• 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

#5,661
CDweller said:
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!:hiding:

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.
Click to expand...
Oh NICE, I missed/forgot that you're getting two basses! :D

I'm kinda' "done" buying these at this point, since I can't imagine having another MTD I like better than either of the two I have, and I've posted before, so I didn't get the hint. :)

But, since you ask...

Here's some of my old pics, but I just got some new lighting equipment for product shots, so maybe I'll try to make time to test it out on my MTDs and post up some more. :)

Marilyn #8 (the top is not stained - it's water cured (essentially partially petrified) redwood):
mtd_wcr.jpg


The custom knobs that are on it, using matching woods:
m8_afterknobs2.jpg


"The man" with my bass just before shipping. :)
Marilyn8.jpg


My "main" 535, and newest. Pure magic. Mike and I worked closely on it and it paid off. At only about 8.4 pounds, it's a very rare lighter ash bodied 535:
535_walnut_ash_01.jpg


535_walnut_ash_02.jpg


535_walnut_ash_04.jpg


The walnut "rainbow":
535_walnut_ash_06.jpg
 
#5,662
Bassflute said:
:smug:

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

Cheers,
Cameron
Click to expand...


That's fantastic! Mike got the job because I've discovered it's hard to find a good bass among standard production basses.

To me that means the neck is not flexible and it responds properly to truss rod adjustments, the frets are level and properly crowned, and it has little or no dead spots on the neck. These items are rarely found together on production basses, and in my frustration I decided to punt and call Mike.

And tone... as I improve in my abilities, I find that I get much better tone out of any bass, really, but you want a bass that inately sounds good. I have no question that the "has excellent tone" box will be checked off in spades with these two basses.

BTW Cameron- the clip of JB you posted on FB showing the various chord tones and extensions being emphasized was terrific. Jeff's beyond belief sometimes, something I see up close and personal every day during my current attendance at his school.

Vic- extraordinary looking basses, and fantastic photography as well. I got lost and short of breath just drinking in the complex textures and colors in the tops (edit: actually, admiring all aspects of your basses; the back of the neck, the knobs, the grain of the wood of the bodies, the curve of the edges, the headstock veneers...simply gorgeous). Droolworthy basses, no doubt. And yeah, at a certain level, a particular bass has all the latent musical capacity one would ever need. Then it becomes a matter of the musician developing. The bass is already there ready, willing, and able.
 
#5,663
By the way- how did the basses fair after being shipped? I'm sure they get set up to the nth degree at Mike's shop, but then they get subjected to the rigors of being shipped. That includes being jostled, exposed to temperature extremes, and if shipped via air they get exposed to bone dry air at cruise altitudes. Just wondering.
 
#5,664
CDweller said:
By the way- how did the basses fair after being shipped? I'm sure they get set up to the nth degree at Mike's shop, but then they get subjected to the rigors of being shipped. That includes being jostled, exposed to temperature extremes, and if shipped via air they get exposed to bone dry air at cruise altitudes. Just wondering.
Click to expand...
These are beautiful, rare, and unique pieces, no doubt, but don't associate those attributes with any sense of fragility. These are solid well built instruments and don't have any special susceptibility to damage. I've been through several of these, shipped in normal hard cases, in typical guitar boxes, flipped some to others with no problem, and have never heard of anyone ever having a problems.

Fear not. :)
 
#5,666
kuma9 said:
Does anyone here gig with a Marilyn 535? If so, then what is the weight and tone like? Would you use it as your main bass?
Click to expand...
8.6 pounds, bigger and wider than a typical 535 (tho not scooped... the chambers just seem to kinda' amplify the acoustic component... kinda' like maybe a bit more piano mixed in). Probably not unless I was doing a lot more stuff in sparser mixes where I wanted to fill more space. My solid body has a little bit more controlled sound and I prefer that more for the busier mixes I typically play in.

That's NOT to say if the Marilyn was the only 535 I wouldn't gig it... it'd be totally worthy. I just like the solid body a little better for most purposes.
 
#5,669
Bassflute said:
:smug:

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
Click to expand...

