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The Official MTD USA Thread
- Thread starter johnpaulbass
- Start date
To make this thread a little more positive and relevant to MTD geeks, I thought I would share a clip of the bass in question from one of the last gigs I used it on.
Invalid Link Removed
Once again, it's maple board, alder body, rosewood top.
The strings are pretty dead.
Not my tightest solo ever- there's some phrases that aren't sitting in the pocket as much as I would like, but it's just a jam session basically.
That MTD + your playing sounds great. I like it
I have deleted all posts related to the MTD I recently purchased. I would appreciate if anyone who quoted these deleted posts also delete their posts.
Caveat Emptor.
Caveat Emptor.
Not sure about this but I think I have read somewhere that if you get it directly from Mike, he will charge you with the list price, whereas through a dealer you may get discounts. Doesn't seem logical, but that's if I remember correctly. Correct me if I'm wrong guys!
As for me, I'm not in the US, so I went through a dealer as I don't want to bother Mike to look for the best shipping rates. Besides, a dealer may have some great looking woods reserved for them. Choosing a great dealer will also be an important factor if you were to experience a great service. In my case, I went for Austin Bass Traders, and would definitely recommend them! You won't be disappointed
+2! Thanks for clarifying, Vic
And yes, Glenn is the man when it comes to MTDs
all, thanks for your input on that. there appears to be a pretty strong consensus view here. I'll drop Glenn a mail
Very cool of you to do that. FWIW, I do appreciate it.
On the rest of your post regarding high end purchases, IMHO, it can be very effectively summarized by paraphrasing what you said in this way:
It is incumbent on you, the purchaser, to inquire about every aspect of the instrument or related items that you deem important.
The bottom line is, when there's a lot of money on the line, details matter. Leave absolutely nothing to assumption.
Those of us who've been buying at the high end, online from individuals (no return or eval policy), intuitively live by this rule. It's the only way to minimize risk to an acceptable level, and help protect BOTH the buyer and seller.
IMHO/FWIW.
- Jun 24, 2006
- 2,560
- 90
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: MTD basses and strings; Bergantino Amps & Cabs
To make this thread a little more positive and relevant to MTD geeks, I thought I would share a clip of the bass in question from one of the last gigs I used it on.
Invalid Link Removed
Once again, it's maple board, alder body, rosewood top.
The strings are pretty dead.
Not my tightest solo ever- there's some phrases that aren't sitting in the pocket as much as I would like, but it's just a jam session basically.
those basses sound fantastic in the jazz setting, don't they? Love mine.
Cheers,
Cameron
Trying to pay for grad school, so I might have to let go of my 535. I will be very sad to see it go.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-mtd-535-tulipwood-maple-wenge-wenge-cherry-burst-822101/
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-mtd-535-tulipwood-maple-wenge-wenge-cherry-burst-822101/
So, does the "full stop" mean that you sold the bass or that you changed your mind?
My MTD always floats back to my hands as the "main player." I can't believe I was almost willing to sell or trade it. My bad! It's always important to not let talkbass induced gas take over. Be careful when flipping instruments.
I got back from Mike Tobias last night the MTD 535 that I recently purchased from an ad on TB. Mike called me when it arrived at his shop. His first words to me were "you know there's a hole in the case, right?" I laughed, and said "yeah, that's the way I received it from the seller." Mike wanted to make sure that it wasn't damaged in transit. Very considerate of Mike to note that the case had a hole it it, and to let me know. Fortunately, Mike had an undamaged case available, which I purchased for $140. I doubt that I'll sell the bass, but if I do, I can mention that it has an undamaged, unblemished case.
Mike verified in writing what I stated regarding the fall it experienced while in a padded gig bag, which is that the bass was not damaged at all. He also fixed the bottomed out g-string saddle the bass had when I originally received it. Mike had to shim the neck. He did so by applying a minute amount epoxy to the base of the neck, allowing it to dry, and shaping it to conform properly to the neck pocket- certainly more detailed than the usual credit card or wood shim methods. Now the g-string's saddle is not bottomed out against the bridge, and the g-string's action is lower than when I received the bass. Of course, neither of the two allen screws is loose in the saddle, as one was when I received it. I can now tell any purchaser of this bass that the saddles provide adequate string adjustment. You can now take the action down to the fretboard, if you get possessed by demons. After spending the extra money on this bass after buying it, again I doubt that I'll be selling it any time soon. Probably keep it in the family as an heirloom, and let the descendants sell it after I'm gone.
