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MTD USAs

#2
I have had mine for about 2 years, its an excellent bass, the playability is incredible, with super low action, and an amazing tone. You can get almost any sound you want from it. considering that both basses are amazing instruments, i will highly recomend you, to try both, before buying any of them. Here is a picture of mine:

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#5
I don't have much expiearence with them but from the ones I have played I can tell you they are top quality basses. they have a real hi-fi sound and that is not for everyone but the playability and build quality is some of the best out there.

you mentioned F-bass, and that would be my choice for a hi end bass, I think that some basses like MTD and Roscoe play a little and I do mean just a little better, but F basses just have a sweet tone, it is like a really suped up jazz bass.
 
#7
Actually I really like the tone of my teacher's MTD 535. Haven't played an F yet, although a friend of mine picked on up (Captain Scarlet here on the boards) been meaning to try one, I have a KSD with upgrades, and a Jaco fretless, I was looking for something with a bit more modern tone.
 
#10
The MTD USA are great basses. There sound, however, is VERY dependent on wood choices. Mike Tobias is in Woodstock, NY not too far from NYC. It is a great idea to speak with him about what you are looking for in terms of sound. I have a 435, Saratoga 5 and am picking up my 435 fretless tomrrow. Here is my 435

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#12
Originally posted by Mike Dimin
The MTD USA are great basses. There sound, however, is VERY dependent on wood choices. Mike Tobias is in Woodstock, NY not too far from NYC. It is a great idea to speak with him about what you are looking for in terms of sound. I have a 435, Saratoga 5 and am picking up my 435 fretless tomrrow. Here is my 435

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I second this because most of the ones that are built with the wenge type neck/fretboard and northen ash type body do have a hi-fi type tone however,If you were going to get the one that has a maple neck/rosewood fretboard with the body being tulipwood then you will get a real good Fender Jazz type tone(which my 635 has)but as mention the playability in these instruments is truly outstanding,and also the versatility of the preamp is amazing in its'self because it has the ability to get a very organic or modern tone but yet it can also capture the old TCT tone that was in the preGibson Tobias basses
But as Mike said you'd do yourself a real favor if you were to talk to Mike Tobias himself to discuss what type of instrument you would like.
Happy Hunting.:bassist:
 
#13
Originally posted by Tobias4
Is it just me or do you not see too many MTD 435's?
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(Prepare for shameless name drop) While having a cocktail with Mike Tobias last year, :cool: he said he had made Three 4 string basses in the past year, to his recollection.

Interesting that he uses the 35" scale on the few 4's that he makes, although there was a 434 on E bay recently, IIRC.
 
#15
After playing a 35" 4 strings, I do not think that I would want to go back to a 34".

BTW, one of those 4 strings he made last year, flamed avadoire on avadoire is a truly wonderful bass. I played it at NAMM and at the NAMM BassBash last January and fell in love with it. It is the 435 for sale at The Perfect Bass. (see ad at left)

Mike
 
#16
Here's my alder body 435 with a maple neck & flame top:

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This one is the 535 fretless "coffee table" bass with a mahogany core and birdseye koa top, back and neck with an ebony board:

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And this is my latest fretted 535 with a koa body with a spalted top and wenge/wenge neck:

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These are three phenomenal basses, which fit my playing. I have tried other MTD's which were suited to other folks, and which I didn't like.

As has been rightly suggested, these instruments have strong personalities and each one is very unique.

Aloha,

Jonathan
 
#19
Well if I pick one up I'm gonna go visit Mike first for sure. My teacher actually used to work for Mike and is friends with him, but just wanted to go check out others opinions first. I was thinking something along the lines of semi vintage semi modern tone, was thinking either korina or tulipwood for body, and rosewood or wenge as fingerboard. One of the things that really attracted me to one was the looks, I've played a lot of beautiful ones with good tone, but I played on at Rudy's the tone threw me off a bit, probably just the wood combo. My teacher's MTD is made of korina body and wenge neck with maple fingerboard.
 

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