- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,518
- 19,954
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
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I need to clarify this. Yeah, it's intuitive you'd be able to hear the effects of the chambers better at louder volumes, but the part that kinda' caught me by surprise is it seems to be non-linear. Like the chambers are reacting not only to the vibrations of the strings locally, but also the sound waves in the air from your rig. This certainly all seems plausible to me of course, I guess I just didn't think it'd be as big of a deal as it seems to be, since really, the chambers aren't really all that big.
Interestingly, I feel the same about my solid-body 535. I think you still have at least one of those, right? Are you saying that this character is also especially "amplified" by the chambers?
- Jun 24, 2006
- 2,560
- 91
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: MTD basses and strings; Bergantino Amps & Cabs
Yes, at louder volumes it does seem to go up exponentially, and I have even under rare circumstances been able to invoke a small amount of 'feedback sustain' in it, if I'm playing really loud and am right beside my rig (which is devastatingly awesome, btw - Berg IP with Summit front end). The 'hollow' sound is really a kind of softening of the midrange attack, which I personally miss in some circumstances (fast Afro-Cuban fusion, etc.). But this soft midrange also helps this bass to blend as well as it does. Also, mine has a bit of a softer attack from the Rosewood board, a non-Marilyn attribute. When discussing this bass, I asked Mr. Tobias for kind of an über-Fender, so he suggested it would get more of that vibe with the rosewood board. And it does have that, to a degree, but it is much MORE than just that.
The only other MTD I have (currently) is a fretless 635-24 (I'm going to rectify that soon), but I have played a few other 635's, including one other Marilyn, and 2 of my students now have 634-24's, but none of them open up like this thing does; most of them reach a point and sort of 'stop', for lack of a better term (but are still better at this than ANY other bass I have played); this thing goes right over the top, and into a whole new realm - kind of an overplayed clack, almost like slap, but perfectly controllable with your fingertips...kind of like Stanley Clarke on steroids, but with a dynamic range that is simply out of this world, controllable but endless, kind of like the endless gas pedal on a Ferarri F60 or something (not that I'd know about that, but I can just imagine, having driven a few super-fast cars in my lifetime).
With the Chambered MTDs, it's partially the woods, partially the finish, partially the chambers, partially his pickup/preamp system by Bartolini, who have ALWAYS built the best bass stuff, IMHO. The total synergy of this system make this one superb electric bass, one of the finest ever made, IMHO. I'm privileged to be it's caretaker during my lifetime, and can only imagine what it will do in the hands of future players.
Cheers,
Cameron
KoaFodera
Commercial User
I was convinced to get one of these beauties for myself after ordering in a couple for the store. Mike showed me the Blackened Redwood top at his shop and that was it! 
Alder body, Madagascar Rosewood f/b. Sweet.
So, count me in. What # do I come in at?
Alder body, Madagascar Rosewood f/b. Sweet.
So, count me in. What # do I come in at?
Please pardon my ignorance, but are Marilyn models still available or were they a limited run kind of thing???
KoaFodera
Commercial User
Marilyn MTD's are those with Chambered bodies and currently a $500 list up-charge on top of whatever build spec's you choose for your bass.
Nice bass, Olive! Is Ultimate Basses a shop? I was in Guelph last spring and would have visited if I'd known (assuming U.B. is a shop).
KoaFodera
Commercial User
Hello bass12. Next time you are in the area, feel free to stop by. Marilyn # 56 is indeed a very nice bass and keeps my Fodera Olive Imperial 6 string company.
I was convinced to get one of these beauties for myself after ordering in a couple for the store. Mike showed me the Blackened Redwood top at his shop and that was it!
Alder body, Madagascar Rosewood f/b. Sweet.
So, count me in. What # do I come in at?
hi Dave,
Hope you are well, and glad you got yours at last, she looks a beauty!. Here's the Marilyn 535 I bought from you back in 2010.
I also recently aquired a "normal" 635 with a blackened redwood top and looks very similar to yours
All the best,
G
nothing - the 635 isn't a Marilyn, hence a "normal" 635. They are all abnormally good basses though
A tough question to answer (for me at least). I bought the bass primarly because of the wood combo (& looks!), and the fact that it was a "Marilyn" didn't really weigh heavily in the equation - I did however mail Mr. MT to get an idea from him about how it would sound. I was after an "articulate, big, warm" tone. Mike said that's what you'll get, and that's exactly what I got.
Although I believe the design goal isn't for a lighter bass (as opposed to the chambering in Sadowsky NYC basses - which is purely to trim the weight), the "Marilyn" obviously will weigh less than if it wasn't chambered, and I'm pretty sure it is the lightest MTD I've had.
Sonically it still sounds like an MTD. The 4 basses I've spent time with all have a similar vibe, but the wood combinations make quite a difference to the tonal character of each bass.
