The Official MTD USA Thread

[neptoon]

no, i've never actually played one...if you do a search for lincoln brewster on youtube, you will be able to hear norm stockton playing his...i can't get on youtube from work...i'll put a link up later on...there's a link in the other thread, i believe (mtd pt. II)

 

[Tony G]

an update on my jazz 5...i got a couple emails yestereday from mike tobias letting me know the status of my build...everything is cut, carved and routed...the neck is fretted and the body is ready for sanding...it should be getting sent out for finishing by the end of the week and i should have it mid-march...

for anyone that didn't know (like me), the mtd j-basses aren't in production, and i just got lucky...there are a few basses getting built, as mike is trying a few new things, but not as part of his normal production...these are being built around his normal production, so anyone with their name on a j-bass is sitting back seat to the guys with orders for his regular line...cool by me! i've been waiting a little longer than what was originally projected mainly due to some equipment malfunction last fall which has put mike in a pretty deep backlog...everything is still good to roll, though, and it is clear to me now that everyone is making good on what was originally planned...still stoked! i'll keep everyone as updated as i can...i know there are a few guys interested in this mtd j5 i've got coming

Good to hear you finally got a detailed update on your bass.

 

[Vic]

I was going to ask if anyone had heard an MTD J before.....I know I saw one for sale at bass exchange some time ago......U ever played one? How does it sound..........?

I had the prototype alder body, maple neck, rosewood board model for a short period. I'm not sure if the preamp in it is the same as the production models will have tho... some comments the bart TCT (?) model will be used or at least optional... I think the one I had was the NT--- model, which I think Mike said was a bit more "modern" sounding.

What I liked...
The tone and playability. It was kinda' like someone took the tone of a 60's J bass, and modernized it, but not in the way of going with a 70's pickup placement. Instead, just adding a modern preamp, and then going through the usual MTD wood selection and matching to give it better "coherence/consistency" and also the usual MTD "alive" feeling in your hands.

I would not directly compare this to a truly classic J bass and say they sound the same, but it's exactly what I would have expected... a modern design, taken a lot farther in the direction of a classic J bass than most other modern designs. Maybe I'd call it an MTD "tribute" to the classic J bass design.

The tone is very even and full, familiar... even with the NT preamp... not sure if the pickups were custom or not. No one characteristic is "over the top" like a lot of more modern designs... it has an identity in the mix, but it's not overstated... extremely "balanced and musical", if that makes sense.

The bass was typical weight... around 9 pounds, very comfy to strap on, classic 34" scale, so a familiar overtone sequence for a more classic bass, and a very pleasant neck profile. Just feels good to wear and play.

What I didn't like...
The fact that the horns are not shaped... give the body kind of a "slab" look and feel. Not my thing.

The prototype did not have a "belly cut" contour, but the production models will, so it should be moot for anyone but me.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

So definitely not a traditional sounding J? Sort of a MTD-Fender lovechild?......Interesting.........thanks for the info, guys........

I had the prototype alder body, maple neck, rosewood board model for a short period. I'm not sure if the preamp in it is the same as the production models will have tho... some comments the bart TCT (?) model will be used or at least optional... I think the one I had was the NT--- model, which I think Mike said was a bit more "modern" sounding.

What I liked...
The tone and playability. It was kinda' like someone took the tone of a 60's J bass, and modernized it, but not in the way of going with a 70's pickup placement. Instead, just adding a modern preamp, and then going through the usual MTD wood selection and matching to give it better "coherence/consistency" and also the usual MTD "alive" feeling in your hands.

I would not directly compare this to a truly classic J bass and say they sound the same, but it's exactly what I would have expected... a modern design, taken a lot farther in the direction of a classic J bass than most other modern designs. Maybe I'd call it an MTD "tribute" to the classic J bass design.

The tone is very even and full, familiar... even with the NT preamp... not sure if the pickups were custom or not. No one characteristic is "over the top" like a lot of more modern designs... it has an identity in the mix, but it's not overstated... extremely "balanced and musical", if that makes sense.

