Tobias 2025 are they worth it?

[Brian18242]

I have always wanted a Tobias Killer B4 or Growler 4 but they are near impossible to find at a good used price. I'm very much on the fence about the new range of tobias basses. Do you think they are worth the £1300 price tag? I know Gibson released a promo a few months back but since then I have heard very little fanfare. From the library photos on the Gibson website the build quality looks fairly average for a bass in that price range. 

 

What's your thoughts?

[Bagman]

the 1995-97 Gibson era Tobias Growler have a superb electronic system 

 

I've not tried the latest reboot 

Edited 10 hours ago by Bagman

[simonlittle]

I went along to the Gibson shop to try out what they had in stock a few months ago and wasn’t impressed at all. Build quality, feel, sound… not great I’m afraid. Tried a Classic 4, Growler 5 and one other one (can’t remember which model; one of the cheaper ones)…

I was excited too when I heard Gibson were starting to produce the Tobias basses again. Oh well..

[Brian18242]

@simonlittle Yep, this was my fear. I do wish the Tobias brand was sold on to a company that could make them to a higher standard. From the photos on the Gibson website it does look the killer B is a small step up from the Toby line (Better pickups etc) but certainly not worth the £1300 price tag

 

Edited 9 hours ago by Brian18242

[simonlittle]

@simonlittleThey all definitely had a budget-bass feel to them and all could have done with a decent setup which wasn’t helping. A few months previous to my Gibson visit I’d had a go on an old Toby Pro at the Gallery and whilst the electronics were not good at all the bass itself felt amazing to play. Should have just bought that one and gutted it. You live and learn! 

[Terry M.]

7 hours ago, Brian18242 said:

Do you think they are worth the £1300 price tag?

The only person who can decide that is you. No one will experience a bass the same way you will so go and try one if you can? If not then order one from a retailer with a decent return policy.

[Dood]

From a nostalgia point of view, I'd love to have a Tobias again and I really want to love the Classic V (loooks great in satin natural), but, I couldn't even get one sent to me for a review! So, they're kinda out of my favour right now. I'm going to look in to the new Peavey Cirrus V basses and await to see if Spector bring out a neck-thru for their new Icon series. They will need to be throroughly tested out. 

[Nos]

No idea on whether this is good price or not and no affiliation in any way but my local music shop has a 96/97 Growler for sale 🤷‍♂️

https://www.soundpad.co.uk/pre-owned/guitars/bass-guitars/tobias-growler-gr4

 

 

[LeftyJ]

1 hour ago, Dood said:

I'm going to look in to the new Peavey Cirrus V basses 

 

These look promising! Made by NBE in the Czech republic, in the same facility that builds the Euro Spectors. 

[velvetkevorkian]

If you want to spend that amount of money on a Tobias-designed non-custom bass I'm not sure why you wouldn't get an export MTD. Aside from nostalgia I guess.

[itu]

My teacher had a greenish Tobias 5 at the time they were built by the master himself. Cost an arm and a leg, but sound was nice. String spacing wasn't for me, 17 mm. Neck profile was special, asymmetric. Pretty nice, to be honest. 

[Russ]

2 hours ago, velvetkevorkian said:

If you want to spend that amount of money on a Tobias-designed non-custom bass I'm not sure why you wouldn't get an export MTD. Aside from nostalgia I guess.

The overseas-built MTDs, in my experience, are a mixed bag. I've played some lovely ones, and some that just felt "dead" - you know, like they have no vibe to them whatsoever. When they're good, they're very good though, but try before you buy. 

 

On the other hand, everything that comes out of Mike Tobias' workshop is superb, and they sound like nothing else.