Official Tobias Club

[EdwardofHuncote]

Got my old Basic 4 loaded up for a brewery gig tonight. Pics tomorrow.

Gotta' say, I had a great time playing that bass last night. I really hadn't gigged with it much... I bought it because 1.) I always wanted a Mike Tobias bass and 2.) The stripped-down basic simplicity of it worked really well with a rock band I jam with some. 3.) Finally it was a decent deal I just couldn't pass up.

But man that thing just feels right. I have no idea who commissioned it, or why this way, (never seen another like it) but they were really onto something.

BTW- A member of another forum I frequent who has #239 tells me #240 was the first California build. My #252 here is well past that, and grain of salt and all...

 

[Abzan_Titan]

My pimped Indo Growler !

 

[bassyogi]

Is there a place to buy these? Or can i swap them out with Warwick? Just curious.

 

[Sirfishalot]

Man, i wish I could fin one of these!
Pre-Gibson Tobias Standard Fretless. I guess the only way besides getting very lucky would be to get a modern USA MTD.

JayT

 

[ahbass2500]

Came across this thread while looking for info on a bass I ordered. Will post that one up when it comes in.

Until then, here is my current Michael Tobias designed bass. US Lakland Hollowbody (collaboration between Dan Lakin and Michael Tobias). This one was originally built for Darryl Jones (have paperwork confirming). Bought it from a TB member, so it may be posted somewhere further back in the thread.

I removed the pick guard shortly after buying (see profile photo).


Other Tobias related Basses I have owned...
Lakland Skyline Hollowbody (owned for a week then returned to GC due to finding the US one)

Tobias Growler (factory fretless) that I owned for several years. Ultimately sold it due to not playing 4 string basses much at the time. The absolute best fretless tone I have ever heard.

 

[scubaduba]

This prototype is going to the classifieds. Sort of a unicorn.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

This prototype is going to the classifieds. Sort of a unicorn.

View attachment 7366878

Should be called The Snarler. That thing is too cool for skool, scuba.

 

[scubaduba]

Love it! Maybe the Super Snarler. It's like a MTD Super meets Tobias Growler.

 

[ahbass2500]

New to me Tobias made bass came in today. 5 string Journeyman bass Prototype #7. This bass is one of 12 ever made (6 four string and 6 five string from what I could find). Part of a collaboration between Steve Rabe (SWR) and Michael Tobias that never entered production phase.

Very little info on these, but there is some earlier in this thread
Another Example
Info and Interview with Steve Rabe/Michael Tobias

 

[Reedt2000]

Wow, very cool! You can see the transition from the old school tobias body style to what is now the MTD line of basses. Interesting pickup configuration too, how's it sound? Has it got a Bart preamp? Other than the 5-on-one-side headstock I really dig it. Congrats for getting ahold of a rare piece!

 

[ahbass2500]

Wow, very cool! You can see the transition from the old school tobias body style to what is now the MTD line of basses. Interesting pickup configuration too, how's it sound? Has it got a Bart preamp? Other than the 5-on-one-side headstock I really dig it. Congrats for getting ahold of a rare piece!

Bartolini Preamp (Volume/Blend/Bass/Mid/Treble/Mid Frequency Select)

Pickups are both humbuckers (dual coil for the neck and split single for the bridge). I need to put new strings on it before fully commenting on tone but so far I like it. This feels like a bass where I am going to use the blend knob more than the EQ. The neck pickup has a good low end without being too bottom heavy, but it has very little high end content. Bridge pickup has a nice clear high end that I would describe as snappy without being harsh. Bridge pickup with bass boosted gives a good MM 5 in single coil mode sound (which is my favorite MM5 coil setting). Neck pickup by itself is a setting I frequently like on two pickup basses, but I will likely never go full neck only on this one. It needs at least a touch of the bridge pickup dialed in to get a sound that I like.

