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The Official MTD USA Thread

#3,963
Tony G said:
Actually, I think that 635's have a string spacing of 18mm, or .708 inches. I could be wrong, but I'm fairly sure my 635 has 18mm spacing, as my Nordy has 19mm and definitely feels just a touch wider.
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DOH! I'm sorry, you're right! I glossed right over the 6 in 635. Sorry for the bogus post.
 
#3,965
jzbass6 said:
Thx guys for the answers, I found the info on the site and it does say .708 for the 635, missed it before. One other thing are they brass or aluminum? it doesn't state that.
Will
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I'm pretty sure Mike uses aluminum. His philosophy on bridge design is a bit different from most other builders. I've read in a few interviews (and in a discussion I had with him many years ago) that he prefers the lightest weight bridge he can get, so that the 'sound of the wood' drives the instrument, not the sound of a big chunk of metal.

It's been a while, so not completely sure there, since even the brass version of his stock 'B' style bridge is on the low end of the 'bridge mass' continuum.
 
#3,966
KJung said:
I'm pretty sure Mike uses aluminum. His philosophy on bridge design is a bit different from most other builders. I've read in a few interviews (and in a discussion I had with him many years ago) that he prefers the lightest weight bridge he can get, so that the 'sound of the wood' drives the instrument, not the sound of a big chunk of metal.

It's been a while, so not completely sure there, since even the brass version of his stock 'B' style bridge is on the low end of the 'bridge mass' continuum.
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He does use aluminum by default, but he definitely does install the brass version on some instruments even if it's not requested... depends on the woods involved. I know this from personal experience. :) I have felt the diff between the aluminum and brass versions of the B bridge and it is significant. It's not as heavy as a badass V, but it definitely does have significant mass to it.

I believe he always uses brass saddles, regardless of the plate, too. Maybe that's just the way they come standard anyway... dunno.
 
#3,967
All I'm gonna say is VroomVroom is my new personal hero :D! Not only is he a very classy, and nice, guy, but he's pretty dang good at playin' bass! Those clips, indeed everything that you've posted, sounds GREAT! You have great feel and wonderful tone! You said the backing tracks were out of M-Audio's "Sessions" software? That sounds like exactly what I'm looking for! I'd like to practice with something besides just drums. That may be the ticket! Thank you, my friend!
 
#3,968
Vic said:
He does use aluminum by default, but he definitely does install the brass version on some instruments even if it's not requested... depends on the woods involved. I know this from personal experience. :) I have felt the diff between the aluminum and brass versions of the B bridge and it is significant. It's not as heavy as a badass V, but it definitely does have significant mass to it.

I believe he always uses brass saddles, regardless of the plate, too. Maybe that's just the way they come standard anyway... dunno.
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Your right Vic, the alum's do have brass saddles & post according to the Hipshot site, here what they the difference is other than weight.
Aluminum tends to deliver more mids and highs while brass accentuates the low end tones.
 
#3,969
my MTD 535 #1335
Flame maple top
Tulipwood body
Wenge neck&board
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3346395634_a3a0a0bca2.png
 
#3,970
Phil, you are WAY too kind, my man. Thank you very much for the nice words, though. :bassist:

Had an R&B thing last night, and I used the 635 with the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 & Epifani UL410. Really nice combo. No trouble cutting...the mids were right there. EQ & blend on the bass were flat, except for the 'bass'...boosted to ~ 7/10. EQ on the amp was flat, and the pre-gain was boosted to ~ 2 o'clock. Tweeter on the cab is cut to ~ 10 o'clock.

Game of Love

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In These Shoes

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I think I prefer the 635 (and 535, for that matter) through my Epi amp, but it was fun experimenting a bit. The GB definitely takes out some of the lower-mid oomph...for better or worse, especially with this particular cab. To my ears it made the MTD sound a bit too dry. Talking with a few bandmates afterward they agreed, but loved the cut and definition...definitely no mud or boominess. The feedback also validated just how versatile the MTD can be, though. We covered big band swing, Latin, trad Jewish horas, and R&B last night. I let my right hand be my guide in refining the tone, and the bass sounded great across the board.
 
#3,971
After close to two years of lusting over the MTDs I have seen on line, and particularly this forum, I finally had an opportunity to play not one, but two of these superb basses. You guys are right, these instruments have different tones that embellish on the signature MTD sound. While both basses were phenomenal, one of the 535s really spoke to me. It had a Mahogany body with a spalted Maple top. The fretboard looked like a light rosewood, but I may be wrong. The tone was very clear throughout the range. The lows were well defined and the highs were cutting, without being abrasive.
Bottom line, I fell in love. Now more than ever, I envy all the MTD players here. I completely understand why all of you swear by these basses. Play your beauties in health.
 
#3,973
Yes, I know I did, and loved every minute of it.:hyper:On a side note, I too had a Shuttle 6.0 and took it on a few gigs and my opinion is the same as Vroom's above. I had grown so accustomed to my Epi, I could not get use to the Shuttle's tone, so I sold it. The Shuttle is a great little amp, but I just could not get the tone I wanted out of it.
 
#3,978
Huy guys, I played an mtd today (ash body, burl maple top, rosewood fingerboard) and I LOVED IT!!! Ih had a really good growl that fits my finger style of playing, I was wondering tho, how would the sound change if I were to have a maple fretboard? And for a bass with growl, what wood would you suggest?I play mainly gospel ( the "black church" kind lol) Thanks......
 
#3,979
Godsent,

I just bought back my old MTD535 (ash body, maple neck, maple board, walnut top) and it is aggressive and big sounding. IMO the maple neck/board combo is going to sound bigger, more aggressive and have more click than the rosewood. My older rosewood board MTD was still agressive sound but was more mellow for sure. Either could work for your application although probably wouldn't be as traditional. I use mine in the PW context where we do alot of Lakewood (Isreal's) songs.
 
#3,980
Saluki said:
Godsent,

I just bought back my old MTD535 (ash body, maple neck, maple board, walnut top) and it is aggressive and big sounding. IMO the maple neck/board combo is going to sound bigger, more aggressive and have more click than the rosewood. My older rosewood board MTD was still agressive sound but was more mellow for sure. Either could work for your application although probably wouldn't be as traditional. I use mine in the PW context where we do alot of Lakewood (Isreal's) songs.
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Yeah... hmm... lesseee... seems like I remember someone trying to get you to not sell that bass to begin with... hmmm... who was that now... hmmm... ;) :D
:hiding:
 

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