The Official MTD USA Thread

[LeonD]

I've got a makore body, maple top, maple neck and ebony fretboard. Tight low end and punchy mids.

One thing I did find out is that by adjusting the gain (internal trim pot), one can really change the nature of the bass. Lower gain gives me an almost vintage sound while higher gain make it more modern.

 

[rodneyat]

In the end, tell Mike what sound you are looking for. He will tell you exactly what he thinks will fit that sound. In my experience, he will be dead on with what he says it will sound like when it is done. He is the wood master. Don't get too hung up on aesthetics and go with your tonal preferences first.

 

[Margus Alviste]

I just shared my test recording in my "NBD - MTD535" thread but as the wenge tone was under the discussion here I'll add the link to my sound sample once again:
https://soundcloud.com/margusalviste/aeg-mtd535-mx

It's the Wenge/Wenge neck and the Korina body MTD535 and it doesn't sound brittle at all. I added some lows, a tiny bit of mids (500 Hz) and the highs were on the zero/center position. For me it sounds big and warm.

 

[KJung]

I just shared my test recording in my "NBD - MTD535" thread but as the wenge tone was under the discussion here I'll add the link to my sound sample once again:
https://soundcloud.com/margusalviste/aeg-mtd535-mx

It's the Wenge/Wenge neck and the Korina body MTD535 and it doesn't sound brittle at all. I added some lows, a tiny bit of mids (500 Hz) and the highs were on the zero/center position. For me it sounds big and warm.

I hear no treble at all in that clip (or even upper midrange, which again, is not very present on a wenge neck). Might be old strings, or the recording system you use (or just your technique which seems to emphasize 'big and low and fat'... nothing wrong with that!). Sounds very good in that context to me, but I hear very little above the low midrange in that clip, which is 'wenge-ish' sounding if you either have old strings or roll-off treble.

That is the other thing I found with all the years on my Wenge MTD. I sounded like Norm Stockton for three days (well, not the playing, but the tone), and then things went quickly dead, since most of the top end information of the wenge neck is WAY up in the upper treble region, which is the first thing that goes as strings break-in over the first few days. Spent a lot of money on strings to keep that amazing tone going on the gig.

 

[pauliebass]

Very cool combo...any pics?

 

[Margus Alviste]

I hear no treble at all in that clip (or even upper midrange, which again, is not very present on a wenge neck). Might be old strings, or the recording system you use (or just your technique which seems to emphasize 'big and low and fat'... nothing wrong with that!). Sounds very good in that context to me, but I hear very little above the low midrange in that clip, which is 'wenge-ish' sounding if you either have old strings or roll-off treble.

That is the other thing I found with all the years on my Wenge MTD. I sounded like Norm Stockton for three days (well, not the playing, but the tone), and then things went quickly dead, since most of the top end information of the wenge neck is WAY up in the upper treble region, which is the first thing that goes as strings break-in over the first few days. Spent a lot of money on strings to keep that amazing tone going on the gig.

I played mostly using my thumb.

 

[KJung]

I played mostly using my thumb.

There you go. That explains it... the 'fat finger'! Again, sounds killer, and that super deep, dubby thing that is in no way 'flubby' is also a signature wenge sort of tone IMO and IME. Awesome clip!

 

[Thumpin4him]

I'm tellin you guys check out ziricote!

+1 I love my Ziracote/Ash 635. Nice punch and sizzle. The clearest sounding MTD I own...(plus one on the way)

 

[pauliebass]

+1 I love my Ziracote/Ash 635. Nice punch and sizzle. The clearest sounding View attachment 353486MTD I own...(plus one on the way)

Beautiful buckeye! I always wanted a buckeye top as I'm an Ohio State fan.

 

[idoker]

My MTD-535 has an ash body with maple Burl top, maple neck, and ebony fingerboard.

These are pretty traditional woods, but the ebony board does add a difference to the traditional tone. More airy than wenge... less compressed, crisp and clear without being overly bright. I can even get a small amount of "mwah" with the proper EQ settings... very versatile.

 

[Margus Alviste]

I hear no treble at all in that clip (or even upper midrange, which again, is not very present on a wenge neck). Might be old strings, or the recording system you use (or just your technique which seems to emphasize 'big and low and fat'... nothing wrong with that!). Sounds very good in that context to me, but I hear very little above the low midrange in that clip, which is 'wenge-ish' sounding if you either have old strings or roll-off treble.

