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The Official MTD USA Thread

#5,741
bass4worship said:
Is there a big different between the rosewood and maple necks on these basses?
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There is a lot of debate surrounding just how perceivable any tonal differences between these fingerboards are (just to set things straight, the neck itself wouldn't be made of rosewood, so I'm assuming you're talking about the fingerboard). The general consensus seems to be that rosewood makes for a warmer sound, while maple is brighter and snappier sounding.
 
#5,742
Jparpino said:
Today I received my first 535 (2039 Makore body, and neck, with Amboynia burl top and A gorgeous BEM fingerboard). I have longed for a 535 after playing Z5's for years. After playing this instrument, I cannot speak to Mike's genius enough! I never knew playing a bass could be this effortless. He pulled out all the stops on this one.

By the way, bought this from Glenn at Austin Bass Traders. Glenn was amazing to deal with, I would highly recommend ABT for anyone that is looking to bypass the wait from working with Mike directly.

Can I get a number?
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Nice! Last time I spoke with Mike he was extolling the virtues of makore as a body wood. I've only tried one makore MTD but it was just as Mike described it tone-wise. I loved it!
 
#5,743
Munjibunga said:
535BuckeyeBurl_HighResTB.jpg
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Always good to see this one. A TB classic. :)
 
#5,747
Jparpino said:
Today I received my first 535 (2039 Makore body, and neck, with Amboynia burl top and A gorgeous BEM fingerboard). I have longed for a 535 after playing Z5's for years. After playing this instrument, I cannot speak to Mike's genius enough! I never knew playing a bass could be this effortless. He pulled out all the stops on this one.

By the way, bought this from Glenn at Austin Bass Traders. Glenn was amazing to deal with, I would highly recommend ABT for anyone that is looking to bypass the wait from working with Mike directly.

Can I get a number?
Click to expand...

Glenn always manages to get the premium woods MTDs out there.
He's definetely the guy to deal with.

BTW VERY nice bass, but as usual: no soundlcips, no MTD! :hiding:
 
#5,748
bass12 said:
Nice! Last time I spoke with Mike he was extolling the virtues of makore as a body wood. I've only tried one makore MTD but it was just as Mike described it tone-wise. I loved it!
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Not sure what Mike had to say about makore, but after playing this bass it will be tough to buy something with a different body wood. The depth and clarity of every note along the finger board with the EQ's flat just blew my mind. Fits my tone perfectly :bassist:
 
#5,750
Couple years ago I got a spectacular 635/24 from Adrian Garcia,
Ash body, Crotch Walnut top, Ash neck, with a maple board.
Of all the MTD's I've owned that one was it, and yes I let it go because I wasn't comfortable on the six.
So, I kept my eye out for the same woods in a five string. This one came up and I jumped on it. Tone just as I remembered it.

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IMG_4146.jpg
 
#5,754
LeonD said:
What's the difference in tone between an ash, maple and wenge neck on an MTD bass?

I'm looking for something with a very articulate tone maybe with a slight upper mid boost and was wondering which neck wood would be best.

Thanks.
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If you want upper mids, stay away from wenge. I'd say maple. Ash doesn't scoop out upper mids, but adds lower mids, so that's why it might not be best for you.

HOWEVER... talk to Mike. Seriously.
 
#5,755
LeonD said:
What's the difference in tone between an ash, maple and wenge neck on an MTD bass?

I'm looking for something with a very articulate tone maybe with a slight upper mid boost and was wondering which neck wood would be best.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I'll echo what Vic says about talking to Mike, but I will add that IME, whether you play over the neck pickup or the bridge pickup makes a bigger than average difference when you are talking about wood choices in an MTD. I don't know why that is the case, but I do know, for instance, that Vic and I get very different results with a wenge/wenge neck (I'm talking on the exact same bass, here), and I think that this is in large part to our different playing positions (he's primarily a bridge guy, I'm primarily a neck guy).

But once again, talk to Mike (but be sure to tell him your playing style and personal preferences). :cool:
 
#5,756
tombowlus said:
I'll echo what Vic says about talking to Mike, but I will add that IME, whether you play over the neck pickup or the bridge pickup makes a bigger than average difference when you are talking about wood choices in an MTD. I don't know why that is the case, but I do know, for instance, that Vic and I get very different results with a wenge/wenge neck (I'm talking on the exact same bass, here), and I think that this is in large part to our different playing positions (he's primarily a bridge guy, I'm primarily a neck guy).
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Yeah, but that makes sense and doesn't conflict what my comments, either. You're much more into the lower mids and I'm a bit more into upper mids. You play over the neck, which perfectly compliments the low mid push of wenge, and the slight choke wenge has in the upper mids doesn't affect you at all. In my case, as you said, with the different style, going for a different sound where the upper mids matter more, I felt the effects of the wenge a lot more, and that makes sense too.

So playing position matters, of course, but I think the effects are the same in both cases... it just does or doesn't matter depending on what you're after. Since he's after the upper mids, I just think wenge would be a mis-fit.

But, if nothing else, we are both 100% on-board with talk to Mike at least. :)
 
#5,757
tombowlus said:
I'll echo what Vic says about talking to Mike, but I will add that IME, whether you play over the neck pickup or the bridge pickup makes a bigger than average difference when you are talking about wood choices in an MTD.
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^^ this...and I find it even more the case when you're dealing with a passive instrument for some reason. To the point where I've taken the preamps out of most of my basses, and my next bass will likely have only one bridge pickup...
 
#5,760
Georges Abitbol said:
Hi there,

Today I checked all my basses. Neck straight, tuning, batteries... I'm playing 2 or 3 a lot while I own 10. I've not played my F for a while for exemple.

I found some of them have a ugly fret oxidation.

What products do you use (or Mike suggest you to) for fret care?

Thanks!
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I use this stuff and it works really well... very very mild abrasive... won't mess up your fingerboards at all, and pretty much only removes the oxidation, doesn't remove metal, and super cheap and easy to find... and I think there are other brands that have similar products as well... just takes a bit of rubbing.

Planet Waves Fret Polishing System:
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