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The Official MTD USA Thread

#7,045
Howdy folks! I came to this thread as i figured i would get the cold hard facts! I know about the difference in quality of materials but my question is very simple... concerning the left hand feel of the MTD Kingston and MTD American made basses, can it be said that they are similar? Again, i know there are a great many differences between these two types of instruments but what i want to know is can one expect to get as solid and stable a neck set up, including the possibility of stable Zero relief and low strings and expect an easy playing instrument, even closely similar to what can be done on their more expensive American cousins. I realize of course new hardware, electronics and a proper fret dressing etc will be required. Please advise! I am asking for the good and bad! Thanks!!
 
#7,046
edking said:
Howdy folks! I came to this thread as i figured i would get the cold hard facts! I know about the difference in quality of materials but my question is very simple... concerning the left hand feel of the MTD Kingston and MTD American made basses, can it be said that they are similar? Again, i know there are a great many differences between these two types of instruments but what i want to know is can one expect to get as solid and stable a neck set up, including the possibility of stable Zero relief and low strings and expect an easy playing instrument, even closely similar to what can be done on their more expensive American cousins. I realize of course new hardware, electronics and a proper fret dressing etc will be required. Please advise! I am asking for the good and bad! Thanks!!
Click to expand...

Howdy! IMHO, yes, both can be set up with low action but the neck feel between a USA MTD and a Kingston is very very different. USA wins the best neck feel!
 
#7,047
edking said:
Howdy folks! I came to this thread as i figured i would get the cold hard facts! I know about the difference in quality of materials but my question is very simple... concerning the left hand feel of the MTD Kingston and MTD American made basses, can it be said that they are similar? Again, i know there are a great many differences between these two types of instruments but what i want to know is can one expect to get as solid and stable a neck set up, including the possibility of stable Zero relief and low strings and expect an easy playing instrument, even closely similar to what can be done on their more expensive American cousins. I realize of course new hardware, electronics and a proper fret dressing etc will be required. Please advise! I am asking for the good and bad! Thanks!!
Click to expand...
I can't comment on the setup aspects of an import MTD - though I don't know of any bass that plays well with "zero relief". I can say that the necks on the few import MTDs I've tried have been very nice feel-wise. To compare them to U.S.A. MTDs is a bit tricky because, being handmade, each U.S.A. neck is a little bit different. Some are super-thin, some are chunkier and some have a more obvious asymmetrical profile than others. I assume you've also posted your question in the non-U.S.A, thread...
 
#7,048
I have a question for those owning more than one MTD basses...

Does the neck profile vary a lot across MTDs? I'm asking because I've read some posts saying that some necks are thinner while some are chunkier due to the handmade nature.

btw, basically I don't believe such "random deviation" could ever happen to my beloved MTD brand but I'm just curious.
 
#7,049
carlis said:
I have a question for those owning more than one MTD basses...

Does the neck profile vary a lot across MTDs? I'm asking because I've read some posts saying that some necks are thinner while some are chunkier due to the handmade nature.

btw, basically I don't believe such "random deviation" could ever happen to my beloved MTD brand but I'm just curious.
Click to expand...

I've owned six MTDs (and currently own three). The two which had the most similar neck profiles are the two which were part of the same batch. When I spoke to Mike about having the necks carved he asked me if I wanted the profiles to be the same because, as he put it, different batches will tend to differ slightly. I've paid very close attention to the differences between each of my MTDs and they have all been different - not just in their neck profiles. These are handmade instruments and because of that no two are identical. You can regard that as a flaw, or you can regard it as part of the magic - Mike's personal touch. But remember that the MTD brand, when it comes to the U.S.A. models, is Mike and an assistant working in a small workshop in the Catskill mountains. It's a VERY small operation and Mike is an artisan, not merely a machine operator. :)
 
#7,050
Lookie what Mike sent me today :)

image-2748932994.jpg
 
#7,060
bass12 said:
I've paid very close attention to the differences between each of my MTDs and they have all been different - not just in their neck profiles.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input!

Yea, I really appreciate the "artwork" of Mike -- that's why I don't feel comfortable owning only two! :cool:

I personally prefer a very thin and fast neck profile -- my current MTD serves me very well in this regard. My question is, do I have to specifically request Mr Tobias to make a slim neck on my newly ordered one, so that it won't end up with a chunky C-shape neck? :atoz:
 

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