The Official MTD USA Thread

[pauliebass]

Hi folks,

OK, yes I do not have an MTD (I do have Killer B 4 string) but am diligently saving my pennies for one day. Question: If you were to choose between an Ash body vs an Alder body, which would you choose and why? From what I understand the tonal characteristics are similar but wanted opinions. Thanks folks

Here's #989. Alder body. I have gigged this bass a lot. I like the warmth out of this bass with this body wood. Especially with a c string... it blends well with the other strings. I think the f'board/neck wood makes a "larger" difference in the end. I love my ash basses as well though! I suspect you would be happy with either. It's hard to not stress on these details, right?

 

[CDweller]

Hi folks,

OK, yes I do not have an MTD (I do have Killer B 4 string) but am diligently saving my pennies for one day. Question: If you were to choose between an Ash body vs an Alder body, which would you choose and why? From what I understand the tonal characteristics are similar but wanted opinions. Thanks folks

That's a question I grappled with as well. At the end of the day, I ordered two alder-bodied 535's, both with maple necks and rosewood finger/fretboards. Mike said I'd get two basses that were like Jazz Basses on steroids- sounds good to me. The basses will see duty mostly in jazz bands, though they will be called upon to play 70's disco-music situations on occasion. One's fretted, the other is spec'ed with an epoxy coated rosewood fingerboard. I'm tempted to buy the beautiful alder bodied, maple neck/rosewood fretboard 535 that's available in the classifieds, but thus far I'm sticking with the plan to purchase twins brand new from Mike.

 

[Vakmere]

Heres something you dont see every day. I found this on the Bay with a midi hook up. I am contemplating getting a Roland GR20 and this would save time and expense. Anybody here know if Mike made this? Item number 300518991604. I emailed Mike but he must be busy with builds. Hopefully the electronics work. I dont know how this affects the MTD sound if plugged straight in however it looks interesting.

 

[Vic]

Heres something you dont see every day. I found this on the Bay with a midi hook up. I am contemplating getting a Roland GR20 and this would save time and expense. Anybody here know if Mike made this? Item number 300518991604. I emailed Mike but he must be busy with builds. Hopefully the electronics work. I dont know how this affects the MTD sound if plugged straight in however it looks interesting.

Woah! Never seen anything like that before! Not my thing at all, but interesting!

 

[pauliebass]

Based on the lines of the body, I would think Mike carved that. It flares out right before that cut in the lower bout. Weird but cool for the experimental at heart.

 

[dirtbird]

hello all,
thought I'd give the heads up that theres a very lovely looking 535-24 (Marilyn #12) going for sale used at Bass North West.
http://www.bassnw.com/Used Basses/mtd_535_24_marilyn_12.htm

It also has "piezo transducer mounted in the cavity for "percussion" drum effects that is switched on by pulling up on the bass knob".
That's quite interesting apart from anything else!! Lovely looking bass

Has anyone heard a Marilyn with a piezo transducer in the cavity? I recall reading something about this a few months ago but can't quite remember where.

Anyway, it looks sweet - a great bit of p0rn for a Sunday afternoon

 

[Vic]

hello all,
thought I'd give the heads up that theres a very lovely looking 535-24 (Marilyn #12) going for sale used at Bass North West.
http://www.bassnw.com/Used Basses/mtd_535_24_marilyn_12.htm

It also has "piezo transducer mounted in the cavity for "percussion" drum effects that is switched on by pulling up on the bass knob".
That's quite interesting apart from anything else!! Lovely looking bass

Has anyone heard a Marilyn with a piezo transducer in the cavity? I recall reading something about this a few months ago but can't quite remember where.

Anyway, it looks sweet - a great bit of p0rn for a Sunday afternoon

I know all about this bass. It originally was built for a personal friend of Mike's named Jonathan Starr, who used to be on TB (I don't think he is much if at all anymore.) The piezo in the chamber was Jon's idea. It's the only bass like it in the world, and it's one of only three basses with a top made from that particularly unusual piece of water cured redwood (another went to another personal friend of Mike's, and I have the third.) What's significant about that is it's not a burl like most of the WC redwood you see out there, it's fairly straight grained, which will make it behave a bit more acoustically, thus accentuating the chambered design.

That coupled with the fact that it comes with some very rare LP pickups makes this a fairly good deal even at 4K used.

 

[Vakmere]

1. The bass also has a piezo transducer mounted in the cavity for "percussion" drum effects that is switched on by pulling up on the bass knob.
2. This bass is in near mint condition (it was never gigged with and only played a few times),????

These 2 parts I dont get. Percussion drum effect? Does it play a drum sound? Never gigged? Why go thru all that expense and not gig it or play it? Must not sound all that or less than the expected result.