Mike was also gracious enough to provide me documentation on this bass, absent when I first received it. He wrote in the documents that the body is ash, but a phone call to Mike verified that the body is indeed alder. Regardless, the bass has tone, tone, tone; tone that is pleasant to the ear in either a hi-fi urban context or more laid back jazz ensemble setting.
It's an increasingly rare pleasure to deal with a man such as Mike Tobias, whose ethics are beyond reproach. Mike wrote that the bass is now amazing, and I agree. I have an inarguably top-tier bass after only spending a couple or three hundred more than the purchase price. At age 52, having purchased my first bass at age 12, and approximately another 30 subsequently, I'm still learning valuable business lessons on occasion.
Mike verified in writing what I stated regarding the fall it experienced while in a padded gig bag, which is that the bass was not damaged at all. He also fixed the bottomed out g-string saddle the bass had when I originally received it. Mike had to shim the neck. He did so by applying a minute amount epoxy to the base of the neck, allowing it to dry, and shaping it to conform properly to the neck pocket- certainly more detailed than the usual credit card or wood shim methods. Now the g-string's saddle is not bottomed out against the bridge, and the g-string's action is lower than when I received the bass. Of course, neither of the two allen screws is loose in the saddle, as one was when I received it. I can now tell any purchaser of this bass that the saddles provide adequate string adjustment. You can now take the action down to the fretboard, if you get possessed by demons. After spending the extra money on this bass after buying it, again I doubt that I'll be selling it any time soon. Probably keep it in the family as an heirloom, and let the descendants sell it after I'm gone.
Mike was also gracious enough to provide me documentation on this bass, absent when I first received it. He wrote in the documents that the body is ash, but a phone call to Mike verified that the body is indeed alder. Regardless, the bass has tone, tone, tone; tone that is pleasant to the ear in either a hi-fi urban context or more laid back jazz ensemble setting.
It's an increasingly rare pleasure to deal with a man such as Mike Tobias, whose ethics are beyond reproach. Mike wrote that the bass is now amazing, and I agree. I have an inarguably top-tier bass after only spending a couple or three hundred more than the purchase price. At age 52, having purchased my first bass at age 12, and approximately another 30 subsequently, I'm still learning valuable business lessons on occasion.
The bass needed a little tlc to be up to scratch, scratch being top shelf. This bass had the raw goods in spades, and the Master's touch allowed it to blossom.
Glad things worked out in the end. Mike's a first class guy to deal with, no doubt about it.
Question for the MTD club: does anyone own, or has anyone played a 634? I know they're super rare, but I've been thinking a lot about getting an MTD lately, and I would want 34" and 19mm, which are not the default specs.
Any idea what Michael would charge for those upgrades? There aren't any details about this on the site unfortunately.
Any idea what Michael would charge for those upgrades? There aren't any details about this on the site unfortunately.
I played a 735 (is that a legit model number?) last weekend. Just jamming with some folks at a friends house, and someone there had it. How many of those can there be? Amazing instrument. Incredibly light for such a beast, and a fast fast neck. I've owned a Conklin; this was much more compact and refined.
Thing is, what really knocked me out about this bass was the high F. So sweet and articulate! It made me want to stay up there all day.
Can't stop thinking about it.
Thing is, what really knocked me out about this bass was the high F. So sweet and articulate! It made me want to stay up there all day.
Can't stop thinking about it.
I had given some thought about selling my MTD. I decided to get it set up properly and put on a new set of strings. After I got it back, it blew my socks off...I can't put it down. MTD's are special instruments. I don't know what Mike does to these things, but they are magical. Last week I attended a Guitar Show in Pa. I was telling a luthier who was there with his handmade instruments that I had an MTD 535. He offered to trade one of his basses that he built, that was brand new, for my used, unseen by him, MTD. I was shocked. His basses sell for $3,500. I declined his offer, but that tells you how much MTD's are respected.
