Fender Ultra Jazz vs. MTD 535-24

[PeterKLee]

I recently played a gig using both my Fender Jazz Bass and my MTD, and it got me wondering what everyone here prefers.

If you had to bring only one to a professional live gig, which would you choose?

Fender – classic, familiar, sits in the mix effortlessly.

MTD – modern, hi-fi, punchy, and incredibly articulate.

Both worked great in different ways, so I’m genuinely curious what other bassists would pick and why.


Vote:

• Fender
• MTD

Feel free to explain your choice. Tone, comfort, versatility, reliability—whatever matters most to you.

 

[tb-player]

I've owned both. Bottom line: I can make an MTD sound like a Fender but I cannot make a Fender sound like an MTD.

 

[red_rhino]

I've owned both. Bottom line: I can make an MTD sound like a Fender but I cannot make a Fender sound like an MTD.

Pretty much sums it up.

 

[Geri O]

If I couldn’t take my Stingray, I’d take the Jazz.

Because I don’t want it to sound like an MTD.

 

[Bassic_desires]

I voted for all of them, not because that's my choice, but because the only way to see the results is to vote - the OP did not use the option to "View the results" without voting. I wonder how many others did the same and how much it distorts the voting!

 

[Element Zero]

Based PURELY off of tone, I would’ve taken the Fender. It just works. It’s forward and in you face without being aggressive. The MTD was (at least by this recording) SUPER compressed and as soon as you went to the A D or G strings 5th fret or above the actual notes that you’re playing got buried in the mix. The Fender didn’t do that. I’ve never played an MTD but have always wanted to. I LOVE that growly midrange yours has down low.

Maybe someday I’ll commission someone to make me my own version of a “jazz bass”. I like the tone a lot but can’t get along with the body shape and neck width. If I could have that tone in a StingRay like body and neck shape I’d be a pretty happy camper.

 

[Belka]

I really liked the last song with the MTD which sounded like you were favoring the neck pickup - that was a great sound. Comparing both basses with both pickups full on the Fender cut through the mix better IMO - more midrange/less scoop than the MTD.

 

[LowWay]

I voted MTD. I do like the sound better, plus, the first bass I ever owned for more than a decade was my Pre-gibson tobias. I had it from 1990 until 2024. It was my #1 from 1990 unitl 2010. Michael tobias just builds a better bass than Fender IMO. And I started playing in the 80, where more hifi basses and more bass forward music really caught my attention, and I just think the MTD is more suited for this.

Is that recording that you shared the mix in your IEMS? Is this a sight reading gig, you look like you're reading for most of the performance.

Nice playing, btw.

 

[red_rhino]

Based PURELY off of tone, I would’ve taken the Fender. It just works. It’s forward and in you face without being aggressive.

The jazz bass did sound really good. I would have described it as borderline aggressive, but in good way. The MTD was a bit more polite, but I liked its smoothness.

One can only generalize when it comes to how a given brand/type of bass will sound. Every bass is unique. I love jazz basses; I love MTDs. If I had to choose only one to take to a gig, it would be the MTD, just for sheer versatility and playability.

 

[Jugghaid]

MTD and it's not even close.

 

[logdrum]

MTD is too scoped for me, based on your playing style and genres, Fender all the way

 

[MultiScaleMale]

The Fender recording is much higher in the mix and higher volume. It wins for me, but if I balanced volumes the MTD might win.

 

[jeffmaccora]

The Fender just works!

 

[Wyvern]

Comparing a Corvette to a Caviler.

Fender Jazzes are very versitile, but they don't do anything exceptionally.

The actual build quality isn't on the same planet.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

It's really close, but I think I liked the sound of the Fender Jazz slightly better.

If it were me, I think I'd pick the one that feels and plays the best, balances the best and is the lightest!

 

[lethargytartare]

I voted for all of them, not because that's my choice, but because the only way to see the results is to vote - the OP did not use the option to "View the results" without voting. I wonder how many others did the same and how much it distorts the voting!

Why not just vote your opinion and then see the results? Three fewer clicks.

 

[lethargytartare]

The MTD's slap was awesome (well, your playing plus its tone), but the Fender has more of the character I like to hear...I never felt like I was contributing significantly to a song's overall sound with my MTD.

 

[BeeBatty]

Why not just vote your opinion and then see the results? Three fewer clicks.

Because I could

 

[Bassic_desires]

Why not just vote your opinion and then see the results? Three fewer clicks.

Because I’ve never used any of those basses and so wouldn’t have a clue. Nonetheless, I am curious re the results - and the only way to see the results is to vote on something about which I know nothing. It is very easy to make the results viewable without the need to vote.

 

[FRoss6788]

The actual build quality isn't on the same planet.

Ya, cause that was the question….