• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Epiphone toby deluxe IV

#21
Picked up a Epiphone/Tobias Toby Deluxe IV Electric Bass a while ago (with a coupon so i got it for slightly less than $200) sight unseen...took it out of the box played it for a few minutes...then didn't touch it again for quite some time...initially i was disappointed in it....but i picked it up again recently...

the cons:...the Active Tonexpressor Bass Enhancement Control as they call it just sucks! i couldn't get a decent sound out of it at all (muddy or honky mess) and there was tons of noise in the pickup blend knob! The bridge also sucks...stock strings are a joke!

the pros: I ordered the walnut finish which i must say is quite nice couldn't find any flaws...the neck is very comfortable to play...the frets much to my surprise were mostly level and not sharp on the ends..the weight on this thing is super light (my scale says 6 pounds 8 ounces) the balance is nice, it sits and hangs very well even with a very thin strap.

i replaced the stock bridge with a mighty mite high mass (hole pattern was the same) and i got a good buy on a used aggie 2 band pre-amp from my local guitar tech/shop...so the stock pre-amp/Tonexpressor got yanked out and replaced!

After slapping on a set of DR Sunbeams i had to adjust the neck as it didn't have enough relief and had some buzzing...

Now it plays and sounds great!

bottom line...overall it is a great purchase for the $250.00 dollar price tag...with a little tweaking it makes a great inexpensive bass! I have played $500.00 dollar bases that were not finished off this well...and let me tell you $250.00 basses have come a long way from i started out playing on 30 years ago...

20121230_210402.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: BaltoNealio
#22
I just ordered my Toby Deluxe IV (black) yesterday from Long & McQuade. I'm really looking forward to it. I've never played before. My boyfriend bought me a used Accu Bass for a Christmas present but it had a lot of problems so we returned it. In comparison, the Toby felt so light, and the neck is so comfortable to hold. I also tried both the Squire P and J, and a Gibson Thunderbird (just to hold, I can't even afford the Epi T-bird). Since I've never played before, I wasn't going to spend a lot, but I felt the Toby was worth the extra $75, since it felt much nicer than the Squires. Im tall, but tiny, so a heavy bass would be cumbersome to learn on. I think the Toby will be a real joy to pick up which is important for a beginner. It'll be easy to take it to lessons.
 
#23
Strat Hater said:
I love my basic 4 string. However I did replace the pickups with a set of Duncan Jazz and did two volume two tone a 3 way pup selector and a varitone switch. It has a huge range difference now between super bright to super deep. I put flats on it and it sounds really nice. I am still thinking about dual humbuckers in it, but I think I will just get the Walnut one for that mod
Click to expand...

Now this sounds interesting! What SDs did you put in? I have some lying around, I think SJB-1.

I have an amber colored IV de luxe.
But. . .

Honestly, I really don't like the sound of this bass. Highs and mids are ear-jarring, while lows are wobbly and feeble at the same time, it's only good for a headache. An endless turning of knobs will reveal that the pointy, hissing metallic highs is the only way to get a sound from it.

But even though pups and electronics suck on the Toby, I think the body and neck provides a possibly good frame for a project for sure!

The amber one I have, I picked for the excellent fretwork and neck. My action is set to ca 2.00mm for D and G and ca 2.50mm for A and E. No buzz! Ever!

That in itself is promising I think :-)
 
#24
I just picked up a red deluxe 5. I'm on the fence about it, at first I thought it had some great features for the price. But now I feel like I may have just bought some cheap bass mass assembled with horrible quality woods. But what I can't get past is even though it seems extremely cheap, I have the factory strings on it still and yet it sounds pretty great. So I'm thinking for the price, what the hell, I may just upgrade the bridge, get a set of DR hi beams, and maybe look in to better pickups and a more quality Tobias back for an upgrade(if they fit off the old model Tobys?) Any input or ideas would be awesome.
 
#25
Hevy T said:
I love my basic 4 string. However I did replace the pickups with a set of Duncan Jazz and did two volume two tone a 3 way pup selector and a varitone switch. It has a huge range difference now between super bright to super deep. I put flats on it and it sounds really nice. I am still thinking about dual humbuckers in it, but I think I will just get the Walnut one for that mod
Click to expand...
How did the mod go?
 
#27
Hevy T said:
Wow, I had to think. I traded that bass a couple years ago now. The varicose and pups went fine. Improved the tone, never did the humbuckers thhough
Click to expand...
Ah, a few questions.

1. How was the look of the "walnut" finish? Was it purrty?
2. If one were to switch out the electronics and get rid of the ToneXpressor without switching out the pickups, would that make a world of difference in itself? Would getting a better bridge and tuners also help?
3. What pre-amp would you suggest using?
 
#28
BlueAliceOasis said:
Ah, a few questions.

