Official Tobias Club

[foal30]

Well ladies and gents, my first Tobias bass has arrived two days ago. Its a natural colored Growler 5, made in 1995. Yes, I am aware that this is really a Gibson bass with the Tobias name on it, but..........
This one is in nice shape, but had a intermittent hum seen only in the neck pickup. A little look under the cover showed a not well soldered ground junction from one of the two pickup coax cables to ground. A little heat from my Weller soldering gun and some fresh solder and the hum is gone. Maybe the reason why the guy sold it to me!?!????
After playing Fender J and P basses for 54 years, this Growler 5 is a tone monster, with incredible dynamics.
This weekend I am going to look at it on my bench scope and compare it to my '62 Jazz bass for volt peaks above a minimum sonic value, and convert that to db just to see.
My next gig is tomorrow night and am looking real forward to playing this bass and see how she fits into the mix.
Several years ago I pickup a Washburn XB500 5 string active bass, and upgraded the noisy stock pickup in it (much better sounding) and about 2 months ago bought a mint 1990 Fender Jazz Bass V Plus, with the stock Kubicki preamp. This particular Fender bass is quite a great sounding bass, but, in my living room, the difference in punch and dynamic range of the Growler is very noticeable.
Tomorrow should be interesting, and looking forward to it.
Bye for now, Bruce

Nice one Brucie, nice

1 question , can you clarify please ""Growler neck pickup hum"

Growler should be one big pickup towards the bridge

 

[red_rhino]

1 question , can you clarify please ""Growler neck pickup hum"

Growler should be one big pickup towards the bridge

@Bruce , I think what he's saying here is "Pics!".

 

[Groove Doctor]

View attachment 3350913 Hi guys am selling my fretless pre Gibson Tobias if anyone is interested.

That's gorgeous - and appears to be the same woods as my '94 Classic 5 fretted (Gibson era).... Walnut/Purple Heart body and neck. 9V pre.
What wood is the board made from?

 

[bassdudepat]

Well ladies and gents, my first Tobias bass has arrived two days ago. Its a natural colored Growler 5, made in 1995. Yes, I am aware that this is really a Gibson bass with the Tobias name on it, but..........
This one is in nice shape, but had a intermittent hum seen only in the neck pickup. A little look under the cover showed a not well soldered ground junction from one of the two pickup coax cables to ground. A little heat from my Weller soldering gun and some fresh solder and the hum is gone. Maybe the reason why the guy sold it to me!?!????
After playing Fender J and P basses for 54 years, this Growler 5 is a tone monster, with incredible dynamics.
This weekend I am going to look at it on my bench scope and compare it to my '62 Jazz bass for volt peaks above a minimum sonic value, and convert that to db just to see.
My next gig is tomorrow night and am looking real forward to playing this bass and see how she fits into the mix.
Several years ago I pickup a Washburn XB500 5 string active bass, and upgraded the noisy stock pickup in it (much better sounding) and about 2 months ago bought a mint 1990 Fender Jazz Bass V Plus, with the stock Kubicki preamp. This particular Fender bass is quite a great sounding bass, but, in my living room, the difference in punch and dynamic range of the Growler is very noticeable.
Tomorrow should be interesting, and looking forward to it.
Bye for now, Bruce

You sure it's not a KB or a renegade? Growlers only have one pup in the bridge position. Like a music man.

 

[iwearpumas]

Just left Mike Tobias shop, he just put a new TCT into my Classic 5. Very awesome thing happened, while in the shop, Ace Livingston walked in. Very nice guy, very humble and down to earth. Bass sounds much better with TCT in it .

 

[LowB-90]

That's gorgeous - and appears to be the same woods as my '94 Classic 5 fretted (Gibson era).... Walnut/Purple Heart body and neck. 9V pre.
What wood is the board made from?

Fingerboard is pauferro.

 

[chupacerveza]

I reckon I'll need a membership number too! Ash body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard. This is one of about six five-string Journeyman prototypes from 1995-6 from the SWR and TT project. That's still the original tapered B-string! (Will be replacing the strings and polishing the frets this week!)

 

[iwearpumas]

I have a rosewood FB on my Tobias, I wish I had the Pau Ferro .

 

[Buszkock]

Just left Mike Tobias shop, he just put a new TCT into my Classic 5. Very awesome thing happened, while in the shop, Ace Livingston walked in. Very nice guy, very humble and down to earth. Bass sounds much better with TCT in it .

I'm interested to hear what you got installed here... any specs?

I've contemplated putting something different into my Tobias but I have a model with three stacked pots, so there aren't obvious options for me (e.g. Pope doesn't make a setup that would work for me.) I have always felt like the range of the original Bartolini's in there is so wide or something that I lose control of the tone all the time. Could just be I'm a bumbling fool with the knobs or I'm knocking them out of position all the time (I rock so hard /s).

In any case, cool that you met up with Mike. I live downstate NY so always wanted to take a ride up there and see his shop. This might be a good excuse!

 

[iwearpumas]

How far downstate do you live? I had the WTMB preamp and I had Mike replace it with a TCT. The Specs to my bass are alder body with bubinga, maple neck with purple heart stringers, and rosewood FB .

I'm interested to hear what you got installed here... any specs?

I've contemplated putting something different into my Tobias but I have a model with three stacked pots, so there aren't obvious options for me (e.g. Pope doesn't make a setup that would work for me.) I have always felt like the range of the original Bartolini's in there is so wide or something that I lose control of the tone all the time. Could just be I'm a bumbling fool with the knobs or I'm knocking them out of position all the time (I rock so hard /s).

In any case, cool that you met up with Mike. I live downstate NY so always wanted to take a ride up there and see his shop. This might be a good excuse!