That is the other thing I found with all the years on my Wenge MTD. I sounded like Norm Stockton for three days (well, not the playing, but the tone), and then things went quickly dead, since most of the top end information of the wenge neck is WAY up in the upper treble region, which is the first thing that goes as strings break-in over the first few days. Spent a lot of money on strings to keep that amazing tone going on the gig.

Just use a Dunlop (or other brand) string cleaner and you'll save tons of money! I clean my strings at least twice a day and there are some basses with year and half old strings and they sound good enough even for recording. Well, I get bored sometimes with the same set of strings though.

 

[CTC564]

Very, very nice!!!!

 

[KJung]

Just use a Dunlop (or other brand) string cleaner and you'll save tons of money! I clean my strings at least twice a day and there are some basses with year and half old strings and they sound good enough even for recording. Well, I get bored sometimes with the same set of strings though.

I'm long gone from MTD world. I change strings now ever 6 months or so

Still respect the heck out of the instruments, and have at least a 1,000 gigs with the two that I owned. I was relatively early in on the brand (serial number in the 300's I believe). Great stuff, just moved toward a more mid present tone through the years.

 

[Margus Alviste]

I'm long gone from MTD world. I change strings now ever 6 months or so

Still respect the heck out of the instruments, and have at least a 1,000 gigs with the two that I owned. I was relatively early in on the brand (serial number in the 300's I believe). Great stuff, just moved toward a more mid present tone through the years.

I know! You have some really great basses!

 

[KJung]

I know! You have some really great basses!

Lots of good stuff out there. MTD is up there with the very, very best. Moved away from the tone a bit, but still dig 'em!

 

[blen dem]

Here's a lil track we did one week after receiving my 534 (Ash body, Walnut Top, Maple neck & f/b) this past December. Bass was brand spanking new with the stock stainless MTD strings (i prefer and currently have nickels). I was afraid with this wood combo that it would be too bright and again, bass was a week old! Pleasantly surprised that (in my ears) that wasn't the case. Just a rough reggae instrumental riddim/track, un-mixed right out the board so you've been warned LOL! Bass is pretty low so use headphones and guitar is kinda blazing. As most reggae tunes, the bass doesn't really move. Only one change and I think we do it twice. Listening to it again now, it does seem a little brighter than i'd like it to be. Bass now though has opened up real nice and with the nickels, can nail the Dubbish Reggae tone w/no problem. Even been using it with some straight ahead quintet stuff as of late. Of course it kills on the R&B, Funky, Hip-Hop tunes as well. Anyhoot, the bass has surprised me quite a bit in terms of versatility. Long Live Mr. Tobias!

http://soundcloud.com/ltbassie/dubndeliver

 

[bass12]

I've had several wood combinations. My favourites have been ash/maple/wenge/wenge and alder/maple/maple/rosewood. My alder/maple/maple/rosewood sees the most gig time.

 

[bass12]

Interesting. I've played 5 or 6 ash neck/BEM or regular maple board MTD's and they sounded absolutely NOTHING like my wenge instrument. None of that upper treble sizzle, and WAY more upper midrange response. Maybe the poplar body helps, since all the ones I've played/owned were ash bodies.

Wenge imparts such a unique tone to every instrument I've played with a wenge neck.... IMO and IME nothing else sounds like it. It is as impactful and unique IMO ans ebony, with that 'treble ping at the note attack' signature tone.

I had an ash-necked MTD (with maple board) as well and didn't find it reminded me at all of wenge. But that was my only experience with an ash-necked MTD...

 

[bass12]

I play Gospel music. I ordered a Myrtle Burl top, ash body, maple neck, and Madagascar rosewood FB. Does anyone think that's a good combo?

I think that's a great combination and would stick with it.

 

[bass12]

Both will work IMHO. Wenge will definitely have more sizzle. The maple/rosewood will be more "traditional" sounding, but still sounds like a modern MTD.

Not necessarily. I've had four wenge-necked MTDs and I wouldn't say they were more sizzly than the two maple/rosewood necked MTDs I've owned. But then we haven't necessarily agreed on what is meant by "sizzle"!