How to know a Pre-Gibson Tobias?
Trevor Purchase
I've always liked Tobias basses. I've heard that the Pre-Gibson ones
are much better instruments, not being as "factory-like", more TLC in
production, etc.
I'd like to buy one, so what I'd like to know is how to tell them
apart. Is it obvious? Like, to the Gibson ones have "Gibson" written on
them anywhere? Can I go by the model numbers? Are the different models
really different, or are there Gibson ones that are nearly identical to
the pre-Gibson ones?
I'm sure someone out there must know. Thanks!
___________________________________________________________
| Trevor | |
| | "The way you live is who you are..." |
| \/ | |
| /\ | -Tourniquet |
| /==\ | |
| /_/\_\ | tre...@cs.mun.ca |
|____________|____________________________________________|
Michael Nelson
->
-> I've always liked Tobias basses. I've heard that the Pre-Gibson ones
->are much better instruments, not being as "factory-like", more TLC in
->production, etc.
-> I'd like to buy one, so what I'd like to know is how to tell them
->apart. Is it obvious? Like, to the Gibson ones have "Gibson" written on
->them anywhere? Can I go by the model numbers? Are the different models
->really different, or are there Gibson ones that are nearly identical to
->the pre-Gibson ones?
Check Mike Tobias's website, there is an article there that gives serial
number ranges and you can tell from that which ones are pre-Gibson-Trashing.
http://www.mtdbass.com/history.htm
From that article:
"The first Tobias Gibson serial number was 1094"
..and this:
"The final LA Tobias/Gibson serial number is 2044. Despite Gibson's
ownership of Tobias, all of the basses made up to 2044 were built by
my regular crew. We also built about 60 basses that were not
numbered or finished by us. Those would be the first production from
Tobias/Nashville."
I had one of those 60 mentioned above, and it was a great bass. I don't
really think the decline in quality started until after Gibson moved the
operations to Nashville.
So, strictly speaking, if the serial number is 1094 or higher, it ain't
pre-Gibson. But I'd look strongly at any Tobias with serial number below
about 2100 or so. And even after that, there were some great ones, just not
nearly as consistently as before.
Michael
--
Michael Nelson San Francisco, CA
Peter McFerrin
seconds and should be treated as such. I would never buy a second from
a Korean guitar factory.
oInTe wrote:
>
> What I'd like to know is why are the current Toby's on Musicyo.com so
> CHEAP? What is the catch? Are they constructed poorly? Substandard parts?
> I wish I could try one before I bought it. I mean geez... a neck through
> with active electronics for < $500?????
>
> -oInTe
oInTe
Bryan O. Fenstermacher
Face it if you want a Tobias bass your best bet is to find the original
pre-Gibson's those basses all are wonderful. Past that you can find great
basses, but you have to look at each one to make sure that the one you are
playing is a keeper (much like Fender in my opinion). But the Toby line?
Your much better off buying another brand of bass, I would recommend looking
at the used market....
-Bryan
Peter McFerrin wrote in message <391B6F37...@cornell.edu>...
>I was interested in buying one, but it appears that those are factory
>seconds and should be treated as such. I would never buy a second from
>a Korean guitar factory.
>
>oInTe wrote:
>>
sparks
been a great g-tar
though I have checked out the new Gibson Tobias's AND THEY FREAKING BLOW
although the back of my neck says Korea in the early days b4 Gibson
disc. them (to await the opening of the Memphis plant LOL) it was
assembled very well good action and love the feel of the neck killer
tone and very versatile