1. How was the look of the "walnut" finish? Was it purrty?
2. If one were to switch out the electronics and get rid of the ToneXpressor without switching out the pickups, would that make a world of difference in itself? Would getting a better bridge and tuners also help?
3. What pre-amp would you suggest using?
Click to expand...
Never got a walnut, just modded a white one. I found the pickups weak, the tone expressor useless. The varitone was not my idea, it was my techs! I never cared for it. So I got rid of it. However the fit finish and feel were excellent. Also the fretwork was great. I just didn't want to buy about 300 in parts to go into a bass that I only paid 230 new. Well, I am getting the bug again and want another one and do it right this time
 
#29
Hevy T said:
Never got a walnut, just modded a white one. I found the pickups weak, the tone expressor useless. The varitone was not my idea, it was my techs! I never cared for it. So I got rid of it. However the fit finish and feel were excellent. Also the fretwork was great. I just didn't want to buy about 300 in parts to go into a bass that I only paid 230 new. Well, I am getting the bug again and want another one and do it right this time
Click to expand...
Keep us updated, I personally would love to hear how it goes. Especially because the Toby Deluxe IV came very close to being the choice for my first bass and I even though I don't want it as my next main instrument, it would make a lovely bass to travel with and use as a beater.
 
#30
BlueAliceOasis said:
Keep us updated, I personally would love to hear how it goes. Especially because the Toby Deluxe IV came very close to being the choice for my first bass and I even though I don't want it as my next main instrument, it would make a lovely bass to travel with and use as a beater.
Click to expand...
I just like the body style. Tell the truth I want to find an old Tobias Killer B or Growler. Its just slim pickings around these har parts!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlueAliceOasis
#31
Hi Strat Hater. Kijiji in Calgary has a used Tobias Growler 5 string for sale
I seen it and played it a few times. It has been sold by a few owners
Although I never owed it I always wanted it.
I saw it years ago at Long and McQuade
It is going for $799 or something like that
 
#32
Li'l D said:
Hi Strat Hater. Kijiji in Calgary has a used Tobias Growler 5 string for sale
I seen it and played it a few times. It has been sold by a few owners
Although I never owed it I always wanted it.
I saw it years ago at Long and McQuade
It is going for $799 or something like that
Click to expand...
Hey, long time no chat!! I saw it. I would have been interested except, I don't really want another 5, my Ray 35 works perfectly for the small amount of time I actually need an 5. Also I don't think I could get to like that green!!

Do you still have your Toby? Also have you been in around the South L and M in the last few days to scope out if there are any decent deals that are not in the flyer for the Attic Sale this weekend? I am going in on Friday to have a look and hopefully pickup either a 112 cab, or a passive jazz...or who knows what else I could find ;)
 
#33
Hevy T said:
Hey, long time no chat!! I saw it. I would have been interested except, I don't really want another 5, my Ray 35 works perfectly for the small amount of time I actually need an 5. Also I don't think I could get to like that green!!

Do you still have your Toby? Also have you been in around the South L and M in the last few days to scope out if there are any decent deals that are not in the flyer for the Attic Sale this weekend? I am going in on Friday to have a look and hopefully pickup either a 112 cab, or a passive jazz...or who knows what else I could find ;)
Click to expand...


Just out of curiosity how chunky is the neck on that growler, I have never actually seen one up close
 
#35
The neck was comfy from what I remember
Nice worn in feel and easy to play
Maybe a bit thicker from front to back then your Ray but nothing you can't adapt to
Yes I saw and heard about the attic sale, you might find a gem
I've been on a passive kick as of late and bringing out my basses to shows
 
#37
Hevy T said:
Hey, long time no chat!! I saw it. I would have been interested except, I don't really want another 5, my Ray 35 works perfectly for the small amount of time I actually need an 5. Also I don't think I could get to like that green!!

Do you still have your Toby? Also have you been in around the South L and M in the last few days to scope out if there are any decent deals that are not in the flyer for the Attic Sale this weekend? I am going in on Friday to have a look and hopefully pickup either a 112 cab, or a passive jazz...or who knows what else I could find ;)
Click to expand...
 
#39
Li'l D said:
I checked out the attic sale, I didn't see anything that grabbed me
There were a ton of Fender dimension basses, a steal of a deal for $799 for a US one
Click to expand...
I grabbed a black min jazz that caught my eye. What time were u there? I got there about 1030 and too me about an hour to get through the line. I first grabbed a white American jazz but changed my mind for the mim. After I left the room with the American jazz I took a second look at the setup and it looked just like one I got burned on a couple months ago, so I figured I would ask a staffer if he could let me back in to grab it and he said no I would have to go to the end of the line again! So I told him to screw himself and settled with the one I got which is cool, I actually wanted a passive jazz so win win, and she was only 400 to boot and plays wonderful, and yes I changed the white pg to a tort abou 10 min after I got back home lol
 
#40
I stopped in Thursday to drop off a couple of basses to get set up.
I asked one of the staff if they still had any American Fenders
So I followed him to the room
It was blocked off and the curtain was closed
I ended up back there Friday after to pick up my basses I had set up
It was busy in the store and I was told in the morning they had a big line up
Congrats on your new bass, ,was it the 60's you got?

Agree the tort makes that white pop out
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back