Official Tobias Club

[booch29]

hi, can i get a number? love tobias basses, btw the serial # on my killer b is 0722113, which is pretty weird according to what i have read on the web..can anybody help on that?
Link Removed

 

[gleneg61]

I have seen the Basic n Killer B models in lefty, albeit rarely but I've never seen or heard of a Growler lefty, 4 or 5 string so thought I'd check with the authorities as Google came up blank. Thnx

 

[WayneP]

hi, can i get a number? love tobias basses...

Hi booch,

For some reason we can’t see your picture.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45

 

[Inertialsky]

I've owned several Tobias basses over the years but currently have thinned down the heard to only one. It's definitely a unique instrument with an even more interesting history.

I emailed Michael over 10 years ago and inquired with the serial number. He confirmed it was Burbank built with "maple and purple heart neck with a quilted maple body." He said he didn't recall the paint job (hard to forget, right?) but he said at the time their in house painter was Chris Compston and if it had a small blue signature it was indeed his work and the original factory paint job.

Fast forward to about 3 years ago I was able to get in contact with Chris. I sent him photos of the bass and he confirmed that he painted it but also something implying that he "didn't actually remember it specifically" or that he didn't (couldn't?) remember painting it, or who it was for. My guess is he was "inspired" at the time.

I will post some better pics soon. There are some insane layers in the artwork.

 

[bucephylus]

That's very colorful! I wonder what was the point of the quilt in the build, since you can't see it anyhow.

Nice bass.

 

[kesslari]

Mike had some strong beliefs about the tonal qualities of quilted maple. The Bassic 5 he built for me was quilted maple. God I wish I still had that bass.

 

[ShoeManiac]

I have a tobias toby pro 6 string bass. Its the one I'm playing in my avatar which is practically identical to this:

I've been trying, so far unsuccessfully, to find pickups which would be a direct replacement for the ones currently installed in this bass. Has anyone else done such a replacement on a 6 string toby. Or does anyone know which pickups are installed in the Gibson tobias six string basses, such as the basic model.

Any help would be hugely appretiated.

WOW! Out of curiosity I googled "Tobias Toby Pro 6" and sure enough my old bass came right up. Sorry to dredge up a zombie post, btw.

It's crazy how that image is still floating around since I sold that bass back around 2005 or 2006. The guy who tried to scam this bass off of me via eBay wound up changing out the pickups for something else. But he must have done a piss-poor job with the routing for the new pickups and had some sort of panels on the back of the body which must have been covering up the holes for the new pickups.

Wish I could offer up dimensions on the pickups, but like I said I sold this particular instrument almost 10 years ago.

 

[Inertialsky]

I remember when "musicyo.com" sold those Korean Toby Pros at reasonable prices with some cool options. I was always tempted to get one as a back up bass but I've never had the chance to actually play one.

 

[WayneP]

Welcome to the club, tobias3469. Wow, awesome paint job!


Updated list:
1. magneezius
2. Flintc
3. Eaglemoon
4. Vladpire
5. ireidt
6. saxofunk
7. Kesslari
8. ctmullins
9. rice128
10. westrock
11. grifo
12. kerenn
13. Jackholexxxx
14. rotassator
15. mrbassman de
16. Fealach
17. Debased
18. alexofc69
19. tombowlus
20. Phantasm
21. Tony G
22. Scubaduba
23. bucephylus
24. greenbass
25. johnpaulbass
26. rad87gn
27. manjonning
28. Basshole
29. capnsandwich
30. Flintc
31. Wadge
32. whoapower
33. Hella
34. Mungibunga
35. skb5string
36. toby23
37. NoFrets4Me
38. Gubna
39. Bassflute
40. ZionBound
41. tiz 1
42. abarson
43. Indigo
44. xk3smith
45. fitzy73
46. gr8fulhiker
47. jam.majors
48. aeonmouse
49. basspro557
50. svoncampe
51. sdbss
52. gbarcus
53. Agito (retired from club)
54. marvelous
55. shakey slim
56. Mattsochistic
57. joevcool
58. ClassicJazz
59. 73jbass
60. bassballs dk
61. architect
62. IvanMike
63. JMBassist
64. sayman
65. Holdsg
66. bass4worship
67. dofranco
68. MrLenny
69. Markus Tobias
70. w_bass
71. Carlosrzz
72. oystein
73. RoosterRusek
74. PlanetariumERB
75. el_crawfordo
76. gregwatts2008
77. sonyho
78. bwoodman
79. oystein
80. jo_mix
81. shade615
82. Red Planet
83. sneha1965
84. blackjack76
85. daerbass
86. maupek
87. meatwad
88. midijab
89. BrandonA119
90. pb9717
91. Mousekillaz
92. genmed42
93. thatinstrument
94. oldno.7
95. wolfmancharlie (retired from club)
96. Phil Smith
97. notejung
98. armybass
99. dkterry
100. basic5
101. Freezer
102. Mtnman
103. McSchwaiger
104. 77jazzbass
105. BARMALEY
106. seventhsunbass
107. Jason Wilson
108. Webtroll
109. dap
110. west*coast*bass
111. musiqisme26
112. vmabus
113. The Chuck
114. phatbass30
115. Brams77
116. tobias3469




Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt


Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
Pedulla Club #45

 

[svoncampe]

Ok, I have owned a total of four Tobias basses, all 5 string models: Killer B, Basic, Classic and now back to a Killer B.

Although I never registered this before, I have now with my latest Killer B: the bridge is not completely flushed with the body; the edge closest to the B string is "hanging" just a tiny bit, not because it isn't tightly seated on the body, but because it ran out of it (location of bridge and curvature of body). Is this by design?

Looking online at pics of other Killer B's it seems as if some are like mine while others are not. I have only seen it mainly on 5 or 6 sting models and so far only one 4 stringer.

Anyone know anything about this? Were certain models built this way until eventually (at some point after 2005) the "problem" (for lack of a better word) was fixed? I wonder if the body had to be built slightly bigger to avoid this "issue"? Mine is a 2005 model.

As far as I'm concerned it's not really a problem; worst case scenario maybe an aesthetic thing since the bass sounds and feels great and has been around for 9 year, but obviously I am not used to seeing a bass with a tiny portion of the bridge not completely on the body....but apparently many Tobiases were built this way....

????

 

[Inertialsky]

I was going though some old photos and found a few of other tobias' I used to own. Just wanted to share...

Early Gibson era 5 string

One of the somewhat rare Japan "Standard" models.

And an early USA Growler 5. (stolen at a gig a long time ago )

I miss them all dearly!!

 

[bucephylus]

One of the somewhat rare Japan "Standard" models.

That actually looks like one of the instruments that Pedulla produced under contract.

 

[Inertialsky]

The pedulla built Tobias basses have the truss rod cover on the headstock

 

[bucephylus]

Ah. You've got better eyes than I.

 

[NecroticImbecil]

I have seen the Basic n Killer B models in lefty, albeit rarely but I've never seen or heard of a Growler lefty, 4 or 5 string so thought I'd check with the authorities as Google came up blank. Thnx

Guy I know has Mike's first Lefty, a Basic. I've seen the letter from Mike (since lost) that accompanied it documenting this. No upcharge, I imagine in those early days there was less automation thus the same amount of work either way. Being a Basic, it has no fancy top or back woods...the body is just a huge hunk of Zebrawood. Could make at least 8 laminated tops out of it. Other than being backwards, it's an awesome bass.

 

[Combinator]

Hey all,
I have owned 3 Tobias basses (a Basic 5, Classic 5, and Classic 6), all post-Gibson, but unfortunately don't own any at this point. I have decided I am looking for a Killer B 6 string, though. I'm looking for a new backup 6 as I'm having some work done on my main axe. If anyone is thinking about letting one go, please let me know! Thanks ahead of time! Great basses

 

[Ricky Caboverde]

Can I join?
(but no number necessary though...at least until I know she's staying)

I just got a Standard the other day that will need a bit of TLC. I'll give her a go this weekend so I'm not sure yet if she's a keeper...but she looks and feels really nice!

 

[Inertialsky]

That looks very similar to the blue 4 string I posted earlier. Is it a Japan model?

Beautiful either way!

 

[Ricky Caboverde]

That looks very similar to the blue 4 string I posted earlier. Is it a Japan model?

Beautiful either way!

Yessir! Cut in Japan and then finished by Mike and his crew in Burbank. Unfortunately, the previous owner thought it was a good idea to sand out the back of the headstock stating the origin
He didn't even have the decency to remove the tuners first! Ugh!

 

[Inertialsky]

Strange...I wonder what the previous owner was thinking when they did that.. but it should still be a great bass. It looks like our 2 brother and sister basses may have been painted from the same bucket of blue paint!