Official Tobias Club

[red_rhino]

As it happens I have a trip to San Jose next week.

LOL, me too. I was gonna offer to stop by there and check it out for you. (However, I'm not really a fretless player; looks like you are.)

My initial thoughts on the bass was that the weight seemed kinda high, which makes me wonder about its overall feel and sound. Some of the Gibson Tobiases I've played were not very responsive. The other question I had was that the ad says it's a 35" scale; I thought all Tobias basses were 34" scale regardless of where they were built. (Not that it's a big deal; it's just not the norm.)

Showcase does seem to get these coming thru every so often. Can't say I've ever seen a fretless there though. Let us know how it goes.

 

[scubaduba]

The body wings are bubinga which explains the weight. Neck is maple and bubinga. There is no Wenge.

I am not aware of any Gibson Tobias made with 35" scale.

 

[kesslari]

I'd be surprised if it wasn't actually 34"
Also that "Bubinga" looks a lot like purpleheart to me, but that may be the photos.

 

[scubaduba]

Here's the Gibson spec sheet for the Tobias Basic model.

Link Removed

 

[evilgus]

What kind of annoying issues?

I may have lucked out, but mine had the newer, curved-top, Bart RT pickups fitted, but with a really flat fingerboard radius, so the string volumes were a bit uneven. I ended up replacing the pickups with Bart Classics, which were much better! I vaguely recall getting a new nut fitted as well, as the string spacing was uneven.

EG

 

[guitarmutt]

both the Tobias basses I have (5,000 and 11,000 serial number range) are pretty awesome

 

[bucephylus]

Can you use the stock pickups with the Mike Pope?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
Tobias Club #133

Hey Wayne! Sorry I missed your Q.

Yes, absolutely. The Pope preamp plays well with the stock Bart pickups.

 

[Spblat]

Deposit placed on 5827, listing ended. I'm gonna head down and look at it a week from today!

 

[kesslari]

Deposit placed on 5827, listing ended. I'm gonna head down and look at it a week from today!

I suspect you're going to be a happy camper. I'm really curious as to whether that's bubinga or purpleheart.
Let us know how you like it!

 

[Gdeak]

I am not aware of any Gibson Tobias made with 35" scale.

FWIW, IME it's not a terrible idea to bring your own little tape measure. The most common answer I get when I ask about neck scale is a blank stare, #2 is correct answers, followed closely by the Bronze medalist, incorrect answers.

 

[Spblat]

I present #5827, fretless Basic 5. According to the Reverb listing it's a Wenge/Maple body, 5 piece wenge/maple neck, rosewood fretboard. I don't know how to interpret what I think says "B5PHR" under the truss rod cover. I've read that's a reference to the woods used, but I can't remember where I read that.

[Edit: @kesslari gets a nickel for musing about purple heart: Basic 5 Purple Heart Rosewood? And @scubaduba seems to be right: no wenge.]

The orange thread around the strings up by the pegs matches what's pictured in the data sheet posted above, which makes me think the strings (round wounds, not flat) are original, which makes this specimen a bit of a closet queen.

I bought it during a scheduled visit out of town (as promised). It's being shipped today (I think). Hopefully I'll have it at home by week's end.

It has curved pickups (which don't seem to have flat "shoulders")...and came with a photocopy of a photocopy of a Tobias-era diagram about the electronics and warranty. These documents make no mention of Gibson, which I guess pleases me. I think the serial number means Nashville.

Photos! I didn't get as clear a shot as I would have liked of the preamp. What do you think it is?

 

[LowB-90]

What do guys think about getting some frets in this beauty?
Its a Mike Tobias built.
Get frets or sell it?

 

[kesslari]

What do guys think about getting some frets in this beauty?
Its a Mike Tobias built.
Get frets or sell it?


View attachment 3196814

It's an amazing sounding fretless. Sell it and buy a Mike-made fretted.

 

[kesslari]

I present #5827, fretless Basic 5. According to the Reverb listing it's a Wenge/Maple body, 5 piece wenge/maple neck, rosewood fretboard. I don't know how to interpret what I think says "B5PHR" under the truss rod cover. I've read that's a reference to the woods used, but I can't remember where I read that.

[Edit: @kesslari gets a nickel for musing about purple heart: Basic 5 Purple Heart Rosewood? And @scubaduba seems to be right: no wenge.]

The orange thread around the strings up by the pegs matches what's pictured in the data sheet posted above, which makes me think the strings (round wounds, not flat) are original, which makes this specimen a bit of a closet queen.

I bought it during a scheduled visit out of town (as promised). It's being shipped today (I think). Hopefully I'll have it at home by week's end.

It has curved pickups (which don't seem to have flat "shoulders")...and came with a photocopy of a photocopy of a Tobias-era diagram about the electronics and warranty. These documents make no mention of Gibson, which I guess pleases me. I think the serial number means Nashville.

Photos! I didn't get as clear a shot as I would have liked of the preamp. What do you think it is?

View attachment 3196618

View attachment 3196620 View attachment 3196621 View attachment 3196619

Seeing the better pictures it's not purpleheart. Doesn't seem like bubinga either, though.

 

[WayneP]

Congrats on the score, Spblat! We'll give you #156, welcome to the Club! If you feel inclined, add us to your signature.


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
148. Templar
149. Vuong Bass
150. Suresh
151. red_rhino
152. Echo008
153. Groove Doctor
154. guitarmutt
155. naetog
156. Spblat


Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
Tobias Club #133

 

[Spblat]

Seeing the better pictures it's not purpleheart. Doesn't seem like bubinga either, though.

I messed with the color and exposure settings pretty aggressively which makes the photos above less...accurate. The bass arrived home this afternoon. Here's some untouched images in various lighting conditions. Wouldn't you expect "B5PHR" in the truss rod cavity to mean "Basic 5 Purple Heart Rosewood"?

CFL and LED light fixtures:


LED Fixture Only:


iPhone XS Flash (wow)

 

[scubaduba]

Sure looks like Bubinga to me.

 

[mustangcruise]

Is it purple heart, bubinga or what? When looking at the pictures, specifically at the truss rod cavity and the preamp/electronic cavity, the woods appear to match. I also looked at my stock of purple heart and it appears to match the stuff I have that has been exposed to the sun. The body wings are unique in that it's difficult to see a straight grain. Kind of cool since who ever built it used a different part of the tree. Not sure of the specific name of the cut though.

 

[evilgus]

Sure looks like Bubinga to me.

I'd say bubinga as well, there's quite a few different types, shades and grains available.

EG

 

[Spblat]

Here's a before/after with some Williamsville Wax. Lovely stuff!