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While attempting to stay current, we intentionally leave many basses up even after selling them in order to act as "catalogue" pieces to show various models, wood and finish options that are available.
I am Michael Tobias, and I have been building instruments since 1974. I started in Washington, D.C., working in The Guitar Shop and doing repairs for a time to learn about other luthiers' instruments and construction methods. Most of my early work was on acoustic instruments. I worked on a great variety of instruments including Martin, Gibson, Fender, Kohno, Ramierez, banjos and mandolins, harp guitars and even a few sitars.
The most important thing I learned is that, no matter what the instrument is, it is first and foremost acoustic. If an instrument sounds weak acoustically, adding pick-ups will just amplify its shortcomings. Throughout my career I have tried to apply this principal to everything I build. By experimenting with different types and combinations of wood, I seek to get the best possible tone from an instrument. And, by using different woods for body and neck, I am able to offer a wide variety of speaking voices and tonal capabilities.
Music has evolved over the years but there are still a few basic and fundamental constants; rules that must be dealt with. The instrument must satisfy the creative and emotional needs of the owner and it must play in tune.
After leaving Tobias Guitars at the end of 1992, and fulfilling my contractual obligations for consulting and non-competition with Tobias, I started building MTD (Michael Tobias Design) instruments at the beginning of 1994.
I have a small shop in the town of Woodstock, New York, in which my part-time helpers and I currently produce about 10 instruments per month. I enjoy building instruments and consider myself quite lucky to be doing something daily that creates a great deal of satisfaction for my customers and myself.
4 Strings
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Dark Cherry Sunburst Finish, Tulip Wood Body, Flame Maple Top, Matching Headstock And Truss Rod Cover, Wenge Neck, Wenge Fingerboard, Case. Email Or Call For Price
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MTD 435 Buckeye Burl Top
Ash Body, 21 Frets, Maple Neck-Birdseye Maple Board, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, New Upgraded U.S.A. Case. Retail $6000
Call or Email For Price
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5 Strings
  
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MTD 535 Andrew Gouche Model
Alder Body, Maple Burl Top, Plum Sunburst, Maple Neck- Lacquered Purpleheart Fingerboard, Matching Headstock, 24 Frets, Chrome & Black Hardware, Andrews' Signature and Logo, Case. Serial # 2158. 8.5 LBS. Retail $7780
Sale $5799
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MTD 535 Natural / Quilted Maple / Makore Body
Maple Neck with Rosewood Board, 24 Frets, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, Case. Serial #2148. 9.5 LBS. Retail $6300
Sale $4699
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MTD 535 Plum Burst
Maple Burl Top on Tulipwood Body, Wenge Neck-Fingerboard, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover to Body, Case. Serial # 2141. 8.5 LBS. Retail $6500
Sale Price $4899
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MTD 535 Vibrant Cherry Sunburst
Quilted Maple Top over Ash Body, Wenge Neck and Wenge Fretboard, 24 Frets, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover to Body, Hardshell. SERIAL # 2111. 8.5 LBS. Retail $7000
Sale $5249
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MTD 535 Figured Walnut Top / Birdseye Maple Fretboard
Ash Body, Ash Neck with Birdseye Maple Fretboard, Matching Headstock, 21 Frets, Matching Truss Rod Cover to Body, Brown TKL Case (Retail $270). SN# 2082. 9 LBS. Retail $6370
Sale $4799
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MTD 535 Buckeye Burl Top / Maple
Ash Body, Maple Neck with Maple Fretboard, 21 Frets, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover, Brown TKL Case (Retail $270). SN# 2083. 9.5 LBS. Retail $6570
Sale $4899
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Used / Excellent! MTD 535 Buckeye Burl Top
Ash Body, Maple Neck-Maple Board, 21 Frets, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover, Case. SN# 1321. 9.5 LBS. Retail $6600
Sale $3499 With New Strings, Delivered (Free S/H In USA)!
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MTD 535 "Norm Stockton" Blueburst
Serial #2049, Myrtle Burl Over Tulipwood, 24 Frets Wenge / Wenge Neck / Fingerboard, Matching Headstock & Truss Rod Cover To Body, Case. 9 lbs. Retail $6700
Sale $4999
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MTD 535 Dark Cherry Sunburst
SN# 2048, 24 Frets, Quilt Maple Top, Ash Body, Wenge Neck-Wenge Board, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover to Body, USA Case. 9.5 lbs. Retail $6800
Sale $5099
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MTD 535 Black Stain
24 Frets, Quilted Maple "10" Top, Ash Body, Ash Neck-Birdseye Maple Board, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover to Body. 9.5 lbs. SN# 2045. Case. New Retail $7000
Sale $5249
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MTD 535 Dark Cherry Sunburst / Wenge
24 Frets, Maple Burl Top, Ash Body, Wenge Neck-Wenge Board, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, 1 7/8" at Nut, USA Case. Retail $6700
Sale $4999
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MTD 535 Dark Cherry Sunburst
Myrtle Burl 10 Top, 21 Frets, Tulipwood Body, Wenge Neck- Wenge Fingerboard, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, Case. Retail $6500
Sale $4899
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MTD 535 Amber Sunburst Myrtle Burl Top
Tulipwood, 21 Frets, Wenge Neck & Fretboard, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, USA Case. Retail $6500
Sale $4899
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MTD 535 Tortoise Burst
24 Frets, Red Heart Quilt Top On Makore Body, Maple Neck-Rosewood Board, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, Case. 9.5 LBS. Retail $6500
Sale $4899
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MTD 535 Figured Walnut Top On Ash Body
Ash Neck-Birdseye Maple Board, 24 Frets, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, Case (Older Style Brown TKL Case With MTD Logo). Retail $6540
Sale $4899
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MTD 535 Brown Burst / Wenge Neck-Wenge Board
24 Frets, Maple Burl Top", Ash Body, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, Case. Retail $6700
Sale $4999
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MTD 535 "Norm Stockton" Blueburst / Wenge Neck-Wenge Board
21 Frets, Myrtle Burl Top, Tulipwood Body, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover, Case. Retail $6500
Sale $4875
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MTD 535 / 24 Frets Grafted Figured Walnut Top / Maple
On Ash Body / Maple Neck-Birdseye Maple Board / Matching Headstock / Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, Case (New Style With Hygrometer).
