The Official MTD USA Thread

[XavidmanX]

I haven't actually played a Dingwall but I can't imagine the B string on my MTD (same woods as Vic's pictured above) sounding any more solid than it is now. I haven't tried a Dingwall because it seems like playing the first fret on the low B string would be pretty difficult based on its position.

Any others out there actually played both?

 

[Halftooth]

oh man every time I look at these mtds I want to get one more and more they all look stunning. anyways I have a couple questions ive been drawn to dingwall basses because of the fanned frets because it sounds like they would have a solid b string has anyone played a dingwall and and mtd that could tell me how the b string sounds on both basses?

The B is very good on both basses.

Honestly, if you were blindfolded and just played the B on both basses, you'd say that they both felt and sounded great. The fanned system and added scale length, IMO, doesn't add a whole lot when compared at least to a MTD.

I'd take a MTD any day over a Dingwall, but that's just my preference.

 

[Vic]

Any others out there actually played both?

I have. It's very true the Dingwall B's are great, but just like Halftooth says, so are the MTDs. I'd say they're both good enough it'd be purely player dependent which felt/sounded better.

I do believe the added scale length provides a little more tonal purity... a little better fundamental... because you get closer to the "correct" length of the string with the Novak Fanned Fret System (NFFS), but I don't think the difference is enough to justify moving to the NFFS despite any discomfort with that system... especially on comparable instruments, which are such high end instruments they're gonna' be great anyway.

 

[bass_extremes]

thanks for the info guys now I got to get my hands on an mtd and try one out.

 

[vision]

Hey all! This is my first post on TB and I'm happy to be here! Without further ado...: The one on the left; Mahogany body/Chechen top-Maple neck/Rosewood board! The one on the right; Solid Zebrawood-Wenge neck/Wenge board! Both are 535-24s...I'm a happy lil bassist! I'll put some better pics when I get a good camera...spent all my money on basses!

Welcome to TB, and those are some KILLER MTD's!!!

 

[Vic]

Yeah man, your description of that bass is exactly what has me thinking ash/maple neck.

Dude, I played this MTD thru the Fathom/Epi rig last night with the southern rock band I was filling in for and it RULED!!!! Huge punchy rich tone, but not muddy at all. I was completely at peace with my tone, and here's the best part... I didn't touch the EQ on the bass or the amp at all except to cut some of the treble on the bass.

 

[sephage]

Those are smokin'!!!

Hey all! This is my first post on TB and I'm happy to be here! Without further ado...: The one on the left; Mahogany body/Chechen top-Maple neck/Rosewood board! The one on the right; Solid Zebrawood-Wenge neck/Wenge board! Both are 535-24s...I'm a happy lil bassist! I'll put some better pics when I get a good camera...spent all my money on basses!

 

[Virgil Walker]

Okay, does anyone have audio clips of one of the ash neck'd MTD's? Specifically with an ash body and maple fingerboard...

Vision, if you go on www.eBetalent.com and click on bands, and then click on the band London, and watch the video, you will hear what you are looking for. On the video I am playing an ash bodied, ash neck and maple fingerboard MTD 535 on all of the tracks. On the video they are featuring the vocalist, but you will see me on a few clips playing the bass. I tell ya, they don't show us bass players no respect...I feel like Rodney Dangerfield. I have read some threads that say that MTD's don't cut through the mix. Listen and watch the video, and ask yourself, is it cutting.

 

[Vic]

Vision, if you go on www.eBetalent.com and click on bands, and then click on the band London, and watch the video, you will hear what you are looking for. On the video I am playing an ash bodied, ash neck and maple fingerboard MTD 535 on all of the tracks. On the video they are featuring the vocalist, but you will see me on a few clips playing the bass. I tell ya, they don't show us bass players no respect...I feel like Rodney Dangerfield. I have read some threads that say that MTD's don't cut through the mix. Listen and watch the video, and ask yourself, is it cutting.

Nice. I've seen this promo vid before and it's also very well done.

 

[lindseyp]

Jason, you NEED to check this bass out when I finally make it back out that way... yeah, it's an ash neck.

Vic, if I ever reach the hoped-for playing level, that's what I want my bass to look like!

 

[Vic]

Vic, if I ever reach the hoped-for playing level, that's what I want my bass to look like!

Two things; You will, and it'll be worth the wait.

That said, I didn't wait until I was good enough, so you can also take that route if you want.

 

[rockstarbassist]

I had an ABII 5 for a while, and while nice, I really prefer my MTD.

As was said, the B on the Dingwall was something fierce, but I dare say the B on my MTD is a tad more "Musical" for a lack of a better word.

Both Bs on the Dingwall and Modulus Q5's are stellar, but you can actually chord down to the B on the MTD and it sounds good. Have no idea how the helluva Mike pulls it off, but it's there.

But you won't be lacking, especially if you're a low-B honk like myself.

I woke up last night having dreams of my next 535- ya know, the 24-fret job that's basically an exact copy of Vic's ex-cherry one, but with Bart J/J's instead!

 

[tombowlus]

You're a very bad man.......

I would love to hear a mahogany body, ash neck, ebony fingerboarded MTD....that could be great.

You know, that's a pretty good call. I wonder if Mike has ever made a bass with this exact combination?

 

[vision]

You know, that's a pretty good call. I wonder if Mike has ever made a bass with this exact combination?

I remember Mike saying something about not caring for ash necks with ebony fingerboards...

 

[tombowlus]

I remember Mike saying something about not caring for ash necks with ebony fingerboards...

Good point. Maybe make it a maple board.

 

[emjazz]

Yeah, I know that Mike has mentioned he doesn't like that combination, but Fodera uses it with great success so it can certainly work....and it may have been that he didn't like ebony with an ash neck/ash body. However, I think that with a mahogany body it could work quite well. More then the fingerboard, I've always imagined a mahogany body/ash neck to be a great combination for a fretted bass. Anyone want to try?

 

[Vic]

I remember Mike saying something about not caring for ash necks with ebony fingerboards...

+1

Made it a point of comment with me, as well.

 

[Vic]

Yeah, I know that Mike has mentioned he doesn't like that combination, but Fodera uses it with great success so it can certainly work....and it may have been that he didn't like ebony with an ash neck/ash body. However, I think that with a mahogany body it could work quite well. More then the fingerboard, I've always imagined a mahogany body/ash neck to be a great combination for a fretted bass. Anyone want to try?

Mike always also points out "at least with my ash necks", so I'm pretty sure this is all about the total package, including the electronics, not a blanket statement that those woods can never work in that combo on any instrument.

 

[vision]

Now that I think about it, I have seen a couple ebony/ash neck MTD's, although there are other factors at work with them. Andrew Gouche's neck through 635 and this one on Austin Bass Traders which is exactly like it both have macasser ebony fingerboards. But you're also talking about neck through, bookmatched, flamed ash for the neck, and it's 3 piece with what looks like a walnut laminate in there. It also has a 5 piece body with a walnut core and flamed walnut top and back. I wonder how it sounds...

 

[emjazz]

Mike always also points out "at least with my ash necks", so I'm pretty sure this is all about the total package, including the electronics, not a blanket statement that those woods can never work in that combo on any instrument.

Good points. I had actually mentioned the same thing and then deleted it in my response for some reason.....yes, it's certainly always the whole package for sure.