Yamaha TRBX174 4-String Electric Bass

Quick Product Summary

The Yamaha TRBX174 4-string electric bass is an excellent starting point for players who want a proper full-size bass with useful tonal versatility, comfortable modern styling and the straightforward reliability associated with Yamaha.

Built around a mahogany body, maple neck and full 34-inch scale length, the TRBX174 gives beginners a genuine long-scale bass platform rather than a simplified instrument they are likely to quickly outgrow. Its 24-fret fingerboard provides plenty of range, while the 40mm nut width keeps the neck approachable for developing players and guitarists moving across to bass.

A ceramic split single-coil neck pickup and ceramic single-coil bridge pickup give the TRBX174 a flexible P/J-style tonal arrangement. Separate volume controls let you blend the pickups to taste, while a master tone control makes it easy to move between warm supportive bass sounds and brighter, more articulate tones.

For lessons, home practice, rehearsals, recording and the first steps towards live performance, the TRBX174 delivers the essential features without unnecessary complication.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Yamaha
Series	TRBX
Model	TRBX174
Type	4-string electric bass
Body	Mahogany
Neck	Maple
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Scale Length	34" / 863.6mm
Nut Width	40mm
Frets	24 Medium
Pickups	Ceramic split single-coil + ceramic single-coil
Electronics	Passive
Bridge	Vintage-style
Main Appeal	Affordable full-scale bass with versatile passive pickups
Best For	Beginners, students, home recording and developing bassists

What's Included?

• Yamaha TRBX174 4-string electric bass
• ✘ No case included
• ✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Why Choose The Yamaha TRBX174?

A Proper Full-Size Bass To Learn On

The TRBX174 uses a standard 34-inch scale length, giving beginners the same fundamental scale used across a huge range of professional four-string basses.

That means the playing habits, fret spacing and technique you develop can transfer naturally when you eventually move to another full-scale instrument.

Versatile P/J-Style Pickup Combination

The neck position uses a ceramic split single-coil, while the bridge uses a ceramic single-coil.

This gives you more flexibility than a bass with only one pickup. The neck pickup provides a deeper and fuller foundation, while the bridge pickup adds extra attack and definition when you need the bass to cut through.

Independent Pickup Volume Controls

Rather than using a fixed pickup selector, the TRBX174 gives each pickup its own volume control.

This allows you to blend the two pickups in different proportions, opening up a wider range of sounds than simply choosing one pickup or the other.

24-Fret Fingerboard

Many traditional basses stop at 20 or 21 frets. The TRBX174 provides 24 medium frets, giving you a full two-octave range on each string.

That extra upper-register access is useful as your playing develops into melodic bass lines, fills and lead-style techniques.

Passive Electronics Keep Things Simple

The TRBX174 requires no battery.

Plug it into your bass amplifier and play. For a beginner, that means fewer things to manage, while more experienced players may simply appreciate the straightforward response of a passive instrument.

Yamaha TRBX174 vs Popular Alternatives

Yamaha TRBX174 vs Yamaha TRBX204

The TRBX204 is the next logical step if you like the TRBX format but want active electronics.

Both instruments use a split neck pickup and single-coil bridge pickup, but the TRBX204 adds an active 2-band EQ for direct bass and treble adjustment from the instrument.

Choose the TRBX174 if simplicity and value are your priorities. Choose the TRBX204 if you specifically want onboard active tone shaping.

Yamaha TRBX174 vs Yamaha TRBX304

The TRBX304 moves much further into Yamaha's modern active bass concept, with dual ceramic humbuckers, a five-piece maple/mahogany neck, slimmer 38mm nut and Yamaha's Performance EQ system.

The TRBX304 is better suited to players wanting extensive tone shaping and rapid switching between different styles. The TRBX174 is the more accessible option when straightforward passive operation is preferred.

Yamaha TRBX174 vs Yamaha BB234

The Yamaha BB234 takes a more traditional route with an alder body, 21-fret neck and Yamaha V3 ceramic P/J-style pickups.

Choose the BB234 if you prefer the more traditional BB design and playing feel. Choose the TRBX174 if the modern body styling, 24-fret range and accessible TRBX format appeal more.

Yamaha TRBX174 vs Yamaha TRBX174EW

The TRBX174EW shares the same fundamental pickup layout and playing dimensions but adds a laminated exotic-wood top for a more distinctive visual appearance.

