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The Official MTD USA Thread

#10,221
I'm dangerously keep on looking at this thread more often of what I should. :help:
Question for you all MTD owners and experts: is a Kingston Z a valid starting point in exploring the MTD universe? Let me explain about this a little...
I'm obviously well aware of the differences between the Kingston and the handbuilt US made basses. I'm not that naive to think that there's not a tangible difference between two instruments 4000+ grands apart.
But I was wondering about this, given the following:

a) I have not direct experience with MTD. Never played one (and no one around near me). Just seen some hanging on the wall at Rudy's many years ago. They smelled quality.

b) very tempted from what I see and hear here and on youtube.

c) I officially admit here (and to myself) that I have a severe GAS syndrome coupled (and aggravated) with a die hard one-axe attitude. Believe me: it's a BAD, bad combination. This has caused over the years a compulsive rotation of instruments in my hands. Have one, play one (for a certain time, depending on numerous other factors), desiring something else, sell the old buy the new. My wife is happy that this only applies to instruments :D

d) I have owned some nice instruments. Vintage Fenders, Sadowskys, Bordwell, Smiths, Carl Thompson, Roscoe among others. For the past four years I've been committed to Fodera. First a Matt Garrison Standard, right now an Emperor and that's where I'm at.
That said you could imagine that something under a certain (pretty high) quality level won't last long in my hands.

So my biggest "question mark" is the feel of the MTD. The three major points I'm wondering about are the body balance (both sitting and standing), the 35" scale and the asymmetric neck. Would a Kingston be a valid projection of the US made instrument with regard to those points? Please, comment on just the feeling, balance thing. I've already read a lot about pickups and electronics and that's not the point for me as in the best scenario I will be using the Kingston as a guinea pig: if it will turns some lights on I will look more into the MTD US line.

Why not just looking at an used MTD, playing it for a certain amount of time side by side with the Fodera and decide later which one have to go? Yes, I know... that would be the logical, safest, rational move to make. But I cannot afford a US made without letting the Fodera go and this time, for the very first time, I absolutely don't want to do my usual "old out, new in" compulsive thing.
Not with my second Fodera (yes, I've done that even with the Garrison!).

Thanks for your suggestions, comments etc. Feel free to comment about my severe syndrome... just be gentle and remember the Bible. "Whoever is without sin among you..." :D
 
#10,222
michele said:
I'm dangerously keep on looking at this thread more often of what I should. :help:
Question for you all MTD owners and experts: is a Kingston Z a valid starting point in exploring the MTD universe? Let me explain about this a little...
I'm obviously well aware of the differences between the Kingston and the handbuilt US made basses. I'm not that naive to think that there's not a tangible difference between two instruments 4000+ grands apart.
But I was wondering about this, given the following:

a) I have not direct experience with MTD. Never played one (and no one around near me). Just seen some hanging on the wall at Rudy's many years ago. They smelled quality.

b) very tempted from what I see and hear here and on youtube.

c) I officially admit here (and to myself) that I have a severe GAS syndrome coupled (and aggravated) with a die hard one-axe attitude. Believe me: it's a BAD, bad combination. This has caused over the years a compulsive rotation of instruments in my hands. Have one, play one (for a certain time, depending on numerous other factors), desiring something else, sell the old buy the new. My wife is happy that this only applies to instruments :D

d) I have owned some nice instruments. Vintage Fenders, Sadowskys, Bordwell, Smiths, Carl Thompson, Roscoe among others. For the past four years I've been committed to Fodera. First a Matt Garrison Standard, right now an Emperor and that's where I'm at.
That said you could imagine that something under a certain (pretty high) quality level won't last long in my hands.

So my biggest "question mark" is the feel of the MTD. The three major points I'm wondering about are the body balance (both sitting and standing), the 35" scale and the asymmetric neck. Would a Kingston be a valid projection of the US made instrument with regard to those points? Please, comment on just the feeling, balance thing. I've already read a lot about pickups and electronics and that's not the point for me as in the best scenario I will be using the Kingston as a guinea pig: if it will turns some lights on I will look more into the MTD US line.

Why not just looking at an used MTD, playing it for a certain amount of time side by side with the Fodera and decide later which one have to go? Yes, I know... that would be the logical, safest, rational move to make. But I cannot afford a US made without letting the Fodera go and this time, for the very first time, I absolutely don't want to do my usual "old out, new in" compulsive thing.
Not with my second Fodera (yes, I've done that even with the Garrison!).

Thanks for your suggestions, comments etc. Feel free to comment about my severe syndrome... just be gentle and remember the Bible. "Whoever is without sin among you..." :D
Click to expand...
Regarding balance: I've never had an issue with neck dive on any of the 535s I've owned (not sure if the fact that all but one of my 535s have been 21 fret models has anything to do with that). For my tastes Mike has come up with one of the most ergonomically pleasing designs on the market. Regarding the necks: of the 535s I've owned - as well as the ones I've tried that I didn't own - I'm not sure that there were two identical feeling necks in the bunch. Mike shapes his necks "by hand" so, while the general idea of the neck (asymmetrical) will be consistent, no two necks are likely to be an exact match. I've played razor-thin MTD necks as well as MTD necks that were fairly thick by comparison. You could always ask Mike to replicate a Kingston neck if that's what you want (though I doubt he's got any Kingstons lying around his shop - but he may have the specs).

