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The Official MTD USA Thread

#6,661
roadkill2309 said:
Mike's website kind of bites. I was trying to find info on the AG, and finally discovered it was a Kingston by googling it. I also came across pricing for a US Saratoga, but it doesn't seem to exist anywhere else on the site. I'm tempted to offer to redesign it the site for him, though I honestly don't have the time.

I only had time to quickly glance at the page. What, aside from the custom colour and smoked chrome makes the AG different than a non-sig model?
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Last time I spoke with Mike he told me that he was having someone redesign the site for him - it's definitely outdated and doesn't do the company justice. As for the AG model, I think it's basically a question of the wood combination and the bass being 24 frets. I know AG had the specs sheet up on his Facebook(?) page at one point but don't remember if there were any other spec differences besides the wood and number of frets. It's not a Kingston model, though - it's available either as a 635 or 535 (AG plays a 635).
 
#6,662
Loving my 535 bought from a fellow TB'er last summer. I don't have any action shots but here's one the previous owner sent me courtesy of the shop he bought it from. There's not many of them in the UK so it always turns heads!
 

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#6,665
bass12 said:
Last time I spoke with Mike he told me that he was having someone redesign the site for him - it's definitely outdated and doesn't do the company justice. As for the AG model, I think it's basically a question of the wood combination and the bass being 24 frets. I know AG had the specs sheet up on his Facebook(?) page at one point but don't remember if there were any other spec differences besides the wood and number of frets. It's not a Kingston model, though - it's available either as a 635 or 535 (AG plays a 635).
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Very interesting. The only AG I can find is the one (two, actually, the fiver and the sixer) at MTD Kingston's site. I guess there will be more info once Mike's new site is live.

Of course, once his new site is live, I'm never going to get any work done again...

I think Imma go YouTube some Gouche and hear this axe for myself...
 
#6,670
roadkill2309 said:
Mike's website kind of bites. I was trying to find info on the AG, and finally discovered it was a Kingston by googling it. I also came across pricing for a US Saratoga, but it doesn't seem to exist anywhere else on the site. I'm tempted to offer to redesign it the site for him, though I honestly don't have the time.
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There's a new MTD website up and it's a considerable improvement over the old site. See what you think: www.mtdbass.com
 
#6,672
Man, the booth was FULL of AMAZING basses, as always, and the MTD fundraiser Saturday was just simply a lot of fun. I like the new website and the message he's conveying by doing it the way he did, too. Perfect example of Mike and how he's so particularly focused on the specific personal connection with every element of every build. We're very good friends at this point, too, which is something I am extremely honored to say.

He's not the only one I feel particularly strongly about as a luthier/builder, but he's definitely in that very absolute top tier for sure, and part of it goes back to how long he's been doing what he does. I still remember looking at a Tobias years and years ago and just thinking I could never own anything like that ever in my life.

I know we all paid good hard earned money for these basses, but I still feel like it's good to take a minute and remember how cool it is to be a member of this family. Count your blessings. MTD ownership, especially USA custom MTD ownership, is certainly one of them.
 
#6,674
Vic said:
Man, the booth was FULL of AMAZING basses, as always, and the MTD fundraiser Saturday was just simply a lot of fun. I like the new website and the message he's conveying by doing it the way he did, too. Perfect example of Mike and how he's so particularly focused on the specific personal connection with every element of every build. We're very good friends at this point, too, which is something I am extremely honored to say.

He's not the only one I feel particularly strongly about as a luthier/builder, but he's definitely in that very absolute top tier for sure, and part of it goes back to how long he's been doing what he does. I still remember looking at a Tobias years and years ago and just thinking I could never own anything like that ever in my life.

I know we all paid good hard earned money for these basses, but I still feel like it's good to take a minute and remember how cool it is to be a member of this family. Count your blessings. MTD ownership, especially USA custom MTD ownership, is certainly one of them.
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I love Mike's business model.... do one thing and do it very well. All the basses were totally consistent... perfect quality, tried and true design, no suprises, no disappointments. Beautiful tops, great, consistent, predictable tone, literally perfect fit and finish on every instrument I saw.

He really is the model (along with Roger Sadowsky IMO) for a successful boutique brand... unique, profitable (I would assume), prices that aren't as high as you would think, decent delivery times that are hit, and again, a very consistent design that has Mike's hands all over each instrument.

Not my thing at this point tonally, but darn impressive.
 
#6,675
KJung said:
He really is the model (along with Roger Sadowsky IMO)...
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Yeah, Roger is another of my top tier associations... a complete and total class act, with a skill set absolutely second to none. You get something from a guy or a company run by a guy like that, and you just don't worry about anything at all... except maybe how painful the wait time will be for the new beauty even if it's just shipping time. :D :D
 
#6,680
chris.gotfunk said:
Thank you. I hope to get better pictures. The color of the bass is just majestic to me. These pics show off the figure, but not the true color.
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I know what you mean. Kinda' frustrating when you see how pics don't do beauties like these justice. :)
 

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