Triple Toby!

[Chris Pile]

Just got it all done - I wasn't thrilled with the stock electronics in my Toby Bass, so I decided to improve it. Routed another hole for a middle pickup, installed a pair of Fender Ultra Noiseless Jazz units in the stock positions, and a Fender Vintage Noiseless in the middle. On/Off switches for pickup selection, a master volume, and a Fender TBX for tone manipulation. Now I get a lot of extra flavors, and no 9V battery. I am falling in love again with this bass. It's so light and comfy, plays so easy - and now it sounds better.

 

[Demanic]

Wow. That's serious.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[JOLLY]

How does it sound with all three pickups on at once?

 

[Demanic]

How does it sound with all three pickups on at once?

How do
you think?

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[Chris Pile]

How does it sound with all three pickups on at once?

The Ultra Noiseless are Alnico 5 magnets with level polepieces, and the Vintage Noiseless is Alnico 2 mags w/ staggered polepieces. It lacks the treble and output of the Ultra units. Combine the middle pickup w/ any other pickup and I get a hollow sound (not out of phase) than reminds me of 80's funk/ jazz tones. Roll back the TBX and with a bit of legato playing I can get a good fretless tone. Overall, the pickups sound full with some bite. Between the combination of pickups and the TBX I was able to get quite a number of sounds - all of them pleasing. I am using Ken Smith semi-flats so I can get a roundwound sound with no string squeak. I played for an hour tonight, and was delighted with all the tones I could get.

The body is made of Radiata - a Northern California pine that is known for having no knots or dark streaks, and is mostly farmed in New Zealand for construction timber. It's the lightest bass I've ever owned, which is surprising. I always played heavy ash or maple bodies thinking that weight equaled tone. Turns out I was wrong.

 

[Mincer]

I dig that color a lot!

 

[jeremy]

very cool. dont see many basses with three jazz pups!

 

[Securb]

I sent that picture to my bass player. He has almost the same Tobias; he is drooling.

 

[JOLLY]

How do
you think?

I have no idea. That's why I asked.

 

[Mikelamury]

That's awesome! It sounds like the TBX opens up the tonal options for you. I plan on putting a TBX in my JMJ mustang bass, it's got a SD mustang bass pickup in it.

 

[Chris Pile]

Frankly, I don't understand why more players don't find it useful. Fender has been installing them in guitars and basses since 1988 (Clapton Strat was the first), they work so very well, and they cost $15. Gee, what a bargain!

 

[Mincer]

I've actually never tried a TBX control. Or the other one (MDX? What was it?).

 

[GuitarDoc]

Man, that seems like it would be an awesome sounding bass. I'm not usually a bass player but I have two basses (including a Jazz, which I totally love). If I was principally a bass player I think I would do that mod.

I've got a couple guitars with TBX tones and they are actually fantastic.

 

[jeremy]

i get why some people like the tbx, but ive never cared for them. actually removed them from every guitar ive had with them, but i could see if being useful for a lp neck pup.

the mdx is the mid boost circuit from the elite strat that was the predecessor to the clapton boost circuit

 

[Mincer]

i get why some people like the tbx, but ive never cared for them. actually removed them from every guitar ive had with them, but i could see if being useful for a lp neck pup.

the mdx is the mid boost circuit from the elite strat that was the predecessor to the clapton boost circuit

Oh, I thought the MDX was the Clapton boost. Apparently not. What's the difference?

 

[jeremy]

more boost in the clapton version, i think they initially kept calling it the mdx

 

[Chris Pile]

Okay, we did a quick smart phone video, I reloaded it in 1080P.

I used a cheat sheet to remember my spiel, but forgot all the cool licks I was going to lay down. No matter - gets the point across.

Chris and the Toby DX 4 - YouTube

 

[GuitarDoc]

I have to say that I LOVE the tonal variety available with that setup.

 

[Chris Pile]

Thanks. I am a guy who loves switches, and not much of a knob turner - but that TBX really makes the most of what you have available. I use one instead of the stock tone on my Yamaha BB-100 to get the most from a P-style unit. Sounds good on a single humbucker guitar, too.

 

[beaubrummels]

The three pickups, and combinations, all had interesting, good and useful sounds. I love instruments like that, where there are no bad or unusable sounds.