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The Official MTD USA Thread

#7,703
Can anyone comment on general tonal differences between a carved top and a one piece body? I'm just curious. I found this one piece makore in Chicago <$4k. I'm not able to play it so I was wondering if anyone knows. It seems like most MTDs have different tops and are a bit more expensive. Here's the bass: Invalid Link Removed.
 
#7,704
swmmojo said:
Can anyone comment on general tonal differences between a carved top and a one piece body? I'm just curious. I found this one piece makore in Chicago <$4k. I'm not able to play it so I was wondering if anyone knows. It seems like most MTDs have different tops and are a bit more expensive. Here's the bass: Invalid Link Removed.
Click to expand...

The primary reason for exotic tops is aesthetic. That's not to say that a thick top (like the ones used on MTDs) won't have an effect on tone but I think most luthiers would agree that such an effect would be minimal when compared to, for example, the fingerboard wood. I wouldn't worry about it. If you haven't heard the bass then you're not taking any more of a chance with a topless body than you are with a capped body.
 
#7,705
bass12 said:
The primary reason for exotic tops is aesthetic. That's not to say that a thick top (like the ones used on MTDs) won't have an effect on tone but I think most luthiers would agree that such an effect would be minimal when compared to, for example, the fingerboard wood. I wouldn't worry about it. If you haven't heard the bass then you're not taking any more of a chance with a topless body than you are with a capped body.
Click to expand...

Totally agree...Mostly aesthetics and obviously the associated $$$. It saves $1K or so to go without the top. If the look does not really matter that much..that's a big savings in dough.
 
#7,708
On the way from Kingston, NY...

535-21WalnutMTDShop_zpsa802bff5.jpg
 
#7,715
So I had a question that may have been covered in the past, but I'd like to post it here anyway. It's a question about tone woods. Some of the more common species of woods like ash or alder we can just imagine what they would sound like, but what about the more obscure ones? I would like if we could compile what tone, neck, and fingerboard woods sound like on an MTD sonically dynamically (if that makes any sense).

So just to name a few:

Body:
Ash (swamp, northeastern, etc)
Alder
Poplar
Black Limba
Makore
Walnut
Maple
Mahogany

Neck:
Maple
Wenge
Ash

Finger Board:
Maple (birds eye, etc)
Rosewood
Ebony
Pau Ferro
Purpleheart
Wenge

If you see something missing from this list please feel free to add! I know I could start a new thread about this, but I would like to know this in context to an MTD. Thanks all!
 
#7,716
namuxtree said:
So I had a question that may have been covered in the past, but I'd like to post it here anyway. It's a question about tone woods. Some of the more common species of woods like ash or alder we can just imagine what they would sound like, but what about the more obscure ones? I would like if we could compile what tone, neck, and fingerboard woods sound like on an MTD sonically dynamically (if that makes any sense).

So just to name a few:

Body:
Ash (swamp, northeastern, etc)
Alder
Poplar
Black Limba
Makore
Walnut
Maple
Mahogany

Neck:
Maple
Wenge
Ash

Finger Board:
Maple (birds eye, etc)
Rosewood
Ebony
Pau Ferro
Purpleheart
Wenge

If you see something missing from this list please feel free to add! I know I could start a new thread about this, but I would like to know this in context to an MTD. Thanks all!
Click to expand...

Bit of a can of worms maybe, but here are a few additions for fingerboard woods:

Pistachio
Rose of the mountain
Bubinga

I also know that Mike has made bodies out of avidore and mango (amongst other woods). The thing is, some of these woods are so rarely used that to come up with any kind of reliable classification tone-wise would be very difficult. As for the precise effect of body woods (and possibly neck woods) on tone I'd be guessing (and basically going from what Mike has told me). I'm inclined to think that fingerboard wood has the biggest effect on tone (as far as the wood aspect of a bass is concerned). And you are probably best posting this in the MTD forum. Posting elsewhere might simply result in a firestorm of "wood doesn't affect tone" comments. :D
 
#7,717
Thanks Guys...

Now the final wait of shipping, and I like how Mike decribes my Bass. 'It's a strong Bass' :D

On the wood options, there are also Marblewood for fingerboards, and Mike also offers Walnut neck, for fretless Basses.

His description was: Walnut neck & body with an ebony board and flatwound strings + piezo pickups are the best combo to get a very similar tone of an Upright Bass.

And Mike is also using Zebrawood and Wenge for the 3-Piece body thing that he's started doing now.

More reasons to order an MTD....
 
#7,719
swmmojo said:
Can anyone comment on general tonal differences between a carved top and a one piece body? I'm just curious. I found this one piece makore in Chicago <$4k. I'm not able to play it so I was wondering if anyone knows. It seems like most MTDs have different tops and are a bit more expensive. Here's the bass: Invalid Link Removed.
Click to expand...

I think as the top gets thicker, it has more of an impact on the tone. Some builders use a relatively thin top for looks. Others use a thicker top (like MTD) to add to the tone.

That said, topless MTD's are just as viable as fancy topped MTD's. I've owned two topped and one toppless MTD. They all sounded wonderful.

I wouldn't hesitate to give that makore bass a try. As someone else said, if you like the tone, it's a great way to get a really nice bass and save some money.
 

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