Jerzy Drozd vs. MTD USA

[Debased]

Michael Tobias' stuff is in a league of its own. The Drozd stuff I played looked really nice, but played and sounded like a million other boutique basses out there; not terribly exceptional. The ones I played were heavy, not set up terribly well (and this was at his booth at the NAMM show), were uncomfortable, some had noisy electronics, and some were not finished very well, and all of them had big rounded uncomfortable neck profiles. Perhaps he's improved in the 2 years since, sounds like he's doing the assymetrical thing now (who thought of that...) but he would have a lot of catching up to do compared to the MTD's I've played and owned. If I had 4 or 5 MTD's to suit my every bass need I might get a Drozd, just for a style thing; from a purely instumental standpoint, there's nothing like an MTD.

Cheers,
Cameron

These observations run counter to everything I've heard about Jerzy's instruments, as well as my own experience at NAMM. How long ago was it that you tried out Jerzy's work? I know from my own first hand experience that it's been well nigh flawless since at least early '04, and from everything I've heard anecdotally his craftsmanship, finish, setup, and electronics, etc. have always been essentially flawless.

 

[KJung]

These observations run counter to everything I've heard about Jerzy's instruments, as well as my own experience at NAMM. How long ago was it that you tried out Jerzy's work? I know from my own first hand experience that it's been well nigh flawless since at least early '04, and from everything I've heard anecdotally his craftsmanship, finish, setup, and electronics, etc. have always been essentially flawless.

+1... while the Drozd's aren't really my thing, I played a BUNCH of them at Dan Lenard's place a couple of years ago, and they were flawless... beautiful woodwork (although I can't quite figure out why he doesn't exactly match the grain of the neck pocket cover on the Excellencies to the rest of the body... seems like that would be easy, and would look even better).

I do find the OB-3 preamp that he uses makes these basses sound a little 'generic'. They sound more like an OB-3 preamp to me than having a signature tone like the MTD, Fodera, etc., but nothing really wrong with that.

Beautiful looking and playing basses, and uber articulate and clean and precise if that's what you are looking for.

 

[Debased]

I do find the OB-3 preamp that he uses makes these basses sound a little 'generic'. They sound more like an OB-3 preamp to me than having a signature tone like the MTD, Fodera, etc., but nothing really wrong with that.

I agree about the OB-3 giving some Jerzys a somewhat generic modern hi-rez tone, but have you played one with the latest double or split coil pickups? My fretless has one of the new double coils, and coupled with the RMC piezos and the hollow body, the tone is quite distinctive; very rich and woody with lots of growl. I think Jerzy is slowly evolving into a more "signature" tone, but you're right; a basic JD would still be harder to pick out of a lineup blindfolded than the long established voice of an MTD or Fodera.

 

[Bassflute]

These observations run counter to everything I've heard about Jerzy's instruments, as well as my own experience at NAMM. How long ago was it that you tried out Jerzy's work? I know from my own first hand experience that it's been well nigh flawless since at least early '04, and from everything I've heard anecdotally his craftsmanship, finish, setup, and electronics, etc. have always been essentially flawless.

in 06.

Don't get me wrong, they are very nice basses. They just don't work as a system like MTD's with the MTD strings, pickups, preamp, etc.

Cheers,
Cameron

 

[Bass Viking]

Another Jerzy neck feature is an extremely slippery fine satin finish. It's downright frictionless with no hint of stickiness when things get sweaty. The MTD neck finish is nice too, but nowhere near as slick as Jerzy's.

That bass is scrumptious! What body wood is that, walnut?

It even looks slippery.

 

[Debased]

It's etimoe; Jerzy's primary body wood; in this case flamed. In terms of look and feel, it's kind of like a cross between mahogany and rosewood, but it sounds more like heavy ash to me, even though this bass weighs just under eight pounds.

 

[Debased]

in 06.

Don't get me wrong, they are very nice basses. They just don't work as a system like MTD's with the MTD strings, pickups, preamp, etc.

Cheers,
Cameron

Well, when you put it that way - a slight change of tune, perhaps? - I'd have to agree. Admittedly, when it comes to the whole "system" thing, there's nothing quite like an MTD, though IMO, Jerzy's basses aren't far off.