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Official Tobias Club
- Thread starter magneezius
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Yes you may! Don’t see nearly enough MTDs here – Welcome #144!
Updated list:
1. magneezius
2. Flintc
3. Eaglemoon
4. Vladpire
5. ireidta
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 (retired from club)
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
117. sfearing
118. Ricky Caboverde
119. Nick supalerk
120. mntallpaul
121. Eugene B
122. mark35mi
123. Lo6man
124. noise_art
125. evilgus
126. higain617
127. barrel650
128. jbarn
129. kwdhsk
130. Basstovsky
131. Foal30
132. carvinbassplyr
133. WayneP
134. rufus.K
135. Chris McKenzie
136. Nightman
137. EdwardofHuncote
138. Mikkoantt
139. bassdudepat
140. TrcSeb
141. mustangcruise
142. dejan72
143. Brad Johnson
144. BlueAliceOasis
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
Last edited:
May I also have a number? I'm proud to say I recently acquired this Tobias Bass serial #524. I've played a Music-Yo Korean Made Toby Pro for years and loved it, and now I have the big brother that inspired it 
Great to see this thread is active and I'm looking forward to learning more about this bass, especially the electronics. I have no schematic / wiring diagram on this one and would love to better understand what's going inside.
In any case, here's a photo, although I'll save the bulk for the obligatory NBD thread.
Great to see this thread is active and I'm looking forward to learning more about this bass, especially the electronics. I have no schematic / wiring diagram on this one and would love to better understand what's going inside. In any case, here's a photo, although I'll save the bulk for the obligatory NBD thread.
Hey Buszkock,
I've got an old Basic 6 with the same electronics, but no diagram, I'm afraid. Might be able to adapt one of the other TCT diagrams, sometime, if it's useful. They certainly do sound FANTASTIC!
EG
I've got an old Basic 6 with the same electronics, but no diagram, I'm afraid. Might be able to adapt one of the other TCT diagrams, sometime, if it's useful. They certainly do sound FANTASTIC!
EG
I asked Mike about the bass before I bought it, especially the stacked pots and this is what information he gave to me:
"Thanks for writing. the bass as far as I can tell is original. the stacked pots were something we used for a while. top row is vol,vol,passive tone, the bottom row is t,,m,b the switch is a/p.
the neck is maple, pauferro and purple heart, the body is walnut and alder. the bass is from 1987."
Am I correct that this model is the Tobias Classic? I am not clear on the differences between the Classic and Signature models.
As for the electronics I really know next to nothing about these setups, as they are much more complex than I'm used to. I'd love to learn all I can though, and I'll map out the wiring when I get some time this weekend.
When the bass is in active mode, what would the "passive tone" knob do, if anything?
I'm not familiar with that control layout; but, it might be worth your time to read through this thread where I tried to record my efforts with my Tobias Bartolini circuit:
Looking for Help with Tobias - Bartolini TCT Wiring
Mike is a super great guy and talented builder; but I had some surprises with the original shop wiring which weren't very straightforward.
I did read that thread, albeit not super carefully as I didn't think it wholly pertained to what I had. Still, it got me thinking that there may be nuances to the wiring that I might not even find on a standard wiring diagram. It will be worthwhile to map it out, compare it to some known specs and see what I have. Especially if there's any opportunity for improvement, even if that improvement is simply my knowing how to effectively twist the correct knobs!
Hard to tell what model it is, without seeing the edges of the body and the back of the neck. Got any more pics?
Yes, Mikes description sounds like mine too. The passive tone works all the time, even in active, really useful. The bass and treble boost controls are boost-only, no cut. (So fully anti-clockwise is flat.) Pretty sure the mid control is cut-only, so fully clockwise is flat and anti-clockwise is cut.
Cheers,
EG
Yes, Mikes description sounds like mine too. The passive tone works all the time, even in active, really useful. The bass and treble boost controls are boost-only, no cut. (So fully anti-clockwise is flat.) Pretty sure the mid control is cut-only, so fully clockwise is flat and anti-clockwise is cut.
Cheers,
EG
I took a whole bunch of photos last night, inside and out. Here are a few more that may help us identify the bass.
Basics had a 5 piece neck, and solid body wings.
Classics had a 7 piece neck, and layered body wings.
Signatures had more than 7 piece necks.
Classics had a 7 piece neck, and layered body wings.
Signatures had more than 7 piece necks.
Ah – looks like you picked up JBass_Man’s bass! Congrats, it’s a beauty – congrats on moving up to the “big brother!” Welcome to the Club #145!May I also have a number? I'm proud to say I recently acquired this Tobias Bass serial #524. I've played a Music-Yo Korean Made Toby Pro for years and loved it, and now I have the big brother that inspired it
In any case, here's a photo, although I'll save the bulk for the obligatory NBD thread.
BTW, what’s “the obligatory NBD thread?”
Updated list:
1. magneezius
2. Flintc
3. Eaglemoon
4. Vladpire
5. ireidta
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 (retired from club)
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
117. sfearing
118. Ricky Caboverde
119. Nick supalerk
120. mntallpaul
121. Eugene B
122. mark35mi
123. Lo6man
124. noise_art
125. evilgus
126. higain617
127. barrel650
128. jbarn
129. kwdhsk
130. Basstovsky
131. Foal30
132. carvinbassplyr
133. WayneP
134. rufus.K
135. Chris McKenzie
136. Nightman
137. EdwardofHuncote
138. Mikkoantt
139. bassdudepat
140. TrcSeb
141. mustangcruise
142. dejan72
143. Brad Johnson
144. BlueAliceOasis
145. Buszkock
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
Yours is indeed a classic.
