• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

The Official MTD USA Thread

#7,301
Sorry, I wasn't clear. My choice isn't based only on aesthetics. Actually, it's the other way around.

Based on my desired tone (articulate voicing (i.e. every note of a chord is clear and distinct), tight low end and slight high mid boost), Mike recommended very specific woods to use. Within that specific recommendation is what I'm choosing based on aesthetics.

So the tone comes first then the looks but it'll be the best (IMHO) looking bass for me while getting my desired tone.

Some of what I like most for looks were woods that wouldn't get the tone I wanted so I passed on them.
 
#7,302
LeonD said:
Sorry, I wasn't clear. My choice isn't based only on aesthetics. Actually, it's the other way around.

Based on my desired tone (articulate voicing (i.e. every note of a chord is clear and distinct), tight low end and slight high mid boost), Mike recommended very specific woods to use. Within that specific recommendation is what I'm choosing based on aesthetics.

So the tone comes first then the looks but it'll be the best (IMHO) looking bass for me while getting my desired tone.

Some of what I like most for looks were woods that wouldn't get the tone I wanted so I passed on them.
Click to expand...
Okay, I see. Cool! What woods did Mike suggest and what are you going with?
 
#7,305
bass12 said:
"Match to fingerboard"? Don't you mean "match to top wood"? I've never seen a headstock that was matched to the fretboard wood, I don't think, on a 535 (unless it's been wenge). It's true that most of the 535s I've seen without matching truss rod covers have had wenge covers, but those basses seem to always have wenge fretboards. Here are links to two photos I found of 535s without "matching truss rod covers" that have covers matching non-wenge fretboards:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Link Removed
Click to expand...

Hi there...

I'm not wrong, but should have been more specific. My future Bass will have a BEM fingerboard, and I thought it might look great if the headstock is BEM too, so I asked Mike for a quote, and the price is $100, the same as if the headstock matches the body's top wood.

So I guess he never did the Fretboard matched headstock is because there's no request from the customers for that
 
#7,306
antontanzil said:
Hi there...

I'm not wrong, but should have been more specific. My future Bass will have a BEM fingerboard, and I thought it might look great if the headstock is BEM too, so I asked Mike for a quote, and the price is $100, the same as if the headstock matches the body's top wood.

So I guess he never did the Fretboard matched headstock is because there's no request from the customers for that
Click to expand...

Gotcha! That will be kind of cool, and definitely a unique look for an MTD. Looking forward to seeing some pictures when it's ready. :)
 
#7,307
bass12 said:
Gotcha! That will be kind of cool, and definitely a unique look for an MTD. Looking forward to seeing some pictures when it's ready. :)
Click to expand...

I actually went for the matching headstock to fingerboard at first, but after seeing the top Mike choose for my Bass, I change it to match the top, that top is so good looking, I wanted that wood all over my bass :D I even ordered the matching knobs, which I didn't care for before.

I'm looking forward for it too :rollno:
 
#7,308
And in response to an MTD with pickup covers...basstheworld.com posted this today
 

Attachments

  • mtdw-covers.jpg
    mtdw-covers.jpg
    46.2 KB · Views: 447
#7,311
I think the Nordstrand dual Coil bass above is a relic from the grooveshoppe. The bass came with the standard bartolini stuff, and then the pickups where swapped. Only a handful of these. Wish makers like pedulla and mtd would consider other options than bartolini.
 
#7,312
rogerwilliamsen said:
I think the Nordstrand dual Coil bass above is a relic from the grooveshoppe. The bass came with the standard bartolini stuff, and then the pickups where swapped. Only a handful of these. Wish makers like pedulla and mtd would consider other options than bartolini.
Click to expand...

To an extent, I agree. On the other hand, the sound of the custom wound bartolini pickups is what both makers strive for and want to be associated with their name.

