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The Official MTD USA Thread

#6,101
Tunaman said:
I like diversity... I have a P, a J a Sterling HH. I'd like something that a stock bass can't do... G&L, Bongo, Warwick etc.

I also don't see these basses as "Very versatile" they do their "main" sound well & others okay... I'd hope the MTD could great many more high quality tones than these.
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Well, just as each one of those basses has their native (and in some cases, very distinct) tone, the MTD does too. It just happens to be a very broad modern tone. None of these basses, including the MTD, is designed to literally emulate other basses, which is why we typically have our collections if we really want to own those sounds. Otherwise, I'd definitely say the MTD has a very broad range of adjustment with dual pickups and a three band EQ with selectable mids, but I wouldn't say there's anything inherent to the MTD that would make it more versatile than any other bass with that same configuration.

I'd say I'm looking for a better E string... It seems that the basses I have lose power from the "A" note down to the open E. The P bass & especially the Sterlings get a little weak & if I boost the bass it just adds to the volume difference between a B note & an E note.
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Well, "better" is highly subjective, but I can tell you all the USA MTD's I've ever played have been very consistent and great across the board from low to high. FWIW anyway.

So recap
1. Different than common mass produced basses
2. More versatility
3. Stronger E, F, G notes on the E string
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1. Definitely different
2. See above
3. Most likely
 
#6,102
"Better" E string would maybe mean "Naturally warm" & consistent tone from E,F,G to a B
I feel like I get great warmth in my P bass playing the A string & further on down the E string but then it loses its warmth & subsequent volume A & below.

So a naturally warm instrument like the P bass down low, that can also have pronounced mids (Sometimes I lose my upper mids in the mix with the P) I feel If I want mids in the mix I have to cut the warmth.

My Sterling H & HH do hi-fi rock very well so I guess I'm looking for a more versatile P bass. Are there recommendations of the best wood combos for that?
 
#6,103
Tunaman said:
Are there recommendations of the best wood combos for that?
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This is where it gets tough. So much of this will depend upon your playing style, your personal preferences, your related gear, etc. For instance, I get a very balanced, powerful, grindy, clear tone from my ash/maple/wenge/wenge MTDs, and this is perhaps my favorite MTD wood combo. But Vic has played my "go to" ash/maple/wenge/wenge 535 - and even gigged with it - but it did not work as well for him. Correct me if I am wrong, Vic, but I believe he does not like what he gets out of the upper mids from the wenge/wenge. But Vic plays over the bridge pickup, and I play over the neck pickup, and everyone's hands sound different - so there are lots of variables involved.

Probably the closest thing I have heard to a "consistent tone from player to player; everyone seems to like it" MTD is my mahogany/maple/maple/ebony 435. I think that wood combo has a lot going for it in an MTD.

Then there is the classic tulipwood (poplar)/myrtle/wenge/wenge MTD flavor, or the more recent success of ash/walnut/ash/maple.

Once again, it's probably best to try a couple and see what you like. If you have to buy before you try, you can generally flip an MTD pretty quick.

Hope this helps, Tom.
 
#6,104
Tunaman said:
"Better" E string would maybe mean "Naturally warm" & consistent tone from E,F,G to a B...
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Well, let me just say this; The MTD is one of the basses I've always felt the E and especially B strings were a very natural extension to the rest of the strings, which I especially appreciate... especially after owning something like a Roscoe LG3005 where it's almost like the B string is something you have to learn how to play back on to keep in "in check" and balanced with the rest. IMHO/IME on that of course.
 
#6,105
Tunaman said:
Are there recommendations of the best wood combos for that?
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tombowlus said:
This is where it gets tough. So much of this will depend upon your playing style, your personal preferences, your related gear, etc.
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Kudos to Tom for having the cohones to even address this question. :)

First of all, Tom's correct with his post, so let's just augment it with this...

I always pull back the reigns BIG when people ask me for advice on what they should order from Mike (or look for on the used market) regarding wood combos. The double-edged sword here is Mike's instruments are probably among the most, if not the most, personalized cases for matchups I've ever seen.

This means his basses will be very polarizing, and it's especially critical you get the right wood combo for YOU to have the proper "MTD experience". This is where MIKE comes in.

USE MIKE.

If you're serious about getting one, even on the used market, he's happy to talk to you. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the tone you want, use as many familiar examples in recorded music as possible. Tell him about your style and even amplification, as well as the type of music you'll most typically play. If you're looking on the used market, list the ones you're considering.

Case in point, I've been through several great MTD basses, yet, by far, the best one for me personally is the one I currently have, and I would have NEVER spec'd the woods I got if I'd had to choose with no advice. Not because I had any known issues with that combo, but rather that it was simply an unknown to me... but not to Mike.

Use... and trust... Mike. :)
 
#6,107
Thanks guys... consistency string to string is big. I'm just looking to get a warm signal to the board, it seems my DI signal is always really thin & you have to EQ warmth which never works as well as natural warmth.
I'll have to play around & it looks like ordering a MTD new sight unseen would be okay after talking to Mike but USED I'd want to have it in my hands
Thanks for the advice guys.
 
#6,108
Just joining. I'm 535 #1859, ash with a spalted maple top, wenge/wenge, 35" scale, 21 fret. Plays butta-fully, pun intended!
 

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#6,116
chris lykins said:
Hows the Ebony board working for you?
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It has a really responsive quality to it. Left hand articulation comes thru a little better than the wenge neck MTD's i've owned, but it loses none of that signature sweet slap tone. Everything i read about Black Limba having a built in midrange is very true. Nice lowmid kick.

Two things i missed about Mike's stuff: the lively 'woody' resonance to every note anywhere on the neck, and how in tune chords are in any position.
 
#6,117
ElMon said:
It has a really responsive quality to it. Left hand articulation comes thru a little better than the wenge neck MTD's i've owned, but it loses none of that signature sweet slap tone. Everything i read about Black Limba having a built in midrange is very true. Nice lowmid kick.

Two things i missed about Mike's stuff: the lively 'woody' resonance to every note anywhere on the neck, and how in tune chords are in any position.
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Having played 20 odd Fenders in the last few days, and then coming home to my MTD's, I realize how great they are. They are fully 'alive', on every note, the wood just comes through SO loud and clear, and the ergonomics are to die for. And they are the most in tune basses I have ever played, which I hear everytime I have to play with one of those gawd-awful digital pianos...

Cheers,
Cameron
 
#6,118
ElMon said:
It has a really responsive quality to it. Left hand articulation comes thru a little better than the wenge neck MTD's i've owned, but it loses none of that signature sweet slap tone. Everything i read about Black Limba having a built in midrange is very true. Nice lowmid kick.
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+1. I also have this wood combo in a 635-24. The ebony fingerboard really brightens the tone up and the notes are very, very clear and articulate. This is all without suffering loss to the mids; it's very much complimentary.

My experience with this bass / wood combo is that it cuts through the mix very well, even when I was playing with a Les Paul or two on stage in a heavier progressive rock band.
 
#6,120
Bassflute said:
... And they are the most in tune basses I have ever played, which I hear everytime I have to play with one of those gawd-awful digital pianos...

Cheers,
Cameron
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I had to laugh at that one because this evening our bass player asked when I was going to bring one of the 535s back for him to play on. I know he wants to practice his chording with it.
 

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