The Official MTD USA Thread

[emjazz]

Why not get the wood combo that Mike is suggesting and talk to Bill Bartolini about some replacement J pickups in soapbar shells that you can drop in?.....or just find out if the pickups that Mike uses can be coil tapped (I'm guessing not but it's worth a shot).

Well I talked to Mike over the break (well emailed anyhow) and he said unfortunately he couldn't do me a J/J 535 at this time... so, I'm pretty bummed but ah well...

He was still sold on the walnut/ash + maple/ash combo for a 535 and a more aggressive tone, but I was/am still jonesing for a J/J setup with that neck!!

I guess I'll just have to nab the next USA Saratoga or JJ5 that comes up FS and see how it works out. But still, it's only 34" scale and 21 frets, both of which I didn't want for this next bass.

Grrr.

 

[rockstarbassist]

Why not get the wood combo that Mike is suggesting and talk to Bill Bartolini about some replacement J pickups in soapbar shells that you can drop in?.....or just find out if the pickups that Mike uses can be coil tapped (I'm guessing not but it's worth a shot).

I guess that's not a bad idea, actually!
However Bill will probably say to get in touch with Mike and see if he'll do just a bass pre-routed for a J/J setup, which I already know he won't, and probably decline.
Still might not hurt to ask... And FWIW at this point I'm staying away from coil taps... My Q5 I had made was setup that way and I didn't like it at all, even with them in the "off" position. It sounded way different than my other Q5's and in a bad way.

 

[Vic]

Why not get the wood combo that Mike is suggesting and talk to Bill Bartolini about some replacement J pickups in soapbar shells that you can drop in?.....or just find out if the pickups that Mike uses can be coil tapped (I'm guessing not but it's worth a shot).

This is a GREAT idea... that way it's also reversible if so desired!

 

[Bassflute]

Interesting Josh535.
I sold Marilyn#19 to get a Roscoe SKB 3006 fretless. Swamp ash body/Bubinga top/Lined Diamondwood finger board. Love it.
I do miss the MTD though, and I will be getting another in the future, more than likely along the lines of your soon to be departed 635, but first I have to see If I can find a builder willing to build my fantasy bass. That should be quite an adventure.

That was supposed to be my bass, but those ******** at Bass Northwest put the boots to me... I'm STILL really mad about that one...

And NICE avatar. You need an MTD headstock in there.

Hmm...maybe it's something in the air? I'm trying to work a deal with another TB member to trade one of my MTDs for his Roscoe(and some cash!)! I'm just glad I have 2 MTDs so I can stay in the club!

You'll be sorry...

All you guys and your Roscoes....:scowl:

I actually sold my Roscoe to buy my 635.

Now yer talkin...

Why not get the wood combo that Mike is suggesting and talk to Bill Bartolini about some replacement J pickups in soapbar shells that you can drop in?.....or just find out if the pickups that Mike uses can be coil tapped (I'm guessing not but it's worth a shot).

The pickups in an MTD are actually split-coil pre-like pickups in a soapbar wrapper. Mike doesn't like the sound of ANY long six-string single coil pickups yet - something about the impedance or something.

One of my students has an MTD 634-23 with custom wound hum-free tapped single coils - they sound great, but I still like the stock ones better. Mike says that most people who switch out pickups in his basses usually wind up switching them back.

Mike seems to know what he's doing...



I find with the slightest touch of eq, either onboard or offboard, I can get a huge variety of sounds with mine. I think most people are over EQing and miss the whole point. 3-5 dB can COMPLETELY change the character of a bass if it's in the right spots and is the right bandwidth. And cutting is just as important as boosting.

Cheers,
Cameron

 

[XavidmanX]

That's a hot idea right there...I might try that out.

I had a JJ5 for a while and didn't like it as much as my 535 in the wood combo you're talking about getting. If you really want that single coil J sound then just buy a J bass with single coils...I really feel that Mike's magic lies with his USA MTD's i.e. 435/535/635 line.

