Tobias Pro 6

wojtham · #1 02-06-2011, 03:39 PM

I got a Tobias Pro 6, which is defretted. Whoever did it, they did a good job. The bass sounds not very well though. Not as sticky and mild as I would like it to sound. Maybe part of the problem is a rosewood fingerboard, maybe the pickups. It sounds better unplugged so it seems the wood is not the reason. I use a decent old German Warwick amp, and my Fender jazz bass and yamaha TRBII5 both sound very well with it. I thought of replacing the pickups to something else to get this jazzy soft sticky sound. Has anyone had similar experience? Any ideas what pickups I could try? thanks
wojtham

DWBass · #2 02-06-2011, 04:11 PM

Replace the pre-amp. The weak pre-amp is a known issue with the Toby's.

wojtham · #3 02-07-2011, 02:05 AM

you say pre amp will improve the quality of the sound? It is pretty loud anyway....
what pre-amp would you suggest?
thanks a lot!

DWBass · #4 02-07-2011, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wojtham

you say pre amp will improve the quality of the sound? It is pretty loud anyway....
what pre-amp would you suggest?
thanks a lot!

If it's loud, then it may have already had a pre-amp upgrade. In any case, some folks have installed Audere, Aguilar and Bartolini pre-amps.

FunkMetalBass · #5 02-07-2011, 08:39 AM

Have you tried new strings?

wojtham · #6 02-07-2011, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Have you tried new strings?

the strings are good, some d'Addario roundwounds, sound ok 'dry', but a bit cardboard with the amp. I don't think they are the problem. Maybe simply different pre-amp and amp settings...

DWBass · #7 02-07-2011, 09:44 AM

I owned the Deluxe version (bolt-on/jazz pups). I believe they use the same pre-amp. It was a 2 band and the output was very low. I just compensated by plugging in the passive bass input on my amps. I am not a fan of D'Addario strings. I would try something else. Try some DR's or Ernie Ball Slinkys. If that doesn't help, maybe a new pre-amp will. I think the pickups are fine.

wojtham · #8 02-07-2011, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

If it's loud, then it may have already had a pre-amp upgrade. In any case, some folks have installed Audere, Aguilar and Bartolini pre-amps.

I just looked inside. I guess the pre-amp is the whole board with conrols attached and plenty of little electronic gadgets. Not a separate box or something. Looks like factory fitted

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur...0&tx=128&ty=55

wojtham · #9 02-07-2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

I owned the Deluxe version (bolt-on/jazz pups). I believe they use the same pre-amp. It was a 2 band and the output was very low. I just compensated by plugging in the passive bass input on my amps. I am not a fan of D'Addario strings. I would try something else. Try some DR's or Ernie Ball Slinkys. If that doesn't help, maybe a new pre-amp will. I think the pickups are fine.

I heard LaBella Black nylon are good - make the bass sound like an accoustic upright bass. Any opinion?
thanks

DWBass · #10 02-07-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wojtham

I heard LaBella Black nylon are good - make the bass sound like an accoustic upright bass. Any opinion?
thanks

I've never played them. The only coated strings I've ever played were Elixers. I liked them a lot. Expensive though. Yes, the circuit board is the preamp. I would say it's the original pre-amp as most newer pre-amps are much smaller. You don't see many circuit board types these days.

wojtham · #11 02-07-2011, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

I've never played them. The only coated strings I've ever played were Elixers. I liked them a lot. Expensive though. Yes, the circuit board is the preamp. I would say it's the original pre-amp as most newer pre-amps are much smaller. You don't see many circuit board types these days.

So you suggest to replace the pre-amp? which one would you suggest?
thanks

DWBass · #12 02-07-2011, 02:10 PM

Tobias Pro 6