The Official MTD USA Thread

[String Cheesus]

[QUOTE="
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Did he add an extra string by mistake? I counted 6!

Just kidding, but 5 is my limit. I had a really nice Acacia 6 but it just did not work for me. I tried it for a couple of years but, no go.

Dan[/QUOTE]
I use to be more comfortable on a 5 as well, but the neck on a 635 is more comfortable than any 6 string I've played

 

[kevk]

I use to be more comfortable on a 5 as well, but the neck on a 635 is more comfortable than any 6 string I've played

+1...My AG6 neck is far more comfortable than I had anticipated, too. The fact that Mike finishes his necks (iirc) by "feel"...is pretty cool!

 

[kevk]

The 5 string necks are awesome, also! I had mentioned to Mike that I really liked my AG6 neck...so on my recent 534 build, he shaped the neck like an AG5 (slightly thinner) for me...love it!

 

[String Cheesus]

View attachment 874706 View attachment 874707 View attachment 874708 View attachment 874709 Here is my MTD AG6, a wonderful bass. Plays like nothing else I've ever had in my hands... But I need to sell it :-( ... $4900... Bass has never been out of the home, never gigged, purchased from Glenn at Austin Bass Traders in Sept 2015.. Bass is in mint/new condition.

Put that bass up in classifieds. Should do well.

 

[metallutca]

Anyone have a 434-21 that they want to sell? Probably a long shot but thought I'd try.

How about a 434-22? Classic poplar, myrtle burl, wenge/wenge combo, Saratoga electronics with active/passive switch & passive tone control.

 

[melodiaopus]

My beloved MTD635

 

[bass12]

Wow - beautiful example of buckeye burl! That's really a special one...

 

[tyjacks]

Put that bass up in classifieds. Should do well.

Will do... thanks

 

[bass12]

Will do... thanks

You need to be a supporting member to do that though.

 

[idoker]

I'm selling/trading my MTD-535. HERE's the classified ad. Let me know if there is any interest. Thanks!

 

[Whippet]

could someone be kind enough to tell me if this is true:

All MTDs sound different because of the wood combination (this part I confirmed and it is true), but the Andrew Gouche model is a different story because it comes from the same batch of wood, making them very similar to each other.

Is this part about AG signature model true? (Obviously a 5 string will sound different from a 6 string due to the added mass on the neck but the inherent nature should be the same. )

I would like to get the AG5 but can't play it before I buy it because it's half way across the globe. Can I expect the AG5s to be good all across the board?

Thanks for all information in advance.

 

[bass12]

could someone be kind enough to tell me if this is true:

All MTDs sound different because of the wood combination (this part I confirmed and it is true), but the Andrew Gouche model is a different story because it comes from the same batch of wood, making them very similar to each other.

Is this part about AG signature model true? (Obviously a 5 string will sound different from a 6 string due to the added mass on the neck but the inherent nature should be the same. )

I would like to get the AG5 but can't play it before I buy it because it's half way across the globe. Can I expect the AG5s to be good all across the board?

Thanks for all information in advance.

Even if the AGs are made from the same tree (and I'd suspect this is not necessarily the case for all of the necks nor bodies - but could be for the tops and fingerboards) there's no guarantee that two AGs will sound identical.

 

[Whippet]

Even if the AGs are made from the same tree (and I'd suspect this is not necessarily the case for all of the necks nor bodies - but could be for the tops and fingerboards) there's no guarantee that two AGs will sound identical.

Thanks for your input. It makes sense that the body is not from the same tree, after all how many bods can you make in a uniform formation from one tree? I am guessing that the top is a cosmetic top and has absolutely no bearing on the tone.

If this is the case, then the AGs should all be different.

Anyway I guess I need to ask the store if it's a good sounding instrument with hope that they will tell me the fact.

 

[bass12]

It makes sense that the body is not from the same tree, after all how many bods can you make in a uniform formation from one tree? I am guessing that the top is a cosmetic top and has absolutely no bearing on the tone.

If this is the case, then the AGs should all be different.

Anyway I guess I need to ask the store if it's a good sounding instrument with hope that they will tell me the fact.

"Good sounding" is pretty subjective - unless you are talking about obvious dead spots or the like.

 

[Whippet]

"Good sounding" is pretty subjective - unless you are talking about obvious dead spots or the like.

True it is subjective. I should ask if the instrument "rings" or if it's one of those dead instruments. I figure the pickups and electronics should be top notch and uniform from one to another.

For the price they sell these things, I very much hope that they are built well with minimum dead spots and no compromise in quality of build.

 

[bass12]

True it is subjective. I should ask if the instrument "rings" or if it's one of those dead instruments. I figure the pickups and electronics should be top notch and uniform from one to another.

For the price they sell these things, I very much hope that they are built well with minimum dead spots and no compromise in quality of build.

The AG electronics are the same as what go into other 535s. Dead spots are not something that can be predicted so it's pretty much luck of the draw (Mike has implemented various strategies to try to minimize dead spots but, again, no guarantees). What is it about the AG that interests you more than a non-AG?

 

[Whippet]

The AG electronics are the same as what go into other 535s. Dead spots are not something that can be predicted so it's pretty much luck of the draw (Mike has implemented various strategies to try to minimize dead spots but, again, no guarantees). What is it about the AG that interests you more than a non-AG?

actually, only looks. LOL really because it looks great. TBH, the guy at the music store in Tokyo told me that since MTD USAs are so custom figured, none will sound the same. So in essence, I was told to just go by the looks, the price, and the tone. I do like A. Gouche's tone but someone mentioned that it is drop tuned so unless I do that, it won't even come close.

 

[bass12]

actually, only looks. LOL really because it looks great. TBH, the guy at the music store in Tokyo told me that since MTD USAs are so custom figured, none will sound the same. So in essence, I was told to just go by the looks, the price, and the tone. I do like A. Gouche's tone but someone mentioned that it is drop tuned so unless I do that, it won't even come close.

That's a lot of extra dough for looks. Don't get me wrong, I love a beautiful bass but it's taken me thousands and thousands of dollars to learn that if the sound isn't exactly what I want it doesn't matter how good a bass looks, I'm just not going to be happy with it.

 

[Maiden Bass]

They will have to pry this one from my cold dead hands!

 

[Whippet]

That's a lot of extra dough for looks. Don't get me wrong, I love a beautiful bass but it's taken me thousands and thousands of dollars to learn that if the sound isn't exactly what I want it doesn't matter how good a bass looks, I'm just not going to be happy with it.

I know, it is isn't it? But a trip the shrink to get medication for stress would be equally a lot. LOL