The Official MTD USA Thread

[tombowlus]

and anyone wanna talk makore? never tried it.

My latest 535 has a makore body, ebony top, flamed ash & white wenge neck, and a birdseye maple board. I was originally going to go with ash for the body, but I asked Mike about a variety of other body woods. Here is one of his responses:

walnut will be a bit compressed, mango will be rounder, makore will have more presence, and limba.korina will be deeper and more airy

And another:

the ash body will growl but be bright and maybe thinner than what I think you want. I would suggest a makore body. it has more presence and still has growl and clarity but is warmer than the ash.

And:

i have never been disappointed by a makore body bass.

I'm pretty darned thrilled, myself. Here's the bass, BTW:

 

[roadkill2309]

My latest 535 has a makore body, ebony top, flamed ash & white wenge neck, and a birdseye maple board. I was originally going to go with ash for the body, but I asked Mike about a variety of other body woods. Here is one of his responses:

And another:

And:

I'm pretty darned thrilled, myself. Here's the bass, BTW:

Which is the neck and which is the fretboard? Judging from that pick, the flamed ash is the neck? I'd live to see a back shot of that axe. I even kind of like the ebony top, though I generally don't.

I'd love to hear that one.

 

[tombowlus]

Which is the neck and which is the fretboard? Judging from that pick, the flamed ash is the neck? I'd live to see a back shot of that axe. I even kind of like the ebony top, though I generally don't.

I'd love to hear that one.

Yes, the fingerboard is the "front" where the frets are located. The neck, itself, is best seen from the back, and it is make of flamed ash with white wenge stringers.

Edit: Tonally, this bass hits like a sledgehammer, but has amazing clarity. It is the most "aggressive" of my MTDs, but still sounds very full.

 

[roadkill2309]

Yes, the fingerboard is the "front" where the frets are located. The neck, itself, is best seen from the back, and it is make of flamed ash with white wenge stringers.

Edit: Tonally, this bass hits like a sledgehammer, but has amazing clarity. It is the most "aggressive" of my MTDs, but still sounds very full.

I meant which wood was the fretboard and neck, not where was the front. Sheesh, Tom.

Hitting like a sledge is what I like. I love a touch of grind, but not to the point where there's no warmth left.

Mikes wood selection is effin' enchanting. He uses woods I've never even heard of and the results are often fantabulous. I'm pursue judging yours on appearance, but if it sounds as good as it looks, I'd likely love that bass.

 

[tombowlus]

Hitting like a sledge is what I like. I love a touch of grind, but not to the point where there's no warmth left.

I'm pursue judging yours on appearance, but if it sounds as good as it looks, I'd likely love that bass.

Yeah, you'd love this bass. It sounds even better than it looks.

 

[Baird6869]

Mikes wood selection is effin' enchanting. He uses woods I've never even heard of and the results are often fantabulous.

+1.

And he uses woods I have heard of but never thought I would buy on a bass.

Alder body? Come on! Alder used to be the poor man's maple and used for furniture.

Guess what? My alder 535 sounds killer.

 

[Vic]

Yes, the fingerboard is the "front" where the frets are located. The neck, itself, is best seen from the back, and it is make of flamed ash with white wenge stringers.

Edit: Tonally, this bass hits like a sledgehammer, but has amazing clarity. It is the most "aggressive" of my MTDs, but still sounds very full.

My gosh that's an amazing neck. What's the dark strip in the middle? Regular wenge?

 

[tombowlus]

My gosh that's an amazing neck. What's the dark strip in the middle? Regular wenge?

Good question, and yes.

 

[Virgil]

If you guys have not have not had the opportunity to play the MTD Andrew Gouche Signature, do yourself a favor and try one out. I bought one back in June, and it is the best MTD I have played. It is warm, quick, bright, punchy and articulate, all in one bass. Mine weighs 8.3 pounds and is perfectly balanced. I have played it through SWR, Epifani, GK and Markbass gear and it sounds great through all of them. I sold my other 535 after playing the AG. I know that it is a little pricey, but well worth it.

 

[Baird6869]

Regular wenge?

I learn something every day. The only wenge I have seen on a bass is the very dark wenge that is on many warwicks (and my 535).

Really cool neck.

