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Pre-Gibson Tobias Owners - It's Showtime!
- Thread starter Debased
- Start date
That's my Classic 5, serial no. 12xx, Zebra top over Alder body. Newer Bartolini circuit with active/passive and mid freq switch and a coil split option (quite cool !).
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Pic of my pre-Gib Signature 6 will be added soon...
Tonewise I'm a great Smith enthusiast, but those pre-Gib Tobias' are simply the most beautiful basses ever built imho ...
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Pic of my pre-Gib Signature 6 will be added soon...
Tonewise I'm a great Smith enthusiast, but those pre-Gib Tobias' are simply the most beautiful basses ever built imho ...
Very nice, especially the great angled grain on the zebrawood top!
A couple of questions for pre-Gib owners - how curved is the typical early Tobias neck? Or the early Bart pickups with the 3 screws? Are they flatter than the later Bart RT pickups that Gibson used? My '94 has a very flat radius neck, with just a bit of drop at B and G strings, so just wondering if that's similar to earlier ones or not. And therefore whether Gibson messed with the neck or messed with the pickups....
Cheers,
EG
A couple of questions for pre-Gib owners - how curved is the typical early Tobias neck? Or the early Bart pickups with the 3 screws? Are they flatter than the later Bart RT pickups that Gibson used? My '94 has a very flat radius neck, with just a bit of drop at B and G strings, so just wondering if that's similar to earlier ones or not. And therefore whether Gibson messed with the neck or messed with the pickups....
Cheers,
EG
Are you sure it's not a series / parallel switch? Those pickups are all supposed to be reverse P's under the covers.
Very nice, especially the great angled grain on the zebrawood top!
A couple of questions for pre-Gib owners - how curved is the typical early Tobias neck? Or the early Bart pickups with the 3 screws? Are they flatter than the later Bart RT pickups that Gibson used? My '94 has a very flat radius neck, with just a bit of drop at B and G strings, so just wondering if that's similar to earlier ones or not. And therefore whether Gibson messed with the neck or messed with the pickups....
Cheers,
EG
You can see the fingerboard and pickup radii pretty clearly in this pic.
Not sure, but I think the fingerboard radius is 16", and it has a very flat feel to it.
No, that is a series/parallel/outer single coil switch ! All in one !
The older Bart pickups are normal Humbuckers with 4 wires, maybe the Gibson-era Barts are Precision-Type, because they are completely sealed in plastic and have only 2 wires. It is not possible to install a coil switch.
This is my Signature 6, serial no. 13xx, with Walnut neck and body core and superb Zebrano top and back.
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Does anybody know where to get original replacements or parts for the old pre-Gibson bridge ?
The bridge of my Signature 6 has been filed in a way that the B-string routes too narrow to the neck border for my playing style. Furthermore, the string goes with an angle over the bridge saddle (which is also true for my Classic5 pre-Gib). Probably to get a wider string spacing.
I would like to fix it and to file the string routing a little bit different. Or to replace the whole bridge... Any ideas out there ?
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The bridge of my Signature 6 has been filed in a way that the B-string routes too narrow to the neck border for my playing style. Furthermore, the string goes with an angle over the bridge saddle (which is also true for my Classic5 pre-Gib). Probably to get a wider string spacing.
I would like to fix it and to file the string routing a little bit different. Or to replace the whole bridge... Any ideas out there ?
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vision
It's all about the groove!
- Feb 25, 2005
- 3,988
- 618
- 47
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: MTD Basses, La Bella Strings, and 64 Audio IEMs
Hmm...you may want to email Mike himself about that. I doubt that you could find exact replacement parts, but he would know the best alternative. SWEET bass by the way!!!
First, I'd strongly recommend against changing the bridge out on an original beauty like this.
As such, finding and filing a replacement saddle would be ideal if a small change is enough, and getting all new saddles and having a qualified tech (if that's not you, anyway) redo the string spacing across the bridge to be narrower, but even. However, finding those saddles may be potentially very tough. Vision is right tho, check with Mike first. If he has any laying around, he might even just send them free.
If all that fails, I'd just suggest modifying the bridge saddle. String tension will hold it in place even if the slot is widened to get what you need. Again, tho, just mod'ing one saddle, you'll have to be careful how far you go vs the E string.
IMHO, hope this helps, etc....
I brought my bass to Richard "Obe" Oblinger's house (the Tobias setup/repair guy) many years ago for a similar adjustment; my G-string saddle was filed too close to the edge of the fingerboard for comfort. He had a bag of blank bridge saddles on hand...perhaps he still does? It's worth a shot.
PM me, and I'll give you his current phone number.
- Jun 24, 2006
- 2,560
- 91
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: MTD basses and strings; Bergantino Amps & Cabs
That is EXACTLY the bass that started me gassing for a tobias about 18-20 years ago.
One day I'll have Mr. T build me a new MTD like that.
Gorgeous, man. Drop me a line if you ever want to sell.
You're one lucky man!
Thanks,
Cameron
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,518
- 19,954
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I wouldn't mind having Obe's contact information, since I own the Classic 5 that Michael made for him. This one, if anyone cares:
Sorry to say I couldn't get any pics, but I just saw Tori Amos live the other night and Jon Evans played a very nice looking pre-Gibson Tobias Classic 5. Light coloured top, probably maple/purpleheart neck. Man, did it sound PHAT!!! He started the night on a Lakland and occasionally switched to a P-bass, but used the Classic for all the "big" songs where he gets to rock out a bit more and needs more expression. Almost sounds like a fretless the way he plays it, lots of slides and bends, etc. Cornflake Girl and Precious Things off "To Venus and Back (Live)" are a great example, very tasty playing.
Cheers,
EG
Cheers,
EG
Pre-Gibson Signature Tobias Zebrawood/Wenge Black Ebony FB Serial #700. Amazing bass with Amazing tone!!!
Article about early Tobias basses. Read last two paragraghs and also notice background bass headstock SN700. This is the bass that Jimmy Haslip used for the session and was pleased with and eventually came on board with Tobias Basses thereafter.........http://www.bassland.net/tobyhist.html
Chris Squire with SN700 in this yes video.....http://s208.photobucket.com/player....76/dgroove/Yes-TobiasSN700.flv&fs=1&os=1&ap=1
Article about early Tobias basses. Read last two paragraghs and also notice background bass headstock SN700. This is the bass that Jimmy Haslip used for the session and was pleased with and eventually came on board with Tobias Basses thereafter.........http://www.bassland.net/tobyhist.html
Chris Squire with SN700 in this yes video.....http://s208.photobucket.com/player....76/dgroove/Yes-TobiasSN700.flv&fs=1&os=1&ap=1
Your bass is a Basic 4 with passive electronics. It is definitely an American made model made in Hollywood. Your serial number is 54X or so. That is Five Hundred and something...
Bob Lee
Tobias Guitars 1983-92
