1980's Tobias Fretless Bass...

[BassLand]

Hi Talk Bass,

This is my first time in the classified adds here on Talk Bass (I just became a supporting member after 10 years here). As many of you old timers know, I worked for Mike Tobias from 83 till 92 and being a bass player had instruments made during my time there. I have to figure out which of my fretless basses to sell.

#1 - Signature chambered body Lacewood / wenge Ebony FB made in 1986 price is $5,000.00

This bass was made to replace the first hollow Tobias I owned. It features a wenge core which is cut out to make the chambers with the Lacewood top and back. It has a 9 piece wenge/purpleheart with black dyed maple stringers and Indian Ebony Fingerboard. no lines and there are side dots placed for true intonation accuracy. Lacewood control cavity cover and ebony nut. This bass has a XLR3 output jack to regular phone plug connection. The connection cord is supplied. This bass has original Bartolini electronics.

#2 - Killer B prototype Lacewood 2 piece body / 9 piece wenge and bubinga neck w/ natural maple stringers. It has a Macassar ebony fingerboard and nut and the price is $4,000.00 This was the prototype for a high end killer B with a wenge signature neck (rather than the 4-5 piece maple neck that was standard), no lines but side side dots as with #1. Original Bartolini Electronics.

Many people I have spoken to over the years replaced the original electronics only to come to me to get the originals back after a time.

Both Instruments are pre-Gibson. At this time I am not entertaining trades and the prices are pretty firm. I will sell one of the two basses and although I have had the Signature longest and would not mind keeping it over the Killer B, the first one sold means I am keeping the other one. These are both one-of-a-kind and therefore rare instruments by this master luthier. This is absolutely not a "fire" sale. Thank you for reading.

I have other pictures I would share with any seriously interested buyers.

(BTW the paper covering the control cavity cover on the Killer B has the original paper that was part of the protection of the plastic cover. I just never took it off) Shipping arrangement are optional.

[dose]

[Angus]

Incredible pieces Bob. I've been looking for a signature like that (but fretted and maybe 6 strings) for 10 years. The wenge neck signatures are just impossible to find. You wouldn't have any leads, would you?

Best of luck with the sale! No doubt they are both incredible instruments.

[kesslari]

Wow. Simply wow. Two amazing basses.
Bob - how would you describe each of them tonally?

[BassLand]

Kesslari, They sound pretty much alike as they were made out of the same woods. The chambered bass is a little more resonate to my ears. The whole idea with both basses was to make a soft resonate body and a stiff neck. I originally wanted to use a wooden bridge (like an upright) on the chambered bass but Mike declined that request at the time. Both basses low notes swell and sing pretty well. I am relegated to my laptop at present some of my recordings with these basses are on my other box. I have them both strung with LaBella nylon tape wounds. Had nickle flats on both at one time but the Nylon strings sound better to me YMMV on that count.

[BassLand]

More pix...

The headstock of the Signature showing the Pearl inlay and Ebony nut. The strings are the nylon tape wound LaBella's.

The neck joint of the Killer B Signature Wenge with Bubinga and Maple accent strips. This bass also features a Pearl inlay headstock logo and Ebony nut.

[BassLand]

Because of computer problems it has taken some time to find other pictures of these instruments.

1 - Picture of piece that was the cut out from the bass side of the Signature. I still have the piece and it will be offered to the buyer.

2 - Headstock of the Killer B fretless

[BassLand]

Bump

[kesslari]

Bump for 2 very unique, world class instruments, and for a great guy doing the selling.

[evilgus]

Holy cow!

Hi Bob - which pre-amps are in these lovelies? TCT? And is the bottom-right control on each, a dual stack or just a large knob? Looks a bit like the dual-stack knobs that came on the early Tobiases, but it's hard to tell from the photo.

Cheers,

EG

[playzabass]

DON'T DO IT BOB!!!!!! THOSE ARE HISTORY!!!!! if you don't know who this is, it's Welton...
;-)

[BassLand]

The preamp is the TCT with mid boost control (original) and passive tone control (over the bass control knob). I've kept these basses for 20+ years and it is not easy to part with either of them and yes they are history.

[BassLand]

I feel that in the near future, I will probably remove this classified notice. In my mind, if there were any interest in these basses it would happen in a reasonable time frame. If not, then there is little reason to keep "bumping" this ad over and over. Over 700 TalkBass members have seen this ad and I am grateful to have a forum such as TB to aid it's members.

This is my first classified ad and I have a lot to learn about the process. I am surprised at the volume of classified ads but that is a good thing.

Thank You for Reading Talk Bass,

BL

[J. Crawford]

I think its solely because they have high prices (rightfully so, though!) and people just dont have that much cash laying around like they used to.

As we all know, economy is down, etc., etc.

If someone can snag one, they will. Until then, you have two amazing basses!

[BassLand]

TO: J. Crawford,

I agree with you one hundred percent. It is just that I don't particularly care for coming here every few days to "BUMP" the thread to keep it on top. As far as high prices, I saw a vintage Jazz Bass going for $6700. If you are not rich to start with it is hard to fathom having such an expensive instrument much less having one and needing to think about selling it for $$$. I know once one of them is gone it ain't ever coming back again...

BTW I have no problem answering questions about these basses so the problems with trying to keep the ad current have nothing to do with responding to TalkBass member's questions.

On my earlier post I said "if there were any interest..." I know there is considerable interest, it is just my frustration in having to sell one of them in the first place. I absolutely believe "It's the economy stupid" (the political catch phrase from not too long ago)...

BL

[BassLand]

bump