Does anybody here own one? If so, what can you tell me about them? I know they were made overseas. I just bought one so I was wondering what other people thought about them. 
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MTD Beast
- Thread starter EagleMoon
- Start date
I love it! I saw this on eBay.
I wish Mike would release some new MTDs in that scheme.
The Beast was made in czech republic. The Korean made Saratoga is similar. Except the hardware on the Saratogas seem to be upgraded. The pickups on the Beast are Bartolini, but have exposed poles. Not too sure on the preamp?? Soo, you got a great bass.
I wish Mike would release some new MTDs in that scheme.
The Beast was made in czech republic. The Korean made Saratoga is similar. Except the hardware on the Saratogas seem to be upgraded. The pickups on the Beast are Bartolini, but have exposed poles. Not too sure on the preamp?? Soo, you got a great bass.
Thanks! I'll post some pics when I get it. I was hoping too that somebody on here might have one and let me know what I'm in for. I've read a few reviews online that were positive, so that's why I went ahead and bought it. I can't wait to get it and try it out! Oh and the guy I bought it from said that it is practically new because it's hung on a display all it's life. Hopefully that hasn't hurt it any.
Back in the early/mid 90s, Mike designed the Grendel bass. This bass was produced in the Czech Republic, and was a great success. I am the lucky owner of a first generation Grendel, which was marketed under the "Grendel" name and with a slightly different headstock than the later MTD Grendels (but still a rather typical MTD headstock, although 4-in-line or 4+1 for the 5-stringers). It read "Designed by Michael Tobias Design" underneath the headstock. Here's a photo of mine:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
It has a aluminium Hipshot bridge, covered Bartolini pickups, and a specially designed Bartolini preamp with a 2-band eq and a "slap switch" with a predefined mid-range boost. It had a 34" scale length for both 4- and 5-string, and was available fretted and fretless in 3-4 different finishes. The top model had a flame maple top. All the Grendels had poplar bodies, and the classical MTD assymmetrical neck profile. The neck blanks were done in US and shipped to the factory in Czech from what I recall. The fingerboard was wenge, matching the wenge veneer on the headstock.
The Grendel was quite a successful bass, and it was soon included in the MTD line as the MTD Grendel. The headstock was kept the same, but with the MTD logo clearly visible as shown on your bass above. A couple of changes happened, mainly that the 5-stringers were given 35" scale length and the pickups were changed to exposed pole pieces.
The Beast is the passive version of the Grendel. I would presume that it's got a poplar body under the solid finish. Apparently the hardware has been simplified as well, and I see it's got a "bent plate" bridge rather than the Hipshot Type B on my Grendel. It looks like the same bridge design as is found on the new MTD Zephyr-basses.
I still have my Grendel, and I think it will stay for a long time to come. It's a great instrument and I'm the only owner on it. If your Beast is anywhere my Grendel in quality, you will not be disappointed by it.
According to Mike himself, he was very happy with the Grendel/Beast line. I don't know exactly what the reason behind terminating the line was, but I've heard rumours that it was due to some quality issues with the production. Besides, I guess the Asian production costs went down as their production quality went up, so maybe the Czechs weren't quite as competitively priced anymore?
It's correct that after the Grendel/Beast-line was discontinued, the Korean-produced Saratoga was introduced instead. It appears to be a very similar design, but I have no idea what specs it has. The newer Kingston line with the Artist and Zephyr models are very interesting, but are obviously a different instrument than the first Grendels. Although I'd love a Zephyr 6, I don't think it can be fairly compared to the Grendel. As Mike puts it himself, it's like comparing apples and oranges.
Anyway, congratulations with a great bass and good luck with it!!
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
It has a aluminium Hipshot bridge, covered Bartolini pickups, and a specially designed Bartolini preamp with a 2-band eq and a "slap switch" with a predefined mid-range boost. It had a 34" scale length for both 4- and 5-string, and was available fretted and fretless in 3-4 different finishes. The top model had a flame maple top. All the Grendels had poplar bodies, and the classical MTD assymmetrical neck profile. The neck blanks were done in US and shipped to the factory in Czech from what I recall. The fingerboard was wenge, matching the wenge veneer on the headstock.
The Grendel was quite a successful bass, and it was soon included in the MTD line as the MTD Grendel. The headstock was kept the same, but with the MTD logo clearly visible as shown on your bass above. A couple of changes happened, mainly that the 5-stringers were given 35" scale length and the pickups were changed to exposed pole pieces.
The Beast is the passive version of the Grendel. I would presume that it's got a poplar body under the solid finish. Apparently the hardware has been simplified as well, and I see it's got a "bent plate" bridge rather than the Hipshot Type B on my Grendel. It looks like the same bridge design as is found on the new MTD Zephyr-basses.
I still have my Grendel, and I think it will stay for a long time to come. It's a great instrument and I'm the only owner on it. If your Beast is anywhere my Grendel in quality, you will not be disappointed by it.
According to Mike himself, he was very happy with the Grendel/Beast line. I don't know exactly what the reason behind terminating the line was, but I've heard rumours that it was due to some quality issues with the production. Besides, I guess the Asian production costs went down as their production quality went up, so maybe the Czechs weren't quite as competitively priced anymore?
