tobias experience

[vision]

I know that seems major but that's a fairly minor fix by a competent repair person. It could be climate related and even $7k basses aren't immune.

+1...I'm starting to think that the issues I've seen on the current Tobias basses have more to do with the stores that carry them and less to do with the build quality out of the factory.

 

[rockstarbassist]

+1...I'm starting to think that the issues I've seen on the current Tobias basses have more to do with the stores that carry them and less to do with the build quality out of the factory.

I'd be more understanding of that if it wasn't THE Gibson Nashville store!

 

[Brad Johnson]

I'd be more understanding of that if it wasn't THE Gibson Nashville store!

Some things defy logic.

 

[JayAmel]

I'm one of those rare and downtrodden people who owns and loves Tobias basses, straight from the Gibson factory in lovely metropolitan Conway, Arkansas. I second everything you say - they sound fantastic, the construction is flawless, and the neck fits your hand like it was designed around it.

A big +1.

 

[Flintc]

I'd be more understanding of that if it wasn't THE Gibson Nashville store!

Gibson customer support informed me that THE Gibson Showcase store, in Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, is just another franchised dealer, over which Corporate Gibson has no more direct control than any other dealer. My experiences with those who run that store, and some who just work there, has NOT been positive. They know almost nothing about basses, and care even less.

Incidentally, Gibson recently informed me that the Arkansas factory "can no longer manufacture" custom orders. Whatever that means.

 

[JayAmel]

The dealer who sold me the Killer B told me that some rumours say the whole Tobias product line would be discontinued. Don't know whether it's true or not, but if it is, what a pity to do that when the quality has become top notch again...

 

[rockstarbassist]

Gibson customer support informed me that THE Gibson Showcase store, in Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, is just another franchised dealer, over which Corporate Gibson has no more direct control than any other dealer. My experiences with those who run that store, and some who just work there, has NOT been positive. They know almost nothing about basses, and care even less.

Incidentally, Gibson recently informed me that the Arkansas factory "can no longer manufacture" custom orders. Whatever that means.

I think that was in response to my post, but that would make tons of sense if so.
The Tobias I played, if setup and worked on for a few hours would've been about the most amazing instrument of ALL time. And that's including my Quantums. No joke. What an ax. But for $7 large list, it had to be better.

 

[JayAmel]

Probably it's hit and miss. My brand new Killer B5, straight out of the box, absolutely needed nothing to be perfect.

 

[Flintc]

The list is pure fiction. The top of the line Signature edition can be purchased new, ordered direct from the factory, for maybe $3500 from some dealers in the US if you shop around hard enough. I got two bids for a factory-ordered Classic model for $3K even.

I know there have been rumors that Gibson may kill off the product line altogether, which would be a shame. I think if they spent just a little bit on decent customer communication, they could make it profitable. But in my various shopping around, I haven't found any substance to the rumor - the dealers are all more than willing to order what I want through their reps, and nobody has suggested any potential changes now or in the future. But then again, I haven't spoken to any reps personally.

 

[rockstarbassist]

The list is pure fiction. The top of the line Signature edition can be purchased new, ordered direct from the factory, for maybe $3500 from some dealers in the US if you shop around hard enough. I got two bids for a factory-ordered Classic model for $3K even.

I know there have been rumors that Gibson may kill off the product line altogether, which would be a shame. I think if they spent just a little bit on decent customer communication, they could make it profitable. But in my various shopping around, I haven't found any substance to the rumor - the dealers are all more than willing to order what I want through their reps, and nobody has suggested any potential changes now or in the future. But then again, I haven't spoken to any reps personally.

For sure, just saying what the pricetag was. I was almost scared to get it down, since it was on the top rack.
It had to be walnut or something, with some kind of flame design in the wood of a lighter color. It was very badass to say the least.
Even just playing around on it acoustically was SO pleasant to the ears.

 

[JayAmel]

Don't know how it works in the USA, but Gibson Europe's policies have changed drastically. They fired about 80 p. cent of their dealers and decided to develop business with the remaining 20 p. cent with a new distribution contract : dealer MUST stock Gibson guitars and basses, Epiphone guitars and basses, and Tobias basses. That's how I personnaly could have a chance to put my hands on this Killer B I fell in love with. Finally, that's maybe another way of doing consumer communication, though the investment here is done by the dealer, not by Gibson

About the price lists, yes they seem overrated. The Killer B lists at 3K but sells at 2K at MF. And I paid mine 2K€ in France, which seems reasonable, due to export/import fees, taxes, shipping, etc. Though, a German shop currently stock a Signature 6, and sells for 5,290 €. Guess this bass is a keeper... in the shop

 

[Flintc]

It had to be walnut or something, with some kind of flame design in the wood of a lighter color.

