Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hey guys, I'm back. After being kicked out of my band as lead guitar I've found a great new independent group as bass player. I have a Tobias 4 string that I would like modded. Nothing specific in mind just want more control over my tone. Anyone here up to help me out? I'll pay for everything and you have complete control over what goes in. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Just send me a message we can discuss it further. Thanks
-Supernant

Which model Tobias? I'm kind of an onboard-tone-control freak myself and I like to add either a 2, 3 or 4 band EQ to my basses, possibly with sweepable mids, or a filter-based ACG if you really want control. But cavity space and how willing you are to make permanent changes are deciding factors. If I were in your shoes I'd look around at the bass preamps at http://www.bestbassgear.com/, pick out one you like, and then talk to luthiers in your area about doing installations. Or send it up to Andrew Olson at http://www.aoguitars.com/, he'll definitely do a great job!

Rusty the Scoob wrote:Which model Tobias? I'm kind of an onboard-tone-control freak myself and I like to add either a 2, 3 or 4 band EQ to my basses, possibly with sweepable mids, or a filter-based ACG if you really want control. But cavity space and how willing you are to make permanent changes are deciding factors. If I were in your shoes I'd look around at the bass preamps at http://www.bestbassgear.com/, pick out one you like, and then talk to luthiers in your area about doing installations. Or send it up to Andrew Olson at http://www.aoguitars.com/, he'll definitely do a great job!

Thanks Rusty! It's just the Tobias Toby Deluxe 4. Permanent changes are fine, and I have no problem with routing out the whole backside of the bass to hold everything that is needed. I love Phil Lesh and Mike Gordon, if I could get all the bells and whistles, Q filter, bandwidth control, the whole nine yards I'd be happy as a hog in mud. I will message Mr. Olson and start talking to him. Thanks again!

In that case I'd be seriously tempted to have him rout out the top for some soapbars... I'm not a big fan of J-shaped pickups for getting either tone, you really need some width to measure a decent length of vibrating string to get the right fatness, skinny pickups like a J are too focused and narrow.

If it were me, I'd put in a pair of these: http://www.bestbassgear.com/emg-pickups-35twx.htm

And one of these: http://www.bestbassgear.com/emg-bqc-system.htm

That's exactly what's going in my next custom bass. I have an ESP 5-string that's set up almost exactly like that and it's pretty amazing. Throw on some flatwound strings (It has Ken Smith Slickrounds and they are THE 90's Phil and Mike Gordon string) and it sounds at least as good as any other bass I have.


You could do more to get ALL the bells and whistles, you could skip the BQC system and instead add a Bartolini EZQ and/or maybe an ACG filter-based preamp. But at some point you've maybe spent too much money on that particular bass.

Thanks! I've always loved those pup sounds, and I love the feel and look of this bass, so spending to much is just alright! I will seriously look into these things! Your help is always appreciated!