• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

The Official MTD USA Thread

#5,522
CDweller said:
On an unrelated note...I'm searching "MTD" every day now on TB, hoping to see new pics of these beautiful musical instruments. I'm so looking forward to taking delivery of the two MTDs I ordered four weeks ago. Only eight months to go......:bassist::bassist::bassist:

So anybody have any pics to add?
Click to expand...
What are are the specs of your two babies-to-be? :hyper:
 
#5,524
bass12 said:
What are are the specs of your two babies-to-be? :hyper:
Click to expand...

For the 21 fret 535:

Alder Body, Burly Maple "10" top flamed under bridge, burly at horns/matching peghead truss rod cover
Maple Neck, Madagascar Rosewood Fretboard, MTD "World" logo


For 24 fret fretless 535:

Alder body, myrtle burl "10" top, matching peghead/trussrod cover
Maple Neck, Rosewood fingerboard, fretlines, epoxy coated fingerboard, titanium neck bars, "World" logo

I am going fairly traditional here with Mike's blessing based on his evaluation of my goals. I was also smitten with this bass (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=686388&highlight=), but it sold before I made up my mind- thus we'll be basically replicating it. I felt a little foolish having Mike build something so mundane, but he was cool with it-I imagine having a customer lined up at the door with clear goals and cash in hand was not unpleasant for him.
 
#5,525
I placed this order because I've grown tired of buying basses that have needed lots of work to get them into tip-top shape. Every Fender I've had has needed the frets leveled to compensate for the tilt jazz necks commonly get at the point where the necks join the bodies, as well as fret dressing when bought new. I also just purchased twin Carvin 5 stringers (B-50 and B-50F), which after much work are now satisfactory, but it's been a struggle to get them in shape. The wood on the Carvins is fantastic- beautifully plain alder finished in tung oil (the finishes came out the same color as paper grocery bags-very plain, which I wanted- these are my school house basses, where the focus is on musical knowledge, not fancy basses). The wood on a lot of less expensive instruments is usually fine- in fact, the Chinese manufacturers of many basses get their wood from the Pacific Northwest- the same wood used by US manufacturers. However, it's the massaging of everything that takes time and differentiates the awesome from the mundane. Of course, beautiful tonewoods also make the higher end instruments wonderful to see as well as hear.

So I'm looking for a more high-fi sound than I've been getting, yet tempered with the qualities alder, maple, and rosewood are known for.

It boils down to nothing is for free, generally. You want a good bass? Someone has to sweat the details, and that costs money.
 
#5,526
CDweller said:
For the 21 fret 535:

Alder Body, Burly Maple "10" top flamed under bridge, burly at horns/matching peghead truss rod cover
Maple Neck, Madagascar Rosewood Fretboard, MTD "World" logo


For 24 fret fretless 535:

Alder body, myrtle burl "10" top, matching peghead/trussrod cover
Maple Neck, Rosewood fingerboard, fretlines, epoxy coated fingerboard, titanium neck bars, "World" logo
Click to expand...
OMGOSH those are going to be amazing!

I am going fairly traditional here with Mike's blessing based on his evaluation of my goals. I was also smitten with this bass (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=686388&highlight=), but it sold before I made up my mind
Click to expand...
Yeah, that was a very good deal for sure.

I felt a little foolish having Mike build something so mundane, but he was cool with it-I imagine having a customer lined up at the door with clear goals and cash in hand was not unpleasant for him.
Click to expand...
Mundane? Did you just say mundane? Wow. :)

Now, I know you were kinda' kidding, but seriously... :)

First of all, NOTHING Mike makes is even remotely mundane, even if it's a non-topped body with non-distinctive grain and a straight up non-figured neck/board and no trussrod/headstock lams. I've played some of the most "basic looking" USA MTD's and they have ALL the magic of Mike. :)

Some of the coolest sounding and playing MTDs I've touched were not the coffee table models. That's great news for folks who can't afford the uber-optioned out 535... especially on the used market where you can get a fantastic deal on a USA MTD just because it doesn't have the fancy figured stuff on it.

Secondly, Mike is all about making YOUR bass... not his. He'd be ok with making anything you wanted, as long as what you wanted met your tonal goals. And even in the cases where customers are insistent, despite his knowledge something else would likely fit their needs better, he'll still make what they want, after politely advising them against it tho, of course.

I'm very proud to say I've become personal friends with Mike at this point, and let me tell you, the coolness doesn't even come close to stopping at his instruments, and it's easy to tell why he makes such amazing stuff, and doesn't care about getting rich from it.
 
#5,527
Vic said:
OMGOSH those are going to be amazing!

Yeah, that was a very good deal for sure.

Mundane? Did you just say mundane? Wow. :)

Now, I know you were kinda' kidding, but seriously... :)

First of all, NOTHING Mike makes is even remotely mundane, even if it's a non-topped body with non-distinctive grain and a straight up non-figured neck/board and no trussrod/headstock lams. I've played some of the most "basic looking" USA MTD's and they have ALL the magic of Mike. :)

Some of the coolest sounding and playing MTDs I've touched were not the coffee table models. That's great news for folks who can't afford the uber-optioned out 535... especially on the used market where you can get a fantastic deal on a USA MTD just because it doesn't have the fancy figured stuff on it.

