Maralinga it sounds like you have a Toby Pro on your hands! Those are great basses and certainly a wonderful instrument to start out onCongrats
Does anyone know how the early three stacked-knob Tobiases were wired? I'm thinking of turning my Standard into a three stack bass with an active/pass. switch where the mid knob is now. The best arrangement I can think of is v/t (neck), v/t (bridge), tre./bass (mid pot in the control cavity like it was originally)
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Official Tobias Club
- Thread starter magneezius
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They were wired like a jazz bass on top vol vol passive tone, then the bottom knobs are treble, mid, and bass. I have the last classic 5 wired from the Caheunga blvd location. Mike told me the pots were no longer available, so they discontinued the 3 knob stacked configuration option and went with the five knob config.
Added wooden knobs, the black ones felt too plain. Not sure if the wood is dark enough, might try to get Pau Ferro later to match the fretboard.
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- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,235
- 45,139
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
Mntallpaul
A friend of mine has a pre-Gibson Tobias Signature Five-String Bass that he's trying to sell. We're Alembic guys, so he's offering it over on the Alembic website. I am looking at it and don't know much about them, so wondering what the Tobias-knowledgeable think of this one. It's S/N 635 and has some beautiful figuring in the neck wood and zebra body wings. No idea how these value, but he keeps all his stuff in perfect condition and is selling it with a serious flight case. It's in the middle of this thread [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] if anyone would toss out an opinion.
Thanks!
-Bob
Thanks!
-Bob
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,235
- 45,139
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
The Omega cutout makes it a kind of rare bird. It's not a Signature it's a Classic, more or less, because it has the 5 piece neck. Hate to say but it's worth what someone will pay - the cutout makes it hard to do a direct comparison.
I don't know much about the model names, but that's a 7 piece neck, though two of the pieces are pretty skinny. There are maple pinstripes between the center stripe and purpleheart stringers.
Kesslari is correct. That isn't a Signature neck. But, it is still a VERY cool bass. Of course the preamps pale in comparison to Ron W's circuit (what doesn't?). But, a decent big rig can equalize that in a heartbeat. Very nice. BTW his asking price seems about right.
I'm not sure about the bridge and knobs. Those don't look right to me; but, I also know Mike messed with some different bridges at one point.
I'm not sure about the bridge and knobs. Those don't look right to me; but, I also know Mike messed with some different bridges at one point.
You guys had me wondering, so I emailed MT with pics to ask him. He says it is a Signature built in '87, but that the hardware is not original. He also says it's a "very cool bass", and I think we would all agree on that.
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Whoops! My mistake. My iPad must not have rendered the images well from the Alembic site this morning.
Yes, that is definitely Signature neck construction, and a bit unusual with the nice maple Mike used in that one. Sigs were more typically walnut or wenge.
Yes, and the tuners aren't right either. That's a shame. That bass with the original hardware restored to it would be a thing of beauty.
I have a box in my huge box of guitar parts (currently sitting on my kitchen table) with all the parts for '87 Signature SN 635 in it, including the original strap buttons. So there is not a shameful thing happening to it, except it will go on eBay, the black market of the world soon. With or without that box of parts, it is still the best fiver I have ever played, and mongo cool, too boot! Thanks for the help Bob. I finally not my browser to be able to post here. Sucks to get old and senile . . .
- May 7, 2014
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- Endorsing Artist for Bergantino Audio Systems and Payson Fanned Bass Strings
I picked up this bass in October or November last year from House of Guitars up in Rochester, NY. It has a nice round tone and plays like a dream. It's a custom shop model from 2008, but I have no idea what any of the woods are other than the lacewood top. Anyone think they can help me out? (Pictures from previous owner here; I can provide additional pictures if necessary.)
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Without the bass here in my hands, this is of course just a guess - Going from outer edge to center of the bass - Walnut back, wenge body/wing lam, lacewood top (I have seen several Alembic with lacewood tops and backs), ebony contrast laminent between body and neck and then a walnut, purple heart, maple, purple heart neck combination. A better picture might show the center lam of the neck to be walnut or a different dark wood (Vermillion?, who knows with such a narror sample to go from), but I cannot tell - So that will remain a mystery without a build record from the company or someone who knows their woods to get a 'personal' look at it.
I do like the way Gibson went with the ABS gold bridge and gold knobs. My first bass was a Mosrite Joe Maphis (Weird and super expensive back then - and now, too), but played Gibsons professionally for many years before seeing the light. So I have no bias about this bass being made by Gibson. I'm sure they make them just as Mike told em to. As long as the bass pleases you, that is all that matters.
I do like the way Gibson went with the ABS gold bridge and gold knobs. My first bass was a Mosrite Joe Maphis (Weird and super expensive back then - and now, too), but played Gibsons professionally for many years before seeing the light. So I have no bias about this bass being made by Gibson. I'm sure they make them just as Mike told em to. As long as the bass pleases you, that is all that matters.
