TRADED
I always wanted an MTD, but couldn't justify the $$ for a purchase, so instead I looked for a trade opportunity. I ultimately traded for this bass, which was a lined fretless at the time, from Danny R. here on TB. Knowing that I don't play fretless very well, I contacted Michael Tobias (MT) to see about sending it to him to have it fretted. He referred me to Greg Back in Venice Beach. Michael refers all of his West Coast work to Greg Back, who I had replace the fret lines with fret wire.
ALL THAT SAID - HOW DOES IT LOOK, PLAY AND SOUND YOU ASK?
The bass is in excellent condition with two small impression wounds on the front, top edge of the headstock. There might be a couple more very minor dings or impressions, elsewhere but I couldn't find them. Greg played an MTD for me that was fretted to compare with mine and you'd have no clue which was which. After all this - I've come to the conclusion that the MTD is more of a slap players bass and thus is too bright for my liking. That's why I'm selling it - period.
MTD purists will likely stick up their noses at this conversion and you might feel nervous about this work that was done, so . . . I'll give you 14 days to like it or hate it. If you don't feel it's as I've described, I'll pay to have it returned. You can't lose!
Specs:
I always wanted an MTD, but couldn't justify the $$ for a purchase, so instead I looked for a trade opportunity. I ultimately traded for this bass, which was a lined fretless at the time, from Danny R. here on TB. Knowing that I don't play fretless very well, I contacted Michael Tobias (MT) to see about sending it to him to have it fretted. He referred me to Greg Back in Venice Beach. Michael refers all of his West Coast work to Greg Back, who I had replace the fret lines with fret wire.
FYI - Greg is the co-inventor of the Buzz Feiten system, of which this bass is now BF certified by Greg.
All work was done with MT's blessing and guidance. MT even supplied Greg with his gold fret wire that he uses on all of his new bass builds today. The ONLY difference with this bass, versus an original fretted build, is it does not have a zero fret. According to Greg Back, the fret board is cut slightly shorter for fretless basses since a zero fret isn't needed. Greg contemplated replacing the fret board with a slightly longer one to accommodate a zero fret but after speaking with Michael, they agreed to just install a new bone nut instead. Since the neck was not epoxy sealed, they both didn't feel like changing the fret board was the right way to go.
ALL THAT SAID - HOW DOES IT LOOK, PLAY AND SOUND YOU ASK?
The bass is in excellent condition with two small impression wounds on the front, top edge of the headstock. There might be a couple more very minor dings or impressions, elsewhere but I couldn't find them. Greg played an MTD for me that was fretted to compare with mine and you'd have no clue which was which. After all this - I've come to the conclusion that the MTD is more of a slap players bass and thus is too bright for my liking. That's why I'm selling it - period.
MTD purists will likely stick up their noses at this conversion and you might feel nervous about this work that was done, so . . . I'll give you 14 days to like it or hate it. If you don't feel it's as I've described, I'll pay to have it returned. You can't lose!
Specs:
- Primavera body
- Burled Redwood top
- Maple neck
- Ebony fret board
- Stock electronics and Pickups
- 9lbs
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MTD 535 24 - Before Buzz Feiten System Installed.jpg -
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