• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

The Official MTD USA Thread

#3,505
VroomVroom said:
Too funny!

I've played both, and there is truly no comparison - IMO, YMMV, yada yada. :D Spend a few minutes with both side-by-each, and you'll know. No argument against the non-USA models - they're terrific. They're just not the USA models.

That said, the first MTD I've ever seriously considered is sitting in my gig bag as I type. I've loved the look, admired the construction, and respected the man his ownself for forever and a day (my first 'premium' instrument was a Tobias Classic), but I never played an MTD that sounded like "me" until this one.

2786463393_7b5722a68d.jpg


Ash + walnut + maple = MUCH HAPPINESS

However, what really sold me - my local shop took one in just like it on consignment. One year older, but same exact woods. It sounded nothing like the one I've got. Which told me, even as I stood at the counter and wrote a check for more than I've ever spent on any instrument, that I had something pretty special.
Click to expand...

This bass looks amazing!!!! If by any chance you ever consider selling it, please let me know.
 
#3,506
Vic said:
Yes you do!!

BTW, I had a shot at that topwood initially about a year ago, and let me tell you, the finished product looks way better than I thought it would from the raw wood pic (which is typical, but especially the case here!).

For example, here's your topwood before it was made into a bass... great lookin' chunk, but NOwhere near as beautiful as your bass is.
Click to expand...

Wow, no kidding! That topwood really came out fantastic in the finished product!
 
#3,509
Hi XavidmanX and fLat-fIfTh, this is just to let you know that I will be joining your party soon. Ordered a fretless, unlined and chambered 635 with one pickup some weeks ago, which is almost identic to XavidmanX's, except for the walnut top.

I have a wonderful fretless 635-24, unchambered, with flamed redwood on mahogany, #1423. The main goal behind this new one is to keep the great voicing of the mahogany body while adding more authority in the low end. And of course, the surprise how a chambered body will work out ... read so much about them.

fLat-fIfTh, I had long conversations with Mike and Joel about having the neck laminated or not. Finally decided for the standard maple/ebony version. If you ever come to Europe, bring your instrument, I'd really like to try that one, too.
 
#3,510
Mack 13 said:
I have a wonderful fretless 635-24, unchambered, with flamed redwood on mahogany, #1423. The main goal behind this new one is to keep the great voicing of the mahogany body while adding more authority in the low end. And of course, the surprise how a chambered body will work out ... read so much about them.
Click to expand...

Sounds identical to my fretless, #1323! Just curious why you would go with just one pickup, rather than having the versatility of two? Seems a shame to veer off the majesty of what Mr. T has wrought. Also, why did you decide against the laminated neck? Adjustability? I had stiff necked basses before, and while you may gain in sounds a little bit, you lose in ease of adjustments. My MTD's have very flexible necks which are so easy to correct.

Congrats, man, must be nice to be rich... what's it like?

Cheers,
Cameron
 
#3,511
Bassflute said:
Sounds identical to my fretless, #1323! Just curious why you would go with just one pickup, rather than having the versatility of two? Seems a shame to veer off the majesty of what Mr. T has wrought. Also, why did you decide against the laminated neck? Adjustability? I had stiff necked basses before, and while you may gain in sounds a little bit, you lose in ease of adjustments. My MTD's have very flexible necks which are so easy to correct.

Congrats, man, must be nice to be rich... what's it like?

Cheers,
Cameron
Click to expand...


Hi Cameron, there are two reasons for the single pickup: The fretless Sandberg that I played for 19 years - limited tonal versatility but very organic. Plus encouraging postings here at talkbass. However, it's an approach.

I'm not sure about your remark about the laminated neck: If I understand it right, the maple/ebony neck seems is most common, and Mike encouraged me to go this way (more open sounding). The maple/bubinga laminated neck would have been sounding more compressed - I like that too but hope that the walnut top will provide this authority together with a big dynamic range.

Dont't know what it's like being rich - but the Euro/Dollar conversion rate helps a little.
 
#3,512
Mack 13 said:
...The maple/bubinga laminated neck would have been sounding more compressed - I like that too but hope that the walnut top will provide this authority together with a big dynamic range...
Click to expand...
+1

I think this is accurate, and on a fretless too much of that can kinda' hurt the dynamics. You wanna' be careful with it. I would have personally made the same choice. I'm guessing you also did this because Mike recommended you go this way with your particular wood combo, and if that's the case, it's a lock. As much as possible, if not always, trust Mike! :)
 
#3,514
rockstarbassist said:
Sorry I can't swing that MTD at the moment Vic. :)

I'd seriously put mine up just to get that one, but then my gf would kill me. :) She picked the Rodman out for me.
Click to expand...
LOL! That's ok, I'm not counting on anyone in particular, or, even it selling right now with the economy the way it is, but I'll bump the thread a few more times and see what happens.

Part of my problem, is, I'm not really hurting to sell it, and also, that I still really do like it a lot, and also, that it's a fairly rare config, so really, deep down, I'd like to keep it anyway. I'm just trying to make an effort to be more practical about this stuff if I can... it's hard tho... especially after playing it last weekend... :eek: ;) :D
 
#3,516
Every time I look at my MTD I can't help but feel slightly disappointed with the plastic nut... Lately I've been thinking about ordering a custom wooden nut to replace the plastic one, but is that practical? Would it involve too much work since it would purely be as a result of a cosmetic issue?
 
#3,519
Chris V. said:
Well it just seems really flimsy to me... As of now it's strictly cosmetic, but it feels like it could eventually become a functional issue.
Click to expand...
Nope.

Unless you're doing some serious string bending at the first fret (I'd think unlikely :)), or changing your strings every 10 minutes, that thing won't show any wear for many years... if ever. Remember, that's not a nut. It's only a string guide. I doesn't bear ANY load at all... it's sole purpose in life is to just space the strings. The zero fret does all the "work".

So if the aesthetic issue is a big enough deal to you, that's of course your prerogative, but it'll never be a functional issue.

FYI. :)
 
#3,520
Vic said:
Nope.

Unless you're doing some serious string bending at the first fret (I'd think unlikely :)), or changing your strings every 10 minutes, that thing won't show any wear for many years... if ever. Remember, that's not a nut. It's only a string guide. I doesn't bear ANY load at all... it's sole purpose in life is to just space the strings. The zero fret does all the "work".

So if the aesthetic issue is a big enough deal to you, that's of course your prerogative, but it'll never be a functional issue.

FYI. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, Vic! Good to know.

Again, it all started as a purely cosmetic issue, but I thought a little more about it while changing my strings this morning. (At last, the last set of the 3-pack EBS Steel strings... Yuck!)

I just think it would look really sexy to have a wooden 'string guide', as you put it, and wooden knobs.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back