I had the same issue with my Adamovic. It´s not the bass, it is you. It helped me improve my tehnique by far. For mutting it I use a "fretwarp", well, it´s more like a hair band for girls but it works perfect, if not this bass would ring forever 
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MTD Hard to play..!?
- Thread starter FM Jump
- Start date
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.
I've seen him play. It does look effortless. This should provide Brad hand/wrist health for all his days.
Thanks, Harry... I don't think it's a coincidence that I can do long gigs with no hand fatigue. In fact by the time the gig is done I usually feel like I'm just really getting warmed up.
Snarky answers aside, I obviously disagree about low action only being useful for checking the build quality of a bass. And it doesn't preclude me from playing basses with higher action contrary to what was just posited. In fact I think it's made it easier to do that because of what I've learned about string control... it's still about controlling the string. So I'm fine grabbing just about any bass and playing it...I mentally dial them in, figuring out what I need to do to get what I want. So I'm fine at jam sessions.
Granted, my basses will be easier for me to play.
I just received a fretwrap to check out and so far I don't see a use for it for me because even with my sixes I don't have a problem with unwanted ringing from strings. That's because of the time I put in learning how to mute with both hands. That came from a decision I made early on... I don't want to have to depend on anything other than the very basics to do what I need to do. So I learned to mute vs. depending on a scrunchy, I learned to control my dynamics regardless of how I chose to play vs. depending on compression and so on. IME they're shortcuts... and that's cool if that's your path, it just isn't mine.
BTW while I really like my MTD it didn't spoil me for other basses.
Forgot to mention... there's nothing wrong with getting acclimated to lower action gradually, in stages. You can start with "normal" action, work out whatever issues you're having and then lower the strings a bit. Then repeat until you're where you're trying to be.
Do yourself a favor and look at a ruler. Wrong again.
You got a snarky reply, due to your own snarky comment. "Der,...". Condescending crap...
Take care, clerk.
This I can agree with. Hopefully your words keep this poor nice bass from being sold again for being too much hassle to use. Sorry for being snarky, I've been to a number of open jam nights over the years and recently where some guy get talked up by his buddy as "f-ing awesome" and either refuses to play or cramps up after one tune on a bass that nobody else has any trouble with, and have had bands cancel last minute or onstage because their bassist can only afford one good bass and breaks a string and can't/won't use somebody else's unless it is setup low (and "a new string will be brighter than the others"). Always a big wet towel. I've also had a lot of guys who would have sold/traded their nice basses (at a huge loss) for something that just happened to be set up to spec had I not just loosened up their neck. My boss hates it, but he's still selling strings and cables. I see these guys out onstage loving their basses at least once a month afterwards. "It's the bass I've always wanted!" I'm told every time.
I agree that playing low action is quite enjoyable once you've learned how, I enjoy it greatly on non-basses where legato playing is more welcome in the mix, and used to use it on bass. It's fun. I agree that learning it will make you a better fretted string instrument player, though you will do well for yourself to maintain your chops on a regular bass at the same time. But it is like a lotus elise compared to the buick lesabre that is likely what you're used to. If I take the liberty to paraphrase what the majority here are telling you FM, it's "congrats on your awesome new bass, you won't be able to enjoy its awesomeness for a few weeks or months while you fight and battle with it and it breaks you down and makes you play it the way you set it up for, or put training wheels on it. So, put a leash on that bear and know that you really won't be able to bring it out in public for a while." That's absurd. You already know how to play bass, as made evident by this big buy. But, following the advice of the majority, for the near future, this not cheap thing will be little else than a learning tool. A waste of a wonderful instrument is what that is.
"wider dynamic range" I'm inclined to either agree with and disagree with, depending on what you mean, Brad. If "it helps you teach your hand greater control of volume dynamics and makes you more aware of small differences in string amplitude" then absolutely. But physically limiting the distance a string can swing around and vibrate will do nothing but limit it's amplitude compared to when it has greater room to travel- higher action will yield greater dynamic range than lower action, period.
A quick search shows that FM is the first to have an mtd fight so hard that reaching out to a comunity for help was necessary. FM, seriously, bring it up to spec and it will still play way better and fret easier than most Fenders, and likely your last two basses. Best wishes!
On an any-string instrument, I like to plumb the depths of tempo. Work a riff or song at regular tempo, with the metronome. Then slow it down some. It's really cool, to me, how much space is between those notes and how slowing it down makes me feel those distances so much better. When I speed up, it is as if the extra space is still there.