It can be longer, if you are waiting for something specific. I have had a bass on order with Mike for a very long time, but we're looking at something pretty unique. After looking at many options, I picked out the ebony for the top last year, and it's just now getting dry enough to cut. I'm pretty excited, though! :hyper:
 
#5,670
kuma9 said:
Does anyone here gig with a Marilyn 535? If so, then what is the weight and tone like? Would you use it as your main bass?
Click to expand...

Yes, I do gig mine, but it's been a while since it's made it to a gig (but that can be said about a lot of basses in my collection - I typically end up gigging with whatever bass(es) I am reviewing at the time).

I'll agree with Vic in that it kind of sounds like a bigger 535 (which is a big sounding bass to begin with). In a busy mix, it can be a bit much, but with just one guitar, it actually works really well. I think of it as a grand piano on steroids. :D :bassist: :bassist: :bassist: :cool:

Here's a gig pic for proof:

112_1235.jpg


112_1227.jpg


The WWU/VL-208 rig was actually my "rhythm guitar" rig (octave-up from my Akai Uni-Bass).

112_1234.jpg
 
#5,671
Cool! Any sound clips of the Marilyn around?


tombowlus said:
Yes, I do gig mine, but it's been a while since it's made it to a gig (but that can be said about a lot of basses in my collection - I typically end up gigging with whatever bass(es) I am reviewing at the time).

I'll agree with Vic in that it kind of sounds like a bigger 535 (which is a big sounding bass to begin with). In a busy mix, it can be a bit much, but with just one guitar, it actually works really well. I think of it as a grand piano on steroids. :D :bassist: :bassist: :bassist: :cool:

Here's a gig pic for proof:

112_1235.jpg


112_1227.jpg


The WWU/VL-208 rig was actually my "rhythm guitar" rig (octave-up from my Akai Uni-Bass).

112_1234.jpg
Click to expand...
 
#5,675
tombowlus said:
It can be longer, if you are waiting for something specific. I have had a bass on order with Mike for a very long time, but we're looking at something pretty unique. After looking at many options, I picked out the ebony for the top last year, and it's just now getting dry enough to cut. I'm pretty excited, though! :hyper:
Click to expand...

I saw the happy jumping emoticon, and Carly Simon's "Anticipation" just started sounding in my head ;)

I went fairly plain vanilla, because mostly I'll be playing jazz or holding down the low end in a 10 piece horn band. The fretted is a 22 fret maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, and an alder body. The fretless has 24 ...lines, with an epoxy fingerboard finish, again maple and rosewood, but a lesser grade of rosewood on account of it being coated with epoxy, and an alder body.

Mike said the basses would be like Jazz Basses on steroids, and that's fine by me.
 
#5,676
CDweller said:
I saw the happy jumping emoticon, and Carly Simon's "Anticipation" just started sounding in my head ;)

I went fairly plain vanilla, because mostly I'll be playing jazz or holding down the low end in a 10 piece horn band. The fretted is a 22 fret maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, and an alder body.
Click to expand...
I'm assuming you meant to say "21 fret", as Mike typically offers 21 or 24 fret fingerboards. As for "plain vanilla" - nothing at all wrong with a classic flavour!
 
#5,679
bassistck said:
Hi there , I also got an e-mail from Mike last wednesday about my order.He wanted me to choose the top wood of my 535 :smug:
It was really hard to make a desicion because all of the woods were awesome but here is my selection ! :hyper:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...
Man, I can't wait to see that with a finish on it. That is some of the best looking walnut I've ever seen. Wow, what a cool figure!

anezthes said:
That's two insanely beautiful MTDs, Vic. Switch the fingerboards and send that Marilyn to me.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
NO! Dude, the flamed blistered gaboon ebony on the Marilyn is PERFECT for that wood combo and chambered design, IMHO. :)
 
#5,680
kuma9 said:
Very nice! I dig the tone. Now if I can only track one down.....
Click to expand...
You can always order new. But it won't be cheap. :) I just checked Mike's pricing and at least at MSRP, it's getting close to 7K with the matching covers, ebony board, 10 top, 24 frets, and chambers, on a 535.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back