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The Official MTD USA Thread

#7,004
Kirk P Brosius said:
Hey blen dem,
A few months ago I had a few questions about the playabiliy and tone of an MTD with 34" vs 35" scale. I erroniously refered to the former as a "34" scale 535" and recieved an immediate reply (and scolding, sorry ya'll) stating that the 34" scale would be referred to as a "534"!
These are very difficult to find but there was a fine example floating around the 'bay for a while with a "BIN" of $5000.
They are out there used.
Later, Kirk
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Much appreciated Kirk and yes, they are quite difficult to find. I am more "at home" with a 34" but will say that the 535 has been the easiest 35" bass i have owned to play...A Mike Lull P5 was a very close second.

Cheers:bassist:
 
#7,005
blen dem said:
Much appreciated Kirk and yes, they are quite difficult to find. I am more "at home" with a 34" but will say that the 535 has been the easiest 35" bass i have owned to play...A Mike Lull P5 was a very close second.

Cheers:bassist:
Click to expand...

MTD's neck profile is superb (please allow me to say the "best").

I haven't found any other boutique bass with a comparably comfortable neck, especially when it comes to the higher register.
 
#7,006
sha975 said:
Here are a few pictures of my MTD 634-24. When I asked for the dealer to get me pictures from Mike he did so and when he sent me the pictures via email he mentioned Mike saying that they had to make a special jig to route my neck pocket because this was the very first MTD-634-24 ever made. I wrote him back asking was he sure that was right and he said yes. That's pretty hard to believe knowing Mike has been building for decades. You mean to tell me that no one ever asked him to make a 34"-6 string bass with 24 frets? Anyone out there know anyone that's has one? This one has a zircote top and black limba body. Black hardware.
Click to expand...

Wow, what a beauty! I can't wait to see the finished product.
 
#7,012
portraitoftracy said:
In the club finally, this bass kills, simply perfect. Previously I had played several 535's that didn't have the wenge/wenge neck, once I played one I had to have one. Props to Jim at Atlanta Bass Gallery who sold me this absolute mint smells like new 535 24 fret for $2900 shipped!
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Sweet deal and a really hot looking bass!
 
#7,013
Played my new ebony topped 535 at practice again last night, and I continue to be amazed by this bass. It sounds good all over the board, but the big, yet super tight and articulate low B is just killin' me! This is the best B string I have heard, and I have heard some darned good ones! :bassist: :bassist: :bassist: :cool:
 
#7,014
tombowlus said:
Played my new ebony topped 535 at practice again last night, and I continue to be amazed by this bass. It sounds good all over the board, but the big, yet super tight and articulate low B is just killin' me! This is the best B string I have heard, and I have heard some darned good ones! :bassist: :bassist: :bassist: :cool:
Click to expand...

I second that Tom. I played my new 535 last night with my 8 piece funk band. I had been playing a NYC Will Lee 4 string. But last night at rehearsal I dropped a couple low B's and my keyboard player just looked at me with a big grin on his face.:p That being said I have played several 535's where I thought the low B was the weakest part of the bass. Glad this is not the case with mine.
 
#7,015
tombowlus said:
Played my new ebony topped 535 at practice again last night, and I continue to be amazed by this bass. It sounds good all over the board, but the big, yet super tight and articulate low B is just killin' me! This is the best B string I have heard, and I have heard some darned good ones! :bassist: :bassist: :bassist: :cool:
Click to expand...
Yes you have, and I can only imagine how good that bass feels and sounds to you... sounds like you finally found "your" MTD just as I did with my last one... sold all the rest off as you know. Now, let's see if that also happens with you. :)
 
#7,016
tombowlus said:
Played my new ebony topped 535 at practice again last night, and I continue to be amazed by this bass. It sounds good all over the board, but the big, yet super tight and articulate low B is just killin' me! This is the best B string I have heard, and I have heard some darned good ones! :bassist: :bassist: :bassist: :cool:
Click to expand...

Hmm, it might just be a coincidence but I found that the ebony-topped 535 I owned was also one of the most articulate sounding MTDs I've ever played. Just a gorgeous full-range tone with tons of punch. I'm having to remind myself that I wasn't too big on its 24 frets and that I absolutely adore the bass I received in that trade. But still, I kinda miss the sound of ol' Mac. :)
 
#7,017
bass12 said:
Hmm, it might just be a coincidence but I found that the ebony-topped 535 I owned was also one of the most articulate sounding MTDs I've ever played. Just a gorgeous full-range tone with tons of punch. I'm having to remind myself that I wasn't too big on its 24 frets and that I absolutely adore the bass I received in that trade. But still, I kinda miss the sound of ol' Mac. :)
Click to expand...

It was the ebony-topped 635 that I reviewed in BGM that got me thinking along these lines, and my conversations with Michael confirmed that ebony would be a great topwood for the tone I am after. Boy, was he right! :D
 

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