Secondly, Mike is all about making YOUR bass... not his. He'd be ok with making anything you wanted, as long as what you wanted met your tonal goals. And even in the cases where customers are insistent, despite his knowledge something else would likely fit their needs better, he'll still make what they want, after politely advising them against it tho, of course.

I'm very proud to say I've become personal friends with Mike at this point, and let me tell you, the coolness doesn't even come close to stopping at his instruments, and it's easy to tell why he makes such amazing stuff, and doesn't care about getting rich from it.
Click to expand...
+1. I think Mike really enjoys the idea of helping bassists attain their goals. This means building an instrument that has incredible playability AND building an instrument that will best produce the tone that an individual player is after. I was very close to sealing a deal on the bass your 21 fretter was modeled after, CDweller, but the bass was essentially on hold for someone else and I ended up making a trade for a wonderful ebony-topped black limba/wenge/wenge 535 instead. Although I've only played a handful of MTDs, my impression is that each one (even those in identical wood combinations) is a bit different. Each one has a touch of its own magic and there's something great about that. I love the fact that each neck on an MTD is a little bit different because Mike sands by feel. Nothing "mundane" at all about any 535 - I'd love to have one of the basses you've just described, CD!
 
#5,529
Thanks, guys. I am psyched about these basses. I meant mundane for Mike- he's a fellow who really has a handle on what various tonewoods sound like, and I imagine he gets jazzed about trying a new or less than usual wood. I am confident that I'll be getting two awesome basses that will sound wonderful, won't require the frets to be leveled, or the neck shimmed, or the frets crowned, or any of that. Just adjust the action, possibly the truss rod, maybe the pickups' heights, and you're good.

I also was excited by Vroom-Vroom's praise of the bass that got away's tone. Yes, I'll have some of that, thank you.
 
#5,530
bassistck said:
I gave my first MTD order about a month ago...Really excited to have one of those dream basses.Still have to wait about 6-7 months but I know it worths for it :hyper:

MTD 535-24
Figured Walnut 10 top
Ash body
Birdseye maple fingerboard
Maple neck
Matching truss rod cover and headstock
:bassist:
Click to expand...

That's going to be a sweet bass. Mike has a great eye for walnut!
 
#5,531
Quiet here lately-

I found a great clip of Andrew Gouche demonstrating the tonal qualities of his new signature bass (I am sure that some of you have seen this).

http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2010/10/27/mtd-andrew-gouche-signature-635/

I especially like the point that he makes about the versatility of these instruments and the perception that some players have about the tone being "trebly" and "bottom heavy". The clip is a great demonstration of the broad range of tones that can be achieved by tweaking the preamp (and of course Andrew is a monster player).;)
 
#5,532
Sithian said:
Quiet here lately-

I found a great clip of Andrew Gouche demonstrating the tonal qualities of his new signature bass (I am sure that some of you have seen this).

http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2010/10/27/mtd-andrew-gouche-signature-635/

I especially like the point that he makes about the versatility of these instruments and the perception that some players have about the tone being "trebly" and "bottom heavy". The clip is a great demonstration of the broad range of tones that can be achieved by tweaking the preamp (and of course Andrew is a monster player).;)
Click to expand...

Nice clip. Love Andrew's playing (how did I know he was going to incorporate "Forget Me Nots" when he mentioned a P Bass tone?). Funny that he didn't know what the top on his bass was though. I mean, if I had a signature instrument I'd be pretty certain of what the wood combo was (and even I recognize a burl maple top when I see one). :hmm:
 
#5,533
Well I'm back in the club. Traded my 535 about 2 years ago and now I'm back to MTD. Couldn't stay away. Just got this one in UPS yesterday. Some crappy cell phone pics. She plays and sounds great.

MTD635-1.jpg


MTD635-2.jpg


MTD635-3.jpg


This one is from the seller

MTD014.jpg


Korina/Wenge/Wenge
 
#5,539
The best way to describe it is "thick". I've played about 10 MTD's thanks to Vic and Tom Bowlus, and most of them had a high end that i found myself cutting a ton to get to where I wanted tonally. I tend to go for more of a vintage style tone, and this particular bass fits me just right! While this bass sounds a bit more traditional, it still maintains that MTD attack that I enjoy.

I'll do my best to get some clips recorded today or tomorrow and get them up for you guys to hear so you can see what I mean.
 
#5,540
JoshB said:
The best way to describe it is "thick". I've played about 10 MTD's thanks to Vic and Tom Bowlus, and most of them had a high end that i found myself cutting a ton to get to where I wanted tonally. I tend to go for more of a vintage style tone, and this particular bass fits me just right! While this bass sounds a bit more traditional, it still maintains that MTD attack that I enjoy.

I'll do my best to get some clips recorded today or tomorrow and get them up for you guys to hear so you can see what I mean.
Click to expand...

Nice, Josh! That sounds kind of like how my old rambutan-topped 535 sounded, but I don't think you ever had a chance to play that one.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back