The Official MTD USA Thread

[tombowlus]

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

That bass was ordered through the Groove Shoppe (back in the day), and from what I recall, the two things that Joel said made their MTD orders special was that they used A-style bridges, and they had an extra layer of purpleheart added as an accent line. Oh, and they also supposedly were involved in hand-picking the woods, but I've always found Mike's woods to be off-the-charts awesome, regardless.

 

[LeonD]

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!

No gig report on this bass yet?

 

[Vic]

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

That bass was ordered through the Groove Shoppe (back in the day), and from what I recall, the two things that Joel said made their MTD orders special was that they used A-style bridges, and they had an extra layer of purpleheart added as an accent line. Oh, and they also supposedly were involved in hand-picking the woods, but I've always found Mike's woods to be off-the-charts awesome, regardless.

Truth. Further, that one is unique in that it has purpleheart dot inlays.

 

[tombowlus]

No gig report on this bass yet?

Unfortunately, no. I just got back from vacation, and will not be gigging for a couple of weeks.

As I keep playing it, though, it just keeps putting a smile on my face.

 

[blen dem]

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!

+1 My very first MTD was a 535 and the B was thundering! Due to an immature accident in the late 90's, i broke my 3rd and 4th metacarpal on my left hand. 35" (to me) is definitely playable but it is a stretch and the extra inch takes it's toll on me so i ordered a 534 from Mr T. I absolutely hear very little to no difference on the B...Mine is earth shaking!

 

[iwearpumas]

All my basses are 34 inch. I'm debating should I get a 535 or 534.

 

[blen dem]

All my basses are 34 inch. I'm debating should I get a 535 or 534.

IMO if all your basses are 34", i would go with a 34". Getting use to a 35" varies per player. Many have no issues switching back and forth but for others it is a deal breaker. I don't think there is an upcharge for it (i could be wrong)... Regardless, you will end up with an awesome bass!

 

[LeonD]

All my basses are 34 inch. I'm debating should I get a 535 or 534.

Everybody's different. You need to decide what matters to you.

I don't care about string spacing (I have basses from 19mm spacing down to 14mm) or string height (anywhere from "kind of low" to medium works for me) but the scale length on all my basses are 34". It's made me move some very nice basses but I just don't get along with a 35" scale.

Now it could be physical or psychological but either way, I don't buy 35" basses anymore.

 

[Margus Alviste]

Never felt any difference between my 35" MTD and my other 34" basses. It feels just perfect! But it was quite challenging to switch between the 35" and 33" scale basses though.

 

[Brams77]

Looks like this is going to be my new main gig/session bass!
A real "worker" or "economy" 535-24 or maybe classy understated.
I could get a real nice deal at brian's the low end on this... Not my fav wood combo, but the fact I can return if not satisfied made me pull the trigger pretty quick, not I'm really affraid that will happen..
After all every mtd I played was amazing this wont be different Brian said it was one of th nicer ones.. Could be sales talk but the fact I know him and he sold quite a few of these... I kind of recon he knows..

Wood combo pretty obvious...
Solid 2 piece ash body maple neck and maple finger board
It's cool It's a 24 fret and it has matching peg head and trussrod cover...

 

[Vic]

Wood combo pretty obvious...
Solid 2 piece ash body maple neck and maple finger board
It's cool It's a 24 fret and it has matching peg head and trussrod cover...

I think this is the first ash peghead veneer I've seen. It looks really cool!

 

[Margus Alviste]

Looks like this is going to be my new main gig/session bass!
A real "worker" or "economy" 535-24 or maybe classy understated.
I could get a real nice deal at brian's the low end on this... Not my fav wood combo, but the fact I can return if not satisfied made me pull the trigger pretty quick, not I'm really affraid that will happen..
After all every mtd I played was amazing this wont be different Brian said it was one of th nicer ones.. Could be sales talk but the fact I know him and he sold quite a few of these... I kind of recon he knows..

Wood combo pretty obvious...
Solid 2 piece ash body maple neck and maple finger board
It's cool It's a 24 fret and it has matching peg head and trussrod cover...

Nice!
PS! Brian is one of the most trustable guys in the business!

 

[Brams77]

I think this is the first ash peghead veneer I've seen. It looks really cool!

