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MTD Kingston LK 5

#41
Pep said:
First of all I purchased this bass doubting it would be a keeper mostly based on the two reviews I read. A review is merely a personal opinion. Nowhere in either review did it find fault with the build quality or it’s playability. The main negative from both reviews was a low output. Here what I found out today about the LK5.

The LK5 arrived today and immediately hooked it up when I got home. I found there was plenty of signal in both modes with the active setting producing a more full sound. I will still opt to purchase the replacement/upgrade Bartolini preamp and pickups because I like their products and there should be a major improvement in the tone adjustments.
Here are positives and negatives.

Positives:
1) finish is beautiful and rich looking.
2) neck finish was awesome and the neck felt great.
3) the actions extremely low with zero fret buzz.
4) very light weight and balance is near perfect.
5) the 32” scale is a great fit and the neck is fast.
6) the B string sounds pretty good for a short scale bass.

Negatives:
1) The tone adjustments on both active & passive aren’t great. I believe the upcoming Bartolini components will improve that greatly.

Bottom line: This bass is a keeper!View attachment 5243350View attachment 5243351
Click to expand...

Hi Pep, I agree with you on every count! I think my initial review above regarding the low output was tempered by those other reviews I read as well. Plus, the two basses I had been playing most recently are a G&L SB-2 and a Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling 5HH, both of which have higher than average output. When I compared it against my 3rd bass an Akai Project 1997 jazz style bass, it was comparable if not hotter.

I am extremely impressed with this bass and I might want to look for more 32" scale basses in the future. I wrote this in another forum:

I played my medium (32") scale 5 string for the second Sunday in a row, and boy has it really grown on me! I'm not a short guy, I'm 6ft tall but I still appreciate the improved ergonomics. Also, contrary to everything I was expecting, this has one of my favorite B-strings of all the 5 strings I've ever owned. See the list below... It really reinforces in my mind that neck stiffness is a huge contributor to a solid B string.

Maruszczyk Elwood L5 (JM), Sandberg VM5, G&L JB-5, Peavey USA Cirrus, Waterstone Passive PJ 5-Sring, MTD Kingston Saratoga 5, ESP LTD AP-204 modified to Passive BEAD, Cort Arona 5, Peavey Axcelerator 5, ESP LTD Elite Series J5, LTD Surveyor 405, Steinberger spirit XZ-5, G&L L2500 Tribute, Ibanez SR505, Peavey Millennium 5+, Akai Project 1997 SB511, Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling 5HH, G&L Tribute SB-2T Modified to BEAD​
 
#42
I do wonder if the factory have been told to do something to improve the pickups. I’ve certainly emailed Mike about it some time ago. Mine were criminally ineffective. I did try raising them too. I’m really pleased you guys are loving the bass. Mine is off to Cyprus tomorrow. All the modifications didn’t translate to a better sale price, as per normal. I’m back to 35” scale for my existing 5 strings, both of which are superb.
 
#43
Wraithwrider said:
I do wonder if the factory have been told to do something to improve the pickups. I’ve certainly emailed Mike about it some time ago. Mine were criminally ineffective. I did try raising them too. I’m really pleased you guys are loving the bass. Mine is off to Cyprus tomorrow. All the modifications didn’t translate to a better sale price, as per normal. I’m back to 35” scale for my existing 5 strings, both of which are superb.
Click to expand...

I'm sure they'll be making some modifications to the pickups and perhaps the preamp. This thing plays like butter. I'm going to replace everything with Bartolini as soon as the pickups are available. The tone adjustments just seem to highlight instead of change things.
As long as they're making some aftermarket items to wake this think up, I'm "in with both feet!"
 
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#44
Chewy_B_i_T_s said:
Hi Pep, I agree with you on every count! I think my initial review above regarding the low output was tempered by those other reviews I read as well. Plus, the two basses I had been playing most recently are a G&L SB-2 and a Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling 5HH, both of which have higher than average output. When I compared it against my 3rd bass an Akai Project 1997 jazz style bass, it was comparable if not hotter.

I am extremely impressed with this bass and I might want to look for more 32" scale basses in the future. I wrote this in another forum:

I played my medium (32") scale 5 string for the second Sunday in a row, and boy has it really grown on me! I'm not a short guy, I'm 6ft tall but I still appreciate the improved ergonomics. Also, contrary to everything I was expecting, this has one of my favorite B-strings of all the 5 strings I've ever owned. See the list below... It really reinforces in my mind that neck stiffness is a huge contributor to a solid B string.

Maruszczyk Elwood L5 (JM), Sandberg VM5, G&L JB-5, Peavey USA Cirrus, Waterstone Passive PJ 5-Sring, MTD Kingston Saratoga 5, ESP LTD AP-204 modified to Passive BEAD, Cort Arona 5, Peavey Axcelerator 5, ESP LTD Elite Series J5, LTD Surveyor 405, Steinberger spirit XZ-5, G&L L2500 Tribute, Ibanez SR505, Peavey Millennium 5+, Akai Project 1997 SB511, Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling 5HH, G&L Tribute SB-2T Modified to BEAD​
Click to expand...
I have another 5 string, Ibanez EHB1505MS, which I really like but this LK5 will likely be replacing it. It's about the same weight as the Ibanez but much easier to play and just hangs on me much better.
 
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#45
FYI, I've had some email correspondence with Rob over at MTD. They will soon have medium scale strings for sale on their website.

Cut and pasted from a couple Emails:

"LK’s are equipped with MTD medium scale stainless strings. They will be available to purchase on our website within the next 2-3 weeks. The 5 string set is $34.99. We’ll have stainless & nickel rounds, .045-.130x & .040-.120 gauge."
 
#46
Pep said:
I'm sure they'll be making some modifications to the pickups and perhaps the preamp. This thing plays like butter. I'm going to replace everything with Bartolini as soon as the pickups are available. The tone adjustments just seem to highlight instead of change things.
As long as they're making some aftermarket items to wake this think up, I'm "in with both feet!"
Click to expand...

Just curious as to how this turned out with the new Bart pre/pup's. Did you end up replacing everything?

I've been looking at 32" fivers and this one was on the list along with the Spector Bantam, Form Factor Wombat, and a couple of Maruszczyk's. The MTD seemed like a fantastic mod platform until I read that the pickups are not standard size.
 
#52
Bryan Threlkeld said:
Looking for info. What is the neck width at the 12th and 24th frets on this bass (MTD Kingston LK 5)?

Thanks SO much for the info - can't find it anywhere.

Bryan
Click to expand...
Bryan Threlkeld said:
Anyone own an MTD Kingston LK5 and willing to measure width at 12th and 24th fret?

TIA,
Bryan
Click to expand...
I don't own one, but I asked a seller a few months ago about the width at the 24th fret and he measured it as 2.78". Not sure about the 12th, but the nut is 1.75", so maybe something like 2.25" at the 12th fret?
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#54
nonohmic said:
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?
Click to expand...
I believe the LK4 is 19mm string spacing. Only the LK5 16mm. The same is true of the USA-built LK.
 
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#58
who said:
Those look nice. Looks like roasted maple fretboard on the black one, I wonder if the neck is roasted as well. Also curious about what body wood the natural one is; I assume they're not using basswood like they are for the painted ones.
Click to expand...
Good questions . I wonder if they replaced those low output pickups. They definitely needed to do some upgrades on these.
 

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