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Pulling the trigger on an MTD

herndonbassist

herndonbassist

Low Down Thumper
Supporting Member
Apr 7, 2005
2,966
1,316
Herndon, VA - NoVa
www.bandmix.com
#1
I am about to purchase (this weekend for sure) a 4-String MTD Kingston Heir with a Maple Fretboard. I want to know if there's some reason NOT to go with this. I've done my homework and want a really punchy bass for playing a lot of rock/r & b. My only hesitation is from some comments from freinds about not buying a Korean made instrument.

The reviews here seem pretty good, so I am just going to go for it. Michael Tobias seems like he knows what he's doing right? :smug: Just for reference, the other basses that were in consideration were a Fender Precision Deluxe (MIA - with a maple board) and a Carvin LB70 (with the maple board). For a point of reference my other bass is a Fender JP-90 which I am working on to get some serious Jazz tones from, which is why I desire a more rock oriented bass. THANKS! :bassist:
 
#6
crhoton said:
The Kingston is a great bass. I would go with the MIA Precision Deluxe though. That is a great bass with a great pickup combination, and (if you can find a good one) has a much higher build quality than the MTD. When the P-Deluxe is right, it is great!
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if you can find a good one is my concern with the newest Fenders which is why I am considering the others more heavily. Thanks for the insight, I look forward to more views :-D I am about to do the deed. :hyper:
 
#9
When the MTD Korea products can be purchased for 500-600$ its a good value. The hardware on MTD Korea I have found to be not quite up to MIA standard, but that would be the only critical remark I could make.
If you can get a used MIA in good shape with a good B string you can't lose, its a P Bass. (best bass for R&R in my opinion) But the Heir will be much more flexible sounding, I just couldn't hang with 1 3/4 neck width at the nut personally on the Hier. Sell your moms car, get an American MTD and call it a day.

Go Chargers!
 
#15
tonenazi said:
When the MTD Korea products can be purchased for 500-600$ its a good value. The hardware on MTD Korea I have found to be not quite up to MIA standard, but that would be the only critical remark I could make.
If you can get a used MIA in good shape with a good B string you can't lose, its a P Bass. (best bass for R&R in my opinion) But the Heir will be much more flexible sounding, I just couldn't hang with 1 3/4 neck width at the nut personally on the Hier. Sell your moms car, get an American MTD and call it a day.

Go Chargers!
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HMMM I can only imagine that you're talking 5 strings here, of which I have NO interest. As for sell my mom's car... I moved out 15 years ago, so I'm not sure that she'd appreciate that. :hmm: Also I am not sure that MTD makes an American 4 string that I'd really go nuts for. See, I like the looks and design and features of the Kingston Heir, not b/c of the price but b/c of what it is. It's not a MIK version of one of their other basses, so I am not really sure what you mean by that.... Oh and the Chargers Suck :)
 
#16
I know there are fans of MTD here. I am one as well. But we are kidding ourselves if we say the hardware and quality in the MIK MTD is better than the American Fender. I have played several of both, and the fender just feels more solid and dependable. I think it starts with the body wood. You can't simulate better body wood. Basswood will never sound or feel as good as Alder or Ash, and I think that is what this comparison ultimately comes down to.
 
#17
crhoton said:
But we are kidding ourselves if we say the hardware and quality in the MIK MTD is better than the American Fender. I have played several of both, and the fender just feels more solid and dependable.
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I think it starts with the body wood. You can't simulate better body wood. Basswood will never sound or feel as good as Alder or Ash, and I think that is what this comparison ultimately comes down to.[/QUOTE]

No, not kidding ourselves. The fit and finish on the Korean MTD's are excellent ... and as you stated yourself concerning the Fender
if you can find a good one
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tells me that QC is not too good, if some are good and some are not.

crhoton said:
I think it starts with the body wood. You can't simulate better body wood. Basswood will never sound or feel as good as Alder or Ash, and I think that is what this comparison ultimately comes down to.
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That is, after all a matter of opinion. Although you are entitled to your, I would disagree. I have 2 basses with an Ash body and one with a Maple body. I fell in love with an MTD with an Avadoire body and have heard/felt bodies of basswood, mahogany (Les Paul) and others that sound great. I think your coming from a rather narrow perspective.

Dimin
 
#19
Mike Dimin said:
I think your coming from a rather narrow perspective.

Dimin
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Arghh. I hate to disagree with you. I'm such a fan. You can't possibly say that basswood would compare to ash or alder. I have basses with ash, alder, maple, and tulipwood. I am a big believer in the fact that the wood makes the tone.

If basswood was as good (sonically or structurally) as ash or alder, then a lot more luthiers and manufacturers would use it as I believe it to be much cheaper. I think Rogue uses basswood.

I do agree that Fender has many issues with QC and that is a bigger problem than the basswood issue.
 
#20
i setup my friend's Kingston, and after giving it a nice makeover, good lord, it rocks!!! i actually talked my bud into putting in an Aguilar OPB-1, too. ;)

and basswood has its merits, and many high end builders, Suhr, Parker, upper echelon EB / Music Man, all use it. just cause its on a lower line doesnt mean its a wood to be slagged.
 

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