For what it's worth, here's what I was told in an email from Gibson customer support:

There is a limited edition of 25 SIG5FLCH Signature 5 string of flame maple/bubinga/lacewood in flame pattern, purple heart core, walnut back.

Guess this bass is a keeper... in the shop

I agree. Gibson makes some really excellent basses, but asks (their dealers to ask) too high a price for them. Lately, I've seen some dealer resistance to this, because the combination of sky-high asking price and rock bottom reputation means Tobias basses don't move off the racks very quickly. And dealers resent having to carry these expensive motionless inventory items in exchange for getting Les Pauls. So they're cooking up aliases and dumping them on e-bay for about half the nominal list (or less). Which in turn motivates other dealers to offer deep discounts.

Show the German shopkeeper some e-bay prices for new unplayed Tobias basses. If he won't dicker, hey, e-bay works for me.

 

[rockstarbassist]

For what it's worth, here's what I was told in an email from Gibson customer support:



I agree. Gibson makes some really excellent basses, but asks (their dealers to ask) too high a price for them. Lately, I've seen some dealer resistance to this, because the combination of sky-high asking price and rock bottom reputation means Tobias basses don't move off the racks very quickly. And dealers resent having to carry these expensive motionless inventory items in exchange for getting Les Pauls. So they're cooking up aliases and dumping them on e-bay for about half the nominal list (or less). Which in turn motivates other dealers to offer deep discounts.

Show the German shopkeeper some e-bay prices for new unplayed Tobias basses. If he won't dicker, hey, e-bay works for me.

It was probably that one then. Was some of the coolest designing I've seen on a wood bass in a long time.

 

[JayAmel]

Here's the bass :

Link Removed

and the German shop is there : http://www.station-music.de/

They carry many high end bass brands (including F Bass, Sadowsky, Alembic, Fodera etc.), and in most cases their prices are reasonable (at least as reasonable as possible in Europe, where dealers have 25 p. cent of trade margin when American ones have 40-45).

Anyway, I wouldn't spend 5K€ for a Gibson Tobias. But I would for an MTD.

 

[Flintc]

It was probably that one then. Was some of the coolest designing I've seen on a wood bass in a long time.

Yeah, some quality inlay work. But I do not think that particular bass can be properly set up any longer; it's been neglected to the point where you'd break the neck before you could get it straight. That Nashville store exercises criminal negligence.

 

[Flintc]

Anyway, I wouldn't spend 5K€ for a Gibson Tobias. But I would for an MTD.

Depends on your goals, I guess. My take is that once you reach the nosebleed price range like that, you're unlikely to come close to what you paid if you try to sell it. So you're buying what you personally consider the best sound and feel (and looks) available price-no-object. For that kind of money, I wouldn't look at a bass as a name brand, but as a unique instrument. Not as a Tobias or an MTD, but for THIS particular bass or THAT particular bass.

And to make that choice, I'd need to sit down and A-B compare them directly, for some time. After all, I'm about to part with several *years* worth of savings.

 

[JayAmel]

Sure I wouldn't buy a 5K bass without testing it before, or at least testing a similar one if I then want mine to be custom made. But honestly, the money to be lost (virtually or not) does not count.

This is probably a mistake on my part, since switching much gear through the last 3 years did cost me a lot of money.

But on the other side, there are several things that I know now better than ever about my bass choices, so I guess the testing/switching phase is over for me.

The big difference is that my future is made of more basses, but that I will only get when the money is saved, instead of doing sacrifices for a caprice bass to be resold 1 or 2 months later. In other words, GAS is still here, but led by available cash and nothing else. Testing if it will resist the time of wait may also help me see if it is relevant GAS or not

So now, potential price of resale does not have much importance to me.

 

[The Penguin]

Don't know how it works in the USA, but Gibson Europe's policies have changed drastically. They fired about 80 p. cent of their dealers and decided to develop business with the remaining 20 p. cent with a new distribution contract : dealer MUST stock Gibson guitars and basses, Epiphone guitars and basses, and Tobias basses. That's how I personnaly could have a chance to put my hands on this Killer B I fell in love with. Finally, that's maybe another way of doing consumer communication, though the investment here is done by the dealer, not by Gibson

They're like that in the states, you must take all the stock they tell you to or you're no longer a dealer.