The instrument must satisfy the creative and emotional needs of the owner and it must play in tune. Music has evolved over the years but there are still a few basic and fundamental constants- rules that must be dealt with. By using different woods for body and neck, I am able to offer a wide variety of speaking voices and tonal capabilities. By experimenting with different types and combinations of wood, I seek to get the best possible tone from an instrument. Throughout my career, I have tried to apply this principal to everything I build. If an instrument sounds weak acoustically, adding pick-ups will just amplify its shortcomings. The most important thing I learned is that, no matter what the instrument is, it is first and foremost acoustic. I worked on a great variety of instruments including Martin, Gibson, Fender, Kohno, Ramierez, banjos and mandolins, harp guitars, and even a few sitars.Īfter 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. Most of my early work was on acoustic instruments. 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. I am Michael Tobias, and I have been building instruments since 1974. Thanks for looking! It's a real pleasure to be able to have such nice instruments pass through my hands on the way to their owner and finally get some use out of them'. We pack well and have few complaints, having started on eBay in 1998, and accruing 340+ positive feedback's using the same business name as we do here on. Shipping usually goes out within two days of payment and the item fully insured for what you paid. I want to thank Mike Tobias for being so Accessible to me in determining the details of this FINE instrument !!! IF you are not the wealthy collector I seek, please shoot me an offer of what you can afford. If you live close, let me know and we'll lock in a lower rate for you. Reverb charges an extra $70 to insure items valued more than $1,500.00 Also, the 'enhanced' cost of fuel has escalated shipper's operating costs. The case has a few minor marks, but is in Remarkable shape given its age.

The truss rod is a square double shaft affair.

The three-position switch selects three variations of boost and cut on the mid range frequencies. The knobs are: volume, pick up blend then treble, mid-frequency, anb bass controls- each knob with both boost and cut functions. it comes stock with Straplok buttons top and bottom, and uses TWO 9-Volt. The custom-designed pickups and preamp are by Bill Bartolini. The case has Very Few flaws on it.įor those of you who don't know Mike Tobias signs the back of every head of every guitar he builds. The condition of the guitar is about the same as when Mike Tobias shipped this to the new owner. The body is African Karina, and the neck, fingerboard, and back inspection plates are of Wenge wood. The guitar we are selling roday is the 36th model 435 built and was completed on August 11, 1995. We've all heard the story about the guy who buys the guitar which he puts in the case, puts the case in the closet and doesn't touch it for 25 years.

Mtd michael tobias design 435