Yamaha TRBX174EW 4-String Electric Bass Guitar

The Same Honest Bass, With Something to Look At.

The Yamaha TRBX174EW is the TRBX174 with an exotic-wood top and a matching headstock face. Underneath the figured laminate it is the same instrument: mahogany body, 34" scale, 24-fret maple neck, passive ceramic PJ pickups and a battery-free volume-volume-tone circuit.

That matters, because it means you are paying for looks rather than for a compromise anywhere else. The split-coil neck pickup still gives round, familiar low end, the bridge single-coil still adds bite, and there is still nothing to go flat halfway through a rehearsal.

If the standard 174 does everything you need but you want an instrument with some visual character to it, this is the straightforward answer. Available in Black and Natural.

What the “EW” Actually Changes

Worth being precise about this, because it is the only reason to pick this over the standard 174 — and it is a cosmetic reason, not a sonic one.

Exotic-wood laminate top with matching headstock

Natural figure and grain across the face of the body, carried onto the headstock. The visual character of a much dearer instrument, on a proven passive platform.

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. Together they give a balanced, all-purpose voice.

Straightforward passive controls, no battery

Independent neck and bridge volumes let you blend the pickups precisely, with a master tone for overall brightness. Nothing to go flat, nothing to remember to switch off.

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.

Full 34" scale and dependable hardware

A 40 mm nut and 19 mm bridge spacing give conventional long-scale feel. Satin-backed maple neck, vintage-style bridge and covered tuners keep setup and maintenance simple.

Q. Does the exotic-wood top change the sound?

Not meaningfully. It is a thin decorative laminate over the same mahogany body the standard TRBX174 uses, and the pickups, scale, neck and electronics are all identical. Buy it because you prefer how it looks, not because you expect a different tone.

Q. So is it worth the extra over a TRBX174?

That is entirely a question of how much the appearance is worth to you. Functionally the two are the same bass. If the budget is tight and you would rather put the difference towards an amp or a bag, the standard 174 is the sensible buy and we will happily say so.

Q. Is it active or passive?

Fully passive. The controls are neck volume, bridge volume and master tone, and no battery is required. Onboard EQ starts with the TRBX304.

Q. Who is it 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 that also looks the part on stage.

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 TRBX174EW uses a mahogany body with an exotic-wood laminate, 24 frets and covered tuners; the BB234 uses an alder body, 21 frets, open-gear tuners and Yamaha's classic BB styling.

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. Is a case or gig bag included?

No — Yamaha does not supply a case with the TRBX174EW. 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.