Private (1977–90) Brand (1990–present) | |
Industry | Musical instruments |
---|---|
Fate | Company acquired by Gibson in 1990, becoming a brand |
Founded | 1977; 43 years ago |
Founder | Michael Tobias |
Headquarters | Orlando, Florida, United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Products | Bass guitars |
Parent | Epiphone |
Are the basses crappy quality, or just not as good as pre-Gibson. Thre are some obvious differences, but serial numbers are a vital clue.
Tobias is a brand of bass guitars originally made by luthierMichael Tobias starting in the 1970s and later bought out by Gibson. Nowadays, Tobias bass guitars are sold under the Epiphone division.[1]
History[edit]
Tobias Guitars was established in Orlando, Florida in April 1977. The vast majority of Tobias instruments are of neck-through construction, a style of neck-body assembly where the neck of the instrument is a single piece of wood that extends through the body and had the sides of the bass glued to it rather than being bolted on. However, once purchased by Gibson in 1990, a few bolt-on models were produced such as the Killer-B[2] (with the 'B' in the name standing for 'bolt-on') as well as the Growler[3] Basses. Tobias basses also were among the first to feature an asymmetrical neck, a design where the neck is thinner on the lower side than the upper.[4]
The first serial number was 0178, instead of the usual 0001, as a reference to the month the first bass was completed, January 1978.[5]
In 1990 Gibson Guitar Corporation purchased Tobias and moved production to Nashville. The first Tobias bass under Gibson ownership bore the serial number 1094. Michael Tobias left the company in 1992 to found Michael Tobias Design which produces a line of hand-made basses similar in spirit to the older Tobias basses. Basses below the serial number 2044 were built in the California factory headed-up by Michael Tobias; serial numbers after that were produced by Gibson with a transition period in which Tobias worked with Gibson and continued to produce basses.[6]
Products[edit]
- Growler 4/5
- Renegade 4
- Renegade 5
- Toby Standard
- Toby Deluxe IV
- Toby Deluxe V
- Toby Pro 4
- Toby Pro 5
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Tobias bass guitars on Epiphone website, retrieved 30 Oct 2019
- ^'Tobias Killer B Bass'. Gibson.com. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
- ^'Tobias Growler Bass'. Gibson.com. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
- ^'Tobias Basses - The Classics'. Gibson.com. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
- ^'MTD History'. Mtdbass.com. Archived from the original on 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
- ^'MTD History'. Mtdbass.com. Archived from the original on 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tobias bass guitars. |
- Tobias bass guitars on Epiphone website
- Michael Tobias Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2005)
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tobias_(bass_guitar_company)&oldid=929920728'
Early 90's pre-Gibson Tobias Classic 6-string. The body and top are walnut with a wenge tone plate, neck is walnut and wenge with a pau ferro fingerboard. Pearl inlaid Tobias logo on the headstock. Serial number is 17XX. (All three serial #s are present) Original curved top pick ups are also still intact, as are all the latches of the included original hardshell case.
This bass has some issues... As near as I can tell the bass started its life as a fretless and at some point was professionally fretted. The bass also started its life with a 7-pin midi set up for the electronics and had the standard Tobias branded bridge. However now, the midi Jack remains but isn't hooked up to anything, and the electronics have been replaced with a Seymour Duncan pre-amp. Additionally the original bridge has been replaced with a Wilkinson.
Despite all this the bass is in overall good playing and functional condition. It has the classic asymmetrical Tobias
Neck shape and weighs in at a measly 10 lbs
Had I decided to keep this I thought about having the fingerboard and electronics replaced, but truthfully I need a 6-string like I need a hole in my head. Bass is what it is and is priced accordingly. You won't find a pre-Gib classic 6 cheaper than this!
This bass has some issues... As near as I can tell the bass started its life as a fretless and at some point was professionally fretted. The bass also started its life with a 7-pin midi set up for the electronics and had the standard Tobias branded bridge. However now, the midi Jack remains but isn't hooked up to anything, and the electronics have been replaced with a Seymour Duncan pre-amp. Additionally the original bridge has been replaced with a Wilkinson.
Despite all this the bass is in overall good playing and functional condition. It has the classic asymmetrical Tobias
Neck shape and weighs in at a measly 10 lbs
Had I decided to keep this I thought about having the fingerboard and electronics replaced, but truthfully I need a 6-string like I need a hole in my head. Bass is what it is and is priced accordingly. You won't find a pre-Gib classic 6 cheaper than this!
This item is sold As-Described
This item is sold As-Described and cannot be returned unless it arrives in a condition different from how it was described or photographed. Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging.Product Specs
Condition | Fair condition gear should function but will show noticeable cosmetic damage or other issues.learn more |
Brand | Tobias |
Model | Classic 6-string, #17XX |
Finish | Walnut |
Made In | United States |