Retail $6800
Call or Email For Price
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MTD 535 Flame Redwood Top / Birdseye Maple
Alder Body, Maple Neck- Birdseye Maple Board, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, Case. Retail $6140
Sale $4600
This Model Is Posted At The Old Price
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MTD 535 Iced Tea Finish, Maple Burl 10 Top, Tulipwood/Maple Body, 24 Fret Neck, Honduran Rosewood Finger Board, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover, Case, Email Or Call For Price
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MTD 535 Natural/Spalted Quilt Maple Top/Ash Body/24 Frets/Ash Neck-Birdseye Maple FingerBoard/Matching Headstock/Matching Truss Rod Cover to Body, Case./ Email Or Call For Price
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MTD 535 Natural, Maple Burl, Mahogany Body, Maple Neck-Rosewood Fretboard, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, case,/ Email Or Call For Price
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MTD 535 Dark Cherry Fade
MTD 535 Dark Cherry Fade, Quilt Maple Over Mahogany Body, 24 Frets, Maple Neck-Rose Of The Mountain Fingerboard, Matching Headstock, Matching Trussrod Cover To Body, Deluxe U.S.A Case. 10 LBS. Retail $5890
Sale $4399
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MTD 535 Dark Cherry Sunburst over Myrtle Burl, Tulip Body, 21 Frets, Maple Neck-Rosewood Board, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover, Hard Case, / Call Or Email For Price
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Tulip Body, Wenge Neck-Wenge Board, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, Case, Call Or Email For Price
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Myrtle Burl Top, Tulip Wood Body, Wenge Neck-Wenge Finger Board, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, Case. Call Or E-mail For Price.
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6 Strings
  
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MTD 635 Natural Figured Walnut Top / Maple
24 Frets, Figured Walnut Top, Ash Body, Ash Neck-Birdseye Maple Fretboard, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, USA Case. Serial # 2160. 10 LBS. Retail $7000
Sale $5249
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MTD 635 Andrew Gouche Signature 6 String Bass
Alder Body, Maple Burl Top, Plum Sunburst, Maple Neck, Lacquered Purpleheart Fingerboard, Matching Headstock, 24 Frets, Chrome & Black Hardware, Andrew’s Signature and Logo, Case. Serial # 2119. 9 LBS. Retail $8,000
Sale $5999
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MTD 635 Brown Burst Special Quilt Maple Top/Ash Body/24 Frets/Wenge Neck-Wenge Board/Matching Headstock/Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, New Upgraded Case W/Hygromete Email Or Call For Price
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Over Tulipwood Body, Maple Neck w/24 Fret Rosewood Fingerboard,
Matching Headstock (Body) & Truss rod Cover (Fingerboard), Bartolini
Pickups & 3-Band EQ, Black Hardware, Case. Email Or Call For Price.
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USA MTD 635-24 Frets Yellow To Red Fade, Maple Burl "10" Top On Ash Body, Maple Neck-Rosewood Board, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, Case, Email Or Call For Price
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MTD 635 Dark Cherry Sunburst, 24 Fret, Maple Burl, Ash Body, Maple Neck-Rosewood Board, Matching Headstock, Truss Rod Cover Matches Body, Case.Email Or Call For Price
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MTD 635 Bright Cherry Sunburst
MTD 635 Bright Cherry Sunburst, 24 Fret, Maple Burl, Ash Body, Maple Neck-Rosewood Board, Matching Headstock, Truss Rod Cover Matches Body, Case. Retail $6090
Sale $4599
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MTD 635 Figured Walnut / Maple FB / Ash Neck
MTD 635 Natural/24 Frets/Figured Walnut Top/Ash Body/Ash Neck-Birdseye Maple Board/Matching Headstock/Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body, USA Case. Retail $6140
Sale $4599
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fretboard, MTD 635 Buckeye Burl, 24 Frets, Ash Body, Maple Neck-Maple Fingerboard, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover to Body, MTD USA Case, New Retail $6020 This Particular Bass Has Custom Turned Buckeye Burl Matching Knobs at $125.00 Up Charge /Email Or Call For Price
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*Note: "Photos, monitors,
and even cameras can vary regarding accuracy of color and/or clarity
of wood grain. On some, the photos are very close to the actual look
while others simply don't do the bass justice. The "Blueburst" finish
that we order from Mike Tobias is always fashioned after Norm Stockton's
535 but as Mike and Norm will confirm, even the images used in ads
of his bass are, in fact, color enhanced and not accurate to the
actual instrument. This color doesn't seem to translate well to photo
and are unfortunately not nearly as attractive as the actual bass." Beaver
Felton
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