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The Official MTD USA Thread

#2,803
My new to me MTD 535 is on the brown truck for delivery today. Specs ash body, crotch walnut top, maple neck and board, 24 fret. It will be interesting to contrast to my current ash body, spalt top, maple/rosewood, 21 fret combo.

Any guesses on the tonal differences or will it be very subtle
 
#2,804
Saluki said:
My new to me MTD 535 is on the brown truck for delivery today. Specs ash body, crotch walnut top, maple neck and board, 24 fret. It will be interesting to contrast to my current ash body, spalt top, maple/rosewood, 21 fret combo.

Any guesses on the tonal differences or will it be very subtle
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My first thought is that it doesn't matter if the woods on both basses were all the same species, as different densities and cuts can create slightly different tones IMO. I would not be surprised at all if these bass was in the same tone category as your other 535 of course, but had it's own unique character.
 
#2,805
Tony G said:
My first thought is that it doesn't matter if the woods on both basses were all the same species, as different densities and cuts can create slightly different tones IMO. I would not be surprised at all if these bass was in the same tone category as your other 535 of course, but had it's own unique character.
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This is particularly true for MTDs. Mike's instruments have a lot of individuality to them. Each wood combo will sound very similar from bass to bass, but there will be noticeable diffs at the same time.
 
#2,807
Saluki said:
I figured that would be the answer but just through it out there. The thinner top on my 535-21 over what appears to be bigger cut of ash seems to add some of the inherent aggresiveness of that particular bass (IMO).
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Have I seen a picture of your "old" 535? It sounds very much like a 535 I'd like to get my hands on.
 
#2,809
Tony G said:
Have I seen a picture of your "old" 535? It sounds very much like a 535 I'd like to get my hands on.
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I posted a pic a few pages back and Vic did an awesome review/pics a couple of months ago an posted here. "Growls like a junkyard dog" I believe he said. Well Vic defintely has dibs if it goes and considering the custom project I am looking at, one may have to go :crying:.
 
#2,810
Saluki said:
I posted a pic a few pages back and Vic did an awesome review/pics a couple of months ago an posted here. "Growls like a junkyard dog" I believe he said. Well Vic defintely has dibs if it goes and considering the custom project I am looking at, one may have to go :crying:.
Click to expand...
Saluki's "old" 535 is probably the only MTD I would consider adding to my current stable, because otherwise, it's fairly full. :)
 
#2,811
Saluki said:
My new to me MTD 535 is on the brown truck for delivery today. Specs ash body, crotch walnut top, maple neck and board, 24 fret. It will be interesting to contrast to my current ash body, spalt top, maple/rosewood, 21 fret combo.

Any guesses on the tonal differences or will it be very subtle
Click to expand...

Niice! Similar to mine since mines Claro Walnut instead of Crotch Walnut. All I have to say is... I REALLY enjoy playing this bass and (even though I still really do love playing my Roscoe at church) everyone on the Praise Team and those that notice the bass tell me they prefer hearing the MTD over the Roscoe on Sunday's :). But then again... they have yet to hear the Roscoe with new strings on it... instead of when it had 5 month old strings on it :rolleyes:.
 
#2,815
rockstarbassist said:
Mine's the same way.
My praise team says "Where is the MTD?" They even know it by name, and that's after only 2 weeks! :p

They love the sound of that bass, especially through our Aviom setup.
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Interesting! Yeah, there's something about the MTD tone that REALLY works in these kinds of environments. I'm going to make sure to bring my MTD next time I play at FCC, which also uses an Aviom system.
 
#2,817
Vic said:
Interesting! Yeah, there's something about the MTD tone that REALLY works in these kinds of environments. I'm going to make sure to bring my MTD next time I play at FCC, which also uses an Aviom system.
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Honestly though, I can see why so many people in the gospel/contemporary crowd use these.
As you said, they just "fit". It's weird, but in a great way. :)
 
#2,820
Saluki said:
Yes, the little brown truck just delivered it:hyper:. Fedex would have had it here by noon but that's off topic:hiding:. It is freakin' minty. I mean it is a 9++ and looks like it just came off Mike T's workbench. I know no pics, no bass, but that wil have to wait till tonight or tomorrow.:bassist:
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Congrats!!! Can't wait to see her!!! I am only a week into having my first MTD but I did own a Basic 5 serial #642, it was my first "real" bass, and I must say, it's nice to be HOME!!! Mike just knows how to make basses and how to make them for players!!!! I will be playing mine all weekend, d-land, a casual, and a GK demo. :D
 

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