Yamaha TRB-6P Six-String Bass | Part 4

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Albert's TRB-6P: Body, Neck and Fretboard

In this post, we'll take a close look at the body, neck and fretboard of Albert Yap's modified Yamaha TRB-6P Six-String Bass. Let's start with the body first. It's basically two "wings" glued to either side of the through neck and comprises three layers: flamed maple top, rosewood core and maple back. Now, the back isn't exactly plain maple, for there's some attractive figuring to be seen. Other features of this "sandwich" body include a forearm contour, belly cut and sculpted cutaways.

Moving on to the neck, we have a through-body five-piece laminate of maple and mahogany finished in gloss polyurethane. The maple/mahogany lamination is especially evident when you look at the end of the headstock or butt end of body. Meanwhile, the headstock features the factory-spec rosewood headcap as well as serial number and "Made in Japan" stamp on the back.

Finally, this TRB-6 sports a de-fretted ebony fretboard with abalone dot inlays. The fret slots have been filled with natural-colored wood filler and sanded smooth. Looking closely, you can see that considerable chipping and tearout remains from the defretting process. As Albert wants the fretboard returned to factory specs, these issues will have to be addressed before frets are installed.

Cross-section of TRB-6P body, neck and fretboard

Rosewood Headcap

Left side of headstock

End of headstock

Right side of headstock

Back of headstock

Serial number and "Made in Japan" stamp

Back of maple/mahogany laminate neck

Left side of neck

Fretless ebony fretboard/abalone inlays

Left side of fretboard

Right side of fretboard

Neck-through-body construction

Back of body

Butt end of body

That dark brown stripe is the rosewood core

Close view of the flamed maple top

Sculpted upper horn cutaway

Sculpted lower horn cutaway

Belly Cut

Forearm Contour