• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

The Official MTD USA Thread

#10,321
String Cheesus said:
Well, I'm going to go out on a limb here and just give you my opinion as to why I THINK it hasn't moved yet. Firstly, its pretty bare bones save for the burl top. What I mean is non matching headstock, truss cover, 21 frets. Because of that, I also think the price is a bit high. I mean, hey, it's your bass..... ask whatever you feel it's worth. I've had mine posted for 48 hours for $400 more than yours, and I've had 5 folks wanting to buy it for my asking price plus shipping. No way am I selling, ironically, but just to give you some perspective. Jerome had his beautiful 635-24 with some of the usual upgrades at a grand less, and his didn't sell either. MTD folks are picky, I know speaking of my own personal preferences lol. Well, take that with a grain of salt, but that's just my humble opinion bud.
Click to expand...

You have a bass for sale that you're not selling for what you're asking? Okay.

This was not bare bones when Mike built it. Remember, this is #29. And apparently being a very early bass after Mike started the new company doesn't mean much when it comes to MTDs. Neither does the rarity of a gloss finish on his handmade basses. This was optioned out at the time.

If people are mainly considering basses on looks and upgrades, cool. My top priorities are sound and playability and I'd put this up against any other MTD, particularly much newer ones, any day.

Again, thanks for the feedback. I can always keep it until the demand is there if that ever happens. I also have 1978 and 1984 Tobiases and I wouldn't give them away because of a fickle market.
:D

I disagree on what you think of my price, most people who've contacted me haven't had an issue with it, they just don't have the means to get it. I'm offering it for sale because I don't use it. That's all.
 
#10,322
Brad Johnson said:
You have a bass for sale that you're not selling for what you're asking? Okay.

This was not bare bones when Mike built it. Remember, this is #29. And apparently being a very early bass after Mike started the new company doesn't mean much when it comes to MTDs. Neither does the rarity of a gloss finish on his handmade basses. This was optioned out at the time.

If people are mainly considering basses on looks and upgrades, cool. My top priorities are sound and playability and I'd put this up against any other MTD, particularly much newer ones, any day.

Again, thanks for the feedback. I can always keep it until the demand is there if that ever happens. I also have 1978 and 1984 Tobiases and I wouldn't give them away because of a fickle market.
:D

I disagree on what you think of my price, most people who've contacted me haven't had an issue with it, they just don't have the means to get it. I'm offering it for sale because I don't use it. That's all.
Click to expand...
Hey, that was just my opinion. No harm intended. And yeah, I have a bass posted for trade, not for sale..... Hence my statement above.
 
#10,325
String Cheesus said:
Not really sure what you mean by "not your style," but as I said, no offence intended. You posted why you were curious as to why it hasn't sold.....I simply gave my input. Thanks
Click to expand...

And I said thanks and offered my opinion of your ad, which until you mentioned it I hadn't really looked at. Not my style referred to what I consider hype. I'd rather sell without that. And I have more often than not. That's just a personal preference.

My experience with people who buy based on hype is that they are more often not happy when it wears off. Just my opinion. I'm fine with all of this, hope you are too.
:D
 
  • Like
Reactions: String Cheesus
#10,326
Brad Johnson said:
And I said thanks and offered my opinion of your ad, which until mentioned it I hadn't looked at. Not my style referred to what I consider hype. I'd rather sell without that. And I have more often than not. That's just a personal preference.

My experience with people who buy based on hype is that they are more often not happy when it wears off. Just my opinion. I'm fine with all of this, hope you are too.
:D
Click to expand...
Hype, personalty...... PotĀto potato lol
 
#10,327
String Cheesus said:
Hype, personalty...... PotĀto potato lol
Click to expand...

Whatever it is, it goes beyond letting the gear speak for itself. I have a good friend who's very successful moving instruments using the same M.O. I have no problem with him doing it as I have none with you... BUT for myself, the "it slices! It dices!" tact is a bad fit. I guess if someone needs to read hyperbole when I'm offering them a killer piece of gear I'm not the guy they're going to get it from.

