« Yamaha RBX765A »

I purchased this bass in late 2002 at a Guitar Center in Houston for $450. I spent approximately three hours in the store playing a wide range of 5 string basses. I initially was unsure of the green color of this bass, but could not ignore the ease in which it played in my hands. I tried many others, including other Yamahas, but none of them played as well, nor felt as good as this one did. Oddly enough, I did try both the blue and red versions of the same make and model, but I found the green one just felt better.

First, I appreciate the feel of this bass. The ergonomic considerations that went into the design contribute to a very comfortable instrument. Although I am six feet tall with somewhat broad shoulders, I don't consider this bass to be very heavy. While my hands are just slightly larger than average, I have no trouble accessing and manipulating all of the portions of the strings. I play (on a regular basis) in a Christian praise and worship band in my church. The styles that we play tend to range from lite contemporary and traditional hymnals to some calypso and fast rock/mild metal.

I am also very pleased with the sound of this bass guitar. The active pickups in this instrument deliver a deep, aggressive, punchy sound. As opposed to some five and six string basses, this Yamaha's low B string emits a deep, clear tone, allowing it's lower range to be very effective in a variety of musical styles.

While trying to be truly objective, the only complaint I can really think of is that the gold hardware tends to accumulate dust and funk rather easily.

This five string bass has an alder/ash veneer body, a maple bolt-on neck, rose wood fretboard with 24 frets, 2 active humbucker pickups, gold hardware, and four volume/EQ controls.

It is available in three attractive translucent finishes - red, blue and green. As mentioned earlier, mine is green. The overall design makes for a very visually appealing bass guitar.

I have had a few Yamaha products in the past (4 string bass and 6 string guitar) and I have found them to be of a high quality when it comes to things like tone/sound, comfort, durability and action.

Keep in mind that the fact that this model bass utilizes active pickups means that it will only function if a nine volt battery is installed. I keep extra batteries with me in case the existing battery fails (which can be a bad thing during performance).

I love this bass guitar. It's design suits me and my playing style better than any I have ever used and it's appearance is both elegant and just plain cool. I have found that since I have begun playing this bass, I do not care for the feel of any other bass that I encounter, regardless of whether it is an old, beat up Ibanez or a new Warwick. This bass suits my every musical need, thus I have no use for any other bass guitar.

I realize that everyone is different and that this bass may not be as suitable for every bass player, but if you are a intermediate or advanced player* and seeking a new five string, I strongly recommend going to a Yamaha distributer and taking this model for a testdrive. In any event, take your time when looking for a new bass and try as many basses as possible - sooner or later you will find the one that brings you as much enjoyment as my Yamaha brings to me.

* I believe beginners should stay simple when looking for a new bass, at least until they develop their own style and technique.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com