Yamaha TRBX174 4-String Electric Bass Guitar

The Bass to Start On — and Keep.

The Yamaha TRBX174 is the entry point to the TRBX range: a full-scale four-string with a mahogany body, a 24-fret maple neck and a classic passive PJ pickup pairing. No battery, no menus, nothing to go wrong.

That simplicity is the point. Two pickup volumes and one master tone give you the whole range of usable bass sounds by ear rather than by numbers — the split-coil neck pickup for round, familiar low end, the bridge single-coil for bite and definition, and every blend in between.

A 34" scale, 40 mm nut and 19 mm string spacing keep the feel conventional, and 24 frets give you two full octaves on every string. Available in Black, Dark Blue, Old Violin Sunburst and Red Metallic.

Passive Electronics — and Why That Suits a First Bass

Every TRBX from the 300 series upwards is active, running a preamp from a 9 V battery. The 174 is deliberately passive, and for a lot of players that is the better answer rather than the cheaper one.

Mahogany body for a full, supportive foundation

Mahogany gives a substantial fundamental and present midrange, so bass lines feel weighty while keeping the definition needed for practice, recording and playing with a band.

Ceramic PJ pickups cover warmth, punch and attack

The split single-coil neck pickup supplies rounded lows and familiar punch; the bridge single-coil adds tighter focus and articulation. Used together they give a balanced, all-purpose voice.

Straightforward passive controls

Independent neck and bridge volumes let you blend the two pickups precisely, and a master tone adjusts overall brightness. No battery required.

Twenty-four frets on a rosewood fingerboard

A full two-octave range on every string, on a 10" (250 mm) radius rosewood board with 24 medium frets — more upper register than the 20- or 21-fret basses this competes with.

Full 34" scale, 40 mm nut, 19 mm spacing

Conventional long-scale geometry with generous 19 mm spacing at the bridge — practical room for fingerstyle, pick and slap alike.

Maple neck and dependable hardware

A bolt-on maple neck with a satin polyurethane back stays smooth under the hand. A vintage-style bridge makes setup adjustment familiar, and covered tuners keep things clean and simple.

Q. Who is the TRBX174 best suited to?

Beginners buying a first serious bass, guitarists adding bass to a home studio, and players who want an uncomplicated passive four-string for rehearsal or live work. It is a proper instrument, not a starter compromise.

Q. Is it active or passive?

Fully passive. The controls are neck volume, bridge volume and master tone, and no battery is required. If you want onboard EQ, that starts with the TRBX304.

Q. How does it differ from the TRBX174EW?

Only cosmetically, in the ways that matter to the sound. The EW adds a laminated exotic-wood top and matching headstock; the scale, 24-fret neck, passive ceramic PJ pickups and control layout are the same. Choose on looks and budget.

Q. Should I stretch to the TRBX304 instead?

Only if you know you want onboard EQ. The 304 adds active electronics, a 5-piece maple/mahogany neck and humbucking M3 pickups — a genuine step up, and a genuine step in price. If you are still learning what tones you like, the 174 will not hold you back.

Q. How does it compare with the Yamaha BB234?

Both are passive full-scale Yamaha basses with ceramic PJ pickups, and we stock both. The TRBX174 has a mahogany body, 24 frets and covered tuners; the BB234 uses an alder body, 21 frets, lightweight open-gear tuners and Yamaha's classic BB styling. The TRBX is the more modern feel, the BB the more traditional one.

Q. What tuning and strings does it use?

Standard E–A–D–G tuning, with Yamaha specifying a .045–.105 four-string set. Any standard long-scale bass set will fit.

Q. What do I gain from 24 frets?

Two full octaves on every string, which extends the upper register for melodic lines and solos and gives more position options. Most basses at this price stop at 20 or 21.

Q. Is a case or gig bag included?

No — Yamaha does not supply a case with the TRBX174. Ask us and we will match a suitable bass gig bag or hard case before it ships.

Why Buy Your Bass from YMS?

• ✓ Authorised Yamaha Premium Retailer: Buy a genuine India-market Yamaha instrument with official manufacturer warranty support.
• ✓ Set up before it reaches you: We check action, relief and intonation so it plays properly out of the box.
• ✓ Bassist-focused guidance: Ask us about passive versus active, four versus five strings, string spacing and matching amplification.
• ✓ Support beyond the bass: Gig bags and cases, straps, stands, cables, tuners, strings and bass amps.
• ✓ Pan-India delivery: Order from anywhere in India, subject to serviceability for your location.
• ✓ Physical-store support: YMS teams in Bengaluru and Mangaluru are available for product enquiries and after-sales guidance.