The MTD resale market is not as strong as I'd thought it would be but then again I'm probably way to close too the brand. Oh well, there are worse things to be stuck with.
 
#10,328
Brad Johnson said:
Whatever it is, it goes beyond letting the gear speak for itself. I have a good friend who's very successful moving instruments using the same M.O. I have no problem with him doing it as I have none with you... BUT for myself, the "it slices! It dices!" tact is a bad fit. I guess if someone needs to read hyperbole when I'm offering them a killer piece of gear I'm not the guy they're going to get it from.

The MTD resale market is not as strong as I'd thought it would be but then again I'm probably way to close too the brand. Oh well, there are worse things to be stuck with.
Click to expand...
Hey, I'm no salesman. Lol. Just a guy with a bass and a great personality lol. People can interpret whatever they'd like based on my post, but that's just me talking. GLWTS either way, and you're right. Much worse basses to be stuck with.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Brad Johnson
#10,329
Brad Johnson said:
This was not bare bones when Mike built it. Remember, this is #29. And apparently being a very early bass after Mike started the new company doesn't mean much when it comes to MTDs. Neither does the rarity of a gloss finish on his handmade basses. This was optioned out at the time.
Click to expand...

I think SodaCity has actually hit on a good point here on what I said earlier in noticing that the earlier MTDs are selling for a good deal less than the newer MTDs. You're right - that bass wasn't bare bones at all back when it was built. But over the years Mike has really added more features to his basses which are priced options. I used to have a very early MTD myself, built in 1995. At that time he didn't offer matching headstocks or trussrod covers, didn't offer 24 fret basses, didn't offer alternative electronics options, and the wood options were very limited to a few combinations. Later on he started offering all of these options, but there were upcharges for them. At this point, many options have become de facto standard in that you rarely see a new MTD without them.

For example, when I had my new MTD built for me last year, I wanted a 535-21. The 21 fret look has always seemed "right" to me on MTDs because that was the original design. Plus I like the extra space between the fretboard and the pickups. Choosing the 21 fret option actually knocked off a bit of the price for me, because the 24 fret "option" has kinda become standard. Also I rarely ever see a new MTD without matching headstock and trussrod cover. Per the pricelist if you got one without these it would also knock off some of the price. So you could order a brand new MTD 635 with all basic options for not much more than you are selling yours for (give or take - I'm not sure what he's charging for a gloss finish now, and my price list is from last year).

The flip of this is the point you brought up about being an early bass not meaning much with MTDs. This makes sense because MTDs are still built in a very small shop with 2-3 guys, including Michael Tobias himself. It would be a different story if back in the 90's Mike was building the basses but he expanded at some point to a big shop with tons of staff doing the building which could be a perceived quality drop. He is on top of his game now as much as ever.

To your point, I'm not saying that all the wood options and extra stuff matter in terms of tone. It's just a pure numbers thing in terms of the value of instruments of different eras, and we have a decent amount of data available in terms of looking at the basses that have sold, what the prices were, and how long they took to sell. It's up to you do decide if your bass is overpriced or not, depending on how quickly you'd like to sell it. Like I mentioned earlier, if you aren't in a hurry then you can wait for the perfect buyer who really wants a gloss finish and the older electronics. But if you want it to sell as quickly as other MTDs in the classifieds then maybe it is a price issue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FretNot, idoker and String Cheesus
#10,331
I don't need to sell it quickly. I'm not debating the advice that's been offered except the assumption that there's more to see on mine than there is.

I figured with a site this big and a builder as popular as Mike there'd be more interest in his earlier works. No problem.
 
#10,332
bass12 said:
This makes me think of the last MTD I sold here on TB. The bass was mint with matching everything (including wooden knobs). I had it listed at $3300 and it wasn't budging. I had to drop it down to $3000 before it sold.
Click to expand...


