Tobias basses, who knows about 'em?

[foal30]

I would love to see that!

Yes I'm going through my old Music magazines looking for Tobias information.

When I have them organized I will post in this thread.

 

[foal30]

Actually I have a favor to ask, the original Nashville run of Gibson Tobias Growler did they all have an ABM bridge?

If so does anyone know the part or model number? I'm looking at restoring an old Growler I purchased this week but may not recieve for a while as Lockdown here in New Zealand

 

[foal30]

Here's a start:

 

[foal30]

 

[foal30]

Tobias USA

Is the passive model with TBird pickups mentioned earlier in this thread.

If anyone is looking for specific info on this Bass let me know and I can detail the stats from Newell's UK Bassist review.

 

[ctmullins]

Thanks @foal30 ! I will eagerly devour any and all info on the USA model. As I've mentioned elsewhere, even Gibson couldn't tell me anything about it!

 

[foal30]

Ok.

Bassist UK
Tobias 5 string USA
34" Bolt on
Maple
Maple neck with Bubinga stringer
Maple fingerboard
Plastic Nut 44mm
3.75kg

Grover Tuners
Thunderbird Pick ups
Passive 24 frets

£1135 incl deluxe gig bag@ March 1996
Musical Exchanges special £800

 

[ctmullins]

Yay, thanks! I always wondered what the body wood was. I suspected maple, but I couldn't quite confirm it for myself just by looking at it. It has the heft of an instrument that's 98% maple, that's for sure! It also has the cutting aggressiveness of an all-maple bass.

 

[foal30]

Here is another one:
October 1998 UK Bassist

Downsides of this Bass? " we gad too give it back"

 

[foal30]

Thank you for your reply SMG! I'm amazed you answered so quickly. After I posted on this forum I did some more digging, and I found a bit more information. There was one guy on a forum that had the exact same Tobias bass as mine, only transparent red instead of transparent blue, and according to him the model was sold as "The American" and was made in the USA exclusively for the European market (which may explain why you have never heard of it). He also said that it was discontinued the same year it was sold (1995ish, +-1 a year or so), so there were only a limited amount made. The pickups are apparently the same pickups as the Gibson Thunderbird was equipped with at the time, and it is one of the few Tobias basses with passive pickups, as well as a maple fretboard (unfinished even).

So there we are! I have no idea of the price point or value since no one actually knows about the model.

1996 UK RRP £1135
Musical Exchanges had some for £800

 

[foal30]

If anyone has a 90's Nashville Gibson Tobias 4 string that can confirm what type of Bridge

Then I will surely be appreciative. Thanks

 

[foal30]

Righto some ABM and others Hipshot

19mm spacing.

 

[jjk2007]

I bought a new Gibson era Basic 5 back in the day. It was the natural swamp ash body. It was a great player…had nice, low action and sounded great. I don't really get concerned with weight (unless a bass is just an absolute boat anchor) but for some it may have felt a tad heavy. Truth be told I kinda miss that one and it's definitely on the short list of basses I could happily be gigging today.

 

[villis]

Zombie thread but anyone knows what was the price for the renegade new those days?