The "Official" MTD USA Thread (Part 8)

[dessunx]

Originally Posted by LeonD

With my recent bass, I took the leap of faith with Makore. Other than MTD, I don't know who else uses it so there's not a lot of history. After playing it for a month, I think it's a wonderful tone wood.

I'm sure your bass with sound great.

I second what LeonD says about Makore being a wonderful tone wood. As a matter of fact, my 534 is has the same wood combo as LeonD's 434 except for the top and the chambered body. Mine is flamed redwood while LeonD's quilted maple.

[metallutca]

There you go dessunx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3R8GUAe6iw

[dessunx]

Originally Posted by metallutca

There you go dessunx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3R8GUAe6iw

Hey that bass looks familiar . Thanks metallutca

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by LeonD

With my recent bass, I took the leap of faith with Makore. Other than MTD, I don't know who else uses it so there's not a lot of history. After playing it for a month, I think it's a wonderful tone wood.

I'm sure your bass with sound great.

After MUCH debate with Mike, I opted for makore on my latest 535, and I am just thrilled with the tone! It's full and rich, yet it has amazing attack and sustain. Of course, the multi-lam ash neck and the ebony top help, but Mike seemed pretty big on makore, and I'm really happy with it.

[CTC564]

Seems like every MTD I see just gets prettier and prettier!!!

That and the redwood one are KILLING me...

[bass12]

I love it when you post those photos, Tom. I always think of that top as "the Group of Seven" top.

[LeonD]

Originally Posted by tombowlus

... I opted for makore on my latest 535, and I am just thrilled with the tone! It's full and rich, yet it has amazing attack and sustain. Of course, the multi-lam ash neck .... [/IMG]

I'm starting to think of makore as an ideal neutral tone wood. It's more balanced and warmer than ash but is more articulate than alder. It seems to really enhance what the other parts of the bass (top, neck, fretboard) bring to the tonal table.

And Tom, while that's a beautiful bass, the neck is simply off the charts.

[Mr_Music90]

Originally Posted by tombowlus

After MUCH debate with Mike, I opted for makore on my latest 535, and I am just thrilled with the tone! It's full and rich, yet it has amazing attack and sustain. Of course, the multi-lam ash neck and the ebony top help, but Mike seemed pretty big on makore, and I'm really happy with it.

That's cool! I didn't knew MTD USA made laminated necks

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by Mr_Music90

That's cool! I didn't knew MTD USA made laminated necks

That was a special request. First, I asked him to hold some flamed ash for me, and the two thicker stringers are white wenge that was left over from when Mike built a fretless 535 for Pete Skjold (Pete sent him the white wenge).

[lgrankin]

Originally Posted by tombowlus

After MUCH debate with Mike, I opted for makore on my latest 535, and I am just thrilled with the tone! It's full and rich, yet it has amazing attack and sustain. Of course, the multi-lam ash neck and the ebony top help, but Mike seemed pretty big on makore, and I'm really happy with it.

That ain't pretty at all!

[emjazz]

How would you compare makore to mahogany?

[bass12]

Originally Posted by emjazz

How would you compare makore to mahogany?

I'm pretty sure Mike would tell you that makore is tighter in the low end than mahogany.

[LeonD]

Agreed. I was looking for a VERY tight low end and makore was recommended over mahogany.

[antontanzil]

Originally Posted by emjazz

How would you compare makore to mahogany?

I copied this from an email Mike sent me:

it is like mahogany but with more presence and a bit brighter. less compressed than walnut

Originally Posted by tombowlus

That was a special request. First, I asked him to hold some flamed ash for me, and the two thicker stringers are white wenge that was left over from when Mike built a fretless 535 for Pete Skjold (Pete sent him the white wenge).

Best looking neck on ANY Bass I've seen... And when I saw your Bass for the first time, the way the overall Bass look like made me sure that mine with also a dark(ish) top with BEM board will look good, and made me order the matching wood knobs

[Mr_Music90]

Originally Posted by tombowlus

That was a special request. First, I asked him to hold some flamed ash for me, and the two thicker stringers are white wenge that was left over from when Mike built a fretless 535 for Pete Skjold (Pete sent him the white wenge).

So awesome! I wish he did that on all of his basses

[BiigM]

Hey guys.

I put DR nickel loriders on my MTD that i posten earlier #340 wenge neck maple board, avadoire body.

I like the tone of the strings, and l like that thye are not to bright, since the bass is pretty bright sounding by itself. I turn the treble halfway down right now and I'm happy.
I use them on my '63 jazz to where they are great.

Problem is I'm not too happy with the b string. It's a little muffled. Lacks some clarity. Since I haven't tried other strings on it yet, and only heard goods things about the B on MTD's I would think the the string is at fault.

So, can any of you compare the MTD nickel strings with the lorider nickels for me?
I suspect that the taper on the B would make it clearer sounding right?

Do the MTD's keep fresh as long as the dr's which last forever :-)

And how does the general tone compare?

Thanks :-)

[roadkill2309]

Originally Posted by bass12

I always think of that top as "the Group of Seven" top.

I can see that.

[bass12]

Originally Posted by roadkill2309

I can see that.

I knew you would! I actually wonder how many non-Canadians here know about the Group of Seven.

[Virgil]

Group of seven?

[Vic]

Originally Posted by Virgil

Group of seven?

I'm assuming he's talking about this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_Seven_(artists)