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MTD Hard to play..!?
- Thread starter FM Jump
- Start date
My MTD535 is the most musical instrument I've ever got. It makes me a better player, no doubt! You just have to become one with it. 
I was going to say that the asymmetrical neck profile made my MTD 535 amazingly comfortable to play, but the OP had a different problem that's been addressed. Carry on. 
If this is your first 5 string and your first active bass then none of what you mentioned in your first post is surprising! I've been playing fivers almost exclusively for the past three years and usually don't have too many issues with muting. But a funny thing happened a few weeks ago during a gig: I was slapping during a solo (using my Lull M5V) and suddenly I was having trouble muting the strings. Bizarre to still have those four string moments after having been used to playing fives but it can happen.
Regarding your action, it's clearly set too low for your playing style (I find Mike Tobias sets his action too low for my liking). As for the necks and evenness, no neck is going to be perfectly even. Yes, some will be more even than others but we are talking wood after all (and even graphite can suffer from unevenness).
If only that were true in my case!
By the way, here's a link to the MTD USA club here on TB: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/official-mtd-usa-thread-part-8-a-942566/index44.html#post14850583
Whats a sock?..as it relates to a bass?
and why arent I allowed to upload a picture of the bass by posting an attachment?
Try Photobucket for uploading pictures.
HA!!! Same thing happened here! Someone wanted to borrow it until they tried it and gave it back saying," I just cant play that thing!"
I think I love it.
Der, give it more relief? Low action + little/no relief is a good test for checking for a level fingerboard and frets, but it is not very useful for actual playing circumstances unless the instrument's sole purpose is for that keyless-clavinet playing style which requires a mute at the nut, and is usually reserved for instrumenta with far more than five strings.
Sock- either take a long one and wrap it over the strings at the first fret and tie a knot or cut a portion off and stuff it under the strings behind the first fret. Training wheels, really. A joke, I hope. I don't know anyone using this preparation with less than seven strings.
Sock- either take a long one and wrap it over the strings at the first fret and tie a knot or cut a portion off and stuff it under the strings behind the first fret. Training wheels, really. A joke, I hope. I don't know anyone using this preparation with less than seven strings.
Keep working on it man! The fretwraps are cool and all but you don't want to be dependent on them, its like practicing with compression, it just isn't helping you in the long run. Save those tools for when you're trying to impress people or just let loose - not when you are trying to get better.
The floating thumb will do wonders if you use the meat of your palm to mute the BEA strings, if you can get good at that (and it really won't take long) you'll be playing clean in no time!
The floating thumb will do wonders if you use the meat of your palm to mute the BEA strings, if you can get good at that (and it really won't take long) you'll be playing clean in no time!
Thank you. When I concentrate it works out pretty well. Its just all new to me but now I know Im on the right track.
And BTW, The Low action and slight relief gives me remarkable freedom and range to play Legato lines that are so slippery. The Bartolinis really have a great round tone. I get nearly NO fret buzz, unless I want it.
Thank you. When I concentrate it works out pretty well. Its just all new to me but now I know Im on the right track.
And BTW, The Low action and slight relief gives me remarkable freedom and range to play Legato lines that are so slippery. The Bartolinis really have a great round tone. I get nearly NO fret buzz, unless I want it.
If you want to put the work in, learning how to utilize low action can pay off big time. When I bought my MTD 635 it was like putting a magnifying glass on things...
THAT I HAD NOT LEARNED HOW TO CONTROL. YET.
I could've done what most might do (get another bass) but just like in every other step in my journey I knew deep down where the room for improvement really was.
And there is usefulness in this type of setup, allowing for economy of motion, less fatigue, wider dynamic range... stuff that can make playing a lot easier in the end. It's just harder at the beginning. I often receive comments on how effortless my playing appears to be. It took a lot of effort to get there.
Yes - MTD can be unforgiving - you better have good technique or it will stand out. My regular gigging basses are Squires and I usually use MTDs for special occasions and studio. It helps me play 100% perfect sets as well.
Nope. Wrong all the way, guitar clerk. Thanks for playing.
He admits to using less relief than is recommended by MTD, finds it "a bear" to play and...
That's like putting giant rims and low profile tires on one's car and then complaining about the harsh ride.
I'm only the third (two fingers and bass 12 before me, if you're reading anything before posting snarky things that you could only dream of saying in IRL) person not telling him that his bass is unlike any other bass (it is definitely still just a bass, just with better fretwork than most fenders- not a huge feat) and that those strings need to come up, even if just by 1/8".
FM, if you put the same effort into learning to play legato lines well on a normal setup, you won't be that guy who, when a jam session brews up unexpectedly says "nope, sorry guys, yeah I can play bass, but I only know how to play my bass. Which isn't here." which, depending on your tone of voice, to the owner of whatever bass is availiable says either "I'm a faery" or "your bass is a pile of dog s@&t. You suck for having it."
Sorry, FM, been watching Fawlty Towers and feeling a bit bickery. Welcome, BTW. For the record, I do keep an old Mike Shannon Jackson soloist around strung with 8's, no relief and <1/8" above the frets- it's a great couch guit, but I'd never take it out in public.
I bought it used and Im not sure if its US or Non US. It has been modified.
It looks just like a US MADE MTD that I see in pictures with the handsome spalted maple woodwork, and Bartolinis, but the electronics are different. It has 3 double stacked knobs and 2 switches Active/passive. It also has no seperate batttery compartment. It all goes into one cavity. Also, the bridge is retro Fender style with the string holes. Not quick release. Finally the Head stock is the Saratoga shape with cloverleaf pegs.
One of the best playing basses Ive ever had. I get compliments all the time on the tone.
