Continuing on his creative journey, Michael Tobias relocated to Costa Mesa California, in May of 1981.Īfter several months of operating a repair shop in Costa Mesa, Michael Tobias relocated the business to Hollywood California.

A short-lived endeavor, Sierra Guitars produced about fifty instruments before Michael’s departure. Opening Tobias Guitars in April of 1977, Michael Tobias sold instruments through his first business, known as The Guitar Shop. The first Tobias Guitar (serial number 0178), followed soon after in January 1978.įollowing the sale of The Guitar Shop in 1980, Michael Tobias relocated to San Francisco, where he partnered with manufacturing business, Sierra Guitars. Renowned for his passion, skill, and craftsmanship, MTD founder Michael Tobias began making guitars in the 1970s. 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.

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