Sometimes things just don't move. My experience with six strings tells me that the market is already smaller right off the bat. Coupled with the price range it becomes even smaller. If it gets to the point where I need the money... until then I'll concentrate on putting it into people's hands locally. No need for salesmanship when they feel and hear it.
:D
 
#10,334
namuxtree said:
Has anyone tried a USA Saratoga with the Nordstrand and Aguilar pickup pre combo? I'm wondering if it's possible to get a genuine 70's Jazz sound in an MTD package. Maybe with either of configurations with a high mass bridge like brass instead of aluminum? Anyone with experience care to weigh in?
Click to expand...
I tried one of each (Aguilar and Nordstrand). I can't say either one produced a "genuine" 70s jazz sound - they both still sounded fairly modern to my ears (I should mention that I was trying them through a Tecamp head so that probably didn't help).
 
#10,335
If I'm reading the OPs post correctly. I think he means Nordstrand pickups with Aguilar preamp. I've not ever seen this combo come from Mike directly. Only Nordy pickups or Aguilar pickups. Preamps have always been Bart on any I have seen. Not saying it doesn't exist though. That said. The new B-axis Bart pickups are a nice addition to the Saratoga line. But still have a modern flair paired with the custom Bart preamp. But I like a touch of modern with the Jazz bass. If you want a true classic jazz sound. Only a classic fender is really going to do that. A Nordy vJ gets close. Or look a regenerate guitar works jazz with Honey Badger pickups. That gets even closer. In the end, I still love the Saratoga. All the things I like about jazz basses without the things I don't.
 
#10,337
rodneyat said:
If I'm reading the OPs post correctly. I think he means Nordstrand pickups with Aguilar preamp. I've not ever seen this combo come from Mike directly. Only Nordy pickups or Aguilar pickups. Preamps have always been Bart on any I have seen. Not saying it doesn't exist though. That said. The new B-axis Bart pickups are a nice addition to the Saratoga line. But still have a modern flair paired with the custom Bart preamp. But I like a touch of modern with the Jazz bass. If you want a true classic jazz sound. Only a classic fender is really going to do that. A Nordy vJ gets close. Or look a regenerate guitar works jazz with Honey Badger pickups. That gets even closer. In the end, I still love the Saratoga. All the things I like about jazz basses without the things I don't.
Click to expand...
Mike did make at least one Saratoga with Nordstrand preamp and pickups and one with Aguilar preamp and pickups (the ones I tried) but, yeah, most of the Saratogas are Bart-equipped.
 
#10,338
namuxtree said:
I actually meant Nordy pup/pre and Aggy pup/pre, but I appreciate your insight. I'm looking for a Marcus Miller type of vibe, so not a true 70's, but in that kind of a ballpark. So I guess the consensus is that it won't? :/
Click to expand...
I would say no. My Lull with Sadowsky preamp and Seymour Duncan singles can get Marcus-esque but it's still not as close as what I've heard Fenders get sound-wise.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ace Of Bass
#10,339
bass12 said:
Mike did make at least one Saratoga with Nordstrand preamp and pickups and one with Aguilar preamp and pickups (the ones I tried) but, yeah, most of the Saratogas are Bart-equipped.
Click to expand...

Very cool...I am assuming the Aggie OBP-3. Which is definitely on the modern side. The Nordy 3-band slightly less modern. But, still definitely not "Marcus Miller" tone. But, 80% of that is Marcus Miller and not his bass. :) IIRC, the preamp in his bass that Roger Sadowsky did originally had a Bart preamp and Seymour Duncan pickups. But, don't quote me on that one.
 
#10,340
I really loved Reggie Parker's tone and wanted something like this. Not necessarily the unique "Marcus" tone, but that ash/maple 70's jazz tone.



Another example.



So what about these basses gives it that sound if not the pickup style and placement? Is it the bridge? Neck pocket?
I can't see why Mike and Daniel wouldn't be able to build something that sounds like these. :\ Maybe I'm being too hopeful
 
  • Like
Reactions: vision

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back