The bass was typical weight... around 9 pounds, very comfy to strap on, classic 34" scale, so a familiar overtone sequence for a more classic bass, and a very pleasant neck profile. Just feels good to wear and play.

What I didn't like...
The fact that the horns are not shaped... give the body kind of a "slab" look and feel. Not my thing.

The prototype did not have a "belly cut" contour, but the production models will, so it should be moot for anyone but me.

 

[DRay521]

I really want to try one of the J-models. I had the idea years ago to call Mike and ask him for basically the exact thing, but didn't want to offend him by asking him to deviate from his design. But apparently I wasn't alone.

I'm really interested to see neptoon's bass and of course the subsequent review.

 

[neptoon]

don't forget that in the other thread, Vic has laready posted a review for a J5...different wood configuration, but he's still checked one out

 

[Vic]

don't forget that in the other thread, Vic has laready posted a review for a J5...different wood configuration, but he's still checked one out

Also, while I haven't yet done this myself, try emailing Norm Stockton... I wouldn't be surprised if he was responsive enough to respond to a request for opinion on his.

 

[neptoon]

i emailed him a while back, and he's quite satisfied with his...he said that his J5 has replaced his 535 for his lincoln brewster stuff, which is more rock oriented...he says the tone is perfect for that context, but the 535 will remain his mainstay for his solo work...his J5 is ash body/ash neck/maple board...i think he commented briefly on it over at the gallien krueger boards and maybe on his myspace page, as well

 

[hasbeen]

Sounds wonderful.......Pics?

Here you go.

 

[Vic]

Here you go.

that pic is way too compressed... chewed up all that wonderful figuring... prolly due to TB size reqs... do you have a higher rez pic posted somewhere, maybe some pic server like photobucket or something?

 

[hasbeen]

that pic is way too compressed... chewed up all that wonderful figuring... prolly due to TB size reqs... do you have a higher rez pic posted somewhere, maybe some pic server like photobucket or something?

hmm...even if you click on it?

I'm afraid its the only pic I have. It's the one the was on Austin Bass Trader's site where I bought her.

 

[Vic]

hmm...even if you click on it?

I'm afraid its the only pic I have. It's the one the was on Austin Bass Trader's site where I bought her.

Yeah. Well, in that case, there must be a TB processor at work here. Try it, you'll see. I'm pretty sure all Glenn's pics are much better, so your original is fine... just not the one posted here.

 

[Saluki]

Ace of Bass,

Great bass. Just wanted to let you know the story on your bass. I called BC and was talking to them about the walnut/ash bass on their website and got the it was sold answer on several still listed. I told them this is the combo I was looking for (although I wasn't sure if I was ready to pull the $4000 trigger). Anyway KC said that they were looking at one at NAMM and if Mike's first customer didn't buy it then BC was going to buy it. KC called me during NAMM, said they got it. It was obviously not the same as the web, so I said shoot me pics when it gets back from Namm. He sent me pics (and I sent Vic the pics too, he just doesn't remember because of his own MTD haze) and I ending up passing at the time. Good for you though. Anyway it did come from NAMM, and it probably wasn't out at all FWIW.

 

[Vic]

... I sent Vic the pics too, he just doesn't remember because of his own MTD haze...

Actually, there's more to it than that, but it's basically true. I seriously (long story) have looked at about 5 of these walnut ash basses in the last month or so... hard to keep them all straight!

 

[Ace Of Bass]

Ace of Bass,

Great bass. Just wanted to let you know the story on your bass. I called BC and was talking to them about the walnut/ash bass on their website and got the it was sold answer on several still listed. I told them this is the combo I was looking for (although I wasn't sure if I was ready to pull the $4000 trigger). Anyway KC said that they were looking at one at NAMM and if Mike's first customer didn't buy it then BC was going to buy it. KC called me during NAMM, said they got it. It was obviously not the same as the web, so I said shoot me pics when it gets back from Namm. He sent me pics (and I sent Vic the pics too, he just doesn't remember because of his own MTD haze) and I ending up passing at the time. Good for you though. Anyway it did come from NAMM, and it probably wasn't out at all FWIW.

