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Can you spot anyhing suspicios?

D

Dr3e

Dec 20, 2011
12
0
#1
Wondering if anyone can help me in looking at this supposedly Tobias growler's picture. They claimed it is US made. It will be my first Tobias bass, don't want to buy a fake/hot rodded ones. They said everything is original, maybe except the painted electronics cover. I know it needs some TLC and I can cover that soon as it's in my hands :)

Thanks
 

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#3
Are you suggesting that there is something "suspicious" about the bass?

It looks an early version of a Growler bass, The electronics in these are superior to the newer versions IMHO.

The build quality of these can be inconsistent & somewhat crude in some aspects (The truss rod covers were made by hand, the backplates were also "fit" likewise & the silkscreening of the logo could be somewhat rough), but all in all these were really good sounding (& playing) basses.

Moonshine :bassist:
 
#4
Thanks for the reply :) I am not suggesting something is suspicious. I am buying the bass from out of state and I just do not want to buy fake or a hot rodded one. I guess I am a bit iffy about buying the bass without looking and holding it personally. The tuning keys I know it's supposed to be Grover and this one is not, it does look similar though and the necks are somewhat suspicious to me especially that crooked serial number stamp.
 
#5
I don't see anything suspicious about it at all. It looks just like the other early Growlers I've seen. Even without the name engraved on them, those tuners look like Grovers, and it's really common for stamped serial numbers (on many brands, including Tobias) to not be perfectly straight.
 
#6
Dr3e said:
Thanks for the reply :) I am not suggesting something is suspicious. I am buying the bass from out of state and I just do not want to buy fake or a hot rodded one. I guess I am a bit iffy about buying the bass without looking and holding it personally. The tuning keys I know it's supposed to be Grover and this one is not, it does look similar though and the necks are somewhat suspicious to me especially that crooked serial number stamp.
Click to expand...

During this time period they went from Grovers with the "Tobias" logo to Tuners stamped with "Grover" to these.

As for the serial number stamp, they were done by hand, one number at a time; most also had a "Made in USA" stamp, but it wouldn't surprise me if some didn't get one.

I know this because I was there.

Moonshine :bassist:
 
#19
Here's my two cents.the SN is crooked and the "made in USA" stamp is barely legible, on my Tobias Killer B. Since the tuners on this one, yor looking at, don't say Grover, I'd say it is safe to assume that they are not Grover tuners. The overall workmanship is a bit suspect on my instrument. The guy doing the routing must have been having a rough day, because there are some errors. It's still one of the easiest/best playing instruments I've ever picked up, the pup's and pre-amp are incredible sounding and versatile.
 

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