The Official MTD USA Thread

[bass12]

I typically use either a Tecamp Puma 900 or Aguilar TH500 through a Bergantino AE410 or AE210. Have also used Ampeg SVT Pros (mostly the III and IV) with great success.

 

[vision]

I play through a TecAmp Puma 900 and S212, and also run a TecAmp Puma 112 combo. MTDs and TecAmp sound GREAT together.

 

[mojacko]

Greetings from Indonesia,

this is my #1434 535
ash/myrtle
ash/bem



I’ve noticed mike didn’t make lot of ash neck these days, compared to maple, any idea why ?

forgive me for being too lazy to read previous pages

 

[bassgrackle]

Greetings from Indonesia,

this is my #1434 535
ash/myrtle
ash/bem

I’ve noticed mike didn’t make lot of ash neck these days, compared to maple, any idea why ?

forgive me for being too lazy to read previous pages

View attachment 3060358 View attachment 3060359 View attachment 3060360 View attachment 3060361 View attachment 3060362

I have an ash neck as well and love it. But Mike asked me when I was building do you really like the feel of the ash neck. It seemed to me that the ash necks get a different texture to them, mine is almost sticky but still very quick after many years of play.

 

[mojacko]

I have an ash neck as well and love it. But Mike asked me when I was building do you really like the feel of the ash neck. It seemed to me that the ash necks get a different texture to them, mine is almost sticky but still very quick after many years of play.

I don’t mind the feel at all, good then because I thought there was some issues with ash neck, so mike didn’t use it as much as <2010

 

[bass12]

Greetings from Indonesia,

this is my #1434 535
ash/myrtle
ash/bem

I’ve noticed mike didn’t make lot of ash neck these days, compared to maple, any idea why ?

forgive me for being too lazy to read previous pages

View attachment 3060358 View attachment 3060359 View attachment 3060360 View attachment 3060361 View attachment 3060362

Gorgeous bass you have there. From what I understand, Mike originally offered ash as an alternative to wenge (which was becoming increasingly difficult to obtain). The trend recently has seemingly been on the more "traditional" end of the spectrum so I'm assuming he's making a lot more maple necks. There's also the whole issue of the Emerald Ash Borer which may be interfering with the availability of decent ash.

 

[mojacko]

Gorgeous bass you have there. From what I understand, Mike originally offered ash as an alternative to wenge (which was becoming increasingly difficult to obtain). The trend recently has seemingly been on the more "traditional" end of the spectrum so I'm assuming he's making a lot more maple necks. There's also the whole issue of the Emerald Ash Borer which may be interfering with the availability of decent ash.

Thanks, I'm so relieved now, my 535 was made on oct 2006, almost 12 YO.
I was assuming there's long-term issue with ash neck in term of stability or durability, glad to know that I don't need to worry with my 535.

 

[bass12]

Thanks, I'm so relieved now, my 535 was made on oct 2006, almost 12 YO.
I was assuming there's long-term issue with ash neck in term of stability or durability, glad to know that I don't need to worry with my 535.

Mike is pretty picky about the wood he uses. No worries there.

 

[Eneade]

I wonder what material Mike uses for the black layer between the body and top wood ?
Looks like ebony but the colour is so consistent I have doubts...

 

[Heikki]

I wonder what material Mike uses for the black layer between the body and top wood ?
Looks like ebony but the colour is so consistent I have doubts...

Good question, I have wondered the same. Could it be a some kind of glue layer instead of wood?

 

[Eneade]

So I have had an answer from Mike (what a nice guy !), this is "black dyed anigre".

 

[petebass90]

Yes, that is the veneer he uses. It is a laminate that Mike uses to separate the body wood from the top wood. If you look closely, he also uses it between the peg head veneer and the neck wood, as well as the back of the peghead to control the vibration on the bass rendering the sound more stable and not "wabbly"

 

[bucephylus]

Well...the time has finally come. Mike, bless his heart, is working on a 534-24 for me.