While the above may sound like I dislike the neck pickup, I think it is the right pairing for the bass. The two pickups pair really well together even though they sound like they are from opposite ends of the spectrum. It is almost like they picked a Bartolini Original Series and a Bartolini Classic Series and put them in the same bass.

I agree the headstock shape does not really fit the body. I think they may have been trying to visually say "this is an MTD-esque modern bass that Fender fans will like." The use of a 34" scale and some of the comments in the documentation I linked support that idea. I feel at home on it and I typically play 5 string G&Ls. String spacing is wider than the G&Ls, but the neck has the right amount of chunk to it. My initial reaction is that this one is a keeper.

 

[WayneP]

New to me Tobias made bass came in today. 5 string Journeyman bass Prototype #7. This bass is one of 12 ever made (6 four string and 6 five string from what I could find). Part of a collaboration between Steve Rabe (SWR) and Michael Tobias that never entered production phase.

Congrats and welcome to the club! See below for your number. Hard to believe only 12 made and we have two of them on this 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. EdwardofHuncote
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
159. darryl1965
160. BassistFTW
161. coyote1
162. John Stipicevic
163. xtremebassist1
164. Rohan Anderson
165. Afc70
166. jpataide
167. Thepoet62
168. Bassistcool
169. NotTheOx
170. kwallace
171.Corbusier
172. Sirfishalot
173. woodiebass
174. Bassyogi
175. ahadl2500

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Official Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Official Heartfield Club #36
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Official Pre-Gibson Tobias Owners Club
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide

 

[ahbass2500]

Congrats and welcome to the club! See below for your number. Hard to believe only 12 made and we have two of them on this 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. EdwardofHuncote
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
159. darryl1965
160. BassistFTW
161. coyote1
162. John Stipicevic
163. xtremebassist1
164. Rohan Anderson
165. Afc70
166. jpataide
167. Thepoet62
168. Bassistcool
169. NotTheOx
170. kwallace
171.Corbusier
172. Sirfishalot
173. woodiebass
174. Bassyogi
175. ahadl2500

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Official Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Official Heartfield Club #36
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Official Pre-Gibson Tobias Owners Club
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide

22 years as a member of Talkbass. Active participant in several club threads (where I own something that fits the club). First time I have been given a number. Thanks!

 

[red_rhino]

22 years as a member of Talkbass. Active participant in several club threads (where I own something that fits the club). First time I have been given a number. Thanks!

Maybe we should associate an instrument's serial number with the club member number? That way, when someone sells/buys the bass, the club membership comes with it. Seems like a value add to me. Maybe provide an official Talkbass Certificate of Membership?

 

[ahbass2500]

Maybe we should associate an instrument's serial number with the club member number? That way, when someone sells/buys the bass, the club membership comes with it. Seems like a value add to me. Maybe provide an official Talkbass Certificate of Membership?

I was not trying to oversell the importance of a member number. Just found it interesting how long I have been on here without getting one. I have been fairly active after the first chunk of years (originally joined to browse classifieds).

 

[red_rhino]

I was not trying to oversell the importance of a member number.

This is Talkbass. We can oversell the importance of anything.

 

[WayneP]

Here's another unicorn to go with all the others that have shown up here lately. This one's currently for sale on ebay – a Killer B with standard electronics and Renegade pickup configuration. Looks to be Nashville era. I screenshotted a couple of pictures.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Official Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Official Heartfield Club #36
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Official Pre-Gibson Tobias Owners Club
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide

 

[scubaduba]

I bet that one could sound real nice. The Growler would sound better with a neck pickup in my opinion.

 

[ahbass2500]

I bet that one could sound real nice. The Growler would sound better with a neck pickup in my opinion.

Growler sounds best as a fretless. There is so much mid to work with in that pickup/preamp setup. Best fretless sound I have ever played.

 

[scubaduba]

I've had 2 fretless Growlers and 5 or so fretted now.... oh and one of the Indonesian.

I like the idea of Growlers. I think there are much better basses in the tone department.