I got it. The MTD 535 is mine

[Eminor3rd]

Nice!

 

[Mike Shevlin]

I have to figure out how to put pics in

My pleasure...

 

[Vic]

Don't forget this one.

 

[ptidwell]

Is that a maple body/ash neck or ash body/maple neck?

If it's maple body, do you have any way to get sound clips? I think that combo would be interesting...

Congrats!! It's a real beauty.

Tony,
Looks like he said it was an ash neck in each of his first two post. The fist post said maple body, indeed that is an interesting comb that I would like to hear also.
BTW, congrats! That bass is stunning.

 

[Solarmist]

That's G O R G E O U S ! You scored!

The light colored fretboard goes so good with the darker top wood - beautiful!

 

[KJung]

It sounds super deep and meaty. It is the warmest MTD I have heard to be honest. And I was a little surprised since it had the macasser top. I figured with an ebony body cap it would be a little on the snappy side, but that neck just balances it out (being ash) and it comes across as gobs of warmth with growly lows, and soft glassy highs (if there is such a thing as soft glassy ) I'll post sound clips later on.

Beautiful. Mike T. is one of the few luthiers who believes a thin top veneer has any impact on tone. Your experience matches mine, it really doesn't seem to IME. I always recomment getting the top veneer that looks good to you, since it's not going to impact tone much if at all.

That is one of the most beautiful topwoods I've seen! Congratulations!

 

[KJung]

Is that a maple body/ash neck or ash body/maple neck?

If it's maple body, do you have any way to get sound clips? I think that combo would be interesting...

Congrats!! It's a real beauty.

It looks like an ash body/maple neck (due to the lack of grain visible on the small part of the neck you can see in the picture.

 

[Baird6869]

Amazing bass! Best MTD I have seen.

Enjoy!

P.S. I was GAS free until I saw this..... thanks a lot!

 

[FatCity]

Congrats- she's a beauty!

 

[thedeester]

Beautiful bass, I've been checking them out lately and would really like to get one.

 

[Vic]

Beautiful. Mike T. is one of the few luthiers who believes a thin top veneer has any impact on tone. Your experience matches mine, it really doesn't seem to IME.

I disagree.

I'm taking Mike's position on this, but only because we're talking about MTD basses and IMHO it's NOT a "thin veneer" as you say. If it was something like a Sadowsky, I'd totally agree, totally cosmetic (which Roger also says), but since there's actually around 1/4" of wood there, and also because it's the first thing the bridge comes in contact to, I definitely feel it makes a difference at least in the MTD case (and IMHO some others, but we'll keep this focused here).

If it was a lot thinner, or if it was a figured back, I'd say yeah, no way that makes much (if any) difference in tone. But neither is true, so I feel it does.

I think this just boils down to an inaccurate prediction of the tonal nature of mac ebony, and being (thankfully pleasantly) surprised with the actual results. Understandable, since there aren't a ton of mac ebony top'd basses out there.

Anyway, just MHO FWIW, based on my experiences.

 

[KJung]

I disagree.

I'm taking Mike's position on this, but only because we're talking about MTD basses and IMHO it's NOT a "thin veneer" as you say. If it was something like a Sadowsky, I'd totally agree, totally cosmetic (which Roger also says), but since there's actually around 1/4" of wood there, and also because it's the first thing the bridge comes in contact to, I definitely feel it makes a difference at least in the MTD case (and IMHO some others, but we'll keep this focused here).

If it was a lot thinner, or if it was a figured back, I'd say yeah, no way that makes much (if any) difference in tone. But neither is true, so I feel it does.

I think this just boils down to an inaccurate prediction of the tonal nature of mac ebony, and being (thankfully pleasantly) surprised with the actual results. Understandable, since there aren't a ton of mac ebony top'd basses out there.

Anyway, just MHO FWIW, based on my experiences.

I've played so many, and never really noticed an impact of top wood (i.e., that ash/wenge's sound like ash/wenge, no matter what the top wood, etc.) 1/4" is thin! Now the Jerzy Drozd's, which split the body and topwood right down the middle is a bit of a different story.

Even if there is a tiny bit of impact on the tone, I wouldn't buy a topwood for any sort of tonal impact. A change of strings, body density, and fretboard/neck material would overwhelm any subtle impact of different topwood veneer in my experience. Most luthiers would agree. IMO and IME.

 

[Vic]

Most luthiers would agree.

I would challenge this statement. I also disagree that 1/4" is "thin" relevant to this particular application. With all due respect to your experience level, I've also played a lot of fancy basses with tops and without, and I have noticed differences in otherwise comparable instruments.

Given there's really no solid data to support either one of us on this, I would just say IMHO I'd only think this would be true if we (they) were in fact talking about a thin veneer. If you put a thicker chunk of wood on there, and again, that's the point of introduction of string vibration, I can't see how it wouldn't matter. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking night/day, but I am talking noticeable.

Again, IMHO/IME (as well).

 

[KJung]

I would challenge this statement. I also disagree that 1/4" is "thin" relevant to this particular application. With all due respect to your experience level, I've also played a lot of fancy basses with tops and without, and I have noticed differences in otherwise comparable instruments.

Given there's really no solid data to support either one of us on this, I would just say IMHO I'd only think this would be true if we (they) were in fact talking about a thin veneer. If you put a thicker chunk of wood on there, and again, that's the point of introduction of string vibration, I can't see how it wouldn't matter. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking night/day, but I am talking noticeable.

Again, IMHO/IME (as well).

We will just disagree on this one

Your 'otherwise comparable instruments' comparison is what gets many into trouble. Isolating the difference in tone to one specific component of the bass (in this case 'topwood veneer differences) can easily lead you down the wrong path.

As you know, literally identically spec'd basses can sound hugely different.

Again, while every component of a bass guitar has 'some' impact on tone, I typically recommend that you get a topwood that you like the look of, versus thinking too much about, at best, a VERY subtle impact on the tone.


Old discussion, but per the comment by the OP that he would have thought his bass would be 'brighter' due to the ebony top (which is why I brought up the topic in the first place), I would have not even made that assumption.

 

[Vic]

We will just disagree on this one

"Agreed".

 

[Melodicgroove]

Awesome!

 

[Vic]

Again, while every component of a bass guitar has 'some' impact on tone, I typically recommend that you get a topwood that you like the look of, versus thinking too much about, at best, a VERY subtle impact on the tone.

I should also say I generally agree with this.

Maybe excepting some real extremes in topwoods (i.e. particularly sparse/soft or particularly dense/hard), I'd agree we both at least feel tonal impact should probably not be a deal make/break issue on a bass for the majority of topwoods out there... especially with something as tonally diverse as an MTD.

Just to keep our little debate in perspective, at least.

 

[JulienJeff]

I want the same

 

[wnelson]

thats just gorgous.....thats the bass that after you play it...you sit it down,light up a cigar,and smile because you own it.....then you put out the cigar and play it again

i can almost imagine how good that bass must feel.....ive had my eye on those kingston z's for awhile...i little more realistic money wise.

congrats!!

 

[Vic]

lanceropolis, any way to find out what this bass weighs? Just curious.