The Official MTD USA Thread

[antontanzil]

Hi everyone...

I just bought an MTD 535 'Rodman' #805 (made in 2002?), Ash-Maple Body with Wenge-Wenge neck, I still haven't recieve the Bass yet, it's being shipped right now. I hope the condition is 'like new' just like the seller said.

Is it true that an older MTD, such as this one is better than the newer ones? Especially with the wenge-wenge neck, coz I've heard rumors that the older wenge is more 'solid' due to the fact that it's quite a rare wood today.

And does anyone has an Ash-Maple body, with Maple-Honduran Rosewood neck 535? There's one I'm looking at right now, but I still have no idea what it sounded like, and this is the newer made one. The wood combo sounded somewhat 'common' and I wonder if it sounded more 'traditional' although I doubt it, since IMO the Pickups-Preamp sound very dominant on the 535, in a good way that is.

Anton

 

[t0t0m]

Hi t0t0m,

Well nice bass, I own almost the same one except it is 21 frets.

The finish on mine is the same as yours, and I've noticed the same thing on the red parts of the finish: a kind of "fog" trapped inside the finish at some places on the body. Is it wear cause by a daily use or you bought it "as is"?

I bought it as is..I am guessing that's just the satin finish and somehow that fog thing look violetish.

Hi everyone...

I just bought an MTD 535 'Rodman' #805 (made in 2002?), Ash-Maple Body with Wenge-Wenge neck, I still haven't recieve the Bass yet, it's being shipped right now. I hope the condition is 'like new' just like the seller said.

Is it true that an older MTD, such as this one is better than the newer ones? Especially with the wenge-wenge neck, coz I've heard rumors that the older wenge is more 'solid' due to the fact that it's quite a rare wood today.

And does anyone has an Ash-Maple body, with Maple-Honduran Rosewood neck 535? There's one I'm looking at right now, but I still have no idea what it sounded like, and this is the newer made one. The wood combo sounded somewhat 'common' and I wonder if it sounded more 'traditional' although I doubt it, since IMO the Pickups-Preamp sound very dominant on the 535, in a good way that is.

Anton

congrats on your new MTD, probably the MTD gurus can answer your question..

 

[Georges Abitbol]

Hi everyone...
Is it true that an older MTD, such as this one is better than the newer ones? Especially with the wenge-wenge neck, coz I've heard rumors that the older wenge is more 'solid' due to the fact that it's quite a rare wood today.

Not better, just different.
As far as I know, preamp is not the same on the new ones, and the Buzz Feiten Tuning System was not on all the older ones.
Ask Mike if you want to know more about your new bass as he has all the informations about all the basses he has build.
Great purchase anyway, I love the Rodman finish!

As usual: no pics, no bass

And does anyone has an Ash-Maple body, with Maple-Honduran Rosewood neck 535? There's one I'm looking at right now, but I still have no idea what it sounded like, and this is the newer made one. The wood combo sounded somewhat 'common' and I wonder if it sounded more 'traditional' although I doubt it, since IMO the Pickups-Preamp sound very dominant on the 535, in a good way that is.

Anton

You should try it, it's the best way to know if the bass suits your sonic expectations.
I own a bass similar to your Rodman (except the finish) and another with maple/rosewood neck but with alder body, you can see them here.
My impressions are that the maple/rosewood neck adds growl & warmth while the wenge/wenge adds snap & compression.
Vic here on TB owns exactly the same wood combo you're looking for
You can also hear some soundclips Link Removed.

 

[Bassflute]

this year's my year for an ash/walnut/ash/BEM combo. But one of those is on the agenda.

Sorry, I have been slacking:

The number of simultaneous careers you've got going, hardly. I'd be more worried about you taking on TOO much. Make sure you've got some downtime, man. Relax and take the kids to the park.

Gorgeous basses. Carpeting's not bad, either.

Cheers,
Cameron

 

[Vic]

this year's my year for an ash/walnut/ash/BEM combo.

You mean like this one?

You will NOT be disappointed. Sorry, with a setup like that I couldn't pass.

 

[tombowlus]

The number of simultaneous careers you've got going, hardly. I'd be more worried about you taking on TOO much. Make sure you've got some downtime, man. Relax and take the kids to the park.

Wise words, my friend. Let's see if I can follow them...

 

[antontanzil]

I'll post some pics as soon as I can. I just found out that my old friend back home own an MTD with the same wood combo and almost the same colour as mine

So I'm thinking about trading it with a natural colour or any other coloured one, maybe from one of you guys. So I'll post some pics and if I decided to do it, you guys will be the first to know.

 

[antontanzil]

Anyone here has an MTD 635? How's the neck and playability compared to other 6-String basses? I owned a Warwick Thumb NT and Carvin LB-76 in the past.

And the sound of those basses are quite different from their 5 or 4-string versions, that's why I let them go. Does the same thing goes for the 635 compared to the 535?

 

[skb5string]

Anyone here has an MTD 635? How's the neck and playability compared to other 6-String basses? I owned a Warwick Thumb NT and Carvin LB-76 in the past.

And the sound of those basses are quite different from their 5 or 4-string versions, that's why I let them go. Does the same thing goes for the 635 compared to the 535?

