The Official MTD USA Thread

[metallutca]

Edit: One of the best MTD dealers in the US is Glenn Kawamoto of Austin Bass Traders. He would also be a very good source for talking about the impact of wood combinations (quite frankly, better than Mike himself, who is not a player).

+1
You can try asking Glenn too. He's super helpful and knowledgeable.

 

[KJung]

Yeah. I sorta want the modern MTD hifi sound. Right now I'm going ash body, maple neck, and rosewood board. I'm really considering going alder body (since my Fodera is ash body with alder tone block), but I'm still indecisive. I really don't know what difference it would make. I love my Smiths, I just want a different tone sometimes. A rounder, fuller, fatter, more hifi tone.

Any MTD build, based purely on the pickup placement and the very voiced, unique active OEM Bartolini pickups and the OEM voiced Bart pre will give you a wider, less low mid intense voicing versus the Smith, so you should be fine. Of course, in general (but not always, depending on individual pieces of wood variation), alder/RW would do the most to soften the aggressive, modern, hi fi top end of the MTD electronics IMO and IME.

 

[Margus Alviste]

Any MTD build, based purely on the pickup placement and the very voiced, unique active OEM Bartolini pickups and the OEM voiced Bart pre will give you a wider, less low mid intense voicing versus the Smith, so you should be fine. Of course, in general (but not always, depending on individual pieces of wood variation), alder/RW would do the most to soften the aggressive, modern, hi fi top end of the MTD electronics IMO and IME.

+1

 

[CTC564]

Just want to add my 2 cents that both Glenn (Austin Bass Traders) and Mike Tobias are VERY willing to help answer/guide you toward a wood combination that'll fit your particular tonal preference

 

[tombowlus]

What woods do yall have on your MTDs?

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From left to right, we have;

Ash body, maple top, wenge neck, wenge board.

Mahogany body, maple top, maple neck, ebony board.

Chambered alder body, water-cured blackened redwood top, maple neck, blistered ebony board (it's Marilyn #3).

Makore body, ebony top, ash/wenge neck, birdseye maple board.

I've owned a number of other wood combinations, but these are the ones that I have no plans of letting go. The ash 535 has been my "go to" MTD for a long time, though the newer makore 535 is a serious contender. The ash is more full and smooth (by comparison to the makore) and the makore 535 is "definition city," due in large part, I think, to the ash/wenge neck. Marilyn #3 is one of the first three that Mike built, and it's my most warm/full sounding MTD.

The 435 is a "top tone" contender out of my entire bass collection. Of course, I am a big fan of the mahogany/ebony combination to start with, but this bass really has a "do it all" kind of personality.

That being said, it is, in turn, strongly challenged by my latest MTD, this Saratoga 4:

With a solid alder body, 34" maple neck and birdseye maple board, it has the most compelling combination of vintage Fender tone/feel and modern build techniques that I have played, to date. I am SO in love with this bass!

 

[rastap]

That Saratoga is on the MTD website. You don't hear much about those. I recall seeing on YouTube Mike saying he didn't build J type basses as everybody's doing it. I guess he's joined the J style bass making club.

 

[rodneyat]

That Saratoga is on the MTD website. You don't hear much about those. I recall seeing on YouTube Mike saying he didn't build J type basses as everybody's doing it. I guess he's joined the J style bass making club.

He's been making them for over 2 - 3 years now. Look up Norm Stockton's interview with Mike regarding the Saratoga. He sheds some light on it.

 

[metallutca]

That Saratoga is on the MTD website. You don't hear much about those. I recall seeing on YouTube Mike saying he didn't build J type basses as everybody's doing it. I guess he's joined the J style bass making club.

Yeah, that was not his initial goal but then he got a lot of requests for something more traditional even from Andrew Gouche and Norm Stockton. Then he just decided to build something that works and out came the Saratoga. Frankly, I really like Mike's take on the J-style. Looks modern but you can still tell it's a J. Most builders copies 90% of the shape, pickguard, etc and tweaks the headstock and electronics. Not that they are bad, but I just like Mike's version more. Yet to have a chance to try one though.

 

[Neil]

That Saratoga is on the MTD website. You don't hear much about those. I recall seeing on YouTube Mike saying he didn't build J type basses as everybody's doing it. I guess he's joined the J style bass making club.

Joined he did!!!

I played a Saratoga 5 at Mike's shop last week. Absolutely killer! The playability was just ridiculous. And what was most amazing to me is that the B string on this 34" scale bass was as tight, focused and articulate as Mike's 35" scale basses. Not sure how the heck he does it.....must be some kind of voodoo!!!

 

[rodneyat]

Joined he did!!!

I played a Saratoga 5 at Mike's shop last week. Absolutely killer! The playability was just ridiculous. And what was most amazing to me is that the B string on this 34" scale bass was as tight, focused and articulate as Mike's 35" scale basses. Not sure how the heck he does it.....must be some kind of voodoo!!!

That one is a killer bass The top is gorgeous.

 

[rastap]

He's been making them for over 2 - 3 years now. Look up Norm Stockton's interview with Mike regarding the Saratoga. He sheds some light on it.

I will. I'm a J Bass lovin' fool.

 

[Vic]

He's been making them for over 2 - 3 years now. Look up Norm Stockton's interview with Mike regarding the Saratoga. He sheds some light on it.

I actually played the first prototype model. It was a fantastic instrument, but the current model leaves it in the dust.

 

[Virgil]

I owned a pro type and the new one in fact leaves the old one in the dust.

 

[carlis]

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Did you defret the 3rd bass in that picture?

 

[KJung]

Joined he did!!!

I played a Saratoga 5 at Mike's shop last week. Absolutely killer! The playability was just ridiculous. And what was most amazing to me is that the B string on this 34" scale bass was as tight, focused and articulate as Mike's 35" scale basses. Not sure how the heck he does it.....must be some kind of voodoo!!!

You have actually discovered that the very slight increase in string tension going from 34" to 35" really doesn't impact the B string performance much. No magic there at all, just a builder, like many others, who knows how to manufacturer a good, stiff, neck that sounds great in 34" scale with a B string

Given Mike's skill as a builder, and having played many other 34" scale basses with wonderful B string tone and feel, it would have been surprising if it DIDN'T sound as good as his 35" offerings IMO!

 

[Margus Alviste]

Hey, has any of you tried flatwounds on MTD basses? For some reason I have never tried them on any of my MTDs.

 

[tombowlus]

I actually played the first prototype model. It was a fantastic instrument, but the current model leaves it in the dust.

+1 That's what really caught me by surprise at Summer NAMM.

 

[tombowlus]

Did you defret the 3rd bass in that picture?

Nope. Just bad contrast in that pic, I think.

 

[CTC564]

Hey, has any of you tried flatwounds on MTD basses? For some reason I have never tried them on any of my MTDs.

Charlie Knicely, who works in the shop with Mike, uses LaBella tapewounds on at least one of his 535's

 

[rastap]

Nope. Just bad contrast in that pic, I think.

How'd you get Mike to put an A style bridge on that one? I understand be prefers the B style bridges.