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The Official MTD USA Thread

#2,561
Virgil Walker said:
I don't think Mike is going to make the JJ with an exotic top. I also think that he is trying not to price the JJ above where they are presently priced. To add an exotic top may price the JJ up there with the 535's et. al. The bottom line is I don't think he knows what he is going to do at this point. Neptoon is correct in pointing out that Mike really did not want to make the J bass. But for a couple of his artist requesting that he make one, these basses would not have been made.
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All this is absolutely true. The "problem" is, Mike's time is worth what it's worth whether he's working on a 535 or a "J clone" (to put it loosely of course, but nevertheless it pretty much is). Thing is, the 535 holds more "value" to the customer as Mike's own unique design, where the J really doesn't as much, but since it takes almost the same work to build, he has to charge accordingly, which puts them in a tough spot product/price wise. I don't see Mike building many of these, and the ones that are sold will be sold to people who are simply huge Mike Tobias fans.
 
#2,562
Roscoe5 said:
Posted for Jpeeze! Wow! You've got a beautiful bass my friend! Feast your eyes. Here are pics, therefore, it exists!

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I have this exact bass but in a 5iver from Joel at thegrooveshoppe.com. Chording is nuts in this bass. Playing it thru all Epifani setup and it's unbelievable. Recently tried the new Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 and they are ridiculous. Good luck trying to by one at any dealerships. They are all gone!!! 2lb amp I believe? Check these out!!
 
#2,564
I got a Genz Benz Shuttle last Friday, and you won't believe the tone that comes out of this 3.5 pound, 600 watt amp. It won't replace my Epi UL 902C, but at a third of the price and a fifth of the weight, it's hard not to love.
 
#2,568
so, i've been playing my JJ5 for the past three hours in my small home studio jamming to some stuff and i'm a little disappointed...when i originally asked about this bass last august or so, i was told that it was significantly smaller than a standard jazz bass...i'm not sure that's the case...it sounds friggin' awesome, but it just doesn't feel right, which is a big -1 for me...not sure how long this is going to hang around...depressing :hmm:
 
#2,571
Neptoon, say it ain't so. If you are like me, it feels totally different than my 535, so it takes some adjusting to the feel, but don't get depressed, just keep letting it come to you. You will see very soon that it has it's own personality. It's like the cousin of the 535, instead of the brother. In the same family, but has it's own feel, tone and profile. Give it a minute.
 
#2,572
Vic said:
What? Really? Do you have a regular J bass to compare?
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no, i sure don't...can't stand 'em :D the only thing i like about j-basses is the way the neck falls - the low F is 'right there' ...you know? the bodies just feel so huge and ungainly that they're just a turn - off...they don't feel right...this mtd feels about as large as the sadowsky ms5 that i had, which only lasted a week for the same reason :hmm:
 
#2,573
Virgil Walker said:
Neptoon, say it ain't so. If you are like me, it feels totally different than my 535, so it takes some adjusting to the feel, but don't get depressed, just keep letting it come to you. You will see very soon that it has it's own personality. It's like the cousin of the 535, instead of the brother. In the same family, but has it's own feel, tone and profile. Give it a minute.
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i know what you're saying, and i may be inclined to keep it just for the sound...not sure, though...the zon and spectors i had felt way more natural to me than this bass, though...i'm 5'7" with short arms, and it just totally feels odd...we'll see
 
#2,575
neptoon said:
i don't have a tape measure, but that's how it feels to me, anyway
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It's probably a moot point because you're going to decide what you decide based on how it feels regardless of measurements, but find a tape measure and measure the body at the widest point from top to bottom and then also from strap button to strap button. I'll compare to my Geddy Lee. Just curious. Interesting tho, I hadn't heard the "small J" thing before... that was news to me. Was that Mike telling you that?
 
#2,576
Vic said:
It's probably a moot point because you're going to decide what you decide based on how it feels regardless of measurements, but find a tape measure and measure the body at the widest point from top to bottom and then also from strap button to strap button. I'll compare to my Geddy Lee. Just curious. Interesting tho, I hadn't heard the "small J" thing before... that was news to me. Was that Mike telling you that?
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sure, i'll measure when i get home...when i called glenn last summer inquiring about a 535, i brought up the jj bass that i had heard about that norm was getting, he was telling me that it was a downsized jazz...he had played norm's and andrew gouche's, so i took his word for it...i'll get back with ya this evening on measurements just for the heck of it...i don't know what the measurements are for a jazz other than they feel too big to be comfortable to me :D now, my lakland dj5 felt great to me
 
#2,580
maconbass said:
...if it's the same size as a Sadowsky MS5, then it IS a downsized J body. Glenn would be correct in his description.
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+1

No offense neptoon (honestly!!), but I'm left a bit confused now...

If it is about the same size as a Sadowsky, then yes, it is a "small J", but if even that is too big for you as a body style, I'm wondering why you even considered getting a J style bodied instrument anyway. I mean, if it was a lot smaller, it would really look strange... potentially ugly.

Did I miss or misinterpret something? This whole turn has really taken me for a loop.

:confused:

On a side note, I'm also not a big person, just shy of 5-10 myself, so I understand the body size thing, but at least for me, the Sadowsky sized J bodies are great. My Sadowsky 24F is that size and I love every bit of it... not to say my opinion should be yours, just a perspective from a generally like-minded person.
 

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