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MTD 535 Experts - MTD Pickups

ddnidd1

ddnidd1

Mar 31, 2003
4,054
5,158
Southern California Coast
#1
Today I read on the MTD site that MT is using 'NEW' pickups designed by Bartolini. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Is this an older reference to a time when he wasn't using proprietary Bartolini pickups and the specific web page is not current, or is this actually a Recent pickup change made by Tobias.

My 535, #251, is a great, punchy bass. However, I lust for any plausible excuse to upgrade and break out the soldering iron.
 
#2
You can always send an e-mail to Mike; He is famous for answering any questions promptly.

I'm pretty sure that is "old" text and it refers to when he launched the new MTD American line a couple of years ago, but I could be wrong. Better get it from the source.

It looks like they did a quick clean-up of the website but the content seems to be the same...
 
#3
lefty007 said:
I'm pretty sure that is "old" text and it refers to when he launched the new MTD American line a couple of years ago, but I could be wrong. Better get it from the source.

It looks like they did a quick clean-up of the website but the content seems to be the same...
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure this is correct. The text for the page was created some time ago.

The pick-ups Mike uses are made for him specifically - and they sound pretty darn good.
 
#4
Joelc73 said:
I'm pretty sure this is correct. The text for the page was created some time ago.

The pick-ups Mike uses are made for him specifically - and they sound pretty darn good.
Click to expand...

+1 I talked to Mike about a year ago, since the newer MTD I had at the time sounded totally different from my beloved #321. Mike said he'd made subtle changes to the EQ circuit through the years, but the pickups remain the same.

It's amazing how different sounding the various wood combinations are, given the same design and electronics... more variation than I've ever heard in any other line of basses... very cool!
 
#5
I think the text on Mike's site is pretty old.

I was with him last September and he had recently started using a slightly dfferent spec of Bartolini electronics, custom made for him by Bill Bartolini who is Mike's friend as well as supplier.

The new pickups have the first gain stage separate from the pickup, in a potted unit Mike locates in the cavity. The previous generation had the first gain stage in the pickup. I think Mike told me that the change in tone from this was not substantial.

The new "chambered body" MTD's are wonderful, however, and offer us a great excuse to upgrade. They are lightweight and have a bouncy punch that's werry werry nice.

Aloha,

Jonathan
 
#6
Jonathan Starr said:
I think the text on Mike's site is pretty old.

I was with him last September and he had recently started using a slightly dfferent spec of Bartolini electronics, custom made for him by Bill Bartolini who is Mike's friend as well as supplier.

The new pickups have the first gain stage separate from the pickup, in a potted unit Mike locates in the cavity. The previous generation had the first gain stage in the pickup. I think Mike told me that the change in tone from this was not substantial.

The new "chambered body" MTD's are wonderful, however, and offer us a great excuse to upgrade. They are lightweight and have a bouncy punch that's werry werry nice.

Aloha,

Jonathan
Click to expand...

Jonathan,

I agree about the chambered basses - they are very exciting stuff!

When is your chambered bass scheduled for delivery?

Thanks,
Joel
 

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