Tobias Renegade Reviews

On 2003-10-30, Golem rated this Tobias Renegade a 5...(5935)


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.
Pros: 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.
Cons: 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.
Quality: 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".

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