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The Official MTD USA Thread

Well guys, gas has struck again. Due to the crappy economy, I'm no longer able to buy new basses or custom built beauties, so I have to resort to the lazy Susan trade technique. Selling a bass buying another one with cash liquidated from selling. Now, I was lucky enough to hook up with Luis Vega. Yes the infamous guy who had a bad dealing with fellow Tb'r Miko Espanol. I had my reservation from proceeding with any dealing with this guy, but you know what, he's an up an up guy. Anyhow, he offered to send me his bass first. He said that once I check out his bass for the trade, I can ship my bass to him at my leisure? Now, would a crook offer such a deal. So I took it. I should have my bass tomorrow, which is an MTD 635-24, 2010 NAMM show bass. I'm totally stoked, and if you guys have a chance in dealing with Luis, don't hesitate. A real great guy. Thanks Luis!

I guess I'm out of the Sadowsky club for a bit, but I'm gassing for another one, maybe a Metro.



Excellent choice...
Sadowsky and MTD, both are great basses regardless.

But there's one diffrence:
MTD USA = American Finest Hand Made Basses
Sadowsky NYC = American Finest CNC Basses
 
Well guys, gas has struck again. Due to the crappy economy, I'm no longer able to buy new basses or custom built beauties, so I have to resort to the lazy Susan trade technique. Selling a bass buying another one with cash liquidated from selling. Now, I was lucky enough to hook up with Luis Vega. Yes the infamous guy who had a bad dealing with fellow Tb'r Miko Espanol. I had my reservation from proceeding with any dealing with this guy, but you know what, he's an up an up guy. Anyhow, he offered to send me his bass first. He said that once I check out his bass for the trade, I can ship my bass to him at my leisure? Now, would a crook offer such a deal. So I took it. I should have my bass tomorrow, which is an MTD 635-24, 2010 NAMM show bass. I'm totally stoked, and if you guys have a chance in dealing with Luis, don't hesitate. A real great guy. Thanks Luis!

I guess I'm out of the Sadowsky club for a bit, but I'm gassing for another one, maybe a Metro.

I traded this, my Sadowsky NYC Modern 5:

1607580[/ATTACH]"]
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For this, MTD 635-24:
1607582[/ATTACH]"]
600_MTD_635_24_Wal-Ash.jpg

1607584[/ATTACH]"]
600_MTD_635_24_Wal-Ash_Back.jpg

1607586[/ATTACH]"]
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1607588[/ATTACH]"]
600_MTD_635_24_Wal-Ash_Case.jpg

:eek::eek::eek:

You Sir are a lucky man with thick pocket...:hiding:
But seriously, those are killer MTDs...




I am so jealous..:bawl:

Wow!!! this bass has been in ebay a couple days ago!
Your bass is next to mine in Namm 2010. Congrats for that!
Nice 635-24 !!!
MichaelTobiaswithOlsonsMTDbass.gif
 

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You just traded your 85 'vette for a 2010 Ferrari...handmade by Enzo himself. Nice!

My advice - keep that MTD long enough to break it in before you make any judgements about it - 4 years from now, if you play it LOTS, it will sound a LOT different that it does now.

Cheers,
Cameron

Well guys, gas has struck again. Due to the crappy economy, I'm no longer able to buy new basses or custom built beauties, so I have to resort to the lazy Susan trade technique. Selling a bass buying another one with cash liquidated from selling. Now, I was lucky enough to hook up with Luis Vega. Yes the infamous guy who had a bad dealing with fellow Tb'r Miko Espanol. I had my reservation from proceeding with any dealing with this guy, but you know what, he's an up an up guy. Anyhow, he offered to send me his bass first. He said that once I check out his bass for the trade, I can ship my bass to him at my leisure? Now, would a crook offer such a deal. So I took it. I should have my bass tomorrow, which is an MTD 635-24, 2010 NAMM show bass. I'm totally stoked, and if you guys have a chance in dealing with Luis, don't hesitate. A real great guy. Thanks Luis!

I guess I'm out of the Sadowsky club for a bit, but I'm gassing for another one, maybe a Metro.

I traded this, my Sadowsky NYC Modern 5:

1607652[/ATTACH]"]
005.jpg


For this, MTD 635-24:
1607654[/ATTACH]"]
600_MTD_635_24_Wal-Ash.jpg

1607656[/ATTACH]"]
600_MTD_635_24_Wal-Ash_Back.jpg

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Quick question... I haven't found enough pics to figure it out. Regarding the battery & control cavity covers.

I noticed that on some basses the battery box/cover is connected to the main control cavity and some basses aren't... Is this a new vs. old design thing or a 21 vs. 24 fret thing???
 
Quick question... I haven't found enough pics to figure it out. Regarding the battery & control cavity covers.

I noticed that on some basses the battery box/cover is connected to the main control cavity and some basses aren't... Is this a new vs. old design thing or a 21 vs. 24 fret thing???
It's a 21 vs 24 fret thing.
 
