That's my opinion too. I just bought an American MTD AG 5, #12, and love it to death. I also have the Epifani UL 902c and the Epifani UL 410 S2, which is his rig.
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The Official MTD USA Thread
- Thread starter johnpaulbass
- Start date
That's it, my man!! On the amp, cut the mid all the way @ 1800hz and boost the treble @ 6khz and there you go....gouche's unmistakable tone!!!
I use UL 502 and AGS 535 #3 and really couldn't be happier
In case anyone is looking for a sweet deal on a 535 "Norm Stockton" model
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-mtd-535-norm-stockton-specs-pretty-much-minty-897760/
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-mtd-535-norm-stockton-specs-pretty-much-minty-897760/
Nice bass. I have to say that if I could only keep one it would be a fiver though. Too many of the bass lines I play these days involve notes that are lower than the low E on a four string!
I feel compelled to share an MTD epiphany I had recently. As some of you have seen on the classifieds - I put my 535 Crotch Walnut up for sale not once but TWICE in the last few months 
My thoughts exactly, *** was I thinking. Financial issues played a role but "ignorance" played a much bigger part. I pulled out the ad, put my Nordy VP5 out of sight and played nothing but the MTD for weeks and the result was an overwhelming tonal happiness. Just thought I'd share and now really "get it" with these wonderful instruments. Lesson learned, play the heck outta of it before making hasty decisions. Had it sold or been traded I would not have known the magic these basses possess. At a very happy bass place right now
My thoughts exactly, *** was I thinking. Financial issues played a role but "ignorance" played a much bigger part. I pulled out the ad, put my Nordy VP5 out of sight and played nothing but the MTD for weeks and the result was an overwhelming tonal happiness. Just thought I'd share and now really "get it" with these wonderful instruments. Lesson learned, play the heck outta of it before making hasty decisions. Had it sold or been traded I would not have known the magic these basses possess. At a very happy bass place right now 
Yeah, I think this is both the blessing and the curse of especially the USA made MTD basses. They are such intensely personal things, which is why Mike and his dealers have NO problem spending a lot of time helping customers make sure they get "the one"....Lesson learned, play the heck outta of it before making hasty decisions. Had it sold or been traded I would not have known the magic these basses possess. At a very happy bass place right now
I've been through SEVERAL USA MTD basses, and when I finally got "the one", I essentially lost all my MTD GAS. It was really hard to let the others go, 'cause they're all stellar instruments, but as hard as that was, I don't miss them at all these days. The one I have now is all the MTD I'll ever need.
That said, I also have a VP5, and I would never ever consider them to be "competitive" instruments. Totally different tools for different feelings and applications. In fact, I'd think it'd be "three of a perfect pair" to have a VP5, some stellar J type bass, and a stellar "modern" type bass like an MTD (or whatever brand/model connects with a given person).
FWIW/IMHO
You are correct Sir. However, I saw him twice recently and he was playing the UL410 S2. I don't why, maybe availability was an issue. Also, if you go to YouTube, and search for Chaka Khan's concert at the North Sea Jazz Festival, you will see that he is using the UL 410 S2. I think that if he had his way he would use the DIST 410 cabs and nothing else. Interestingly, he is using the UL 501 at the North Sea Jazz Concert with Chaka. If you look at it closely, he has the mids cut using the switch. It really doesn't matter what he uses, he sounds like Gouche, which in my opinion, sounds great.
Glad the bass is working out for you! I'm just thinking about my own experiences with MTD and how lucky I am that my first 535 (which I bought on a whim from a fellow TBer) was so right for me. I've owned a few that weren't and had my first MTD experiences been with those basses I would have dismissed the brand as "not being for me". But I now know how different one MTD can sound from the next. The wood on these basses really does make a difference - and no one's going to convince me otherwise!
Glad the bass is working out for you! I'm just thinking about my own experiences with MTD and how lucky I am that my first 535 (which I bought on a whim from a fellow TBer) was so right for me. I've owned a few that weren't and had my first MTD experiences been with those basses I would have dismissed the brand as "not being for me". But I now know how different one MTD can sound from the next. The wood on these basses really does make a difference - and no one's going to convince me otherwise!
Like others have mentioned, each MTD varies greatly and Mike is a genius at making wood combinations "work for you" I bought my first MTD new about 5 1/2 years ago. That one did not work for me. And, I did kind of write them off for a while. In the past year or so. I went on a quest to try different wood combinations and have one that definitely works for me now. IMO, Mike is on a very short list of builders that I call "the best" When you factor in, instrument quality, build, customer service etc. There are some good builders out there who "can" build a nice bass. But, they may falter on some of the other points.
Glad the bass is working out for you! I'm just thinking about my own experiences with MTD and how lucky I am that my first 535 (which I bought on a whim from a fellow TBer) was so right for me. I've owned a few that weren't and had my first MTD experiences been with those basses I would have dismissed the brand as "not being for me". But I now know how different one MTD can sound from the next. The wood on these basses really does make a difference - and no one's going to convince me otherwise!
Thanks, so happy I stuck with it! Really cool that you we're so fortunate to find "your" MTD right off the bat. Guess I could say the same for me but it took a lil longer than expected
I'vev tried many other wood combo's and in total agreement w/many at how much the wood combo tweaks the tone of the bass WAY more than other high end/boutique basses. That Mr. Tobias sure is magical!
Alphaman said:
It sounded pretty bad a$$. He was using one dist 410 cab with his 902c. Bass Centrals website says they have them..... For $1699. Wow
$1699 for a 410 cab? W'ouch!
Does it play the gig for you? Can't you bi-amp them or something so they sound like 2 separate 410 cabs in one .
It was Andrew Gouche...Of course it sounded good! Jebmd put it well LOL
Yes, it sounded really good. But, I cannot really say much beyond that. I did not really focus too much on the cabs. My head was spinning from his playing.
$1699 for a 410 cab? W'ouch!
You can choose 8 or 4ohm operation. I am not sure if there is too much different beyond that.
It was Andrew Gouche...Of course it sounded good! Jebmd put it well LOL
Yes, it sounded really good. But, I cannot really say much beyond that. I did not really focus too much on the cabs. My head was spinning from his playing.
Yeah Gouche is a player for sure! I sure wish I could play like that.
