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For sale Pre-Gibson Tobias Signature 6-String Fretless, a Classic in Excellent Condition!

Closed
$3,400.00
Strings
6
Status
This ad has been closed.

Details

Fretless
  1. Y
No trade offers, please. If you're going to be cheap, please don't bother. If you don't have the money on hand, please don't inquire. If you plan on telling me this bass is worth less because you don't have the chops to play a 6, please go away (and practice). I'm all done with the drama queens, thank you very much :)

This is an all original Pre-Gibson Tobias Signature 6-String fretless with a Lacewood / Bubinga / Wenge wood combination. The Signature is the highest-end model, above the "Classic" model, and features a bookmatched exotic wood body, seven-piece multi-lam asymmetrical neck, hand rubbed oil finish, and other upgrades. The 17.5mm string spacing gives you six strings without your fingerboard feeling like a landing strip. This bass has chrome hardware with the original Tobias-branded bridge and a radiused fingerboard. The finish was originally described as "chocolate" and the grain on this looks amazing. If you've ever seen lacewood, photos can't do it justice. Mike's Signature line of basses are quite a rare find these days, let alone one built by his original crew.

This instrument sounds absolutely amazing, lots of mwah on the PF fingerboard, and is in excellent condition too. I've taken very good care of this over the past 10+ years I've owned it. No visible flaws that I can see on the body or neck. Very minor string impressions on fingerboard as expected with a fretless, but very minor. This instrument has been very well cared for and maintained / conditioned per Mike's specs. Includes OHSC. The case has light wear and is in good shape. This was built by Mike's original crew (#2014) before Gibson's staff took over. Mike's website says all guitars #2044 and below were built by his original crew, and to the same quality as all of his instruments, so this was one of the last ones they built. These signature models are near impossible to find, especially in a fretless.

Shipping for a flat fee of $150 for the lower-48. If you're near the Asheville NC area, I'll be glad to hand deliver it. Thanks for looking!


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Comments

Mar 19, 2004
4,030
2,230
NEW YORK
The bass looks beautiful. I had a six string classic, pre Gibson walnut top purple heart and maple. pau ferro board and birds eye maple neck.... Sold it as a 6 string I just couldn't find a place in my playing but sound wise, One of the top basses I ever played. They made them with high quality matched wood that it would be way to expensive to make today and a lot of work. All pre Gibson Tobias sounded amazing and a catch to buy. Don't see many of these for sale... Not a classic or a signature
 

JZdziarski

Guest
Mar 11, 2019
9
38
If it's still marked for sale, it's still available. I've had a few buyers commit to buying, then couldn't come up with the money, so ignore the "PM sent" messages in this thread. Please feel free to PM with any questions, though.
 
Last edited:

bbh

Supporting Member
Sep 27, 2011
2,128
1,483
I have an original in a 5 string.
Excellent axe. Melds nicely In a mix, light on the back. That covers it all...
 
May 2, 2014
9
15
56
I hate to be stickler, but it may be more accurate to describe this bass as a "Pre-Nashville" Tobias. While I realize it was built by Mike's crew in Burbank, it was after the Gibson acquisition. Although the quality is still there, subtle differences exist such as the Tobias stamped bridge. I believe older Toby's used Schaller or Wilkinson bridges such as here:

upload_2019-6-6_13-0-49.png
upload_2019-6-6_13-1-7.png



BTW - I am the proud owner of a "Post-Gibson, Pre-Nashville" Tobias bass. :)
 
May 2, 2014
9
15
56
Thank you for your informative response. Agreed - I see a lot of different bridges on Pre-Gibson Tobias basses including the branded, more rounded ones that resemble the Hipshot B style (which Mike uses on many of his MTD USA basses today). I should have been more specific - this particular bridge on the OP's bass was, to the best of my knowledge, introduced after Gibson acquired Tobias and continued to be used by Gibson after the move to Nashville as demonstrated on this 1996 Classic:
1996 tobias.jpg


I am not knocking this bass at all. As mentioned, I have one from this era as well and I love it (I actually replaced this bridge with the Wilkinson to give it even more of a Pre-Gibsony (is that a word?) vibe. I was just pointing out that there are differences from this time period.

Regards.
 
Feb 12, 2003
86
2
USA, New York
Thank you for your informative response. Agreed - I see a lot of different bridges on Pre-Gibson Tobias basses including the branded, more rounded ones that resemble the Hipshot B style (which Mike uses on many of his MTD USA basses today). I should have been more specific - this particular bridge on the OP's bass was, to the best of my knowledge, introduced after Gibson acquired Tobias and continued to be used by Gibson after the move to Nashville as demonstrated on this 1996 Classic:
View attachment 3438792

I am not knocking this bass at all. As mentioned, I have one from this era as well and I love it (I actually replaced this bridge with the Wilkinson to give it even more of a Pre-Gibsony (is that a word?) vibe. I was just pointing out that there are differences from this time period.

Regards.
There were lots of different bridges used. This bass is what the seller says it is . You shouldn’t crap on other people’s instruments unless you know what you are talking about. Which you do not.
 

JZdziarski

Guest
Mar 11, 2019
9
38
Getting off this trash heap of a website. If this bass is still available, you can find it on eBay.
 

bbh

Supporting Member
Sep 27, 2011
2,128
1,483
I have an original in a 5 string.
Excellent axe. Melds nicely In a mix, light on the back. That covers it all...
Same here but mine is FretLess. Plays like a toy and light on the back.
 

Brad Maestas

Tudo é Som
Gold Supporting Member
Nov 26, 2003
2,592
1,617
Petaluma, CA, USA
Back around 1994 I got a fretted Signature 6 in zebrawood. Loved that bass to death. I took a trip to Nashville in 1996 and found a matching fretless at Corner Music. For some unexplained reason I sold them. Recently I have been keeping my eye out for a Signature or a Classic but there aren’t usually many on the market.

The Low End shop is now selling this bass and has it listed for $5K which is quite the markup. If it wasn’t so high I might bite. It’s a beauty! I ogled that catalog for I don’t know how long.
 

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