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Description
The Yamaha RBX6JM is designed for the discerning bassist who demands both versatility and performance. This 6-string electric bass guitar pushes the boundaries of traditional bass playing with its expanded range, perfect for intricate solos and complex chord progressions. The RBX6JM is a collaboration with renowned bassist John Myung, ensuring it meets the standards of professional musicianship.
The bass features a sleek, ergonomic body that is comfortable for extended play, while the bolt-on maple neck offers smooth playability and durability. The double-cutaway design grants easy access to the upper frets, allowing for creative expression across the entire fretboard. Equipped with two Yamaha custom alnico soapbar pickups, it delivers a rich and full sound, from deep lows to articulate highs.
The RBX6JM also includes an active 3-band EQ, providing precise tonal control to tailor your sound for any musical context. Whether in the studio or on stage, this bass is a versatile companion for any style, from rock to jazz to progressive metal. Its high-quality craftsmanship and attention to detail make it a reliable instrument for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Key Features:
- 6-string configuration for extended range
- Custom alnico soapbar pickups
- Active 3-band EQ for precise tonal control
- Ergonomic body design for comfortable play
- Bolt-on maple neck for smooth playability
- Double-cutaway for easy access to upper frets
Videos
mumubass
YAMAHA RBX6JM John Myung Signature Bass Test - GruvGear Fretwrap
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Yamaha RBX6JM.
Use cases and applications
User experience
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Some owners find the bass extremely heavy, which could affect prolonged playability.
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Despite its weight, it's considered easy to play and a suitable first six-string bass.
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Despite the lack of onboard EQ adjustments, users often rely on pedalboards for sound shaping, indicating the bass's flexibility with external gear.
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Features and functionality
Build quality
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The ebony fingerboard is highly praised for its aesthetics and playability, with the infinity inlay being a desirable feature for some owners.
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Mods and upgrades
5.0 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 5 Ratings
103
High quality performance bass from the late 90s
Great bass, and makes the 6 string world approachable for bassists coming from 4s and 5s. 35" scale length might be off putting to some, but for bigger people, this certainly helps. the controls are very dynamic and let you do way more than expected with a 3 band EQ, volume, and blend. Is ready to gig or record with right off the bat, and very easy to do so. If you can get ahold of one on the aftermarket, do it before the price skyrockets. Only issues i have are that the G and C strings don't have as full of a sound due to being stretched out the extra inch, but that's what needs to be sacrificed for a solid B and E string.
Preferred Settings + Usage:
peak metal tone is slight lows cut, big mid boost, slight high boost, blend pickups towards the bridge. for something jazzier, boost the lows, slight mids cut, and serious high cut with a pickup blend towards the neck (also gets a vintage 51 P sound).
88
Awesome bass
Brilliant bass guitar and, as a huge Dream Theater fan, I have always admired John Myung's playing - especially the speed and the range of effect-driven tones he's used on DT albums and on side projects like the Jelly Jam. This bass, which was one of Yamaha's era of signature instruments (which included other bassists' signature guitars by Billy Sheehan's Attitude III bass, John Patitucci's TRB and Nathan East's BB bass), offers a huge range of tone and when it as first made, was one of the best-value basses out there in terms of instrument production quality, tonal versatility and playability.
I got mine off of E-bay for about £850 in 2014, which was a bargain as I have seen them go more much more. Warning: B-String is floor-shakingly thunderous! The neck is fantastic and is much faster to play than the 'conventional' neck on my Fender American Jazz Bass. Really good bass guitar for rock music and will offer tonal range and playability capable of accommodating most other styles too. Controls are for three-band EQ, pick-up and master volume.
You'll be lucky if you can pick one up these days but If you're buying second hand, watch out for the condition of the bridge, tonal controls and the machine head pieces, I have seen the coating ware away quite quickly on the 'used' models. I really can't fault this instrument for those bass players wanting range of tone. I also love the 'infinity' inlay on the neck which was designed to compliment Dream Theater's Falling Into Infinity (1997) album, released around the same period.
Artist usage
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This was John's signature bass that was being produced in the mid to late 90s. To prove that he actually has used this bass, it is used through out this entire video and concert. (Metropolis Live Scenes From New York)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Yamaha RBX6JM, it is most commonly used with the following gear.