MTD Kingston LK 5

[Wraithwrider]

I’ve had my bass for nearly a week now.

Things I love about it?

The weight (lack of), scale length, string spacing, neck and playability, fit and finish.

Things I’d like to see improved.

Output signal, it’s very low. Not keen on the smoked black hardware. The quality of build exposed by removing the truss rod adjustment plate is a bit poor.

I’ve already ordered a Bart 5.3AP/918 preamp.

I can see me going for Bartolini pickups when they are available. The narrow string spacing means that they are still ‘work in progress.

The bass has so many positives I may well upgrade the hardware too.

Using my practice Peavy combo my active Zoots are into the active input with a gain of around 5. The MTD has to be in the passive input with a gain set to 8.5!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I’ve had my bass for nearly a week now.

Things I love about it?

The weight (lack of), scale length, string spacing, neck and playability, fit and finish.

Things I’d like to see improved.

Output signal, it’s very low. Not keen on the smoked black hardware. The quality of build exposed by removing the truss rod adjustment plate is a bit poor.

I’ve already ordered a Bart 5.3AP/918 preamp.

I can see me going for Bartolini pickups when they are available. The narrow string spacing means that they are still ‘work in progress.

The bass has so many positives I may well upgrade the hardware too.

Using my practice Peavy combo my active Zoots are into the active input with a gain of around 5. The MTD has to be in the passive input with a gain set to 8.5!

Pictures please!

 

[Wraithwrider]

I’m away from home at the moment, visiting family but I’ll get on it.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

 

[Wraithwrider]

Here she is:

 

[5StringPocket]

Beautiful bass. If the feel and ergonomics are good it’s worth a few upgrades to make it what you want.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Nice color!! That blue burst is very eye catching.

 

[MMiller28]

What’s the build quality issue(s)?

 

[Wraithwrider]

What’s the build quality issue(s)?

It's purely cosmetic in a hidden way. The plate that cover's the trussed adjustment reveals a fairly rough finished neck. It's not structural.

 

[Bigal1369]

Thinking about getting 32" scale bass. Been playing 30" scale. Never had a MTD bass. Would like to here more reviews on this bass if possible. Thanks

 

[nonohmic]

Here she is:

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I've been wondering about the tight string spacing, but almost ready to dive in an try it. Love a 4 string medium scale, but perhaps that B (or high C) is worth adapting to the tight spacing.

Is it adjustable at all? Even 0.5 mm?

 

[Wraithwrider]

I’ll get back to you on the adjustability. I’ve owned a narrow spaced 5 before (a Kinal) and it was the bass that first led to me being comfortable on a 5 so for me the string spacing is a bit like like coming home.
I’ve fitted a Bartolini pre amp to improve the output and cranked up fully on the gain adjustment it does this and quietly too. I added a battery into the main compartment giving me 18v and the install was straightforward.
The pickups are weak though. The active/passive difference is very big.
I have sent the pickups to a friend who builds beautiful basses and does his own pickups at times. Mike Walsh of Zoot. The pickups are a non standard size. He is using the casings to make replacements. The impedance of the originals was low.
I’m waiting on trying the results.
Peter

 

[Wraithwrider]

Just to add, the bridge isn’t adjustable and I don’t think it’s a commonly available size…

 

[nonohmic]

I’ll get back to you on the adjustability. I’ve owned a narrow spaced 5 before (a Kinal) and it was the bass that first led to me being comfortable on a 5 so for me the string spacing is a bit like like coming home.
I’ve fitted a Bartolini pre amp to improve the output and cranked up fully on the gain adjustment it does this and quietly too. I added a battery into the main compartment giving me 18v and the install was straightforward.
The pickups are weak though. The active/passive difference is very big.
I have sent the pickups to a friend who builds beautiful basses and does his own pickups at times. Mike Walsh of Zoot. The pickups are a non standard size. He is using the casings to make replacements. The impedance of the originals was low.
I’m waiting on trying the results.
Peter

Just to add, the bridge isn’t adjustable and I don’t think it’s a commonly available size…

Bridge isn't adjustable. Oh well. Not a huge deal breaker.

Pickups aren't replaceable?! That's not awesome. I wonder if it's the same for the 4 banger.

 

[Wraithwrider]

MTD are in the process of getting Bartolini to make compatible upgrades. That's from the man himself.

 

[who]

I’ve had my bass for nearly a week now.

Things I love about it?

The weight (lack of), scale length, string spacing, neck and playability, fit and finish.

Things I’d like to see improved.

Output signal, it’s very low. Not keen on the smoked black hardware. The quality of build exposed by removing the truss rod adjustment plate is a bit poor.

I’ve already ordered a Bart 5.3AP/918 preamp.

I can see me going for Bartolini pickups when they are available. The narrow string spacing means that they are still ‘work in progress.

The bass has so many positives I may well upgrade the hardware too.

Using my practice Peavy combo my active Zoots are into the active input with a gain of around 5. The MTD has to be in the passive input with a gain set to 8.5!

Good to hear that you like it. Does the passive tone control work in active mode, or only in passive mode?

 

[Wraithwrider]

A good question. I can’t remember. Having changed to a Bartolini pre I have lost the passive tone control, something I love on my East Uni Pre equipped Zoot.
The pickups are away getting re manufactured and the bass is sat unstrung awaiting their delivery.

 

[Pep]

I’m awaiting your final product.
One question: As you probably know, for the most parts B strings sound best on a 35+ length. I’m curious about the one on this bass?

 

[beatdatthang]

Looks very nice. I like them a lot. I don’t understand the whole smoked chrome or “cosmo black” hardware thing, either. Ibanez, MTD, LTD, even Dingwall put it on their lower end basses and it just makes it kinda look cheap to me. It really seems to age poorly and shows oxidation patina faster than chrome, even if you try to take care of it.

I like to put detuners on my 4s and they don’t make them in smoked chrome so I always have to replace all the hardware with either black or chrome (tuners, bridge, knobs) to match.

 

[BargeOn]

Danged if I can find these on the MTD web site. Am I going senile already. Where are you guys finding them?