I have to say that I would never recommend to someone that he sell a bass that he is happy with to fund a question mark (and a custom order is always a question mark). You could end up loving a bass you custom order but you could just as easily end up disappointed. This doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the quality of an instrument but rather with the nature of basses in general: you can never fully predict how an instrument will turn out and subtlety is everything when it comes to sound. Over the years I've kept very few of the basses I custom ordered. My favourite MTDs have been the ones I bought second hand and the one I bought after trying it at Mike's shop, not the ones I custom ordered. It doesn't matter who the builder is (my last Sadowsky order went straight back to the shop for an exchange because there was a lack of evenness from note to note on some parts of the neck) - any custom build is a crapshoot and you have to decide what is more exciting to you: the process of special ordering a bass or actually having a bass that suits you in as many ways as possible.
 
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#10,223
Thanks for your reply and yes, I won't do that again. Being there too many times.
That said I will probably hold on and wait for the stars to align (more money in) to satisfy my MTD curiosity with a used US. That's the wisest move to make.
In the meanwhile I'll play my Fodera and keep on salivating on some of the beauties here.

bass12 said:
I have to say that I would never recommend to someone that he sell a bass that he is happy with to fund a question mark (and a custom order is always a question mark).....
Click to expand...
 
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#10,225
michele said:
Thanks for your reply and yes, I won't do that again. Being there too many times.
That said I will probably hold on and wait for the stars to align (more money in) to satisfy my MTD curiosity with a used US. That's the wisest move to make.
In the meanwhile I'll play my Fodera and keep on salivating on some of the beauties here.
Click to expand...
I'm at the point where I'm trying to be able to enjoy looking at basses without feeling an overwhelming need to own them. Even with a couple of MTDs it's easy to keep wanting more but sometimes it's good to take William DeVaughn's words to heart and be thankful for what you've got. :D
 
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#10,229
michele said:
Does anybody know what's the typical fingerboard radius on MTDs?
Click to expand...
bass12 said:
I assume it's 12" but don't remember ever seeing any mention of fretboard radius where 535s are concerned. Mike doesn't seem to mention it on his site. You could always just email him and ask.
Click to expand...

I believe they are 9"-14" compound radius, this is what I think I read on the specs somewhere on their old site or maybe here on Talkbass. On my old 634 (wish I didn't had to sell her...) I could definitely feel the rounder radius in the first part of the neck. Loved that bass, best 6 string neck and lowest action ever, on par with my current Fodera.
 
#10,231
what do you guys think of the MTD with Alder body Maple/rosewood neck and board? It seems like most of the MTD fans prefer the other wood combos (Tulipwood, wenge or ash maple for example) more than the alder body combination.
How are they different?
 
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#10,232
johnbkim93 said:
what do you guys think of the MTD with Alder body Maple/rosewood neck and board? It seems like most of the MTD fans prefer the other wood combos (Tulipwood, wenge or ash maple for example) more than the alder body combination.
How are they different?
Click to expand...
My two favourite 535s have been an ash/wenge/wenge combo (this particular one sounds warmer than other 535s I've played in that combo) and an alder/maple/rosewood combo. The alder combo is definitely a bit more "traditional" sounding than most of the 535s I've played - but then again I've only ever tried one alder/maple/rosewood 535 so I don't know if my experience with that combo would be considered typical. I did have a makore/maple/rosewood 535 that didn't sound all that much like the alder 535.
 
#10,234
michele said:
Could someone share his knowledge about Tulipwood? General tonal character and combinations with variious neck/fingerboard woods?
Click to expand...
Check out some of Norm Stockton's earlier recordings for the sound of that combo. Again though, there are no guarantees that another tulipwood 535 is going to sound exactly like Norm's. I think David Dyson was also playing a tulipwood/wenge combo at one point but I'm not sure (you could check with Mike). If Dyson's main 535 was tulipwood then that's what he was playing during the Montreux concert with Me'shell Ndegéocello (there are clips on Youtube).
 
#10,235
bass12 said:
My two favourite 535s have been an ash/wenge/wenge combo (this particular one sounds warmer than other 535s I've played in that combo) and an alder/maple/rosewood combo. The alder combo is definitely a bit more "traditional" sounding than most of the 535s I've played - but then again I've only ever tried one alder/maple/rosewood 535 so I don't know if my experience with that combo would be considered typical. I did have a makore/maple/rosewood 535 that didn't sound all that much like the alder 535.
Click to expand...

Did it sound somewhat close to the AG model?
 
#10,240
bass12 said:
My two favourite 535s have been an ash/wenge/wenge combo (this particular one sounds warmer than other 535s I've played in that combo) and an alder/maple/rosewood combo. The alder combo is definitely a bit more "traditional" sounding than most of the 535s I've played - but then again I've only ever tried one alder/maple/rosewood 535 so I don't know if my experience with that combo would be considered typical. I did have a makore/maple/rosewood 535 that didn't sound all that much like the alder 535.
Click to expand...
Do you have a sound clip of you playing your MTD Alder body Maple/Rosewood?
Its really hard to find a clip of that wood combination. I actually think there aren't any. Only sound clips of AG, tulipwood wenge or ash body were found.
 

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