If the main priority is value and straightforward TRBX performance, the standard TRBX174 makes excellent sense. The TRBX174EW is the option to consider when you particularly want the upgraded visual treatment.

Who Is The Yamaha TRBX174 For?

The Yamaha TRBX174 is particularly well suited to:

• Complete beginners buying their first bass
• Students taking bass lessons
• Guitarists wanting to learn bass
• Teenagers and adults ready for a full-size instrument
• Home recording musicians
• Players wanting both split and bridge single-coil sounds
• Bassists needing an affordable second instrument
• Musicians who prefer passive electronics
• Players exploring rock, pop, indie, funk and general covers

The TRBX174 is affordable enough to make sense as a first instrument but uses conventional full-scale dimensions and a genuinely useful pickup layout, giving it far more long-term potential than a bass designed purely as a short-term beginner product.

Suitable Genres And Playing Styles

The TRBX174 works particularly well for rock, pop, indie, blues, punk, soul, funk, alternative, contemporary worship and general covers work.

For fingerstyle playing, the split neck pickup gives you a strong foundation with plenty of body.

For pick playing, blending more of the bridge pickup can help introduce additional attack and note definition.

The 19mm bridge spacing also provides familiar room for right-hand technique, whether you're learning alternating fingerstyle, using a pick or beginning to experiment with slap bass.

What Is A P/J-Style Bass Pickup Setup?

A P/J-style configuration combines the basic ideas behind two of the most established electric bass pickup formats.

The split single-coil neck pickup delivers the fuller, solid response commonly associated with traditional bass sounds. The bridge single coil adds a tighter, more focused character with greater upper-mid definition.

With the TRBX174's separate pickup volume controls, you aren't restricted to choosing one or the other. You can blend them together and adjust the master tone control until you find a balance that suits your playing style, amplifier and musical arrangement.

For a beginner, this is useful because it lets you explore different bass sounds without changing instruments or learning a complicated electronics system.

Looking for advice on choosing your first electric bass, bass amplifier or complete beginner setup? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context

The TRBX family represents Yamaha's modern approach to electric bass design, combining comfortable body shaping with instruments aimed at everyone from beginners through to experienced working bassists.

Across the wider range, Yamaha uses the TRBX platform to offer progressively more advanced pickup and electronics systems. Higher models introduce active EQ, Performance EQ and active/passive operation, but the TRBX174 deliberately keeps the entry point straightforward.

That makes its place in the range easy to understand. It provides the fundamental TRBX playing experience, a full 34-inch scale, two-pickup versatility and 24-fret range without asking a new player to pay for features they may not yet need.

For someone beginning bass and looking for an instrument that feels like a genuine electric bass rather than a stripped-down learner model, that simplicity is one of the TRBX174's biggest strengths.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Construction	Bolt-on
Number Of Strings	4
Scale Length	34" / 863.6mm
Body Material	Mahogany
Neck Material	Maple
Fingerboard Material	Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius	10" / 250mm
Fret Wire	Medium
Number Of Frets	24
Nut Material	Urea
Nut Width	40mm
Width At 12th Fret	56.4mm
Neck Thickness At 1st Fret	21mm
Neck Thickness At 12th Fret	24.4mm
Neck Pickup	Split Single Coil / Ceramic
Bridge Pickup	Single Coil / Ceramic
Controls	Neck Pickup Volume, Bridge Pickup Volume, Master Tone
Electronics	Passive
Bridge	Vintage Style
String Spacing	19mm
Tuning Machines	Covered
Standard String Gauge	.045–.105

Power Requirements

The Yamaha TRBX174 uses passive electronics and requires no battery.

Its pickups, individual volume controls and master tone control operate without onboard power.

Simply connect the bass to a suitable bass amplifier, DI box, effects processor or audio interface using a standard 1/4-inch instrument cable.

Compatibility & Recommended Pairings

Bass Practice Amplifier

For a first setup, pair the TRBX174 with a dedicated bass amplifier rather than a conventional guitar amp.

A compact bass combo is ideal for home practice, while players joining a band will eventually need greater power and speaker capability to compete with drums and amplified guitars.