 

[rockstarbassist]

^^^
What's the neck profile difference between the Saratoga and "USA" line? That's my biggest hiccup right there.
I could live with 21 frets (it's what my 535 has now anyways) and possibly 34" scale, even on a 5'er. But the USA necks are what sell me each and every time I play one.

 

[VroomVroom]

Mike seems to know what he's doing...

I find with the slightest touch of eq, either onboard or offboard, I can get a huge variety of sounds with mine. I think most people are over EQing and miss the whole point. 3-5 dB can COMPLETELY change the character of a bass if it's in the right spots and is the right bandwidth. And cutting is just as important as boosting.

Excellent points...on Michael and EQing. Over the years I've found that, if I don't like the sound of a bass with everything flat, I won't like it with anything boosted or cut. I've said this before, but it took many years and literally dozens of instruments before I found an MTD that spoke to me. Now I've got two of the beasts, and I couldn't be happier.

 

[XavidmanX]

^^^
What's the neck profile difference between the Saratoga and "USA" line? That's my biggest hiccup right there.
I could live with 21 frets (it's what my 535 has now anyways) and possibly 34" scale, even on a 5'er. But the USA necks are what sell me each and every time I play one.

I think your best bet is to go with a USA 535 with 24 frets, in the wood combo that Mike is suggesting, and then have Bill build you a set of single coil J's in the oversized shell that would fit the cavities in the 535. If you don't like that sound, then switch back to the original p'ups and sell the single coils...I bet someone would pick those up.

 

[rockstarbassist]

I think your best bet is to go with a USA 535 with 24 frets, in the wood combo that Mike is suggesting, and then have Bill build you a set of single coil J's in the oversized shell that would fit the cavities in the 535. If you don't like that sound, then switch back to the original p'ups and sell the single coils...I bet someone would pick those up.

You're probably right.
I'll try and get in touch with Bill soon and see what's what.
Mike said he's got some ash that'll be ready to use later this spring, so that's my ETA at the moment.

 

[XavidmanX]

Gelb music has a beautiful one just in if you're ready to buy now. Ed is a bass player who knows his stuff and is great to deal with.

 

[VroomVroom]

Gelb music has a beautiful one just in if you're ready to buy now. We is a bass player who knows his stuff and is great to deal with.

Any chance 'We' is 'Ed'? FWIW, I've played that bass, and it's pretty awesome. I'll be selfishly proud and say it's not as "massive" as mine, but it sounds as good as it looks. (FYI, the word, "massive" and the sentiment about my bass are both copyrighted by Ed @ Gelb.) BTW, Ed is a serious champion of MTD instruments. I bought my first Tobias from him back in 1992, and he's made a point of ensuring I play just about every MTD he's ever gotten in. And, one more FYI/FWIW - there's an ash/walnut-ash/ash 535 on consignment as well. Personally, I think it's way too weak/soft sounding, but if an electronics swap is in consideration I figured it was worth mentioning.

 

[rockstarbassist]

Yeah there's a few guys/shops that have the walnut/ash+maple/ash setup right now.

Mike seems to be on a pretty serious kick with this config right now, and from Vic's and others sentiments, it's not hard to see why!

 

[VroomVroom]

My 535 has a maple neck and fingerboard. The lower mids on this thing are just insane, with the typical MTD clarity to match. The 635 has an ash neck with a maple board, and while it lacks the lows and lower mids of the 535, it more than makes up for them in the upper mids & highs. I've never played a six-string with highs like this...I imagine a Sadowsky might be close if one were ever available for comparison, but this one is incredible. I EQ it by adding a little bit of lows, but otherwise everything remains flat. Both instruments have their unique characteristics, but are versatile enough for just about every gig I take these days.

Throughout my recent fascination with MTD's, I've learned that these wood combos just REALLY do it for me...but I've also been reminded of how much individuality there is, regardless of similarities. That consignment 535 I mentioned really highlights this. To me, it sounds like nearly every other MTD I've ever played....wonderful, but just not for me. The two I have, however...monstrous!

