The Official MTD USA Thread

[BluesyCat]

What'll it be?

From my spec sheet:
635-24
Ash/Ash, Medium Weight, Northern Body
Birdseye Fingerboard
Walnut Figured, Presentation Grade 10 Top
Matching Peghead
Matching Truss Rod cover
Buzz Feitin Tuning
Matching wood knobs


Photo sent to me: June 13th, 2020 and it was estimated to be another 6-8wks to go.

 

[bucephylus]

That’s a killer looking bass. Did Mike build it for you with the Pope pre, or is it a mod? Would love to hear a clip. Awesome build.

The bass is more or less the way Mike built it. He is SUCH a great cat.

I’ve posted previously some of the bumps in the build road. Sadly, Mike never actually heard the bass sit up and talk; because I initially spec’d the bass with Nordy Fat Stacks and a single coil / humcanceller switch. The switch never worked properly due to some misunderstandings about the pickup shielding; so I ended up just putting the Zens in to simplify, learning about the shielding issue as a side product. All of which occurred after the bass shipped. Just chalk it up to a learning experience; except I believe it may have left Mike with a distaste for the Pope. Which is really unfortunate.

The pickup shielding is a surprisingly big deal. The Bartolini pickups, which Mike has always used, are internally shielded. So, Mike basically never thought about shielding the pickup cavities. Didn’t need to. The Nordstrands are polar opposite and REQUIRE pickup cavity shielding. You wouldn’t think it would be a big deal; but the Pope relies on proper ground plane definition to get the amplification path correctly set.

I’ve owed this thread some demo clips for some time now. I’ll see what I can get done in the next couple of weeks.

 

[bucephylus]

From my spec sheet:
635-24
Ash/Ash, Medium Weight, Northern Body
Birdseye Fingerboard
Walnut Figured, Presentation Grade 10 Top
Matching Peghead
Matching Truss Rod cover
Buzz Feitin Tuning
Matching wood knobs


Photo sent to me: June 13th, 2020 and it was estimated to be another 6-8wks to go.
View attachment 3910483

Nice, Bluesy!!!

Somewhat similar to mine. FWIW, “medium” weight Northern Ash produced a 9.7 pound bass in my case.

 

[bassgrackle]

Sunday wood...my avatar was due for any update anyway.

 

[MMiller28]

From my spec sheet:
635-24
Ash/Ash, Medium Weight, Northern Body
Birdseye Fingerboard
Walnut Figured, Presentation Grade 10 Top
Matching Peghead
Matching Truss Rod cover
Buzz Feitin Tuning
Matching wood knobs


Photo sent to me: June 13th, 2020 and it was estimated to be another 6-8wks to go.
View attachment 3910483

Spectacular top!

 

[BluesyCat]

Thanks everyone, I am looking forward to my new MTD bass!

 

[MMiller28]

I'll get in on the Sunday action. Playing the Super right now.

 

[bass12]

Interesting - I haven’t seen any photos posted by MTD of 21 fret 535s in a really long time...

 

[red_rhino]

Interesting - I haven’t seen any photos posted by MTD of 21 fret 535s in a really long time...

You have but to ask. Here's a couple I used to own.

 

[bass12]

You have but to ask. Here's a couple I used to own.

View attachment 3910712 View attachment 3910714 View attachment 3910716

Nice looking basses. All but one of my 535s have been 21 fretters. I just find it weird that they never seem to pop up on the MTD Instagram/Facebook feed.

 

[red_rhino]

I'll get in on the Sunday action. Playing the Super right now.View attachment 3910666

I'm lusting after your Saratoga. That top and color is just beautiful.

 

[red_rhino]

Nice looking basses. All but one of my 535s have been 21 fretters. I just find it weird that they never seem to pop up on the MTD Instagram/Facebook feed.

They were wonderful basses, but I often found myself wanting the full two octave range for many things I liked to play. It became frustrating, so I moved on to 24 fret instruments only when it came to MTDs.

 

[MMiller28]

I'm lusting after your Saratoga. That top and color is just beautiful.

Thanks! You should get a Saratoga too!

 

[MMiller28]

Interesting - I haven’t seen any photos posted by MTD of 21 fret 535s in a really long time...

Daniel hasn't posted any new basses since early May...I wonder what the deal is.

 

[bass12]

Daniel hasn't posted any new basses since early May...I wonder what the deal is.

Where are you looking? There have been lots of photos posted recently on their MTD Facebook page...

 

[red_rhino]

Where are you looking? There have been lots of photos posted recently on their MTD Facebook page...

The main website seems to lag far behind FB. It's a bit maddening, because not everyone in the world is on FB, and I don't like being corralled into joining a social media site just to see what a company is up to. It happens a lot in the area where I live too.

PSA: FaceBook is not the internet!

 

[red_rhino]

Thanks! You should get a Saratoga too!

It's on my todo list.

 

[MMiller28]

Where are you looking? There have been lots of photos posted recently on their MTD Facebook page...

His last Instagram post was May 7

I'm not on FB

 

[TolerancEJ]

@red_rhino @MMiller28 MTD posts on Facebook almost daily. It is your choice and right not to join Facebook, but the insinuation was that MTD does not post pictures regularly. It's his decision where he wishes to promote.

 

[BluesyCat]

@red_rhino @MMiller28 MTD posts on Facebook almost daily. It is your choice and right not to join Facebook, but the insinuation was that MTD does not post pictures regularly. It's his decision where he wishes to promote.

He also posts on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.