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The Official MTD USA Thread

#3,021
evilgus said:
Hi folks,

The boost on my bass pot has stopped working, has anyone had that happen and was it just a pot-swap or circuit problem? The cut still works and you can occasionally get the boost working by tapping the pot or jiggling it a bit, but not for long. Both batteries are fine and I checked out the wiring and everything looks in-place and soldered up nicely.

Cheers,

EG
Click to expand...
If you can get it to work again by tapping the pot it's either a bad pot or a solder connection that failed and came off. Open it up and see if all the wires are still secure and if so, just get yourself a new pot and put it in. I can't guarantee it's never happened, but I've never heard of just the bass function failing like that in the actual preamp itself. I'm pretty sure it's just the pot.
 
#3,022
evilgus said:
Hi folks,

I can't seem to stop thinking about ordering another 535, so would appreciate a bit more feedback/advice on wood combos. I've read all the existing comments, but there's been a lot of new owners joining lately with interesting combos that I'd love to hear back about! :)

I currently have ash/maple burl with ash/mac ebony, which has a pretty great sound for a lot of funk and rock stuff, but can be a bit too open, especially in the bottom end and 2K area. Would really like something a bit more focussed for prog-rock and maybe fusion styles, but still quite thick and punchy. Maybe the "traditional" tulipwood/wenge/wenge combo would be good, but I'm concerned that it might be too "glassy" in the highs and often need treble cut. I mostly play close to the bridge pickup and slap around 30% of the time.

Maybe tulipwood/burl with wenge/wenge?
Or even tulipwood/burl with maple/wenge?
Or ash body with hard top and wenge/wenge?
Or maybe maple/ebony neck?

Looks-wise, I'm really digging the more colourful finishes, like myrtle burl with Iced Tea or Tobacco Sunburst, just want something different to my existing orange bass.

Also, dumb question, but I presume the 21 fret models are a bit shorter in the neck, so less of a reach? I've only ever played my own 535-24. :)

Cheers,

EG
Click to expand...
IMHO, if you want a bit more traditional and not the glassy high bristle of wenge, you might just go with a more traditional wood combo... maybe an alder body with a top of your choice... maple neck, rosewood board. If you go with a softer topwood, like maybe redwood, it'd be even warmer. Tulip might also be a good choice for the body.

All that said, I'd say ask the same question of Mike. He's the master wood alchemist. :)
 
#3,023
One question about the JJ5's that will hopefully clear up what the tone is like compared to a 535:

MT says that the new J5 has a "smaller sonic footprint"...but some of you guys are saying that it has plenty of hefty low end and I'm not sure I'm distinguishing between the two. Can someone help?

Thanks!
 
#3,024
XavidmanX said:
One question about the JJ5's that will hopefully clear up what the tone is like compared to a 535:

MT says that the new J5 has a "smaller sonic footprint"...but some of you guys are saying that it has plenty of hefty low end and I'm not sure I'm distinguishing between the two. Can someone help?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I think he means it covers a narrower tonal spectrum... it's not as big and wide sounding as the 535. They definitely do have a full low and low-mid profile.
 
#3,028
XavidmanX said:
One question about the JJ5's that will hopefully clear up what the tone is like compared to a 535:

MT says that the new J5 has a "smaller sonic footprint"...but some of you guys are saying that it has plenty of hefty low end and I'm not sure I'm distinguishing between the two. Can someone help?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

yep, what Vic said.

even thought the JJ has a lot of low end (it's a bass reproducing 35Hz-ish) so the "bottom" is going to be there but 2 single coil J type pickups do have a narrower field and tone.

maybe think of it as a soapbar or humbucker is like a 225/50/16 .
A single coil is a 195/50/16.

maybe that's a bad analogy..... :smug:
 
#3,029
Psychicpet said:
yep, what Vic said.

even thought the JJ has a lot of low end (it's a bass reproducing 35Hz-ish) so the "bottom" is going to be there but 2 single coil J type pickups do have a narrower field and tone.

maybe think of it as a soapbar or humbucker is like a 225/50/16 .
A single coil is a 195/50/16.

maybe that's a bad analogy..... :smug:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.