As far as the differences between the models, from what I’ve seen from pictures both here and elsewhere on the web:
The Basic indeed has a 5-piece neck and solid body wings. It also has plastic covers for the truss rod and electronics.
The Classic also has a 5-piece neck, but the body wings are different. They all have a top plate that’s a different wood from what’s below it. Can’t say for certainly, but I think that was the earlier models; at some point (not sure when) an additional layer of wood called a “tone plate” was sandwiched between the top plate and bottom piece. The Classic also had an “upgraded” truss rod cover that matched the neck wood (like yours), and a wood cover around back for the electronics.
The Signature is like the Classic, but upgraded to more layers of wood for the neck. I’ve seen them with both 7- and 9-piece necks, as well as with and without the tone plate.
Some of these things changed over the years. For instance, I’ve seen an early Omega Signature with a plastic cover for the electronics.
Don't know whether or not each model had the same electronics, or something specific.
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
Last edited:
Thanks for all the info and for my #. Proud to be part of the club, man. I've never owned an instrument of this caliber so needless to say I'm just really excited every day to play it and talk about it.
And yes, I did acquire the bass from JBass_Man, Chuck K. -- and seriously, the guy was absolutely awesome throughout the whole transaction.
And NBD = New Bass Day, and I thought it was customary on TB to announce your new basses! (with pics or it didn't happen, lol)
I'll probably just wait until it comes back from the setup and I get a chance to polish it, take some more photos and then show it off properly. I'm having David Segal of New York Bass Works look over the instrument and do the initial adjusting and setup. He's local to me and has a good relationship with Michael Tobias to boot.
And yes, I did acquire the bass from JBass_Man, Chuck K. -- and seriously, the guy was absolutely awesome throughout the whole transaction.
And NBD = New Bass Day, and I thought it was customary on TB to announce your new basses! (with pics or it didn't happen, lol)
I'll probably just wait until it comes back from the setup and I get a chance to polish it, take some more photos and then show it off properly. I'm having David Segal of New York Bass Works look over the instrument and do the initial adjusting and setup. He's local to me and has a good relationship with Michael Tobias to boot.
How cool, two new applicants within minutes of each other! Welcome to the Club alzabass and Jrussblues! See below for your numbers.
Updated list:
1. magneezius
2. Flintc
3. Eaglemoon
4. Vladpire
5. ireidta
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 (retired from club)
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
117. sfearing
118. Ricky Caboverde
119. Nick supalerk
120. mntallpaul
121. Eugene B
122. mark35mi
123. Lo6man
124. noise_art
125. evilgus
126. higain617
127. barrel650
128. jbarn
129. kwdhsk
130. Basstovsky
131. Foal30
132. carvinbassplyr
133. WayneP
134. rufus.K
135. Chris McKenzie
136. Nightman
137. EdwardofHuncote
138. Mikkoantt
139. bassdudepat
140. TrcSeb
141. mustangcruise
142. dejan72
143. Brad Johnson
144. BlueAliceOasis
145. Buszkock
146. alzabass
147. jrussblues
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
Got my bass set up by Dave Segal of New York Bass Works. He's a really nice guy, had lots of positive things to say about both Mike Tobias and the bass itself. He told me and my son Jaco stories and made me feel like I was right at home. I played one of his Jazz basses and WOW was this thing crisp! The B string on his 34.5" scale was unbelievable. I left with lots of gas. In any case, he got the action incredibly low and polished everything up really nicely... I made a NBD thread since I'm officially bringing it out in the open now, and starting to play it seriously now that it's set up.
You can find that thread HERE:
NBD: Tobias Classic 4 (# 524)
You can find that thread HERE:
NBD: Tobias Classic 4 (# 524)
Much as I love my ’99 Tobias Classic, I’ve always found it a bit galling that such a fine piece of workmanship came with cheap plastic knobs. Am I the only one who feels this way?
I really like the knobs on my Pedulla Thunderbass – made from aluminum alloy, satin black with a white line that goes across the top and all the way down the side. However, it’s also a big knob at 19 mm diameter. Since the Classic has so many knobs I wanted something a bit smaller and more understated, similar to the size of the stock plastic knobs.
Well, somehow I managed to stumble on an “in between” sized 15 mm knob that looks just like the Pedulla knob. Not only did it appear to be the right size, but it also had a plastic insert for the splined shafts Tobias uses, instead of the set screws that the Pedulla knobs use. Perfect!
The knobs turned out to be just the size I was looking for. The only shortcoming was that they leave the washer and nut exposed and visible. I alleviated the washer problem simply by removing them. The holes in the body are snug enough so that they really aren’t needed anyway. Then I painted the nuts satin black, which makes them virtually invisible with the knobs in place.
Here is a picture of my bass with the new knobs.
Unfortunately I had to order them in a set of 20, so now I have to figure out what to do with the rest of them (essentially three additional sets)!
By the way, perusing the MTD website, it appears that Michael is still putting those plastic knobs on many of his high-end, custom basses. I just don’t get it...
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
Last edited:
