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The Official MTD USA Thread

#5,181
chaps - a quick question that I hope you can help with. I'm looking for some opinions on the tone of a MTD with an alder body, maple neck with ebony fingerboard. Any one played/is playing one with that wood combo?

all comments appreciated, but get them in quick - i've got an itchy trigger finger :)
 
#5,182
dirtbird said:
chaps - a quick question that I hope you can help with. I'm looking for some opinions on the tone of a MTD with an alder body, maple neck with ebony fingerboard. Any one played/is playing one with that wood combo?

all comments appreciated, but get them in quick - i've got an itchy trigger finger :)
Click to expand...
Mike thinks that is a great combo to get a classic full sound out of the MTD. I asked about what combo he would use to make a Anthony Jackson presentation style MTD and that's what he suggested.
 
#5,183
Mark Latimour said:
Mike thinks that is a great combo to get a classic full sound out of the MTD. I asked about what combo he would use to make a Anthony Jackson presentation style MTD and that's what he suggested.
Click to expand...

thanks Mark, I've mailed Mike too for his input on the particular bass I'm looking at, just trying to canvass other opinions as well, but good hear heat that nevertheless. thanks! :)

Btw, your new MTD looks sweet!

Cheers
G
 
#5,184
Mark Latimour said:
A new addition to the family:

MTD 535-24
Ash body
Ash neck
Tasmanian Blackheart Sasafras top
Birdseye maple fingerboard w/vintage tint
Strung E-C

I ordered this one through Joel at the Grooveshoppe who was great as usual. There was a small mishap with the order / bass that needed rectification and Joel and Mike were super helpful in getting it all sorted out. I have been playing the basses ass off this afternoon and its fantastic. The tone of ash/ash/maple is really my thing, I am really happy with it. Its a lot more aggressive than my other MTD (Alder/Walnut/wenge/maple), but still has that full range sound that I think is great with MTDs. Anyway, without further ado, the pics:

IMG_9306.jpg


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IMG_9308.jpg
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Back of that neck is outrageous. I'm glad it's missing a string, or I'd have to go look at Wishbasses for an hour.

Congrats,
Cameron
 
#5,185
dirtbird said:
chaps - a quick question that I hope you can help with. I'm looking for some opinions on the tone of a MTD with an alder body, maple neck with ebony fingerboard. Any one played/is playing one with that wood combo?

all comments appreciated, but get them in quick - i've got an itchy trigger finger :)
Click to expand...

and it's Alder, Blackened redwood top, maple, Rosewood fingerboard. Beautiful, über-Fender sound, bottom end for DAYS, esp. with palm muting....incredible bass, and getting better with age.

Cheers,
Cameron
 
#5,190
I simply HAVE to get me one of those...

How would you describe it's tone compared to other MTD's or other basses you have played? How is the back pickup solo sound?

And nice new case...with a hydrometer? Cool.

Cheers,
Cameron

Bassconbeatz said:
I'm no photographer but I hope this can show just how beautiful it is. This baby is just a pure tone monster. :)


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#5,192
YCBass said:
Does anyone know if there is any difference between the sets with the USA headstock pictured on the front of the package and the ones with KZ basses??? I see both versions on eBay.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I don't believe there's a difference - just a marketing/packaging thing - at least in my experience. However, I do believe there is a difference overall...no proof exactly, and my retailer unfortunately hasn't heard anything specific. However, we've both noticed a difference in the strings since sometime in March/April. My first clue was slapping on a fresh set and finding the intonation off...way off. I've never used anything but MTD SS on my bass, so this was a surprise. Same thing happened on another (non-MTD) bass that wore the same strings. No huge difference in tension or sound, but I've also noticed that they seem to be less durable as well.

Nothing scientific here - just my observations over the past 2-3 months. I know there were some distribution issues, supposedly to the extent that there was dangerously low inventory for to-be-shipped instruments, and that this led to some changes on the back end. Whether that involved a new supplier, a new spec...I have no idea and by no means do I want to insinuate anything or create drama. I just strongly feel that the strings I'm using now are somehow different than the ones I was using for the prior two-ish years...to the extent that I'm about to consider a switch.

On another note...just another plug for the ash/walnut + ash/maple vibe. I still love my 635 - it's got the cut you'd expect from those woods, along with a nice fatness and mid presence that does it for me. Aggressive, without a doubt, but when you want that tone, there's nothing else like it. I wil say that my recent favorite MTD's have been alder/maple + maple/rosewood, though. Warmth and fullness combined with the sound we expect from those electronics.
 
#5,193
Thanks for the info Jerry... I normally don't like SS strings but the stock strings that came on my 635 were very nice so I may give them a try again.

Speaking of your Ash/Ash MTD, I have got to try one of those! But so far good 'ol Ash/Maple is still treating me very nicely.
 
#5,200
Supertanker said:
That was hot!

Stop hateN!

I'm gonna see if Mike can build a bass that sounds like that!

What wood combination do you think I would need?

ohhhh yeah!!!
Click to expand...

bass12 said:
One-piece asswood with a Holstein top.
Click to expand...

Ha ha ha ha ha....quote of the month, and up for quote of the year...

That Wishbass tone in that video, played by the builder, has been described as 'constipated Bovine'...

Cheers,
Cameron
 

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