But, I also see your point, as well. I've actually played an MTD with the Bart preamp and Nordy Fat Stacks in it and it sounded killer. On the Pedulla side...some of the shapes Mike uses are unique to Bartolini and putting other pickups in is not even an option. I had a Pedulla Nuance and talked to Carey Nordstrand about swapping the pickups and there wasn't any way to get any of his designs in that sized cover.

Oh well..back to MTD talk. I am still TOTALLY digging my 535-24. When I am playing another bass and there is a tone that i just cannot get. I pickup my MTD and voila! There it is!
 
#7,313
Mike will not do this again now, and said that he is 'not responsible' for the sound of any other electronics except for the ones he uses.

But he's more open to suggestion on the Jazz Bass Pickups for the Saratoga model, but 535s, etc is what it is. And for me, the MTD Electronics is a huge part of what I'm paying for.

Mike won't do wooden pickup covers not because it's time consuming, I asked him about his and he said that the covers must be very thin to make it sound still similar with MTD's current plastic covers pickups, he did that, and the too thin wood covers got damaged/breaks easily (it's a closed pole wooden PU covers he's talking about).

So why not using an exposed coil covers? It's the design of the pickups that him and Bartolini does, that won't make the pickups look good if the coils were exposed.
 
#7,314
antontanzil said:
Mike will not do this again now, and said that he is 'not responsible' for the sound of any other electronics except for the ones he uses.
Click to expand...

That isn't a bad thing IMO. The builder should have a signature sound he/she is going for.

Generally, I am not a big fan of Barts and EMG PU/PREs, I prefer Nordys, SDs, stock fenders, etc.

Having said that, 4 of my favorite sounding basses go against my hatred for Bart/EMG..... MTD 535/635 with Barts, Roscoes with Barts, Spectors with EMGs and Modulus with EMGs. I have owned the Modulus basses for a while and they are my main gigging basses.... That will likely change when I get my MTD 535 next week!
 
#7,315
Baird6869 said:
That isn't a bad thing IMO. The builder should have a signature sound he/she is going for.

Generally, I am not a big fan of Barts and EMG PU/PREs, I prefer Nordys, SDs, stock fenders, etc.

Having said that, 4 of my favorite sounding basses go against my hatred for Bart/EMG..... MTD 535/635 with Barts, Roscoes with Barts, Spectors with EMGs and Modulus with EMGs. I have owned the Modulus basses for a while and they are my main gigging basses.... That will likely change when I get my MTD 535 next week!
Click to expand...

I'm with you on this! But, there is just something about the customer Bart pre and pickups that just works! I am generally not a fan of the stock Bart stuff. And the custom pickups Roscoe uses are killer too...but I do like the Aguilar preamp in the Roscoe a little better than the Bart pre though. :)
 
#7,316
There's another thread that was created recently talking about how Andrew Gouché's been doing some playing with Prince. He appears here with Prince protegé Andy Allo:

Invalid Link Removed

Some nice exposure for both A.G. and MTD. :)

Edit: it should also be noted that Rhonda Smith has also played her MTD on stage with Prince, though this was a rare occurrence as she played mostly Fenders on that gig.
 
#7,317
rodneyat said:
I'm with you on this! But, there is just something about the customer Bart pre and pickups that just works! I am generally not a fan of the stock Bart stuff. And the custom pickups Roscoe uses are killer too...but I do like the Aguilar preamp in the Roscoe a little better than the Bart pre though. :)
Click to expand...

For me, Barts in a Roscoe with the Demeter Pre is the best sounding combo.

In any case, my new to me 535 is "out for Monday morning delivery"!

Aaarrrggggg!
 
#7,318
Well, my MTD 535 landed yesterday and I got to plug it in for a bit last night. Just wow.

What a thing of beauty. Great articulate tone, lightweight and perfectly balanced, VERY ergonomic and looks killer.

Thru my Jule Monique preamp and 2 Berg AE210's, it sounds just killer.

I A/Bed it against my new Spector USA 5er and my Modulus Q5 and all 3 basses sound great..... But the 535 really does stand out!

Pics to come later today!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back