 

[chupacerveza]

Who here remembers that Michael Tobias and Steve Rabe (of SWR) patented a wood resonance treatment process? They called it Timbre Tech.

5,537,908
43.75.Gh
ACOUSTIC RESPONSE OF COMPONENTS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Steven W. Rabe, Glendale, CA and Michael J. Tobias, Kingston, NY
23 July 1996 "Class 84/454…; filed 8 February 1994
This patent describes a modified production procedure for musical instruments such as guitars, in which the strings and associated hardware of a fully assembled guitar are removed, and then replaced after the shell of the instrument is subjected ''for about 30 minutes at a plurality of frequencies over a frequency range of about 20 to about 4,000 vibrational cycles per second with a sufficiently high power density spectrum to cause a permanent change in a resonance spectrum of the partially assembled guitar.'' Presumably this ''artificial aging'' process would improve the tone producing quality of the instrument.—DWM
Invalid Link Removed

 

[WayneP]

Well ladies and gents, my first Tobias bass has arrived two days ago. Its a natural colored Growler 5, made in 1995. Yes, I am aware that this is really a Gibson bass with the Tobias name on it, but..........
This one is in nice shape, but had a intermittent hum seen only in the neck pickup. A little look under the cover showed a not well soldered ground junction from one of the two pickup coax cables to ground. A little heat from my Weller soldering gun and some fresh solder and the hum is gone. Maybe the reason why the guy sold it to me!?!????
After playing Fender J and P basses for 54 years, this Growler 5 is a tone monster, with incredible dynamics.
This weekend I am going to look at it on my bench scope and compare it to my '62 Jazz bass for volt peaks above a minimum sonic value, and convert that to db just to see.
My next gig is tomorrow night and am looking real forward to playing this bass and see how she fits into the mix.
Several years ago I pickup a Washburn XB500 5 string active bass, and upgraded the noisy stock pickup in it (much better sounding) and about 2 months ago bought a mint 1990 Fender Jazz Bass V Plus, with the stock Kubicki preamp. This particular Fender bass is quite a great sounding bass, but, in my living room, the difference in punch and dynamic range of the Growler is very noticeable.
Tomorrow should be interesting, and looking forward to it.
Bye for now, Bruce

Congrats! We'll give you #157, 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
157. Bruce


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

 

[WayneP]

I reckon I'll need a membership number too! Ash body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard. This is one of about six five-string Journeyman prototypes from 1995-6 from the SWR and TT project. That's still the original tapered B-string! (Will be replacing the strings and polishing the frets this week!)

Wow! Can't say I've ever heard of this bass! Quite a find – you'll have to tell us how you came to own it!

Welcome to the Club #158! 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
157. Bruce
158. chupacerveza


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

 

[bassdudepat]

How far downstate do you live? I had the WTMB preamp and I had Mike replace it with a TCT. The Specs to my bass are alder body with bubinga, maple neck with purple heart stringers, and rosewood FB .

Do you still have the WTMB pre? Want to sell it?

 

[iwearpumas]

Do you still have the WTMB pre? Want to sell it?

I'll be honest, I'm still debating on that .

 

[Bruce]

Congrats! We'll give you #157, 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
157. Bruce


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

Thank you. Bruce

 

[chupacerveza]

A couple of folks asked about my MTB Journeyman prototype (post #1227 in this thread) so I thought that I would share what I know about it along with whatever documents I have related to it. The attached PDF has several pages: p. 1 is the original offer of the bass for sale from SWR Engineering, pp. 2-8 comprise a 2-part review of these basses by Chip Dolan (including correspondence with Steve Rabe and Michael Tobias) as posted to the online Bulletin Board "The Bottom Line" which some of us still remember..., p. 9 is correspondence between the original owner (my friend Bill) and SWR negotiating the sale, pp. 10-11 are low-res images from the SWR Website (that's the way things were done back then).

You'll note that I've redacted personal e-mail addresses and phone numbers, just in case they're still active.... Let me know if you have any questions about it! (Yes, it sounds great and plays great!)

 

[Bruce]

View attachment 3356103

Nice one Brucie, nice

1 question , can you clarify please ""Growler neck pickup hum"

Growler should be one big pickup towards the bridge

While it may look like one pickup, it is actually two pickups, each with 2 coils to be humbucking. One pair is the neck pickup and the other the bridge pickup. Each pair is hooked to a blend control and two separate preamps. This all befuddled me at first, but now makes sense.

 

[WayneP]

A couple of folks asked about my MTB Journeyman prototype (post #1227 in this thread) so I thought that I would share what I know about it along with whatever documents I have related to it. The attached PDF has several pages: p. 1 is the original offer of the bass for sale from SWR Engineering, pp. 2-8 comprise a 2-part review of these basses by Chip Dolan (including correspondence with Steve Rabe and Michael Tobias) as posted to the online Bulletin Board "The Bottom Line" which some of us still remember..., p. 9 is correspondence between the original owner (my friend Bill) and SWR negotiating the sale, pp. 10-11 are low-res images from the SWR Website (that's the way things were done back then).

You'll note that I've redacted personal e-mail addresses and phone numbers, just in case they're still active.... Let me know if you have any questions about it! (Yes, it sounds great and plays great!)

Thanks for that, chupacerveza! Certainly interesting reading.

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

 

[chupacerveza]

Thanks for that, chupacerveza! Certainly interesting reading.

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

Kind of a lost page of history isn't it? You had also asked how I came to own it... Bill has essentially retired from bass playing and, wanting it to go to a good home where it will be played and taken care of (and having been friends for several decades), he gave it to me! I reckon I'm one of the luckiest Tobias owners around by that measure!

--Robert