It's correct that after the Grendel/Beast-line was discontinued, the Korean-produced Saratoga was introduced instead. It appears to be a very similar design, but I have no idea what specs it has. The newer Kingston line with the Artist and Zephyr models are very interesting, but are obviously a different instrument than the first Grendels. Although I'd love a Zephyr 6, I don't think it can be fairly compared to the Grendel. As Mike puts it himself, it's like comparing apples and oranges.
Anyway, congratulations with a great bass and good luck with it!!
The Saratoga 5 is pretty much the same spec as your Grendel. Same Pickups, electronics and hardware.Back in the early/mid 90s, Mike designed the Grendel bass. This bass was produced in the Czech Republic, and was a great success. I am the lucky owner of a first generation Grendel, which was marketed under the "Grendel" name and with a slightly different headstock than the later MTD Grendels (but still a rather typical MTD headstock, although 4-in-line or 4+1 for the 5-stringers). It read "Designed by Michael Tobias Design" underneath the headstock. Here's a photo of mine:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
It has a aluminium Hipshot bridge, covered Bartolini pickups, and a specially designed Bartolini preamp with a 2-band eq and a "slap switch" with a predefined mid-range boost. It had a 34" scale length for both 4- and 5-string, and was available fretted and fretless in 3-4 different finishes. The top model had a flame maple top. All the Grendels had poplar bodies, and the classical MTD assymmetrical neck profile. The neck blanks were done in US and shipped to the factory in Czech from what I recall. The fingerboard was wenge, matching the wenge veneer on the headstock.
The Grendel was quite a successful bass, and it was soon included in the MTD line as the MTD Grendel. The headstock was kept the same, but with the MTD logo clearly visible as shown on your bass above. A couple of changes happened, mainly that the 5-stringers were given 35" scale length and the pickups were changed to exposed pole pieces.
The Beast is the passive version of the Grendel. I would presume that it's got a poplar body under the solid finish. Apparently the hardware has been simplified as well, and I see it's got a "bent plate" bridge rather than the Hipshot Type B on my Grendel. It looks like the same bridge design as is found on the new MTD Zephyr-basses.
I still have my Grendel, and I think it will stay for a long time to come. It's a great instrument and I'm the only owner on it. If your Beast is anywhere my Grendel in quality, you will not be disappointed by it.
According to Mike himself, he was very happy with the Grendel/Beast line. I don't know exactly what the reason behind terminating the line was, but I've heard rumours that it was due to some quality issues with the production. Besides, I guess the Asian production costs went down as their production quality went up, so maybe the Czechs weren't quite as competitively priced anymore?
It's correct that after the Grendel/Beast-line was discontinued, the Korean-produced Saratoga was introduced instead. It appears to be a very similar design, but I have no idea what specs it has. The newer Kingston line with the Artist and Zephyr models are very interesting, but are obviously a different instrument than the first Grendels. Although I'd love a Zephyr 6, I don't think it can be fairly compared to the Grendel. As Mike puts it himself, it's like comparing apples and oranges.
Anyway, congratulations with a great bass and good luck with it!!
Got it today. The color is different than it looked in the pictures, but that's okay because I like it better. I tried to take some pics of it, but I had to adjust the color in Photoshop to try and get it more like it really is. It's actually more of a turquoise color. Anyway...plugged it in an played it for a bit. Awesome sounds out of this thing. It's like a Jazz bass on steroids. 
Almost has an active tone, but it's not. Must be those Bartolini pups. Nice neck as well. I've never played an MTD before, and the neck is a little different than any other bass I've played. So here's some pics...
Almost has an active tone, but it's not. Must be those Bartolini pups. Nice neck as well. I've never played an MTD before, and the neck is a little different than any other bass I've played. So here's some pics...No problem!! Welcome to the MTD Overseas club!Thanks for all the info and taking the time to write all that out.
Congratulations! I think your bass looks great! And as mentioned, i'm sure it's a great bass to play, too! The neck profile is strange at first, but comfortable. I like mine very much!
No problem!! Welcome to the MTD Overseas club!
Congratulations! I think your bass looks great! And as mentioned, i'm sure it's a great bass to play, too! The neck profile is strange at first, but comfortable. I like mine very much!
I played it for a couple of hours last night. You're right, it does take a little getting used to, but not much. I can tell I'm really going to love it. The tone is just breathtaking.
MTDs -US and Overseas are the best feeling basses IMHO.You will be addicted now!I played it for a couple of hours last night. You're right, it does take a little getting used to, but not much. I can tell I'm really going to love it. The tone is just breathtaking.
Is there a thread here for MTD Overseas Club???No problem!! Welcome to the MTD Overseas club!
Congratulations! I think your bass looks great! And as mentioned, i'm sure it's a great bass to play, too! The neck profile is strange at first, but comfortable. I like mine very much!
It's funny, but I never considered an MTD bass before because I thought they were all extremely expensive and out of my price range. I emailed Mike Tobias and he said that this bass was probably a 2001-2002 model. Amazing that it's in such good shape. But apparently it's just been hanging around on a hook that long. THe only wear I can see at all is a teeny string groove on the E string zero fret area. Other than that, it's pristine. I really lucked out with this one. 