Speaking of which... I remember reading somewhere where Mr. Tobias said his bodies were shaped to best accommodate 21-fret necks. I have a 635-24, and I absolutely love it, but I say that to say this: My local shop has a 635 (w/ 21 frets) that plays like an absolute dream. It doesn't sound as good as mine (to my ears, of course) which is a good thing, because I'd be thinkin' all-kinda nasty thoughts on how to buy it. :D
 
Speaking of which... I remember reading somewhere where Mr. Tobias said his bodies were shaped to best accommodate 21-fret necks. I have a 635-24, and I absolutely love it, but I say that to say this: My local shop has a 635 (w/ 21 frets) that plays like an absolute dream. It doesn't sound as good as mine (to my ears, of course) which is a good thing, because I'd be thinkin' all-kinda nasty thoughts on how to buy it. :D

I'm with you, eversince I got my 635-24 three weeks ago I've been all over the net looking at other MTD's for sale... I can't even count how many times I've said, "It would be sweet to have that" or "Man, I want that." just in that time period.
 
I'm with you, eversince I got my 635-24 three weeks ago I've been all over the net looking at other MTD's for sale... I can't even count how many times I've said, "It would be sweet to have that" or "Man, I want that." just in that time period.

The more MTDs I see the more I'm convinced that Mike makes the most beautiful basses out there! And I never get a sense of "wretched excess" when looking at an MTD (the way I do with some "boutiques"). Mike has come up with a great-looking (IMO) and highly functional design and he chooses the most astonishing woods. Lately I've been paying more and more attention to the ash he uses for his bodies and, honestly, the backs of most of the ash MTDs are as attractive as the fronts!
 
The more MTDs I see the more I'm convinced that Mike makes the most beautiful basses out there! And I never get a sense of "wretched excess" when looking at an MTD (the way I do with some "boutiques"). Mike has come up with a great-looking (IMO) and highly functional design and he chooses the most astonishing woods. Lately I've been paying more and more attention to the ash he uses for his bodies and, honestly, the backs of most of the ash MTDs are as attractive as the fronts!

I could not agree more. I never get tired of looking at mine.
 
Yeah, hope I don't sound pretentious, but I also never get tired of looking at either one of my current 535's. I've been through several at this point, but these two are definitely long term, maybe "forever" keepers... especially with the more personal friendship I've developed over the years and at NAMM shows with Mike at this point.

What I personally find so amazingly cool over the course of my bass playing life is, I still remember back when the Burbank basses were new, and I revered those and the Alembics as the "holy grails", the "unreachable stars" of basses. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I'd ever be able to own one... let alone become personal friends with the wizard behind the magic.

If it's also not over the top for me to say, the two I have now are particularly special, as well, even amongst MTD USA basses. One has a top that is unlike anything else in that wood type that Mike's ever built, and it's one of only three made from the billet, and the other two went to personal friends of Mike's (never officially hit the market). The other one is a custom build, and while lots of people have ordered custom builds from Mike, this one was done with I think a lot more coordination than typically happens on those... we worked pretty closely on it, and he got it 100.00000% perfect.

I'm both proud and privileged to have what I have now. I think about that every time I look at either of these instruments, and at least one is out in my bass rack all the time, so that's fairly often. :)

Anyway. My .02
 
Yeah, hope I don't sound pretentious, but I also never get tired of looking at either one of my current 535's. I've been through several at this point, but these two are definitely long term, maybe "forever" keepers... especially with the more personal friendship I've developed over the years and at NAMM shows with Mike at this point.

What I personally find so amazingly cool over the course of my bass playing life is, I still remember back when the Burbank basses were new, and I revered those and the Alembics as the "holy grails", the "unreachable stars" of basses. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I'd ever be able to own one... let alone become personal friends with the wizard behind the magic.

If it's also not over the top for me to say, the two I have now are particularly special, as well, even amongst MTD USA basses. One has a top that is unlike anything else in that wood type that Mike's ever built, and it's one of only three made from the billet, and the other two went to personal friends of Mike's (never officially hit the market). The other one is a custom build, and while lots of people have ordered custom builds from Mike, this one was done with I think a lot more coordination than typically happens on those... we worked pretty closely on it, and he got it 100.00000% perfect.

I'm both proud and privileged to have what I have now. I think about that every time I look at either of these instruments, and at least one is out in my bass rack all the time, so that's fairly often. :)

Anyway. My .02
I think it's great that your basses possess that extra quality on account of a personal connection. And to feel that you helped contribute to the building of an instrument (beyond merely the financial aspect) can definitely be a special thing. One of the things I really like about the U.S. MTDs and Mike is that I get a strong impression that what comes first is the bass and a love of building fine basses (I know that this isn't restricted to MTDs, but this seems to stand out in a particularly strong way with Mike and his handmade basses). After meeting Mike and seeing his shop one quickly realises how down-home and no-BS the whole operation is. Having seen the basses you mention in your post, Vic, I can certainly understand your pride!