MTD 535/24 Marlyn #8 RARE, very near MINT...

Vic · #1 06-20-2011, 07:30 AM

Sold.

I've officially decided to put my Marilyn up for sale.

This is Marilyn #8 in the special series of USA made 535's, and is specially badged as such in Mike's handwriting on the back of the headstock.

This has to be one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make... the bass is special to me for so many reasons, but it needs to be played, and it's not currently. This bass was the sole exception to my "no collector's instruments" rule I have, but I'm trying to be stronger about sticking to that rule, so here we go.

Specs:
Nearly new condition. Only a little tiny bit of shininess by the bridge pickup from my very small amount of playing on it

Ridiculous tone, takes an insanely low setup

8.6 pounds

Chambered Alder Body

TRUE Water cured ("blackend", partially petrified) redwood top, but not the usual burl, and not a "finish" trick. Very rare. Only three MTDs exist with this topwood, and I don't even know of other basses from other makers that have very similar stuff.

Matching truss rod and headstock overlays

Flamed AND blistered Gaboon ebony fingerboard. Also very rare... not sure I've ever seen this before on anything.

Custom wood knobs that match the wood layering of the body

Deluxe crushed velvet hard case (no hygro - predates that)

535/24 - USA made, 35" scale, 5 strings, 24 frets, custom Bartolini pickups, Bartolini 18V preamp, vol-blend, bass-mid-treble, with mid switch, hipshot ultralight hardware and B bridge.

I priced it out, and if you ignore the custom knobs, and the particular rarity of the top and fingerboard, this bass would cost you about $7,100 brand new with the case, plus the wait time, plus shipping.

I'm limiting this to a USA sale unless I know you well, and no trades at this time. I'm trying to fund something else. TB price $3900 shipped and insured. I personally consider that to very much be a "giving back" price too... even with the current economy. However, at this price, and with this particular bass, I can't eat paypal fees, so if you wish to pay with paypal, we may have to figure something out on it (like maybe an e-check with no fees for example).

LOTS of pictures with varying degrees of white balance and exposure issues, but should get the job done...

The top is very chameleon-like... it goes from subtle and elegant to almost shimmery and rainbow-like with a nice figure depth depending on lighting and direction.

One where you can kind of see the diagonal ebony flaming...

Another one where you can kind of see the diagonal ebony flaming...

You can see the blistering best in this one...

Another picture kind of showing the flaming in the ebony...

pics showing the custom knobs with the matching wood layers...

lsu921 · #2 06-20-2011, 07:53 AM

Man, I've wanted this bass since you bought it. Lord give me strength!!

BIGREDSIX · #3 06-20-2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsu921

Man, I've wanted this bass since you bought it.

+10,000...

dangerouscello · #4 06-20-2011, 09:13 AM

I just got a chill looking at the closeup of the knobs.

YCBass · #5 06-20-2011, 10:20 AM

As much money as that is, it is definitely a "giving back" price on a piece like this... Ridiculous!

Bump for a good guy too!

Vakmere · #6 06-20-2011, 11:27 AM

Sound clips would really put this ahead of the pack.

**j-raj** · #7 06-20-2011, 12:31 PM

That is by far one of my favorite MTD's, Vic... If it had one more string, 34 in scale and 19mm... I'd be in trouble, and probably homeless.

Vic · #8 06-20-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j-raj

That is by far one of my favorite MTD's, Vic... If it had one more string, 34 in scale and 19mm... I'd be in trouble, and probably homeless.

LOL!

**j-raj** · #9 06-20-2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic

LOL!

Actually I corrected my quote to be more accurate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by j-raj

That is by far one of my favorite MTD's, Vic... If it had one more string, 34 in scale and 19mm... I'd be in trouble, and probably homeless (again).

gravesbass · #10 06-21-2011, 08:16 AM

Bump for one of the best tops I have ever seen on an MTD.

thomasjbass · #11 06-21-2011, 08:27 AM

+1 , Vics a cool cat and he knows his MTDs. Best of luck my friend.

**Chef** · #12 06-21-2011, 08:27 AM

Pretty sure I played this at one of the ST L GTG's:
it was completely sick in all regards.

Vic's a pretty decent guy too

bass12 · #13 06-21-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vakmere

Sound clips would really put this ahead of the pack.

Here ya go:

YouTube - ‪Bowlus Bass Borg GTG, 2006 - Jason on Vic's Marilyn‬&rlm;

Bump for one of the most insanely beautiful MTDs I've ever seen. Good luck with the sale, Vic!

Vic · #14 06-21-2011, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass12

Here ya go:

YouTube - ‪Bowlus Bass Borg GTG, 2006 - Jason on Vic's Marilyn‬&rlm;

Bump for one of the most insanely beautiful MTDs I've ever seen. Good luck with the sale, Vic!

Thanks! Man, I forgot about those. Of course you'll have to use your imagination to fill in a bit. The tone on the MTD 535's is SO 3-dimensional, and this one is even more-so... especially if you play at higher volumes and involve the chambers even more. There's just no way to truly relate the sound this thing produces without being there, but the vids are at least a good indication.

Anyway, again, thanks, very helpful, IMHO.

**Chef** · #15 06-21-2011, 09:17 AM

That clip has a lot of slap in it (which is fine) but I can testify that it has stunning finger-stylee tone as well, and forced me to buy an MTD...
I'd never heard or played *anything* like this bass; when I laid hands on it, it flipped me out.

Tunaman · #16 06-21-2011, 09:39 AM

Sweet bass man, really awesome stuff

west*coast*bass · #17 06-21-2011, 09:51 AM

Someone better send Satan a jacket - it looks like Hell just froze over!!!

Gorgeous bass, Vic...

I'm like you - if it's not getting playing time it needs to move on. I can't imagine this will last long at this price.

perfektspace6 · #18 06-21-2011, 10:29 AM

This is an absolutely stunning bass. The fingerboard is amazing. Wish I could afford it.

Vic · #19 06-21-2011, 10:52 AM

Thanks guys. Yeah, this is really me holding my own feet to the fire (as it were).

Seriously, you guys always read the "hard for me to do" stuff in the forsale ads, but this was REALLY REALLY hard for me to do. Really testing my mettle on it for sure.

From a rarity/beauty standpoint, it's definitely the nicest MTD I have ever owned, and IMHO, have ever seen... anywhere. Bar none, and that's a LOT of MTDs over the years.

But I had to make a hard choice.

The ONLY thing making me even halfway ok with this is that I know its price-point and where I'm selling it will likely assure it goes to a good home. Believe it or not, that's important to me... maybe more-so on this bass than any other I've sold to-date.

bass12 · #20 06-21-2011, 11:01 AM

I prefer 21 fretters but if I had some extra money at my disposal I would pick this up without hesitation. Vic's asking price isn't fair, it's downright friendly.