Pre-Gibson Tobias Classic 6 price drop
£3700
London

Steff · Thursday at 13:34

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.