Saluki
11-14-2007, 12:27 PM
All right TBers. I am putting up this Custom Tobias Killer B with spalted top. This bass was built in 2006 for an artist (believe it to be Jeff sharp from the band "The JTB) and has a custom spalted top and preamp. It is the Bart/Bart system but has extra trim pot for treble response. TBer Vic has been setting it up and helped find out some of the pedigree.
Check out the thread for more on the preamp and some of Vics observations:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4886114
Vic also provided this review to another TBer interested:
I did some playing around and figured out the internal controls on the preamp. This is definitely a custom job.
First, the spalted top is very substantial as you can see in the pics (link below). This is like an MTD top. Really high grade wood, and very thick.
Second, the preamp has an extra contour control not mentioned in any of the docs (including the manual that came with this bass, which is still in the case.) This preamp has the individual pickup gain controls and upper mid cut control that all Killer B's have, but it also has a treble boost trim pot. This reminds me of the internal controls for the slap contour switches on my old Growler. I really like the treble trim pot, because I like a smoother slap tone, so I like the treble to not be boosted much, if at all. The volume pot is the push/pull for the slap contour (pulled out is contoured).
I don't know if anything else is custom, but the fret level is better than any other Gibson Tobias I've played, as well. It looks like it's 18mm spacing on the strings. So far, it's taking to a pretty decent setup. I'm still getting it settled and dialed-in, but so far so good.
It's got the classic asym neck, which is a more pronounced asym profile than on the newer MTDs, but especially with my smaller hands, it feels good. I've always thought asym necks were a good idea.
The tone is really nice. The treble is smoother than on a typical MTD... reminds me a bit more of the high end on my Sadowsky 24-Fret. The B string is substantial. I can hear the low mid push of the mahogany body, but it's pretty nicely balanced in with the rest of the sound, and sits really well in the mix. To my ears, I wouldn't be surprised to find out the recording under the video was with this bass.
It shows some minor player wear, and there are a few small dents by the output jack (also pictured in link below), but nothing major or substantial. Nothing on the back of the neck I can find, and really, that's most critical to me. I HATE feeling bumps on the back of the neck when I play. I'm more particular about that stuff than my playing ability would lead you to believe, but I come by it honestly. I've been well spoiled by some pretty nice basses over time.
It's 9.7 pounds on my digital scale.
I give it a thumbs up. Compared to most/all the other Gibson Tobias basses I've played, I give it a thumbs way up. This is a "good one".
Pics...
http://www.vsbass.com/tmp/cory_kb.htm
Comes with Tobias hardshell and case candy. Will sell for what I have in it. $1800 plus shipping or will consider trades for MTD 535 and cash your way, Zon 519s, Skjold CS5, Roscoe SKB fretless, American Jazz deluxe with nordstrands and cash, Jazz FMT and cash or Epifani UL310 and cash.
Check out the thread for more on the preamp and some of Vics observations:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4886114
Vic also provided this review to another TBer interested:
I did some playing around and figured out the internal controls on the preamp. This is definitely a custom job.
First, the spalted top is very substantial as you can see in the pics (link below). This is like an MTD top. Really high grade wood, and very thick.
Second, the preamp has an extra contour control not mentioned in any of the docs (including the manual that came with this bass, which is still in the case.) This preamp has the individual pickup gain controls and upper mid cut control that all Killer B's have, but it also has a treble boost trim pot. This reminds me of the internal controls for the slap contour switches on my old Growler. I really like the treble trim pot, because I like a smoother slap tone, so I like the treble to not be boosted much, if at all. The volume pot is the push/pull for the slap contour (pulled out is contoured).
I don't know if anything else is custom, but the fret level is better than any other Gibson Tobias I've played, as well. It looks like it's 18mm spacing on the strings. So far, it's taking to a pretty decent setup. I'm still getting it settled and dialed-in, but so far so good.
It's got the classic asym neck, which is a more pronounced asym profile than on the newer MTDs, but especially with my smaller hands, it feels good. I've always thought asym necks were a good idea.
The tone is really nice. The treble is smoother than on a typical MTD... reminds me a bit more of the high end on my Sadowsky 24-Fret. The B string is substantial. I can hear the low mid push of the mahogany body, but it's pretty nicely balanced in with the rest of the sound, and sits really well in the mix. To my ears, I wouldn't be surprised to find out the recording under the video was with this bass.
It shows some minor player wear, and there are a few small dents by the output jack (also pictured in link below), but nothing major or substantial. Nothing on the back of the neck I can find, and really, that's most critical to me. I HATE feeling bumps on the back of the neck when I play. I'm more particular about that stuff than my playing ability would lead you to believe, but I come by it honestly. I've been well spoiled by some pretty nice basses over time.
It's 9.7 pounds on my digital scale.
I give it a thumbs up. Compared to most/all the other Gibson Tobias basses I've played, I give it a thumbs way up. This is a "good one".
Pics...
http://www.vsbass.com/tmp/cory_kb.htm
Comes with Tobias hardshell and case candy. Will sell for what I have in it. $1800 plus shipping or will consider trades for MTD 535 and cash your way, Zon 519s, Skjold CS5, Roscoe SKB fretless, American Jazz deluxe with nordstrands and cash, Jazz FMT and cash or Epifani UL310 and cash.