Steff

Hi guys, in my search for the right vintage Tobias I ended up buying 2 so one needs to go. This one has got a history so I’ll try to represent to the best of my knowledge. Serial number 1784, which places it post Gibson buy-out but pre handout which means still built by Michael Tobias and crew. Walnut with a Wenge tone block and stringers. Original Bartolini Tobias split coil pickups. More on the preamp below…. Weight is 4.3kg as far as I could see on my kitchen scales which is great for a 6 string. This bass was acquired by previous owner as a restoration project. Didn’t have the original TCT preamp and apparently was very scratched and worn. He did a refinish (and he’s done a great job as far as I can see) and converted it to a 5 string - new nut and replacement bridge. Apparently someone along the line decided to install a 13 pin midi connector on it which I was intending to use and install a GK3B pickup - might as well turn the flaw into an advantage - just a thought if someone interested in it is also into his synth sounds. I have restored the bass to 6 string - it came with the spare parts that were removed for the conversion so bridge and nut are original. Bits needing TLC: When refinish was done, they didn't cover the slot where the nut rests so the original nut was sitting too low when I put it back on. I’ve shimmed it with a couple of veneer strips - but it’s something that can be redone professionally at some point. Bass has a couple of holes drilled for mini switches. More on that below. As mentioned, bass didn’t come with the original preamp. I have installed a reissue TCT (which in my knowledge and opinion is VERY close to the original, I have examples of both and have done a lot of A/B testing). The control cavity has been copper shielded - again not the neatest work I’ve seen so this can be professionally redone at some point too. On the photos below the wiring isn’t at as neat as it should be but that is because I did a temporary installation of the new TCT. I’ll clean that up once a potential buyer decides what do they want inside. Case it came in is old and battered - I guess it’s been toured. So I have an option to sell it with: Original vintage TCT and mid module wired to spec (managed to source that from abroad) - £3700 Reissue TCT and mid module wired to spec - £3600 John East Uni-pre (the one it came to me with) - £3700 The two TCT preamps are currently wired with a passive / active volume pots which leaves the two mini switches unused - I could rewire it with a normal volume pots and wire one of the switches to active / passive. The John East comes with 2 mini switches - I guess that’s why they drilled the holes in a first place - one is active / passive, the other one is a kill switch. I am not going to post this bass as a potential buyer needs to try it and make sure they’re happy with it, plus don’t have packaging materials and don’t want to live in anxiety for a week with all the shipping horror stories. Happy to drive anywhere in the UK for petrol costs or have it checked out at my place in Ealing, west London.

Bump for price drop £2100

Price drop bump - £1100 / £1050 with another non Elixir set of strings.

Got my eye on something so happy to consider £2300 ONO.

Posting up my Yamaha TRB 5 II for trade. Made in Japan in the 2000 I believe, 4.6kg on bathroom scales. Good overall condition with some tarnishing on the gold hardware which is to be expected for the age. Sounds like it should and plays lovely with a low action. There is some fret wear at the 1-7 frets (previous owner must have been a real bread and butter guy 😂) but still allows for a very low action without much fret buzz (I’ve set it up so that it has some because that’s how I like it). I’ve done the “Marcus Miller mod” as discussed on TalkBass - turning the neck pickup 180 degrees so that the sensing coil gets closer to the neck - that creates more of a Marcus tone, but easily reversible if needed. I’m not really interested in selling this one - posting it to see if there’s any interesting trade offers, or in addition to my Kiesel and MTD Kingston AG5 I have up for trade for a higher value bass. Only interested in trading for 5 and some 6 string basses - not looking for any 4’s. Cannot post but happy to travel for shared petrol costs.

Got my eye on something so happy to consider £1200 / £1150 without the new Elixir strings - can drop an older set on for the sale.

I’ll take these, pm sent 👍🏼

Now willing to accept trade offers / price drop £2400 ONO.

Putting up for sale my recently bought MTD Kingston AG5. Bought too many basses lately and something has to go - this one is lovely but I already have a US MTD535 so cannot justify keeping it. It is in a very good condition apart from a few dings I’ve tried to capture in the photos. This is one with the updated Bartolini pickups (first edition didn’t sound as good imo). Lightweight - I think around 4.1kg and very comfortable to play, feels and sounds as it should. Strung with a new set of Elixir steels - 45-125. Happy to take £50 off if you don’t want them. Happy to consider trades with cash adjustment either way despite just saying that I have too many but you never know. Not interested in 4 string basses. Cannot post - collection only or happy to travel for some petrol costs. Basses I might be interested in: Tobias - 5 or 6 string Warrior - 5 string Pedulla - 5 or 6 string Yamaha TRB 5p Fender Jazz 5 string Fender P or Tele 5 string Sadowsky 5 string (no Metro Express - have one already). Or just try me with what you have. Happy to add/take cash or include my Kiesel Icon 6 I have up for sale here, or my Yamaha TRB 5 II which I’m about to post up.