 

[Georges Abitbol]

I own a 535 with a piezo bridge, I can tell it has a powerful output that enhance the percussive effect (mine is fretted) of the note played.

With the midi feature, it's not a bass you're playing everyday, not surprising it has been barely gigged or played!

If you look at my 535, you'll find bass guitar in pristine condition, as new! So no surprise here, but you'd better pick it up in person and try before buy!

 

[bass12]

1. The bass also has a piezo transducer mounted in the cavity for "percussion" drum effects that is switched on by pulling up on the bass knob.
2. This bass is in near mint condition (it was never gigged with and only played a few times),????

These 2 parts I dont get. Percussion drum effect? Does it play a drum sound? Never gigged? Why go thru all that expense and not gig it or play it? Must not sound all that or less than the expected result.

I can see that kind of idea as being something that would "sound" better in theory than in practice (a science experiment gone horribly wrong!!). The thought of having a transducer in one of the cavities doesn't appeal to me at all, but that redwood top and ebony fingerboard ARE incredible.

 

[Vic]

1. The bass also has a piezo transducer mounted in the cavity for "percussion" drum effects that is switched on by pulling up on the bass knob.
2. This bass is in near mint condition (it was never gigged with and only played a few times),????

These 2 parts I dont get. Percussion drum effect? Does it play a drum sound? Never gigged? Why go thru all that expense and not gig it or play it? Must not sound all that or less than the expected result.

No, it's just that it turns on the piezo transducer mounted inside one of the chambers. The percussive effect is achieved by tapping on the chamber... kinda' like when acoustic guitar players get almost a conga/bongo type sound when they hit the tops of their guitars. It's also used tho to amplify the "acoustic" nature of the chambered basses. It's actually dual purpose. TOTALLY different thing from the goals of a piezo bridge... totally different.

 

[kuma9]

Hi folks, here is my new 535 "Norm Stockton". Great tone and the weight is very light.

 

[kuma9]

Here's part of my gang with the MTDs leading the way!!

 

[Vic]

Here's part of my gang with the MTDs leading the way!!

Fantastic collection!!!

 

[bass12]

Kuma - very nice! I didn't like the bluebursts when I first saw them but they've since grown on me. I see you kept your maple-neck 535. I'd love to hear you describe the tonal differences between the two MTDs.

 

[CDweller]

Just got an email from Mike this past Wednesday, and he had me choose the tops for my two basses on order. I'm attaching the pics to the post, but I don't know how to make them bigger. Anybody know how to do that?

Also- anybody have a ball park figure how long it takes Mike to complete a bass from the time he asks you to select the top? I forgot to ask in all the excitement.

 

[Vic]

Just got an email from Mike this past Wednesday, and he had me choose the tops for my two basses on order. I'm attaching the pics to the post, but I don't know how to make them bigger. Anybody know how to do that?

Also- anybody have a ball park figure how long it takes Mike to complete a bass from the time he asks you to select the top? I forgot to ask in all the excitement.

For best results, you should always host images elsewhere and use the IMG markup here to reference them. The bad thing about using attachments is not only does it do that funky thing with them, but also, only members can see them.

There's a trick you can use with attachments to make them bigger tho... using the IMG markup with the attachment URL.

Here you go...

Really tough choice there. Both look great! On build times, it varies a LOT, so you'll just have to ask him.

 

[CDweller]

Vic- thanks for the hosting info. I just put in the carpeting to the outhouse, so I've got a bit of catching up to do with the whole internet thing. I am grateful that Al Gore invented it, though!

Those were the pics of the two tops I've chosen. The maple burl (I think it's burl...) goes on the fretted, and the myrtle goes on the titanium rod neck fretless.

You know, I had an ulterior motive in posting these pics. I was hoping to precipitate some more MTD porn- I'm jonesing for some more MTD pics while my two are getting made.

 

[Bassflute]

Here's part of my gang with the MTDs leading the way!!

Is that the ash/ash/walnut/BEM bass (#2)? How is that?

And nice amp and cab choices as well!

CHeers,
Cameron

 

[Bassflute]

Just got an email from Mike this past Wednesday, and he had me choose the tops for my two basses on order. I'm attaching the pics to the post, but I don't know how to make them bigger. Anybody know how to do that?

Also- anybody have a ball park figure how long it takes Mike to complete a bass from the time he asks you to select the top? I forgot to ask in all the excitement.

Just jivin'....

could be MONTHS....you'll have to ask him. But you've made it to the front of the line, at least, now it's just BUILD time, not waiting list time...

One thing I CAN tell you, it will be BETTER than you thought possible...

Cheers,
Cameron