Clip-On Or Pedal Tuner

A reliable tuner is one of the most useful accessories for any new bassist and helps develop a good habit of checking tuning before every practice or performance.

Bass Gig Bag

A padded bass gig bag makes transporting the TRBX174 to lessons, rehearsals and gigs significantly safer and easier.

Bass Strap

A comfortable adjustable strap helps establish a consistent playing position whether you're practising seated or standing.

Instrument Cable

A good-quality 1/4-inch instrument cable is required to connect the TRBX174 to an amplifier or other compatible equipment.

Audio Interface

For home recording, connect the bass to an interface with a suitable instrument or Hi-Z input. You can then use software amplification, bass plugins or record a clean direct signal.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The Yamaha TRBX174 is a strong example of what an entry-level bass should be: straightforward, versatile and built around proper full-size specifications rather than features designed to look impressive on paper.

The passive P/J-style pickup arrangement is the standout feature because it gives a new player several genuinely useful sounds while remaining extremely easy to understand.

Best suited for: Beginners, students, guitarists learning bass and players wanting an affordable passive four-string.

Customers usually upgrade from: Borrowed instruments, very basic starter basses or short-scale beginner models.

Most commonly paired with: A compact bass amplifier, padded gig bag, strap, tuner and instrument cable.

Our tip: Start with both pickup volume controls fully open and the tone control at maximum. Learn how that sound responds, then gradually reduce each pickup independently so you can hear exactly what the neck and bridge pickups contribute.

Showroom feedback: The 40mm nut width and modern TRBX body make the TRBX174 approachable without turning it into an undersized instrument. That makes it particularly useful for beginners who want to learn directly on a conventional 34-inch-scale bass.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Our Birmingham showroom gives you access to a knowledgeable musician-led team with practical experience across bass guitars, amplifiers, effects, recording equipment and complete beginner setups.

Whether you're buying your first bass, helping a new player get started or adding an affordable four-string to your collection, we're here to help you choose equipment that genuinely suits your needs.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians
• Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned and ex-display equipment
• Competitive prices on leading music brands
• Secure UK-wide delivery
• Friendly support before and after your purchase
• A trusted independent UK music retailer with decades of experience
• A large Birmingham showroom
• Experienced advice on bass guitars, amplification and complete beginner setups

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your bass, guitar, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha TRBX174 a good beginner bass?

Yes. The TRBX174 combines a standard 34-inch scale with a manageable 40mm nut, passive controls and two different pickup types. This gives a beginner a proper full-size platform while keeping the electronics simple enough to understand immediately.

Is the Yamaha TRBX174 active or passive?

The TRBX174 is passive, so it does not require a battery. Its controls consist of separate volume controls for the neck and bridge pickups plus a master tone control.

Is the TRBX174 full size?

Yes. It has a 34-inch / 863.6mm scale length, which is the standard long-scale format used by many four-string electric basses.

How many frets does the Yamaha TRBX174 have?

It has 24 medium frets, providing a full two-octave range on each string.

What is the difference between the TRBX174 and TRBX204?

The biggest practical difference is the electronics. The TRBX174 is passive, while the TRBX204 adds a 2-band active EQ for onboard bass and treble adjustment.

Can the TRBX174 be used for slap bass?

Yes. Its conventional 34-inch scale and 19mm string spacing make it suitable for learning slap technique. As with any technique, setup and string condition can also affect how comfortable and responsive the instrument feels.

Is the TRBX174 suitable for rock and metal?

Yes. Its split neck pickup provides plenty of fundamental weight, while adding the bridge pickup gives the sound more definition for distorted or dense mixes. Players wanting more aggressive active tone shaping may eventually prefer a model such as the TRBX304.

Can I record the Yamaha TRBX174 directly into a computer?

Yes. Connect it to an audio interface with an appropriate instrument or Hi-Z input. You can record the clean bass signal directly or use amp and effects software within your recording setup.

Does the TRBX174 need special bass strings?

It uses standard long-scale electric bass strings. Yamaha specifies a .045–.105 gauge set, making replacement strings easy to source.

What amp should a beginner use with the TRBX174?

For home practice, choose a dedicated bass combo with enough low-frequency response to reproduce the instrument clearly at sensible volume. If you plan to rehearse with drums, you will generally need substantially more power than a small home-practice amplifier provides.