History:
Purchase: I have a 4 and a 5. They cost $675 and
$800 respectively. I like them because
the assymetrical neck is very comfortable
and they are rather light weight. The
Bartolini PU are another reason that I
acquired these, although my tastes have
since changed, and these are not standard
like JJ or PJ sets where you can just get
new PUs and pop them in.
What I Like About This Tobias Renegade: It's very comfortable and light, with a
versatile but simple-to-use tone control.
It's also fairly compact. I liked the
big mid-rangey sound with solid but not
boomy low end for its sort of "precise"
sounding tone.
What I Do NOT Like About The Tobias Renegade: I wish the 5 string had a 35" scale. My
taste in tone has changed so I'm less in
love with the classy "precise" thing and
have become more of a thudwacker.
Tobias Renegade Quality Rating: I'm guessing that the bodies are poplar.
They are light, and the grain is small.
These are offset double cutaways, like
small fender jazz bodies, rear routed.
Finished in transparent gloss [one red
the other amber].
4-bolt necks, very sleak neck joint.
Necks appear to be 3 pieces joined plus
maple fretboards, 24 frets 34", compact
tilt-back headstocks. Dual tension rod
setup is easily accessed under a 2"x2"
cover at the neck base.
Bridges are garden variety cast bridges.
Bartolini PUs, big momma at bridge and
narrow at neck, 9v system with 3 knobs
for gain, blend, and tone PLUS a pull
switch, built into the tone knob, that
alters the EQ somehow [I like it], and
a series parallel toggle that seems to
have a small effect. Compartment is
shielded and bridge is grounded. I've
never had a noise problem with them.
Review Summary: Very straight-forward user-friendly with
minimal bells or whistles. Fast playing, easy to set fairly low action, versatile
range for soloing, slap-n-pop, but not
heavy on the "Motown Tone" although this
CAN be dialed up for SOME [but not all]
amps. Overall solid quality feel yet not
a heavy burden for your shoulder. Made
in USA in case you need to know. Not a
flashy techno-wonder, but well designed
and well built, especially for the price.
Since my only complaint is subjective and
there is otherwise so much to praise, and
on such relatively simple basses, I rate
them easily at "5".
Rating of this Tobias product: 5
This Tobias Renegade Bass Guitars Review Submitted By: Golem
Review Date: 2003-10-30
Review Usefulness Rating: 4.375 out of 5. 32 reader(s) voted.
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© Chris Bereznay - Gear Review Network / MusicGearReview.com - 2000
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