1983 Tobias Signature 5-String "Prototype" Bass

Tobias Guitars was established in Orlando Florida in April 1977. The vast majority of Tobias instruments are of neck-thru construction, a style of neck-body assembly where the neck of the instrument is a single piece of wood that extends through the body and had the sides of the bass glued to it rather than being bolted on. Tobias basses also were among the first to feature an asymmetrical neck, a design where the neck is thinner on the lower side than the upper. The first serial number was 0178, instead of the usual 0001, as a reference to the month the first bass was completed, January 1978.

This prestigious Tobias Bass was not a 1st for Michael & company. Mike made an Omega Cut bass in 1977. This one is a “Prototype” w/a modern take, this 1983 Signature 5-String Bass has their new style “Omega Cut” body. Its origins start w/the 80’s boutique bass market having a surge of 5 string players looking for something high end w/an extremely detailed build quality that only Alembic Basses used. This magnificent marvel of wood working is serial # 267 making it the 89th instrument produced in their shop. It’s made with stunning Spalted Maple w/laminations of Wenge, Holly & Purple Heart to die for. Its 2 Bartolini pickups & active electronics make these Tobias basses sing. It’s a wonderful funk machine on steroids. It’s quite famous today & available to the astute bass collector. This set Tobias Basses up for their lifeline of sales thru 1990 when Tobias sold out to the Gibson Guitar Company. It’s all original & exceptionally clean. Comes in its original open fold-out show stand hard case.

Michael Tobias did a givaway w/this very bass # 267 in the Guitar Player magizine back in 1984. It was won by a fellow in middle America at that time. Also notice the actual GP ad for this giveaway & a photo of the 1st two 5-string Omega Cut Basses for comparison. This is a once in a lifetime chance to grab this famous Tobias.

The Continuation of the Tobias Saga :

In 1990, Gibson Guitar Corporation purchased Tobias and moved production to Nashville. The first Tobias bass under Gibson ownership bore the serial number 1094. Michael Tobias left the company in 1992 to found Michael Tobias Design (MTD) which produces a line of hand-made basses similar in spirit to the older Tobias basses. Basses below the serial number 2044 were built in the California factory headed-up by Michael Tobias; serial numbers after that were produced by Gibson with a transition period in which Tobias worked with Gibson and continued to produce basses.

In early 1990, Gibson provided the resources and facilities necessary to satisfy the demand and continued production of Tobias Guitars. While the business prospered, the growing need for Tobias instruments remained a challenge. Tobias Guitars sought the help of outside Vendors, creating models such as the “Model T” and “The Standard” basses. By late 1992, in the interest of the corporation, Tobias Guitars relocated to Nashville— a move that after much deliberation, the original Tobias crew did not follow.