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The "Official" MTD (non-US made) Club Part 2

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#181
One more pic
 

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#182
DeeperMusic said:
Here she is. Sorry it took so long. Took my tech alot longer to do the work. Got the NTMB Bartolini 18Volt pre and the P2 pickups. Goes from Active to Passive (Love that) And Controls are Serries/Parrallel Switch + Mid Freq Switch.She sounds so sweet and growly. Very versatile. I can get jaco-ish or Funk Slap tones (Passive mode is real nice for that) and that Classic R&B/Gospel MTD Warmth Just came with it. This is my main bass for now. IMO if you are a fan of the American Made MTD but don't have the 4,000 + to get it then this is the Closest you will come to the Feel and Sound of the American. The build quality of the non american MTD is Great. The wood combo (Mahogany/Maple) does have that classical highend sound in it but the upgrades of bartolini and bridge that I have done make it sound more "american" alll around in Bass and resonance. This bass is very versatile now. I mostly liked the old sound mind you but now the B string rings out clearer and deeper. I do think the bridge (Hip shot Brass) Really does help with the low Freqs and of course the sustain but that wasnt a big problem with the stock one IMO. So I "feel" like I play and MTD American with this axe but saved about $3,000 bucks in the process. Best 5 string I ever played.
Click to expand...
I cant agree more! Upgrade these basses and you will get close to an American MTD for fairly little money. I have a KZX Ltd. and thats pretty darned close.
Enjoy!
 
#184
DeeperMusic said:
Here she is. Sorry it took so long. Took my tech alot longer to do the work. Got the NTMB Bartolini 18Volt pre and the P2 pickups. Goes from Active to Passive (Love that) And Controls are Serries/Parrallel Switch + Mid Freq Switch.She sounds so sweet and growly. Very versatile. I can get jaco-ish or Funk Slap tones (Passive mode is real nice for that) and that Classic R&B/Gospel MTD Warmth Just came with it. This is my main bass for now. IMO if you are a fan of the American Made MTD but don't have the 4,000 + to get it then this is the Closest you will come to the Feel and Sound of the American. The build quality of the non american MTD is Great. The wood combo (Mahogany/Maple) does have that classical highend sound in it but the upgrades of bartolini and bridge that I have done make it sound more "american" alll around in Bass and resonance. This bass is very versatile now. I mostly liked the old sound mind you but now the B string rings out clearer and deeper. I do think the bridge (Hip shot Brass) Really does help with the low Freqs and of course the sustain but that wasnt a big problem with the stock one IMO. So I "feel" like I play and MTD American with this axe but saved about $3,000 bucks in the process. Best 5 string I ever played.
Click to expand...

Great!
I made only the upgrade for electronics, but i'm still thinking about replacing the pups.

Just one question...can you mount again the covers with those pickups or is not possible anymore?
JM
 
#187
gus1894 said:
Anybody know where to find MTD bridges after market? Or what after market bridges fit? Contemplating changing out the tuners on my Heir 5 to Satin fin Ultralites but obviously would like to have a bridge that matched... thoughts anyone?
Click to expand...

They're kinda like Hipshot bridges, but not really. The screw pattern is different, so you would need to do some drillin'.

I swapped out the original black hardware on mine with the newer smoked chrome, mainly so I could get the newer style bridge with the grooves for quick string changes.

I got them straight from Dana B. Goods, the distributor for Korean MTD's in the US. Here's the info:

Barney Tower

Dana B. Goods
4054 Transport St Unit A
Ventura, CA 93003
805-856-1709

When I ordered my stuff, Barney implied that the smoked chrome was all they had. It's at least worth a shot to call and ask. They were pretty cool.
 
#188
Mound of Sound said:
They're kinda like Hipshot bridges, but not really. The screw pattern is different, so you would need to do some drillin'.

I swapped out the original black hardware on mine with the newer smoked chrome, mainly so I could get the newer style bridge with the grooves for quick string changes.

I got them straight from Dana B. Goods, the distributor for Korean MTD's in the US. Here's the info:

Barney Tower

Dana B. Goods
4054 Transport St Unit A
Ventura, CA 93003
805-856-1709

When I ordered my stuff, Barney implied that the smoked chrome was all they had. It's at least worth a shot to call and ask. They were pretty cool.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are right. The KZ stuff is not "official" Hipshot stuff. My original Saratoga came with hipshot hardware
 
#190
JMBassist said:
Great!
I made only the upgrade for electronics, but i'm still thinking about replacing the pups.

Just one question...can you mount again the covers with those pickups or is not possible anymore?
JM
Click to expand...

Yea it is a pretty big over all sound improvement with these but No you can't really just re-use the wood pickup covers because they are glued/cemented on all sides. Trying to seperate them and keep it in tact is almost impossible. The stock pickups are actually pretty small compared to the bart's I replaced them with because of the wood covers. But there are luthiers out there that would make you some pickup covers. hope that helps.
 
#191
So I've been lurking here for months. Here I am on the one-year anniversary of owning my MTD Heir 5 - thought I'd finally post a photo (sorry but it IS a $#!t cell phone pic)...

Number please?

MTD1.jpg


And I had a question, I wanted to find a nice gig bag that fit the bass a bit more snugly than what I happen to have. Those with the MTD Kingston 5-strings ... what are you using for gig bags?

Thanks! Gus
 
#192
gus1894 said:
So I've been lurking here for months. Here I am on the one-year anniversary of owning my MTD Heir 5 - thought I'd finally post a photo (sorry but it IS a $#!t cell phone pic)...

Number please?

MTD1.jpg


And I had a question, I wanted to find a nice gig bag that fit the bass a bit more snugly than what I happen to have. Those with the MTD Kingston 5-strings ... what are you using for gig bags?

Thanks! Gus
Click to expand...
Welcome and congrats! You are #108
 
#196
Just pulled the trigger on a used Artist 5 (trans cherry and maple FB) from MF... can't wait to get my paws on that!
Out of curiosity, anyone upgrade electronics on their Artist? I am thinking Aguilar pre and a Nordstrand pup - any suggestions on a good pickup replacement for the Artist? I typically play hard rock, classic rock, blues, alt/grunge... you get the picture.

Thanks! Gus
 
#200
Okay, hopefully some of the more learned folks here cam enlighten me!

I own an MTD Kingston Heir 5, I have an Artist 5 on the way to me also. I know that Michael Tobias also has his shop on NY where he makes basses personally. I know before that he was in business w/Gibson.

Where do the Tobias Toby, Tobias Growler and Toby Pro's fit in? I know they were made in Korea and are no longer made (?) ...

Where these during the Gibson period?

Are they as nice as the Kingston basses I own now?

Some back story and info would be appreciated.

Thanks, Gus (#83)
 
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