The Official MTD USA Thread

[soong]

What are people storing their MTDs in when out to gigs? Mono? Reunion Blues?

Can someone post a pic or two of the MTD Protec bag that they offer with basses?

 

[bassgrackle]

What are people storing their MTDs in when out to gigs? Mono? Reunion Blues?

Can someone post a pic or two of the MTD Protec bag that they offer with basses?

Mono dual case. Sometimes two basses sometimes I put the pedal board in the second section.

 

[Combinator]

What are people storing their MTDs in when out to gigs? Mono? Reunion Blues?

Can someone post a pic or two of the MTD Protec bag that they offer with basses?

It's just a branded Protec Contego case - Google that for images. I mostly use an Access Stage Five bag or my iGig bag.

 

[bass12]

What are people storing their MTDs in when out to gigs? Mono? Reunion Blues?

Can someone post a pic or two of the MTD Protec bag that they offer with basses?

Sadowsky Portabags. They're not as light as a soft case but they offer a lot more protection.

 

[Tritone]

IGig G315 for local stuff, MTD hard case for road dates.

 

[Combinator]

Sadowsky Portabags. They're not as light as a soft case but they offer a lot more protection.

Also made by Access, FWIW.

 

[rodneyat]

What are people storing their MTDs in when out to gigs? Mono? Reunion Blues?

Can someone post a pic or two of the MTD Protec bag that they offer with basses?

As mentioned above...Its just the Protec Contego bag with an MTD logo on it. The last 3 MTD's I purchased, I got the Protec bag. I am guessing the bag outsells the hard case at least 4 to 1 for Mike now. When he first started offering it, he told me that it is the only affordable bag he felt provided the protection he required. I was already using the Protec bags before Mike offered them. It's a great bag for the money. Lightweight, plenty of protection and decent pockets. For all my local stuff. It is more than sufficient. I can carry my DI, music, cables, tools etc.

 

[vision]

What are people storing their MTDs in when out to gigs? Mono? Reunion Blues?

Can someone post a pic or two of the MTD Protec bag that they offer with basses?

I’m gone through a bunch of bags. My favorite bag was the old original Incase gig bags from over ten years ago. I kept my first MTD in one of those. I have an original Sadowsky Portabag that I used for a LONG time and it is excellent. I used I so much though that the fabric around the handle is starting to get worn out so I’ve retired it. I currently use a Reunion Blues Aero case. It’s great in every way except it’s so slim that there is barely any room for anything. But I’ve got my gig load in/out set now where I have a separate bags which holds my guitar stand, iPad, mic stand for the iPad, either my DI or my TecAmp Puma 900 if I’m playing through my rig, etc. so I don’t need to have the storage for my bass. The RB Aero is SUPER slim and still has excellent protection.

There are other bags I’ve bought but sold because they didn’t work out. I’m tall - 6’5”, and most gig bags position the straps too low which has the bass riding super high on my back and I can’t get through doors. Bags like that were the Reunion Blues Continental, all of the Mono Bags, the ProTec Contego, etc. I also bought and quickly sold the Gruv Gear GigBlade. That bag is just weird. It only stays on your shoulder if you hold the strap while walking and that defeats the purpose for me.

Here’s a pic of my 535 in the Reunion Blues Aero:

And here’s a pic of it in the Gruv Gear GigBlade - notice how bulky it is. While it’s padded nicely the RB is much better for protection because of how snug it is.

 

[bassgrackle]

So after playing a Saratoga at Mike’s shop last week I came home and played my Fender Custom Shop jazz basses. And I have to say the MTD is so much less work to play. I have to work hard playing the vintage style Jazz. Now I’m jonseing for a Saratoga and maybe selling off the fender customs.

Anyone here have a Saratoga with a solid rocking vintage low end like I get with the Fenders? If so what are the combos your running?

 

[JesseMalaska]

So after playing a Saratoga at Mike’s shop last week I came home and played my Fender Custom Shop jazz basses. And I have to say the MTD is so much less work to play. I have to work hard playing the vintage style Jazz. Now I’m jonseing for a Saratoga and maybe selling off the fender customs.

