Tobias Basses Return: New Classic, Killer B, and Growler Models from Gibson
The Tobias brand has been a staple of the bass industry for years. Originally founded in 1977 by luthier Michael Tobias (who now runs MTD Basses with his son Daniel), the company was purchased by Gibson in 1990. Basses under the Tobias name were eventually phased out, but now they’ve been reborn.
“Tobias is back! Honoring the legacy of the brand and arming a new generation of bassists with the tools they need to break the mold,” Gibson shared on Facebook. “The all-new Tobias Original Collection features Classic, Killer B, and Growler models. All three are offered in four and five-string versions, and left-handed models. Each is equipped with high-quality hardware from Babicz and Gotoh, active electronics from Bartolini, the look and tone of the finest exotic tonewoods, and the iconic Tobias Asym neck design.”
The Growler is a bolt-on design crafted with a paulownia body, a three-piece hard maple and purpleheart neck, and a 24-fret wenge fretboard. It has a Bartolini MM42CBJD3 Quad Coil pickup as well as an 18-volt Bartolini 3-band EQ complete with two mid-contour switches.
Gibson’s new Tobias Killer B is also a bolt-on design built with a sapele body, five-piece maple and purpleheart neck, and a 24-fret wenge fingerboard. It comes loaded with a pair of Bartolini MT4C-1 soapbar pickups and a three-band EQ.
The Classic IV and V set themselves apart with neck-through construction. The five-piece neck has three-layer body wings made from walnut and wenge with a highly figured quilted maple top. “Two active Bartolini® humbucking pickups, an 18V preamp, and Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble, and Blend controls, along with a Mid Frequency switch, provide all the control you need to dial up your ideal bass tone,” the company writes.
The new Tobias basses are available now. Street prices range from $1,399 for the Growler IV to $2,299 for the Classic V.
Tobias Growler Bass Specs:
| Strings: | 4 or 5 |
| Construction: | Bolt-on |
| Scale: | 34″ |
| Body: | Paulownia |
| Neck: | 3-Piece; Hard Maple with Purpleheart Center Strip |
| Neck Profile: | Asymmetrical |
| Fingerboard: | Wenge |
| Frets: | 24 Jumbo |
| Inlays: | None |
| Pickup: | Bartolini MM42CBJD3 Quad Coil |
| Electronics: | Bartolini 18V |
| Controls: | Master Volume, Stacked Treble/Bass EQ for Coil 1, Stacked Treble/Bass EQ for Coil 2, Two Mid Contour Mini Switches |
| Bridge: | Babicz FCHZ4BK |
| Tuners: | Gotoh Compact Die-Cast |
| Finish: | Satin Natural, White Pearl, Black Pearl |
| Left-handed: | Yes, Satin Natural Only |
| Case: | Tobias Premium Gig Bag |
Tobias Killer B Bass Specs:
| Strings: | 4 or 5 |
| Construction: | Bolt-on |
| Scale: | 34″ |
| Body: | Sapele |
| Neck: | 5-piece Stringer neck; Hard Maple with Purpleheart |
| Neck Profile: | Asymmetrical |
| Fingerboard: | Wenge |
| Frets: | 24 Jumbo |
| Inlays: | None |
| Pickup: | Bartolini MT5C-B1, Tobias Radiused Top |
| Electronics: | Bartolini 18V |
| Controls: | Master Volume, Treble, Mid, and Bass EQ, 3-way Mid Frequency Mini Switch |
| Bridge: | Babicz FCHZ4BK |
| Tuners: | Gotoh Compact Die-Cast |
| Finish: | Satin Natural, White Pearl, Black Pearl |
| Left-handed: | Yes, Satin Natural Only |
| Case: | Tobias Premium Gig Bag |
Tobias Classic Bass Specs:
| Strings: | 4 or 5 |
| Construction: | Neck-through |
| Scale: | 34″ |
| Body: | Walnut Wings with Wenge Veneer |
| Top: | Quilted Maple |
| Neck: | 5-Piece Stringer Neck Through Body; Hard Maple with Purpleheart |
| Neck Profile: | Tobias Asymmetrical |
| Fingerboard: | Wenge |
| Frets: | 24 Jumbo |
| Inlays: | None |
| Pickup: | Bartolini MT4C-B1, Tobias Radiused Top |
| Electronics: | Bartolini 18V |
| Controls: | Master Volume, Bass, Mid, and Treble, and Mid Frequency Switch |
| Bridge: | Babicz FCHZ4GD |
| Tuners: | Gotoh Compact Die-Cast |
| Finish: | Satin Natural, Trans Black Satin |
| Left-handed: | Yes, Satin Natural Only |
| Case: | Tobias Premium Gig Bag |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
What are the two on the right? Those look like medium scales.
Why is the country of origin glaringly absent from every website? Are new Tobias basses made in America or not?