Yep I know mate but you don’t ask - you don’t get. The fact that I’m so obsessed with Tobias doesn’t mean that everyone else is. I had a Ken Smith Fusion Elite that’s another unicorn and… I just wasn’t reaching for it so ended up trading it for another bass plus cash my way. There might be someone out there who has one and doesn’t love it enough to justify keeping so might be interested in trading plus releasing some of the cash that’s stuck in it 🤷🏻‍♂️

Recently imported this bass from the USA and it’s a stunning example of Kiesel’s work. Lightweight, very comfortable and fretwork/neck is like butter. The bass is branded Kiesel but still has the Carvin branded pickups so approximately 2017. Specs: - 6 string bass with Hipshot bridge - 34” scale, 16.5mm string spacing - White Limba body - 5 piece Black Limba and White Limba neck (no longer available on the builder) - Zebrawood top and headstock overlay - Black layer between the top and back (no longer available in the builder) - Satin poly finish - EVO gold frets - Black acrylic block inlays - Luminlay sidedots - Black hardware - Straplocks - Gold 3D logo - Two humbucking soapbar pickups - Carvin preamp with Vol/Blend/Bass/Sweepable mid/Treble - Zebrawood truss cover - Zebrawood rear control plate - Kiesel hard case - 9.4lbs - great weight for a 6 To price a build like this on their website today it would cost upwards of $3500, however some of the options are no longer available. Add shipping, VAT and import charges and it gets above the £3500 mark. Overall the bass is in excellent condition. The photos may look like there are a bunch of dings but it’s just an illusion due to the grain patterns. Now the reasoning behind this - I’ve been looking for a 6 string Tobias for a while to convert to a 5. I do have a Signature 5 and love its sound but cannot get on with the narrow string spacing. When I saw this one for sale, I realised it’s as close as I can get - and I’d keep it and convert it only if I had original Tobias Bartolini pickups, which I don’t. So I’m putting this up for trade for a 6 string pre-Gibson Tobias, with cash adjustment. Doesn’t matter that much if it is a Basic, Classic or Signature. Could even be fretless, I’d get my luthier to convert it. It needs to have the original Bartolini pickups and preamp. I can also offer as a part of the trade my newly acquired MTD Kingston Andrew Gouche 5 which I love but will be willing to part with if someone is interested to trade 2 for one. Ad for this one coming up soon. If in the meantime I manage to find a pair of original Tobias Bartolini pickups, I’ll withdraw this. I’m based in west London but happy to travel for the right bass should it come up. *For transparency - most of the info and images are taken from the original listing I bought it from. I’ll add a proof of ownership photo later when I get back home. More photos available on request if needed. I’d now consider selling it too as there’s something on the market I might be interested in.

What is the length of these?

Yeah if its a 6 string Tobias for example I would just change the bridge and nut to a 5 string ones and plug one of the tuner holes. Not sure what you mean in the second paragraph. Edit aah sorry got it. Yep have done already, got a bass built to my spec. I’m just throwing those out here to let people know what I might be interested in. There might be some cool basses out there.

Added a few trade options to the original listing. Also after Carvin Icon 5

Hi guys. Just got this Sei from @Gardenerben (who’s a lovely guy and a passionate player btw) and although it is every bit of amazing and looks stunning, it is not what I’m after. Specs: Top - Claro Walnut Body - Ash with Bubinga tone block Neck - Flamed Maple and Purpleheart Fretboard - Curly Bubinga Pickups - Kent Armstrong (bass originally had these in series but I have rewired them in parallel as I think it sounds better - can revert to series on request). Preamp - Noll 3 band with semi-parametric mid sweep. 24 Fret 34” Scale 18mm string spacing Weight around 4.1-4.2kg Hiscox hard case Has a few minor dings as seen on the photos below. The bass sounds incredibly focused and punchy with a great definition, B string is one of the best I’ve heard. Action is nice and low, strung with a brand new set of Elixirs (happy to knock off £40 if you don’t want them). The craftsmanship on that instrument is nothing short of breathtaking. I just wish the sound was closer to what I’m after so I could keep it 🤷🏻‍♂️ I’m happy to listen to trade offers with cash adjustment up or down. Things I might be interested in: Sadowsky 5’s (Metro or NYC) JJ or Modern Tobias 6’s - Killer B, or pre-Gibson Yamaha TRB5 - the neck through version Pedulla 5’s with 19mm spacing Fodera 5’s F Bass 5’s MTD AG5 Warrior 5’s Skjold 5’s Sandberg Basic Ken Taylor 5 (especially pre 2010 with a maple board) Ritter 5’s (missed one at a silly price a few months ago 🤦🏻‍♂️) Ambush 5’s Carl S 5’s (very long shot for those two I know…) Try me - I’m sure there’s a lot of options out there that might catch my eye. Basses I’m not interested in - Anything over 4.4kg (sorry bad back) (could reconsider if it’s an old Tobias 6) Anything with a single pickup Anything with string spacing below 18mm unless it’s a 6 that I can convert to 5. Ken Smith - had one Lakland - got one Fender - got one Trade value - £2600, cash price £2300. I prefer to meet in person - happy to drive for the right bass, or meet in West London.

I have a trade offer pending but I’d prefer a cash sale if that’s what you had in mind.

You’re right, I don’t know why I thought it’s 35”, but the online specs say 34. However bass has just been sold.

Yes still available.

Happy to consider reasonable offers kinda bump