This is the only Marilyn I've played, and I've also not played a non-Marilyn MTD with the same specs as mine (alder,maple,ebony), so it's purely guesswork. My feeling is that the notes have a certain added depth and openess to them, perhaps a little bit like an acoustic bass. This to my ear seems more obvious in the lower register, but again it's quite subtle IME/IMO.
If I was ordering an MTD from scratch, would I go for the chambered option? I'm not sure about that, even though my bass is outstanding. However, if I was after a very specific tone goal, and Mr. MT recommended the chambering to help achieve that tone, I would happily pay the extra. I certainly don't see that there's any downside to the chambering on my bass
KoaFodera
Commercial User
hi Dave,
Hope you are well, and glad you got yours at last, she looks a beauty!. Here's the Marilyn 535 I bought from you back in 2010.
I also recently aquired a "normal" 635 with a blackened redwood top and looks very similar to yours
Hello G: Nice to hear from you. I have just sold another Marilyn (due in about 9 months) and stumbled across this forum having done some looking around for pics on the Net.
My Marilyn is indeed a gem. Plays very much like the Fodera which is also chambered but sounds quite different. The Imperial has Ash body wings and an Alder heel block. A more aggressive tone, not as warm as Marilyn.
I like the tone description you posted. They tend to be fuller, more open and dynamic but that is what my ears tell me. You would have to put two identical basses, chambered and un-chambered, side by side to do a fair A/B.
All the best to you in 2012!
Just purchased Marilyn #20 (535, fretted, piezo bridge) for an awesome price from The Low End Bass Shop. Brian is "The Best"!!! I have faith it will come to me in one piece... add me to the list please. Thank you Cameron for NOT talking me out of getting it!
Here's a couple of photos of #20 from Brian at The Low End Bass Shop. I'll take more photos and post them once it arrives. It needs the strings changed to MTD mediums with a tapered B. "World" MTD logo not that bright as I recall... must be the flash. I've never heard a Marilyn with the piezo bridge. Can't wait!
Attachments
nice bass - have you received it yet? how does it sound?
O.T. and by the way, I noticed your "wanted" section in your sig for UK BP mag - you might want to try posting a wanted ad on basschat.co.uk
Marilyn #20 (dated 01/07/07) came to me late yesterday afternoon. Was up until 2 a.m. last night messing with it. I had to do a minor electronic repair and tighten and realign the pots and knobs and have been fooling around with the setup and checking things but everything seems fine. The bass has a wonderful tone and the chambering decreases the weight very noticeably over the other two regular 535 MTD's I have.
Jury is still out on how I like the piezo bridge pickup system. The mid selector switch is replaced with a push/pull selector on the mid pot. An extra pot has been added to blend between the magnetics and piezo in the switch's place. The E-string was much quieter than the rest but once I removed and reset the string and saddle it was perfectly balanced. I was really nervous for a minute or two as I initially though I had a bad piezo. I do find the piezo adds a lot of clack to the frets when used alone without the magnetics but this may be adjusted out when I get the setup better. My right and left hand dampening is at a high level but I may have to bump it up even further with the piezo. If I blend about 75% magnetics, 25% piezo it is fine and sounds awesome. MTD's are a challenge to play and will defiently show any technical flaws I have but this level of expression and clarity is what makes Michael's basses so good. Piezo does add a higher level of expression when soloing Which is really satisfying but not sure how this will fit in the mix.
I'll wait about a week to let my new gem acclimatize to my area better and will then finish cleaning it up and put new strings on it and get the set up better. I'll comment further then. Awesome bass!
Thanks for the search tip for UK Bass Guitar Mag back issues.
Jury is still out on how I like the piezo bridge pickup system. The mid selector switch is replaced with a push/pull selector on the mid pot. An extra pot has been added to blend between the magnetics and piezo in the switch's place. The E-string was much quieter than the rest but once I removed and reset the string and saddle it was perfectly balanced. I was really nervous for a minute or two as I initially though I had a bad piezo. I do find the piezo adds a lot of clack to the frets when used alone without the magnetics but this may be adjusted out when I get the setup better. My right and left hand dampening is at a high level but I may have to bump it up even further with the piezo. If I blend about 75% magnetics, 25% piezo it is fine and sounds awesome. MTD's are a challenge to play and will defiently show any technical flaws I have but this level of expression and clarity is what makes Michael's basses so good. Piezo does add a higher level of expression when soloing Which is really satisfying but not sure how this will fit in the mix.
I'll wait about a week to let my new gem acclimatize to my area better and will then finish cleaning it up and put new strings on it and get the set up better. I'll comment further then. Awesome bass!
Thanks for the search tip for UK Bass Guitar Mag back issues.