Well, thank you....!That was very cool of you to share that story...... I took a look at a pic of the MTDs at NAMM someone posted on Part 2 of this thread I beleive and said "that one all the way to the left really looks like my bass".....I thought that there was no way any of those basses made it out of there un-bought....... way to go BC for jumping on a great bass like this and making it available to their customers.........just goes to show that they really do get some of the best basses out there period......they have won some points back for that one....honestly, I seen some MTDs on this thread alone that have made me have to use the bathroom, and I thought that if I ever did pick one up from some shop, it wouldn't look as good as most of the ones I have seen (I know custom orders usually get the best woods because that's usually what they demand) but I was very pleased with what I got....once again, very cool to know that this was one of Mike's exibition basses........that makes it so much more special..............

 

[Vic]

...I thought that there was no way any of those basses made it out of there un-bought....... way to go BC for jumping on a great bass like this and making it available to their customers...

Actually, this is the ONLY way it's supposed to work. It's actually against the rules to sell products to consumers on the floor. The ONLY people that should be purchasing stuff IS dealers.

FYI, NAMM is not, and has never been a consumer show. There are those that bend the rules a little, but it's usually just with accessories. Even if you take a bass home with you from the show, the purchase has to go through a dealer unless it's something like a Sadowsky that has no dealers, but that's the rare exception.

Usually, all basses Mike takes to NAMM are already designated for either a dealer or a customer via a dealer, so this whole thing from BC is kinda' confusing.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

Actually, this is the ONLY way it's supposed to work. It's actually against the rules to sell products to consumers on the floor. The ONLY people that should be purchasing stuff IS dealers.

FYI, NAMM is not, and has never been a consumer show. There are those that bend the rules a little, but it's usually just with accessories. Even if you take a bass home with you from the show, the purchase has to go through a dealer unless it's something like a Sadowsky that has no dealers, but that's the rare exception.

Usually, all basses Mike takes to NAMM are already designated for either a dealer or a customer via a dealer, so this whole thing from BC is kinda' confusing.

Thanks for that info, Vic..........my Dad goes to NAMM every year and he always made it seem like the pros just went around buying up everything.............other than him, I only know Jimmy from Alleva Coppolo, who, like you said, doesn't go through dealers.......now maybe if I go this summer I won't look like a jerk trying to buy things when it doesn't work that way.......nice save........

 

[Vic]

Thanks for that info, Vic..........my Dad goes to NAMM every year and he always made it seem like the pros just went around buying up everything.............other than him, I only know Jimmy from Alleva Coppolo, who, like you said, doesn't go through dealers.......now maybe if I go this summer I won't look like a jerk trying to buy things when it doesn't work that way.......nice save........

Nah, you woulda' been ok. Here's all they would have said...

"Well, I can't sell this to you directly here, but this <product> is for <dealer>, so if you call them and work something out, they can let me know and you can take delivery here at the end of the show."

No biggie.

 

[Saluki]

Usually, all basses Mike takes to NAMM are already designated for either a dealer or a customer via a dealer, so this whole thing from BC is kinda' confusing.

When I talked with BC just before NAMM, they said the Mike was bringing this one. They made it sound like it another dealer had right of first refusal and if they didn't take it then BC was definetly going to. So I guess in my understanding it was already taken.

BTW I should be a MTD owner by Thursday. I will post pics when I get it but it is #746 Spalt top on ash body, maple neck and rosewood board.

 

[widjajar]

I checked that bass out myself...........very nice..........how long have you had it?

just got it last december, i guess I bought myself a christmas present . and it's totally worth it. I've been playing mtd for almost 4 years now and this second mtd is just getting better and better.