Hi Vic,

Actually there was a similar bass for sale in England a while ago, also with an ash peghead veneer, I actually thought that was the only one, its indeed pretty rare... then I saw joel Smiths bass which was the same but a 635.
Fun fact..the guy in England (margus might know him as well gwilym) he owns that one and had a few mtd's that where far more expensive in terms of mixed of woods and exotic tops, funny enough he sold all those, and kept that "simple" one as he withdrew that bass later on..
I actually had the idea the tops do something to the sound.. But some say it doesnt matter much.. I don't know I will know once I have it in my hands I guess, i'm pretty excited as I did want a tobias or mtd I could do gigs with.. This is more then I could whish for, as I don't dare to bring any pre CBS fenders to gigs anymore... co's thats the only other type I own ATM.. Talk about luxury problems right...

 

[Dregg]

Alright, here comes a question for you MTD owners...

I currently own a pre-Gibson Tobias which I'm absolutely in love with but unfortunately finding another (or even two more) is proving increasingly difficult seeing how unwilling people are to sell them

I've looked at other brands but all the big brands production line basses are just not cutting it. They all lack something I want, so I'm starting to look at custom basses and different brands. The problem is that most of them are located in foreign countries and none of the local dealers have any of their basses available for testing. This brings me to MTD...

As I said, I love my Tobias. Therefor I'm pretty confident that I will at least really like MTD seeing as it seems to be everything Tobias was and more, which is why I'm exploring options with their brand. However, I would like to see what I'm getting before making an order. So basically my question is this:
How did you non-Americans (if any) do when ordering one?

(I live in Sweden by the way)

 

[metallutca]

Alright, here comes a question for you MTD owners...

I currently own a pre-Gibson Tobias which I'm absolutely in love with but unfortunately finding another (or even two more) is proving increasingly difficult seeing how unwilling people are to sell them

I've looked at other brands but all the big brands production line basses are just not cutting it. They all lack something I want, so I'm starting to look at custom basses and different brands. The problem is that most of them are located in foreign countries and none of the local dealers have any of their basses available for testing. This brings me to MTD...

As I said, I love my Tobias. Therefor I'm pretty confident that I will at least really like MTD seeing as it seems to be everything Tobias was and more, which is why I'm exploring options with their brand. However, I would like to see what I'm getting before making an order. So basically my question is this:
How did you non-Americans (if any) do when ordering one?

(I live in Sweden by the way)

I'd recommend you start contacting MTD dealers. You can also contact Mike directly but I don't feel like troubling him with international shipping (but I believe he can do that). Got mine through Glenn Kawamoto from Austin Bass Traders in 2011 sight unseen. He is one of the best MTD dealers! Very responsive, helpful and knowledgeable. I think you can also ask Mike (or any dealers) if you want the specs to be more Tobias like (neck shape, neck through, etc.).

 

[Margus Alviste]

Try to look also the used ones. You might get what you want even locally.

 

[Dregg]

That's the problem: There are no local dealers available. The only way for me to get one is by ordering one myself without being able to test it and doing a gamble hoping it'd be perfect.

But metallutca did raise one important point to look for any close dealers. There was one in the UK not far from London that seems to have quite a few American made ones in the shop so it might be worthwhile visiting that shop to try a couple out.

 

[tombowlus]

Alright, here comes a question for you MTD owners...

I currently own a pre-Gibson Tobias which I'm absolutely in love with but unfortunately finding another (or even two more) is proving increasingly difficult seeing how unwilling people are to sell them

I've looked at other brands but all the big brands production line basses are just not cutting it. They all lack something I want, so I'm starting to look at custom basses and different brands. The problem is that most of them are located in foreign countries and none of the local dealers have any of their basses available for testing. This brings me to MTD...

As I said, I love my Tobias. Therefor I'm pretty confident that I will at least really like MTD seeing as it seems to be everything Tobias was and more, which is why I'm exploring options with their brand. However, I would like to see what I'm getting before making an order. So basically my question is this:
How did you non-Americans (if any) do when ordering one?

(I live in Sweden by the way)

First off, you should be aware that Mike's current basses sound, feel, and play quite differently from his earlier designs. Mike will be the first to tell you this. Turns out, I love both iterations of his work, but not every player well. That being said, I'd encourage any player looking to order a new custom bass to heavily consider an MTD.

For a European connection, I believe Mark Stickley at Bass Direct (in the UK) is now an MTD dealer.

 

[iwearpumas]

Wenge or maple neck?

 

[tombowlus]

Wenge or maple neck?

Depends on what tone you are after, and the companion woods, of course.