• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Official Tobias Club

I compared a set of "drops" to the later Bart RT pickups, in the same bass, and there wasn't a huge difference. The Drops were slightly fatter and warmer, but less crisp in the top-end. But I'm just talking about 15% difference. I suspect the Drops are just over-wound, compared to the later ones.

EG
 
I compared a set of "drops" to the later Bart RT pickups, in the same bass, and there wasn't a huge difference. The Drops were slightly fatter and warmer, but less crisp in the top-end. But I'm just talking about 15% difference. I suspect the Drops are just over-wound, compared to the later ones.

EG

Yes EG, the drop shoulder PU's have that fatter/beefer sound that I love in my Tobias Classic 5. The Bubinga/Wenge/Alder seems to be the combination that I like the best.
 
That makes sense. My buddy has a Tobias and his pickups look like mine, and his bass sounds much different .
If I were you I'd check the preamps. I imagine they are different and that's why they sound different. There's something like 3 different TCT models and my favorite, The WTMB. They all sound different and we're used pre gib. That and wood combos.. the pickups themselves should be pretty close.
 
Hi everyone.
Haven't been here for a while. Not part of the club yet despite owning an MTD 535-24 and a Pre-Nashville Tobias Basic 6. I'm gathering some info regarding a Classic 5, SN 3136. Has any of you ever owned it? Any help will be highly appreciated. Happy Easter everyone!
I haven't owned it but perhaps you'll get lucky and someone here has. All I can tell you is that serial number puts it in the Gibson Nashville era.
 
Not a Tobias owner (yet?) but I have a question you maybe know the answer to.
I'm in the process of selling off an electric guitar and someone offered me a Toby pro 5 as a trade and claims it should be equal value. Serial says it's a 2004 Korean model.

With the guitar I'm selling 800 is what I'd be looking for if sold for cash.

I tried to research it and I'm still not sure if it would be a trade of equal value (provided I like it and don't find anything wrong).

Thanks for your help!
O.K. so I have to agree with the poster who said $4-$600 is a more realistic range than $800 for that bass... Maybe the 5 with perfect finish would command $550 or so, IMO. That said, the Korean Toby is a really cool bass. I played one for years before buying my pre-gib. The Toby neck and body feel great. Slim shape and smooth finish that allowed me to run up and down the fretboard. It was easy to dial in the action pretty low and it also had decent tuners. What it lacked was in the electronics dept. Although an active bass it just didn't have a great range and could sound a little rough. But for $150 you could probably drop some pretty sick pups in there and have a real beast at a bargain. Can't say enough about these basses. Talk the guy down or have your guitar appraised (maybe you're high as well and would feel better if someone valued your guitar at a price closer to the perceived value of this Toby.) Best of luck and let us know if you get it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mazian
O.K. so I have to agree with the poster who said $4-$600 is a more realistic range than $800 for that bass... Maybe the 5 with perfect finish would command $550 or so, IMO. That said, the Korean Toby is a really cool bass. I played one for years before buying my pre-gib. The Toby neck and body feel great. Slim shape and smooth finish that allowed me to run up and down the fretboard. It was easy to dial in the action pretty low and it also had decent tuners. What it lacked was in the electronics dept. Although an active bass it just didn't have a great range and could sound a little rough. But for $150 you could probably drop some pretty sick pups in there and have a real beast at a bargain. Can't say enough about these basses. Talk the guy down or have your guitar appraised (maybe you're high as well and would feel better if someone valued your guitar at a price closer to the perceived value of this Toby.) Best of luck and let us know if you get it!

Well, the deal imploded.
The guy was firm that his bass was worth at least 900 EUR (around 1000 USD) and wanted my guitar and another 100 bucks.
I laughed and walked.
I think 800 EUR isn't too steep for a japanese-built Fender guitar, a special run nevertheless, which was built this year and cost me almost 1200 new, no case included.
 
Hi everyone.
Haven't been here for a while. Not part of the club yet despite owning an MTD 535-24 and a Pre-Nashville Tobias Basic 6. I'm gathering some info regarding a Classic 5, SN 3136. Has any of you ever owned it? Any help will be highly appreciated. Happy Easter everyone!
I probably couldn't but you can email Gibson the serial number and they're pretty good at giving you a date range. Also send them a few pictures if you can, that can help them narrow it down. Considering the last Burbank number was 2044 you're 1092 builds away from the end of 1992.
 
My very early Killer B 5. Two piece solid maple body. Absolutely kills in just about any setting. My main bass for 25 years. I did this vid quickly at lunchtime yesterday to show someone a new tone I've been playing with. I got a little sloppy because I had 2 minutes to get it done and never really recorded video before. The phone did a surprisingly good job of capturing what I hear in front of the amp which is a Rumble 500c if anyone cares. Signal chain is a Diamond Compressor into EHX Nano Battalion into a TC Corona mini chorus into front of amp. Neck pickup rolled off slightly with preamp on with mids and highs boosted.
Lazy rightright hand slap is a little embarrassing. I usually try to keep my thumb a lot more parallel to the strings when slapping. Video is good for me to critique and tweak my technique so I'll be doing more of it.

On another note. I got to play a new MTD 535 last week and was a little disappointed. It was beautifully built but I wasn't digging the string spacing or very sterile tone. I don't know what the body wood was but it had a stunning flame Myrtle top. I wonder if Mike would build me one with my KB5 neck dims, string spacing and similar preamp? I may give him a call.

 
My very early Killer B 5. Two piece solid maple body. Absolutely kills in just about any setting. My main bass for 25 years. I did this vid quickly at lunchtime yesterday to show someone a new tone I've been playing with. I got a little sloppy because I had 2 minutes to get it done and never really recorded video before. The phone did a surprisingly good job of capturing what I hear in front of the amp which is a Rumble 500c if anyone cares. Signal chain is a Diamond Compressor into EHX Nano Battalion into a TC Corona mini chorus into front of amp. Neck pickup rolled off slightly with preamp on with mids and highs boosted.
Lazy rightright hand slap is a little embarrassing. I usually try to keep my thumb a lot more parallel to the strings when slapping. Video is good for me to critique and tweak my technique so I'll be doing more of it.

On another note. I got to play a new MTD 535 last week and was a little disappointed. It was beautifully built but I wasn't digging the string spacing or very sterile tone. I don't know what the body wood was but it had a stunning flame Myrtle top. I wonder if Mike would build me one with my KB5 neck dims, string spacing and similar preamp? I may give him a call.


I had the same experience with MTD. Not a fan of Bart's NTMB preamp. I just couldn't get what I needed out of them. They couldn't compare with my KB. Check your electrics and see what you have. You're out of luck if it's a WTMB but if it's a TCT you can get close with Bartolini's (non advertised) TCT re-release. HRTCT5.4 (or something like that.) pretty easy to install if you can solder a little, it comes in a harness already assembled.