My new bass

[RW James]

My Crate bass amp has been giving me problems - the input jack is getting loose and I keep losing the signal. I went into my local music store to see if he could repair it (he used to work for Crate) and he thought he could - so that's coming up.

So then I wandered around the store...

Back story - I have a really cheap P-bass copy - really heavy with bad fret work. It worked fine for me when I was primarily a guitar player and only needed it for recordings. But now I'm playing bass regularly and the beast is getting me down.

Anyway, I spotted this Yamaha RBX260 on the wall for $180. Note: I'm still not ready to jump into this bass thing with everything I've got. But the price seemed right - and oh is it sweet to play. It's so easy - and it's so much lighter. So it came home with me.

I know I could probably get a better deal somewhere else - but I firmly believe in supporting my local non-chain store - and the price was what I wanted and it is the bass I wanted. So all is good.

Here's a picture (this is really mine)

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: My new bass

Hey man i love my RBX170 and you paid about the same price as me. Reason its light is cuz its agathis. Still sounds good though... but better electronics would help. Mine is a P/J setup so i like that a bit more. Though it does feel nice.. i really like neck. its a very responsive bass. happy NBD!

 

[RW James]

Re: My new bass

... but better electronics would help...

You're probably right - but I'll play it a bit, then I'm thinking I might swap a set of Basslines quarter pound pickups from my other bass. I think that may help a lot.

I'll put the Yamahas in the cheap copy and give it to my son.

 

[Philcguitars]

Re: My new bass

Nice!

Is that a sparkle finish or just grain in the picture?

 

[RW James]

Re: My new bass

Nice!

Is that a sparkle finish or just grain in the picture?

Well, I generally consider sparkle to be the large metal flakes - but yeah, it sparkles! I've had a thing for blue metal flake or sparkle since I was a kid.

I'll see if I can get a better picture today.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: My new bass

I can't see the pix now, just thought I'd bump...

 

[RW James]

Re: My new bass

I can't see the pix now, just thought I'd bump...

Got me! Things got crazy around here and I didn't get a chance to take a new photo. (I took three of my guitars over to the music shop to sell on consignment. I just don't need the guitars as much as I need the room and the money.)

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: My new bass

I am 90% sure that's the model I started out on Bass with. Brown finish, but other than that I think it's spot on. Borrowed it from the younger bro to record my band's first album, then finially bought my own when we started gigging. Great starter bass.

 

[RW James]

Re: My new bass

I am 90% sure that's the model I started out on Bass with. Brown finish, but other than that I think it's spot on. Borrowed it from the younger bro to record my band's first album, then finally bought my own when we started gigging. Great starter bass.

Yeah - that's pretty much in line with everything I've seen about it. I think it will work well for me until I'm either back on guitar or I can see myself as a bass player for good.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: My new bass

That thing looks both fun and functional!

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: My new bass

But isn't Rick James *supposed* to be playing a white Rickenbacker 4001?

 

[RW James]

Re: My new bass

But isn't Rick James *supposed* to be playing a white Rickenbacker 4001?

I tend to stay away from anything that says "email for price"

 

[Sanford]

Re: My new bass

Bass is fun! I'd like to explore how to "properly" play, but for now I enjoy the hell out of grooving it up with riffs I usually play on guitar. Good score, Rick.

 

[RW James]

Re: My new bass

I updated the initial post with an actual picture of my bass. Here is a close up of the body:

 

[RW James]

Re: My new bass

Played it out for the first time this morning. The sound guy said it was a real improvement. One thing I noticed was the dynamics in sound. I can really play with the volume by just changing the picking. My old piece of junk would only play at one level - even with the Basslines in it.

I was considering moving the Basslines Quarter Pound pickups in, but now I'm wondering - it sounds so good now. I don't know...

 

[Sanford]

Re: My new bass

Give it a few more gigs, see if you continue to like the sound. If it keeps you smiling, then leave it alone.

 

[Sordid Tales]

Re: My new bass

I used to have that exact same model in pink (I needed a bass and it was 30 bucks). Some rattle can auto paint from walmart and basic art skills turned it into a awesome gunmetal gray with a pinstriped spade.