 

[CliffD]

Yes, the fingerboard is the "front" where the frets are located. The neck, itself, is best seen from the back, and it is make of flamed ash with white wenge stringers.

Edit: Tonally, this bass hits like a sledgehammer, but has amazing clarity. It is the most "aggressive" of my MTDs, but still sounds very full.

Tom, what did Mike say about using a laminate neck like that? Thanks! What a killer bass!

 

[tombowlus]

Tom, what did Mike say about using a laminate neck like that? Thanks! What a killer bass!

I can't find an e-mail to quote this time, but I believe he said that as you add laminations, you gain solidity and puch, at the risk of possibly not being as open sounding. As I find my MTDs to be very open sounding, and as I had expected the ash in the neck to make it a bit sharper on the attack, I felt that the laminations would be a good thing, and IMHO, they definitely are with this bass.

 

[bass12]

so true,

but figured i get some tb opinions as well. never hurts.

anyone wanna chime in on the "chambered" aspect? would i shave off that much more weight, yet still retain punch and booty?

I think this last question might have gotten lost in the shuffle. Vic, I'm sure, can tell you a thing or two about the chambered MTDs as he owned a Marilyn.

 

[Vic]

I learn something every day. The only wenge I have seen on a bass is the very dark wenge that is on many warwicks (and my 535).

Really cool neck.

Yeah, I've only seen white wenge one other time.

 

[Vic]

I think this last question might have gotten lost in the shuffle. Vic, I'm sure, can tell you a thing or two about the chambered MTDs as he owned a Marilyn.

Yeah, Tom and I both have commented on this a few times in the past.

Basically, especially at higher volume levels, it simply gives it more of that grand piano type character. It's an acoustic type sound, but it's very subtle as a sub-character of the native MTD sound.

 

[roadkill2309]

I was just watching the YouTube vid of Cheb Khalid at Lugano in 2010. His bassman's playing is really tasteful and supports the songs rather than stretching out too much, but what I noticed off the bat was the seemingly pre-Gibson Tobias. Sounds great, looks good, though I personally don't prefer basses that show the neck stringers through the top of the body.

But it made me wonder just how long Mike's been using such a varied wood palette? I hadn't thought that he'd been using quite as non-traditional a wood selection back then, but I wasn't really paying attention back then.

 

[Vic]

I was just watching the YouTube vid of Cheb Khalid at Lugano in 2010. His bassman's playing is really tasteful and supports the songs rather than stretching out too much, but what I noticed off the bat was the seemingly pre-Gibson Tobias. Sounds great, looks good, though I personally don't prefer basses that show the neck stringers through the top of the body.

But it made me wonder just how long Mike's been using such a varied wood palette? I hadn't thought that he'd been using quite as non-traditional a wood selection back then, but I wasn't really paying attention back then.

Yeah, Mike's been using premium and exotic woods for a LONG time.

 

[bass12]

I was just watching the YouTube vid of Cheb Khalid at Lugano in 2010. His bassman's playing is really tasteful and supports the songs rather than stretching out too much, but what I noticed off the bat was the seemingly pre-Gibson Tobias. Sounds great, looks good, though I personally don't prefer basses that show the neck stringers through the top of the body.

But it made me wonder just how long Mike's been using such a varied wood palette? I hadn't thought that he'd been using quite as non-traditional a wood selection back then, but I wasn't really paying attention back then.

I'm by no means an expert on pre-Gibson Tobias basses but I have paid attention to various Tobias wood specs in the past. I think Mike has always been fascinated by different woods but he certainly seems to be even more adventurous these days. Part of the reason for that, however, is no doubt on account of shortages where certain wood types are concerned.

 

[jokerjkny]

My latest 535 has a makore body, ebony top, flamed ash & white wenge neck, and a birdseye maple board. I was originally going to go with ash for the body, but I asked Mike about a variety of other body woods. Here is one of his responses:
(...)

nice!

how's the weight in relation to the ash mtd's you've owned?

 

[jokerjkny]

Yeah, Tom and I both have commented on this a few times in the past.

Basically, especially at higher volume levels, it simply gives it more of that grand piano type character. It's an acoustic type sound, but it's very subtle as a sub-character of the native MTD sound.

nice nice,

but does mike only do this on certain bodies or with only certain woods?

again, guys, many thx for all the info.