Anyone here have a Saratoga with a solid rocking vintage low end like I get with the Fenders? If so what are the combos your running?

You will get more traditional sound if you put Nordstrand or Aguilar pickups on Saratoga. I had PJ-saratoga with Bartolini BiAxis pickups. They sounded like traditional pickups BUT with more treble and definition.
Heres a demo with Biaxis in passive mode:

 

[bass12]

So after playing a Saratoga at Mike’s shop last week I came home and played my Fender Custom Shop jazz basses. And I have to say the MTD is so much less work to play. I have to work hard playing the vintage style Jazz. Now I’m jonseing for a Saratoga and maybe selling off the fender customs.

Anyone here have a Saratoga with a solid rocking vintage low end like I get with the Fenders? If so what are the combos your running?

To me Saratogas sound quite different to Fenders - certainly if the Saratoga is Bart-equipped. The Nordstrand-equipped Saratoga I tried sounded closer to a Fender, but still different. There's something about the mids with Fenders that I just don't hear in many other basses. Maybe it's just me.

 

[bassgrackle]

You will get more traditional sound if you put Nordstrand or Aguilar pickups on Saratoga. I had PJ-saratoga with Bartolini BiAxis pickups. They sounded like traditional pickups BUT with more treble and definition.
Heres a demo with Biaxis in passive mode:

That is a great tone. Right in line with what I’m looking for.

 

[mikkoantt]

Hi
This Saratoga 5 USA is now mine and I can sell or trade it to some other MTD. Bass is located in Finland. I have to say that this is most versatile MTD I ever had.

 

[Green1]

What are people storing their MTDs in when out to gigs? Mono? Reunion Blues?

Can someone post a pic or two of the MTD Protec bag that they offer with basses?

No need to add to the pictures, but I have used the MTD Contego bag as well as the Sadowsky Portabag and the Mono Vertigo bag. I would say the one thing I liked about the Vertigo bag is that it is a top loading bag, easier and quicker to get your bass in and out. For my MTD's I have used the Contego bag that they shipped in and have been quite pleased with them.

 

[superflybass]

Here is my MTD family right now. I have the brown hard cases for them but 99.9% of the time I use a mono m80 single or double. I have used the reunion blues and it is a very nice lightweight protective bag. The guitar player in the band I play in has a newer gator double gig bag that is very nice

 

[Joebone]

Voting for the Contego bag - it's the perfect blend of storage/easy to carry, supports the neck nicely, and just a pleasure all around.

 

[lamarjones]

What are people storing their MTDs in when out to gigs? Mono? Reunion Blues?

Can someone post a pic or two of the MTD Protec bag that they offer with basses?

As mentioned above...Its just the Protec Contego bag with an MTD logo on it. The last 3 MTD's I purchased, I got the Protec bag. I am guessing the bag outsells the hard case at least 4 to 1 for Mike now. When he first started offering it, he told me that it is the only affordable bag he felt provided the protection he required. I was already using the Protec bags before Mike offered them. It's a great bag for the money. Lightweight, plenty of protection and decent pockets. For all my local stuff. It is more than sufficient. I can carry my DI, music, cables, tools etc.

Those bags are awesome, been using two of them for years. Prefer them over almost all the higher end brands.

Just placed on order for an MTD 534, after regretting letting for of this 535 for over 10 years.

 

[alexgeddy]

You can buy the protec for about 120 brand new without the MTD spray paint. I have both and they are the same gig bag. I like the protec.. well designed too!

 

[soong]

Can people chime in about how they find their Titanium rod necks? Are they noticeably more stable, and do they add much weight?

 

[Panther]

The "smoothest" sounding 535 I owned had a beautiful black limba body and a wenge neck. I'm not sure how much was the body and how much was the neck but black limba would definitely be on my short list of body woods if I was to order a new 535.

I was selling my Dusty Hill Fender for an Fbass when a buddy of mine told me about an MTD 535 and that's the wood combo. Rose of the mountain top. Tried it last night. Great bass. We'll see what happens