The Official MTD USA Thread

[Thomas Kievit]

After MUCH debate with Mike, I opted for makore on my latest 535, and I am just thrilled with the tone! It's full and rich, yet it has amazing attack and sustain. Of course, the multi-lam ash neck and the ebony top help, but Mike seemed pretty big on makore, and I'm really happy with it.

That's cool! I didn't knew MTD USA made laminated necks

 

[tombowlus]

That's cool! I didn't knew MTD USA made laminated necks

That was a special request. First, I asked him to hold some flamed ash for me, and the two thicker stringers are white wenge that was left over from when Mike built a fretless 535 for Pete Skjold (Pete sent him the white wenge).

 

[lgrankin]

After MUCH debate with Mike, I opted for makore on my latest 535, and I am just thrilled with the tone! It's full and rich, yet it has amazing attack and sustain. Of course, the multi-lam ash neck and the ebony top help, but Mike seemed pretty big on makore, and I'm really happy with it.

That ain't pretty at all!

 

[emjazz]

How would you compare makore to mahogany?

 

[bass12]

How would you compare makore to mahogany?

I'm pretty sure Mike would tell you that makore is tighter in the low end than mahogany.

 

[LeonD]

Agreed. I was looking for a VERY tight low end and makore was recommended over mahogany.

 

[antontanzil]

How would you compare makore to mahogany?

I copied this from an email Mike sent me:

it is like mahogany but with more presence and a bit brighter. less compressed than walnut

That was a special request. First, I asked him to hold some flamed ash for me, and the two thicker stringers are white wenge that was left over from when Mike built a fretless 535 for Pete Skjold (Pete sent him the white wenge).

Best looking neck on ANY Bass I've seen... And when I saw your Bass for the first time, the way the overall Bass look like made me sure that mine with also a dark(ish) top with BEM board will look good, and made me order the matching wood knobs

 

[Thomas Kievit]

That was a special request. First, I asked him to hold some flamed ash for me, and the two thicker stringers are white wenge that was left over from when Mike built a fretless 535 for Pete Skjold (Pete sent him the white wenge).

So awesome! I wish he did that on all of his basses

 

[BiigM]

Hey guys.

I put DR nickel loriders on my MTD that i posten earlier #340 wenge neck maple board, avadoire body.

I like the tone of the strings, and l like that thye are not to bright, since the bass is pretty bright sounding by itself. I turn the treble halfway down right now and I'm happy.
I use them on my '63 jazz to where they are great.

Problem is I'm not too happy with the b string. It's a little muffled. Lacks some clarity. Since I haven't tried other strings on it yet, and only heard goods things about the B on MTD's I would think the the string is at fault.

So, can any of you compare the MTD nickel strings with the lorider nickels for me?
I suspect that the taper on the B would make it clearer sounding right?

Do the MTD's keep fresh as long as the dr's which last forever

And how does the general tone compare?

Thanks

 

[roadkill2309]

I always think of that top as "the Group of Seven" top.

I can see that.

 

[bass12]

I can see that.

I knew you would! I actually wonder how many non-Canadians here know about the Group of Seven.

 

[Virgil]

Group of seven?

 

[Vic]

Group of seven?

I'm assuming he's talking about this:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed])

 

[BiigM]

No one has opinions about the strings i mentioned?

 

[carlis]

No one has opinions about the strings i mentioned?

What's the gauge of the lo-rider nickels you're using?

I've heard that these are too harsh to fingers, though I've never had a chance to try them out.

As a nickel string lover, I've tried, among others, DR Sunbeam, Lo-Rider (nickel), Sadowsky Blue Label Nickel, La Bella nickel, and of course, MTD Nickel strings.

Since Sunbeams (round-core version of Lo-riders) sound a bit on the darker side, I guess it's not surprising that Lo-riders sound relatively dark, too. That "darkness" in tone may sometimes be related to a "muddy" feeling, but it still sits very well in mix to my ears – you're playing a MTD after all!

MTD's nickels sound as perfectly as the SS version (on an aggressive side IIRC), though it won't last very long before the brightness disappears (mine becomes dull after one week's heavy playing).

Both Blue Label and La Bella are smooth and bright. You may want to check them out and give them a try if you love the tone of Lo-riders – they tend to more mid-focused, though.

For best clarity of a low B string, try .135, and you'll be surprised. Just my 2 cents...

 

[BiigM]

Thanks for answering

The loriders i use are 45-130.

It's not that the b is unusable, it's just not as clear as on the nordy I sold. That one had sunbeams on. I would like the b to be clear enough to slap, and its not quite there.
Sunbeams are much brighter than loriders, so for my taste I think they will be to bright on the MTD.

And all the times I tried a 135 I felt I didn't balance with the rest very well.

Do the MTD nickel really die that fast compared to lorider nickels?

Any one else try both?

 

[Vic]

Thanks for answering
...
Any one else try both?

Nope.

Just so you know you're not being ignored.

I just think a lot of people haven't tried the MTD nickels, and even fewer probably had the occasion to compare to the LoRiders. Mainly because at least IMHO, the stock strings that ship on these (MTD Stainless) sound so good to most folks.

FWIW anyway.

 

[carlis]

Nope.

Just so you know you're not being ignored.

I just think a lot of people haven't tried the MTD nickels, and even fewer probably had the occasion to compare to the LoRiders. Mainly because at least IMHO, the stock strings that ship on these (MTD Stainless) sound so good to most folks.

FWIW anyway.

MTD stainless strings are the best, if not only, stainless strings I've ever used, period.

 

[LeonD]

I've been using DR Lo-riders on my other basses the last couple of years. My 434 came with MTD stainless lites which sound pretty good. This week, I should have a set of Lo-rider stainless and Lo-rider nickels coming.

I want to compare the two stainless sets to see how they match up. I also want to see what the nickel strings do to the natural bright nature of the bass. I'm not sure if it'll darken it up too much or not.

Has anyone compared MTD strings to DR Lo-riders?

 

[Vic]

I've been using DR Lo-riders on my other basses the last couple of years. My 434 came with MTD stainless lites which sound pretty good. This week, I should have a set of Lo-rider stainless and Lo-rider nickels coming.

I want to compare the two stainless sets to see how they match up. I also want to see what the nickel strings do to the natural bright nature of the bass. I'm not sure if it'll darken it up too much or not.

Has anyone compared MTD strings to DR Lo-riders?

For stainless, I have. LoRiders and HiBeams are pretty much my "go-to" strings as a general rule, BUT, on an MTD, I like the MTD stainless best. I'm not sure what it is exactly... something in the mid profile... just seems to sound a little "better" to me specifically on an MTD (which should make sense).

I've tried MTD steels on other basses and also liked them a lot, but still prefer other brands on other basses... again, mostly DR, but also the Sadowsky Blues these days too.

Other strings I like a LOT, but just maybe not quite as much... Dunlop, Dean Markley SR 2000's.

Just in general I haven't done a lot with nickels, but I love the slickery way they feel when I have played them.