 

[XavidmanX]

Any chance 'We' is 'Ed'? FWIW, I've played that bass, and it's pretty awesome. I'll be selfishly proud and say it's not as "massive" as mine, but it sounds as good as it looks. (FYI, the word, "massive" and the sentiment about my bass are both copyrighted by Ed @ Gelb.) BTW, Ed is a serious champion of MTD instruments. I bought my first Tobias from him back in 1992, and he's made a point of ensuring I play just about every MTD he's ever gotten in. And, one more FYI/FWIW - there's an ash/walnut-ash/ash 535 on consignment as well. Personally, I think it's way too weak/soft sounding, but if an electronics swap is in consideration I figured it was worth mentioning.

LMAO...I was typing from my iPhone and that damn thing makes corrections to my typing without telling me. It thought that "Ed" should have been "We".

I like that though...we is a bass player...a little schizo humor.

 

[VroomVroom]

HA! My biggest complaint with my iPhone. Not only am I horrible at typing on the thing, but when I do get it right, the "correction" makes it wrong. Too funny!

 

[tyjacks]

Help, Need advice... for MTD 535, 24-fret.
Anbody have an idea how these wood combinations would soound? Tulipwood body Maple Burl Top, Honduran Rosewood Finger Board, maple neck.

Trying to decide between this bass and a Mike Lull MV5 or an Fclef Custom 5

 

[rockstarbassist]

Help, Need advice... for MTD 535, 24-fret.
Anbody have an idea how these wood combinations would soound? Tulipwood body Maple Burl Top, Honduran Rosewood Finger Board, maple neck.

Trying to decide between this bass and a Mike Lull MV5 or an Fclef Custom 5

It'll probably sound ridiculously awesome compared to just another generic clone!
I have a tulipwood body+myrtl burl top and wenge neck/fb 535 and it blows most all else away.
The maple neck and rosewood fb will give you a more traditional sound too though, but the body woods will make it stand out as an MTD.

 

[Vic]

Help, Need advice... for MTD 535, 24-fret.
Anbody have an idea how these wood combinations would sound? Tulipwood body Maple Burl Top, Honduran Rosewood Finger Board, maple neck.

TB'er Saluki (Cory) had a 21 fret with an alder body, spalted maple top, and maple/rosewood neck. I think the woods you described should be pretty similar overall.

I LOVED that bass, because it had a little more of the classic Fendery type vibe going on. It had all the clarity and depth you expect from an MTD, but it didn't really have any one area where it was significant'y over or underemphasied in tone. VERY even sounding and very versatile as a tone base. If I were to get another MTD, it'd be one like that.

Definitely talk to Mike if you're at all close to actually pulling the trigger, tho, because he can give you more details than I could, and I'm supposing the tulip body is pretty similar to alder, but I'm also sure there are diffs... I just don't know. I've played (and even gigged with) Cory's, but the only tulip body'd 535 I've owned also had the wenge/wenge neck and that's a whole different ball game (and not my thing).

Trying to decide between this bass and a Mike Lull MV5 or an Fclef Custom 5

IMHO, MTD hands down, but then again, this is an MTD thread.

 

[VroomVroom]

Help, Need advice... for MTD 535, 24-fret.
Anbody have an idea how these wood combinations would soound? Tulipwood body Maple Burl Top, Honduran Rosewood Finger Board, maple neck.

Trying to decide between this bass and a Mike Lull MV5 or an Fclef Custom 5

I'm going to guess that it's going to sound significantly different than either the Lull or FClef. I'm afraid of this comparison only for that reason - you've got two proverbial apples up against one orange. I know I'm generalizing a bit here, but I think it's an important distinction for you to consider.

 

[KJung]

I'm going to guess that it's going to sound significantly different than either the Lull or FClef. I'm afraid of this comparison only for that reason - you've got two proverbial apples up against one orange. I know I'm generalizing a bit here, but I think it's an important distinction for you to consider.

+1 Those are very, very different tone directions. The Lull versus FClef is basically deciding between subtle flavors of modern J Bass tone and feel (35" scale versus 34", more Fender sounding versus a touch more modern, etc.). The MTD is all about modern, active, soapbar tone. All are great (although I'm not blown away by the FClef thing versus other boutique J's), but you might want to figure out exactly the type of vibe you are going for before plunking down all that cash