In my opinion the A-sym neck is the most comfortable to play, so I think the 635's are some of the best playing 6er's out there

As far as tonality..woods and Mass are always going to be a factor when looking at a 6 string and a 5 string bass..in the Warwicks case, pickups would have been different too between and Thumb 5 and Thumb 6. Between a 635 and 535 the electronics are primarily the same so, thats one variable out of the mix. Now...If you take a 635 with the same wood Combo as a 535..the size of necks will be different, and maybe even the body so Mass plays a factor..ya can't get around that. But will the inherent tonality be the same..it will be close! But with that said, No two MTD's will sound EXACTLY the same..they can and will be close, but not exact

 

[dirtbird]

here are my 2 MTDs - photographed together for the first time.

The natural (ash/maple/maple) I picked up last year from TB when I was in the US on business. The other (poplar/burl maple/wenge/wenge) I got from the Groove Shoppe a few years back.

Hopefully I'm going to add a fretless MTD sometime this year

Both sound great, and the wenge/wenge especially so now that I've started putting nickel strings on it.

 

[Bassflute]

You mean like this one?

You will NOT be disappointed. Sorry, with a setup like that I couldn't pass.

Thank God it's missing a string, or that one would really get to me...beautiful bass, man!

Anyone here has an MTD 635? How's the neck and playability compared to other 6-String basses? I owned a Warwick Thumb NT and Carvin LB-76 in the past.

And the sound of those basses are quite different from their 5 or 4-string versions, that's why I let them go. Does the same thing goes for the 635 compared to the 535?

The most comfortable bass out there. I frequently vacuum in mine, do the dishes, walk the dog...

And they sound like nothing else. I played at the Olympic site this week, big outdoor stage, massive PA, etc. My 635-24 bass sounded like God. Incredible.

Cheers,
Cameron

 

[bass12]

Man, I love looking at photos of MTDs. Each one is different and they all look fantastic in their own way. To me, Mike has struck that perfect balance regarding the aesthetic elements of his U.S. basses. The beauty is there, but it's never over the top - never screams for attention. I feel privileged to own one of Mike's basses ... and spoiled to have another on order.

 

[frankpc]

Mtd's are amazing!, they are so beautiful, i just got a new bass not an mtd though, i've been saving money for it and couldnt save enough to have a custom made one,...now the thing about mtd is that they all sound different due to the different wood setups, and obviuslly there's not a signature sound that i can say "that must be a 535!!" the one that comes to mind all the time is andrew gouche's sound, i went to rudys music and tried an mtd with a myrtle burl top, ash body, birds eye maple and sounded goood and felt good but i dont think it was worth those $5,500 there was something wrong with the neck or something, but anyway so i was looking everywhere, and if there is a bass with a signature sound is the Ken Smith, so i knew what i was gettin myself into if i ordered one that was in stock,. and i did, amazing bass!! 5 strings and best of all at least for me..its a 34"scale, and the b is a killer, a guess thats why that guy havent change his phillosophy about bass construction for decades, if someday i order a mtd (which i will) will definatlly have a maple neck, a walnut top and ash body and i wonder if mike has the 34" scale as an option? if he doesnt..that would suck! peace..

 

[LikeButtah]

Had this one for five years now. The wood is starting to settle in, as is the finish, which absorbs lemon oil very well now and has developed a beautiful light sheen. Some people wax their instruments... I think oiling/buffing it for several years yields a much more seasoned finish. It also gives me a nice texture over the burls in the wood.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[LikeButtah]

sorry if this has been posted before, but this is just ridiculous...

I bought this one actually as my second 535... it's an absolutely beautiful instrument, but personally I'm not a fan of the wood combination. The poplar body and wenge neck together are too punchy, but it does have a very well defined tone. It's very noticeably different from my other bass (posted earlier in this thread), which is an Ash body with a Maple neck, and IMO is much more versatile, with a very deep and rich low-end and just the right amount of punch. I've since put nickel strings on this one (the blue one), and it plays much better, especially for nuance style playing, but my first MTD will always be my primary 5-string; just can't beat the sound.

I do hope this one starts to set in after a few years, as my other one has nicely.

 

[Vic]

I bought this one actually as my second 535... it's an absolutely beautiful instrument, but personally I'm not a fan of the wood combination...

Sounds like you have the same issues I had with tulip/wenge. Very cool tone, but IMHO not as versatile as other wood combos like ash/alder bodies with maple or even ash necks.

I still have my Marilyn (#8), but it doesn't get played as much as my latest ash/walnut body ash/maple neck 535. That one is just everything I ever wanted in an MTD. Great punch, but not to the extent as to impact other tonal characteristics that I really look for, which was my personal problem with wenge.

 

[antontanzil]

My 'Rodman' 535 came today, it's beautiful... But I'm affraid Wenge neck is not my thing. I took it to school today, my classmates loves the sound, my teacher too. But I'm not quite digging it as much as the ash neck ones.

Fortunately, my friend is more than willing to take it from me, and I'm planning to take another one with an Ash neck.

So jealous of you guys that can keep more than one MTD

 

[t0t0m]

My 'Rodman' 535 came today, it's beautiful... But I'm affraid Wenge neck is not my thing. I took it to school today, my classmates loves the sound, my teacher too. But I'm not quite digging it as much as the ash neck ones.

Fortunately, my friend is more than willing to take it from me, and I'm planning to take another one with an Ash neck.

So jealous of you guys that can keep more than one MTD

pics please...
no pics no bass

 

[antontanzil]

Here it is... And it's all because of you I want an MTD

 

[t0t0m]

Here it is... And it's all because of you I want an MTD

cool color, like a lolypop candy..
is it matching headstock also?