.

Read the rest of this review to find out if this is the right bass for you.

Table of Contents

  • 1 Yamaha TRBX504 Review: Overview And Features
    • 1.1 Key Features
      • 1.1.1 Design And Construction
      • 1.1.2 Pickups And Hardware
    • 1.2 Advantages And Disadvantages
      • 1.2.1 Pros
      • 1.2.2 Cons
    • 1.3 Yamaha TRBX504 Vs Sterling StingRay Ray34
  • 2 Yamaha TRBX504 Bass Guitar: Conclusion And Rating

 

Yamaha TRBX504 Review: Overview And Features

The TRBX504 is a mid to low-priced bass guitar that delivers the best ergonomic, aesthetic, and sonic qualities available at its price level.

Yamaha TRBX504

It has two humbucker pickups, but the preamp and tone shaping controls give you a ton of versatility, making it a great bass for any style.

There are certainly better bass guitars on the market, but they all cost far more. You will not find anything close to this model at this price range. That is part and parcel with this brand. All Yamaha bass guitars are good value.

 

Key Features

  • Mahogany body
  • 5-piece maple and mahogany neck, bolt-on construction
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Full-sized 34-inch scale length
  • 10-inch fretboard radius
  • 24 frets
  • Two Alnico V humbucking pickups
  • Active electronics with an active/passive switch
  • Volume and balance controls
  • 3-band EQ
Yamaha TRBX504 Premium Electric Bass Guitar
Yamaha TRBX504 Premium Electric Bass Guitar
4.5
$519.99
Pros:
  • Really good deal for the price
  • Controls bring a lot of tone-shaping options
  • Choose between active and passive electronics
  • Ergonomic and eye-pleasing design
Cons:
  • Nothing at this price level
View on Amazon
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
09/25/2023 07:44 pm GMT

 

Design And Construction

The mahogany body was designed to enhance your playing experience. It features a double-cutaway bass guitar design that goes deep towards the higher frets.

Yamaha TRBX 504 white

Both the front and the back side of the body have contours and indents that make holding and playing the bass much more comfortable.

The access to higher frets, however, is pretty basic, aside from the deeper than usual cutaways.

The mahogany body is accompanied by a bolt-on 5-piece maple and mahogany neck, fitted with a rosewood fretboard and 24 medium-jumbo frets.

These features make it a great choice for more virtuosic players who also love to invade those higher-pitch territories on their 4-string basses.

The TRBX504 has a full-sized scale length of 34 inches. The fretboard radius is a bit flatter than usual, measuring at exactly 10 inches.

Yamaha TRBX 504 black

Combined with the aforementioned ergonomic features, as well as the fact that it has 24 frets, this is yet more proof main target are virtuosic bassists.

The overall aesthetic features are surprisingly great for an instrument at this price level. It comes in two finish variants: Translucent Black and Brick Burst.

 

Pickups And Hardware

Things get even more exciting when you take a look at the pickups and electronics. It has a fine pair of Alnico V humbucker pickups, with active circuitry.

There’s even a switch that lets you choose between active and passive modes, which greatly increases this instrument’s versatility.

The preamp features a 3-band equalizer, one master volume control, and a balance knob that lets you choose between the two humbuckers.

Yamaha TRBX 504 pickups

The resulting output is pretty strong and thick due to the combination of active electronics and humbucking pickups.

But you can make it brighter, softer, and more mid-heavy – pretty much anything that comes to mind, all thanks to its detailed controls.

 

Advantages And Disadvantages

Pros

  • Great deal for this price
  • Very useful ergonomic features
  • Solid build quality
  • 24 frets give more options
  • Its controls make it fairly versatile

Cons

  • Nothing at this price level

 

Yamaha TRBX504 Vs Sterling StingRay Ray34

Finding a professional-level instrument at a more reasonable price level can be difficult. But there are a few rare examples on the market.

In addition to Yamaha, Sterling is another brand that delivers quality while keeping prices at a reasonable level. Sterling is a subsidiary of Ernie Ball Music Man.

They make stripped-down versions of Music Man instruments that retain the quality, but sell for a much lower price. Our favorite example is the Sterling StingRay Ray34.

sterling ray34 natural burst

While not as sharp-looking as the Yamaha bass, the Ray34 is higher quality and intended for experienced players.

It has a standard double-cutaway body and three basic variants that differ in build materials and finishes. Black, Swamp Ash, and Vintage Sunburst options feature bodies out of mahogany, swamp ash, and nyatoh respectively.

All three variants have roasted maple necks, although the black version comes with a rosewood fingerboard, which makes it unique in this aspect.

One of the main traits of the Ray34 is that it comes with an active preamp, just like Yamaha’s TRBX504. But it lacks the feature that lets you choose between active and passive electronics, despite being a more advanced bass.

What’s more, the base version comes with only one humbucker pickup in the bridge position, making it much simpler.

There is also the Ray34HH variant that comes with two humbucker pickups and a 3-way toggle switch. This one is slightly more expensive, but it is the one we featured in our full Sterling Ray 34 review, and the one pictured here.

The Ray34 has a regular scale length of 34 inches, as well as a 9.5-inch fretboard radius. But it only has 21 frets, compared to the Yamaha’s 24.

That said, the neck on the Ray34 feels a bit better than the one on the TRBX504. And, in the longer run, it’s a more reliable instrument.

sterling ray34 white

It may not have as many tone-shaping options, but it can still find its place in plenty of different genres. Its humbucker pickups are amazing and sound fuller than those on the Yamaha model.

While the Sterling is the all-around better instrument and aimed at more advanced bassists, the TRBX504 is more versatile and costs a lot less.

You’ll have to decide for yourself which is the better option for you. The good news is: whichever one you get, you’re getting an amazing bass and an amazing value for your money.

 

Yamaha TRBX504 Bass Guitar: Conclusion And Rating

The main target group for the Yamaha TRBX504 are intermediate players looking for a transitioning instrument on their way to becoming advanced musicians.

But the TRBX504 is also a great choice for frequently gigging musicians who need a reliable instrument, but have a limited budget.

It can work well for live shows, especially if you prefer humbuckers over single-coil pickups. But what really makes it stand out in its price category is its versatility.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find another bass this affordable that lets you choose between active and passive electronics, in addition to a 3-band EQ.

That’s why we voted it the best bass under $500 and gave it a Musicaroo rating of 4.5 out of 5.

Yamaha TRBX504 Premium Electric Bass Guitar
Yamaha TRBX504 Premium Electric Bass Guitar
4.5
$519.99
View on Amazon
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
09/25/2023 07:44 pm GMT

You Might Also Like

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Posts

Songs About A Good Man

19 Songs About A Good Man (Being, Having Or Finding A Great Man)

Black Female Singers Of The 70s

Black Female Singers Of The 70s (15 Greatest Voices)

Bass Guitar Setup Guide

Bass Guitar Setup Guide (5 Easy Steps To Setting It Up Right)

Bass Guitar Exercises

Bass Guitar Exercises For Beginners (6 Fun Drills To Learn Vital Skills)

How To Get Better At Bass Guitar

How To Get Better At Bass Guitar (Tips, Tricks, & Advice)

Footer

Important Links

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclosure

Search

Disclosure

Some recommended products may use affiliate links. musicaroo.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

*Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates

Copyright © 2023 · Musicaroo · All rights reserved.