Walnut top
Light Northern Ash body
Ebony board, roasted Birdseye maple neck
Nordstrand Fat Stacks w/ coil tap
Pope Preamp
17.5 mm
Target 9 pounds or less

Here’s the top
View attachment 2828396

The downside is I’ll be moving my Hollywood Signature 5, a bass I’ve put a lot of time into on the gig and at the bench. If this were anyone but Mike, I’d be terrified. I’m not.
View attachment 2828404

BTW, guess I should have posted this on the previous page....

Looks like the wait is nearly over. Just got off the phone with Mike. Aside from being one of the most talented builders, he is also one of the greatest people out there. This was a new project for him. Different preamp to learn about, coil taps and all that stuff. But, by his evaluation, the effort was well worth it. Should provide some nice options for his builds going forward.

Just a few more days waiting...

 

[bassgrackle]

Looks like the wait is nearly over. Just got off the phone with Mike. Aside from being one of the most talented builders, he is also one of the greatest people out there. This was a new project for him. Different preamp to learn about, coil taps and all that stuff. But, by his evaluation, the effort was well worth it. Should provide some nice options for his builds going forward.

Just a few more days waiting...
View attachment 3077964

Beautiful bass. What’s different about the pre amp? And what woods did you go with?

 

[bucephylus]

Beautiful bass. What’s different about the pre amp? And what woods did you go with?

Pope preamp, Nordstrand Fat Stacks with coil tap, selected light ash body, roasted birds eye neck, walnut top. I was looking for a big, open, transparent sound; and I expect that’s what I will get.

 

[GHOST AT]

Looks like the wait is nearly over. Just got off the phone with Mike. Aside from being one of the most talented builders, he is also one of the greatest people out there. This was a new project for him. Different preamp to learn about, coil taps and all that stuff. But, by his evaluation, the effort was well worth it. Should provide some nice options for his builds going forward.

Just a few more days waiting...
View attachment 3077964

That top That topdrooldrooldrooldrool what a stellar MTD, could you please make some sound clips?

 

[Mr_O'B]

Looks like the wait is nearly over. Just got off the phone with Mike. Aside from being one of the most talented builders, he is also one of the greatest people out there. This was a new project for him. Different preamp to learn about, coil taps and all that stuff. But, by his evaluation, the effort was well worth it. Should provide some nice options for his builds going forward.

Just a few more days waiting...
View attachment 3077964

Besides the bass being an absolute stunner, I think your electronics selection will make it your best sounding bass!

Congrats, I am happy for you!

 

[tombowlus]

Looks like the wait is nearly over. Just got off the phone with Mike. Aside from being one of the most talented builders, he is also one of the greatest people out there. This was a new project for him. Different preamp to learn about, coil taps and all that stuff. But, by his evaluation, the effort was well worth it. Should provide some nice options for his builds going forward.

Just a few more days waiting...
View attachment 3077964

Wow! What a beauty!

 

[bucephylus]

Wow! What a beauty!

This is all your doing! Yours, and yours alone! LOL. Thanks, BTW.

Mike told me that prior to this build, he had only installed a non-Bart preamp once in 40 years, and based on the performance of that particular preamp, he would never use it again. So, this was both a gracious consent on his part, and a bit of a stiff test. Fortunately, his evaluation after getting the bass up and talking with the Pope was that it was a “magnificent sounding instrument.” My sense is that he still prefers the Bartolini voicing; but, this gives him another choice. A different style of fine wine, if you will. We will see where it goes.

 

[tombowlus]

This is all your doing! Yours, and yours alone! LOL. Thanks, BTW.

Mike told me that prior to this build, he had only installed a non-Bart preamp once in 40 years, and based on the performance of that particular preamp, he would never use it again. So, this was both a gracious consent on his part, and a bit of a stiff test. Fortunately, his evaluation after getting the bass up and talking with the Pope was that it was a “magnificent sounding instrument.” My sense is that he still prefers the Bartolini voicing; but, this gives him another choice. A different style of fine wine, if you will. We will see where it goes.

LOL, happy to help!