Norm Stockton's New Bass?
 

Norm has played a 535 and 735 (recording) for a while with his solo career and began playing an Fender inspired MTD J5 with Lincoln Brewster due to Lincoln liking the sound of a J bass on the recordings. But what is this? I saw this yesterday and Google didn't turn up much info. This bass looks outstanding! It looks like a hybrid between his blue 535 and red J5.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=430iBxHr-cQ

His signature Saratoga. Showcased a bit at NAMM this yr.

That looks like a great bass.

I have always wanted one of his 535's but never found one at the right time (I.e. for the right price or when I actually had $$$).

I googled info about it and didn't find anything, so thank you for the info!

Is Norm moving away from the 535 series? This looks like a hybrid between his 535 and J5. Killer looking bass!

Is this a USA made Saratoga or overseas version, I've looked on the MTD website and there is nothing about this bass at all.

Definitely US made. I wouldn't be surprised if they introduce a Kingston model though.

Mike probably needs to update his website. That sucker answers an email STAT though!

Last I heard from Norm is that they do plan on putting out 2 different versions, the higher end and the more budget friendly.

I saw a video of Norm playing and I thought that the headstock looked different than his usual and the chopsticks were missing. I chalked me missing the chopsticks to poor video quality and didn't think much of the headstock as it was an MTD shape.

I didn't realize what I was even looking at!

I heard Norm play at the NAMM show. I'm not sure he played that bass, however. It looked like a 535 to me.

US made saratoga. mtd535 has a different headstock shape. also body shape....

Now i know why people looked at it as mtd535. It is because of the pickups. It is not jazz bass pickups.... BUT BODY AND EVERTHING LOOKS MTD US SARATOGA

I spoke to Mike Tobias about this bass. Norm has been through several prototypes and this is the final model. I don't think he is ready for production just yet. He is bringing a prototype to Gerald Veasley's Bass Bootcamp on March 2nd. I will take photos and play it and will report back.

You tha man, Virgil.

Will this be used with Lincoln as well as in his solo work? Any idea why he went with the soaps vs. the barts?

I REALLY dig Mike's interpretation of a J bass.

Great looking bass! I met Norm before and saw him perform. What a great person and player.

+1

I seen him at two different CMS. Amazing talent and humble man.

Would be very cool if the bass was 34 scale!

Norm's favorite bass is his 535, but Lincoln's music required a more focused bass, henceforth the J 5. I think Norm wanted something in between the two, but had the versatility to do either. Mike wanted to honor him as he did Gouche, so he kept tweaking until Norm got what he wanted. I think the soaps gave him the best of both worlds. I will ask Mike these questions when I see him.

That is a great looking bass, I really dig the whole look of it all. Any info you can gleam from Mike would be great Virgil!