So, I like to play how slow can you go. I've found myself out in my living room with my metronome whanging along at some mid-50's beat, barely above the end of the dial, just raptured by the big, slow notes I'm playing. And then I love to speed it back up and see how much more clear my head seems at higher tempos.
So, that's a good idea for all musicians. Spending time down with the low tempos was one of the more useful exercises I have ever done, and I go back to it now quite frequently.
Edited to add: I just now became a 5-string convert, with a Spector Legend Custom, at 35" scale. The extra scale is awesome, and I have to say I feel very manly playing this great big 'un. Learning to mute the strings is just part of the challenge of getting this huge-sounding instrument to behave in my hands.
Wow, seems this thread is starting to get too complicated. This is merely a case of a guy new to 5 strings and will take him a little time to acclimate to the wider fretboard. I went through this very same thing back in 1991 when I bought my first 5 string bass. Took a couple months to fully acclimate and I was good to go. Nothing more, nothing less!
Thats right! Thank you for not making more of it!
Theres some presumption that I am in desperate need of help and might even sell my bass because of it. Im 49 years old and have been playing since 7. Ive played a 63 Fender Jazz fretless for 27 years. I just wanted to hear what you guys say about 5 string MTDs since its all new to me. Its challenging to mute the B string since Im used to anchoring on the pickup. That is all. I have always played with super low action and I love it that way no matter what anyone says. I setup my own basses and do complete fret jobs on them as well.
Thanks to most of you for your constructive help. I got some encouragement to know that everyone goes through an acclimation process with 5 string actives.
A precise full range active instrument like an MTD can require quite a different playing technique to a passive style fender... An active bass like that can be much more responsive to subtle technique changes that passive single coils don't pick up as accurately. Not saying it's better, just different
A good passive fender will respond differently to biting in a bit harder to the way an active fiver will. slightly higher action or heavier gauge strings will change things too if you are not comfortable with things the way they currently are, experiment and enjoy
Half the fun is learning how to make a new bass come alive in your hands
A good passive fender will respond differently to biting in a bit harder to the way an active fiver will. slightly higher action or heavier gauge strings will change things too if you are not comfortable with things the way they currently are, experiment and enjoy
Half the fun is learning how to make a new bass come alive in your hands
Just a vote of confidence and a bit of commiseration for the OP: I'm running into the same issues with my Pentabuzz, especially with regards to string muting. I'm in the process of setting up lessons with a local teacher to improve my technique. Good luck to you!
Cool. I would suggest learning the floating thumb method of playing which a lot of cats do when playing extended range basses. Resting your thumb on the pickup and reaching for that G string is a stretch especially on basses with 19mm+ string spacing. Unless you have rather large hands (I do not).
Curious...I don't mean to "thread-jack" but I'm having some very similar problems with my MTD 535
I LOVE the bass but it's very difficult for my crappy technique to get used to...how long should I give it until I realize that an MTD just ain't for me???
I LOVE the bass but it's very difficult for my crappy technique to get used to...how long should I give it until I realize that an MTD just ain't for me???
Are you new to five string basses? My 535 was my third five string but it was the first one I was, more or less, instantly comfortable on. I basically got it, played on it a bit at home and then took it out to gig (unlike my previous fives, which I didn't feel comfortable enough to gig on). That bass felt as if it was made for me and it made my transition to five string about as effortless as it probably gets. But everyone's different. Can you try out any other five string basses for the sake of comparison?
This all would have been helpful for you to have had on your first post, which did indicate that you were in need of [DEL]help[/DEL] something. Sorry for being a douche and inviting a pissing match to your support thread. Best wishes.
Yeah, as previously mentioned, if you're new to 5 strings, it will take some time to get used to a wider fretboard and to re-learn your muting technique. It's not the MTD as I'm quite sure that bass would be really easy to play.
Hi...not new to 5 strings...have and love my Lakland 5594
I'd imagine that I could gig with it but its definitely MUCH less forgiving than any other 5 I've played...
I've only had her for 3 months...hopefully things will have improved in another 3 months
Okay, so you're not talking about the physical feel of the instrument - it's the transparent nature of the sound that's giving you grief. Part of that will depend on the bass in particular (some MTDs are more "sizzly" than others). But if you like the sound and playability of the bass overall I would suggest you stick with it. Are you using steel strings or nickel? If you're using steels then it might be worth checking out some mellower nickels.
