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What happened to Tobias after Gibson?

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Hapa

Hapa

Gold Supporting Member
Apr 21, 2011
954
105
Greeley, CO
#1
Hello fellow TB'ers,
I want to start off by saying that I have always loved the design of the Tobias basses. I had a pre Gibson Tobias for a minute in College and have heard all sorts of rumors about the basses since Gibson bought the brand. As far as I can tell they destroyed the brand. Off seas production aside, I have not seen a US made Tobias played since Wayman Tisdale. I will state that in multiple retail situations retail veterans have all told me that they had a period of bad necks and many people returned them... were never restocked. I don't even see flagship Gibson dealers Carry them, Tobias has no independent website, and have yet to meet someone with a new Tobias. Whats the deal?
 
#3
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] in the virtual ether?

growler.jpg
 
#4
mmbongo said:
What, you don't have a few Tobias dealers around you? Not sure what the problem is. Most stores have them on the wall right next to the Steinbergers. Yay Gibson!
Click to expand...

In my experience that Steinberger on the wall is always over a year old and not sold, usually bought in the initial dealer buy in. Most stores do not carry steinbergers in CA, Many are technically dealers but never stock them along with Tobias. US made in particular. The only time I ever saw a Tobias was in a Gibson dealer buy in. Never have I seen a new Tobias in a store to play, and have not met a dealer who has returns if the bass doesn't turn out.
 
#9
Some don't know MTD / Tobias are similar etc which is why I mentioned sorry...

I was in West LA Music on Santa Monica maybe a year ago and they had what I thought was a brand new Tobias Growler? Single pickup like the one above... I havent been back in there for a while but that is the last time I saw a "new" Tobias instrument anywhere. I am in that area a lot so I'll pop in and see if something like that is still there...

I have no idea where it was made or the specific model.
 
#10
I know you're talking about basses here. But everytime I see the name Tobias, I think of Dr. Fünke the never-nude, frightened inmate number two, being an analyst and a therapist at the same time, Mrs. Featherbottom, the blue man group and of course all the awesome double entendres.

**awkwardly somersaults out of this thread with cat-like reflexes!**
 
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#11
I own an older Growler 4 made in Tennesee, and it's a very good instrument. More than a year ago, I tried out a new Growler like what JohnnyB53 posted above, and there was very little in common between the two. The electronics were totally different (not in a good way), and for such an expensive instrument it felt cheap. Even some Toby's I've come across exuded more self-esteem.
I also tried the new Basic, and put it down quickly in disgust. Couldn't hold a candle to older Killer B. The new Tobias stuff is sadly completely trash.
 
#13
Fred312b said:
Epiphone Announces New Tobias Toby Models

Just announced today...
Click to expand...

Maybe the article posting but not new my any means,
NAMM newsletters said that in Feb. But again lets stay focused on the thread topic...
Peoples experiences, if anyone has seen new US made Tobias. If the brand is dead in the US... The website has been the same and not fully functioning for years.
I would start the Idea for another company to buy it back if it is not worth that much.
 
#15
Bass_Thumper said:
What can you say, everything that Gibson touches turns to crap. I believe that they were voted worst place to work in Nashville so that should give us a little insight into those guys.
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That is very interesting. If you know where you saw that info please let me know. I am in the application process over there, the more I dig the more I find reasons why I shouldn't work there.
 
#16
Hapa said:
In my experience that Steinberger on the wall is always over a year old and not sold, usually bought in the initial dealer buy in. Most stores do not carry steinbergers in CA, Many are technically dealers but never stock them along with Tobias. US made in particular. The only time I ever saw a Tobias was in a Gibson dealer buy in. Never have I seen a new Tobias in a store to play, and have not met a dealer who has returns if the bass doesn't turn out.
Click to expand...

pretty sure that was his point
 
#17
I read his point as responding to seeing them new, specifically because he's in South Carolina there are more loyal gibson dealers, hence my CA reference.
Maybe I am interpreting your syntax wrong but your comment is a little aggressive dude.
 
#18
They had a few of them at the Gibson store at Opry Mills Mall before it was destroyed in the Nashville flood. They were "ok" and in typical Gibson fashion the prices were astronomical. If you look at the Gibson guitars the business model seems to be astronomically priced US models for collectors and moderately priced Pacific Rim models for students and working players under the Epiphone brand.
It looks like they're following the normal Gibson strategy.
In conversations with Mike post-Gibson sale he seemed to have some regrets about it. His new basses are great and have been for quite some time and he is also following the expensive US/inexpensive Pacific Rim business strategy.
 
#19
Hapa said:
I read his point as responding to seeing them new, specifically because he's in South Carolina there are more loyal gibson dealers, hence my CA reference.
Maybe I am interpreting your syntax wrong but your comment is a little aggressive dude.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure you missed some glaring sarcasm.
 
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