I had to laugh, though, when I read the last part I had a Sir Mix-A-Lot flashback..."36/24/36...only if she's 5'3."

Total 8th grade deja-vu.
 
#3,031
Vic said:
I'm not sure I should admit this, but I have played Baby Got Back on my red 535. :eek: :D
Click to expand...

You're dead to me. So much respect...lost...:crying:





:D

We should start a thread of songs you are afraid to admit you've played.

No worries. I played "Just a friend" by...whoever that rap dude was back in the day...for a karaoke part of a wedding. What an embarrassment. Because of the song some of the parts were just thumps and thuds on my strings. :ninja::p:hiding::help:
 
#3,035
Vic said:
If you can get it to work again by tapping the pot it's either a bad pot or a solder connection that failed and came off. Open it up and see if all the wires are still secure and if so, just get yourself a new pot and put it in. I can't guarantee it's never happened, but I've never heard of just the bass function failing like that in the actual preamp itself. I'm pretty sure it's just the pot.
Click to expand...
Thanks Vic, it does sound like the pot itself, the wiring looked fine and secure and the pot behaves strangely when tweaked around a bit and put under some tension. I might have a go at it myself, but it would be a shame as it hasn't been touched since construction and my soldering isn't the neatest in the world. :)

Cheers,

EG
 
#3,036
evilgus said:
Hi folks,

I can't seem to stop thinking about ordering another 535, so would appreciate a bit more feedback/advice on wood combos. I've read all the existing comments, but there's been a lot of new owners joining lately with interesting combos that I'd love to hear back about! :)

I currently have ash/maple burl with ash/mac ebony, which has a pretty great sound for a lot of funk and rock stuff, but can be a bit too open, especially in the bottom end and 2K area. Would really like something a bit more focussed for prog-rock and maybe fusion styles, but still quite thick and punchy. Maybe the "traditional" tulipwood/wenge/wenge combo would be good, but I'm concerned that it might be too "glassy" in the highs and often need treble cut. I mostly play close to the bridge pickup and slap around 30% of the time.

Maybe tulipwood/burl with wenge/wenge?
Or even tulipwood/burl with maple/wenge?
Or ash body with hard top and wenge/wenge?
Or maybe maple/ebony neck?

Looks-wise, I'm really digging the more colourful finishes, like myrtle burl with Iced Tea or Tobacco Sunburst, just want something different to my existing orange bass.

Also, dumb question, but I presume the 21 fret models are a bit shorter in the neck, so less of a reach? I've only ever played my own 535-24. :)

Cheers,

EG
Click to expand...

I found that my wenge/wenge + burl/tulipwood was a tad too much in the treble register, but only with the steel strings that come stock on it. I just put on a set of MTD Custom Nickels, and man what a difference! I can even boost the Treble a little now w/out it going overboard, and it still sounds musical. If you like that wood combo, jump on it, and then test some strings out. I was almost hesitant at first to go with such a "bright" setup of woods, but now I absolutely love it.
 
#3,037
Vic said:
I'm not sure I should admit this, but I have played Baby Got Back on my red 535. :eek: :D
XavidmanX said:
You're dead to me. So much respect...lost...:crying:

:D
Click to expand...
Psychicpet said:
sweeeeeeeet
Click to expand...
B.C. said:
:eek::eek::eek::eek::scowl::scowl::scowl::scowl:

:D
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Hey, I'm right there with ya' on the song... especially since it literally has no bass guitar part... BUT... (pun intended)... it was SO worth it what happened on the dance floor every time we played it... oh, my, gosh... all the hotties were... well... it was good. :)
 
#3,038
Vic said:
it was SO worth it what happened on the dance floor every time we played it... oh, my, gosh... all the hotties were... well... it was good. :)
Click to expand...

+1...anyone that doesn't get this song has NOT seen the reaction of the ladies on the dance floor when it comes on...;)
 

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