| Reviewer | Lamonte |
| Experience | 11 |
| Review date | January 10 2002 |
| Manufacturer | Tobias |
| Model | Classic |
| Price | $2895 |
| Item owned for | 2-5 years |
| Bass type | 6 string fretted |
| Neck join | Neck Through |
| Neck construction | 5 pieces, Maple/Purpleheart neck-thru |
| Fingerboard | Pau Ferro |
| Body | Maple top/ Wenge Center/ Walnut |
| Finish | oil (hand rubbed) |
| Pickups | active Soapbar, Bartolini's |
| Hardware | Grover, black |
| Electronics | bartolini 18v vol,pan,bass,mid,treble,mid switch |
are tight with a nice growl. The 18-volt 3-band EQ system allows you to create and shape your tone beyond your imagination. I have read a couple of articles
on the question, "Has the quality of Tobias lowered since the company was sold to Gibson?" I have played both a pre (Gibson) and gibson Tobias. For those not aware, Mike Tobias Stayed with Gibson for awhile to assist them in constructing those wonderful basses before starting his personal line MTD.
There has also been a question about the electronics. Before 1996, most Tobias basses if not all, used a 9-volt system. After that, They mostly use an 18-volt system. I also own a 5-string Tobias Classic that started out with a
9-volt system. After comparing the two basses, I prefer the 18-volt system. It provides more headroom, sounds cleaner, and with the new Bartolini soapbar pickups designed for the 18volt system, there is more output power. Even though it is a 18-volt system, the electronics are studio quiet. Later, I put an 18-volt system put into the 5-string. For those of you who prefer low action, a Tobias allows you to set your action extremely low without buzzing. The sound quality of this bass is so clean that if your technique is sloppy, this bass will tell on you. :) Slapping is easy to perform. Tapping is so easy to the point that a tapped note can almost have the same volume as a plucked note. Even though an awesome EQ is provided, I do not have to use it to get the sound I need. Therefore, I only use a little on certain occasions.
The neck fits comfortably in your hand. The cutaway on the body allows access to all 24 frets with ease. The neck feels fast and it is easy to move across it. The overall shape of the body is so artistic. I always receive compliments on how the bass looks and sounds. It is my opinion that Tobias, whether pre or post gibson continues to be one of the best basses on the market. For the price, you get what you pay for.
Simply put, a Tobias classic is Da Bomb. :)
| Construction | 100% | 
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| Appearance | 100% |
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| (A work of art!) | ||
| Playability | 100% |
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| Sound | 100% |
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| Customer Service | 100% |
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| Value | 100% |
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| Overall | 100% |
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