The Official MTD USA Thread

[phillipkregg]

Yeah, it’s funny - I think Mike was maybe hoping that the Saratoga would be MTD’s way of piercing the Nashville market. Were you thinking in terms of buying new or of buying used?

Oh there are definitely Nashville folks that have them, but I don't know them well enough to ask if I can come over and handle their basses during a pandemic lol.

But since that is starting to settle down a bit, and folks are getting vaccinated, there might actually be an opportunity for that.

At the moment, I'm looking used just to mitigate risks, but if the right instrument pops up on the new market that's not necessarily out of the question.

 

[iplay5strings]

Thank's ya'll I appreciate the info! I hadn't considered that the 534 would actually be thinner than the Saratoga.

I picked the Saratoga simply because of the passive tone knob - that's a huge feature for me.

I'll keep an eye out for 534s as well.

You can always add a tone knob to a bass that doesn't already have one...

The Beast is active/passive and the tone knob works in both modes while the 535 is active only (per the usual) with a tone knob.

 

[phillipkregg]

Ok, so another question has occurred to me. I can probably just email Mike about it, but don't want to bug him unless necessary.

I just discovered that MTD will make symmetrical necks if requested.

Does anyone have experience with these? I was told by the owner of one that he felt that the symmetrical was like have the “slim side” of the asymmetrical on both sides of the neck.

I know the necks vary, but curious if anyone else may have had a similar experience?

 

[bass12]

Ok, so another question has occurred to me. I can probably just email Mike about it, but don't want to bug him unless necessary.

I just discovered that MTD will make symmetrical necks if requested.

Does anyone have experience with these? I was told by the owner of one that he felt that the symmetrical was like have the “slim side” of the asymmetrical on both sides of the neck.

I know the necks vary, but curious if anyone else may have had a similar experience?

Interesting - I’d never heard about this option before.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Honestly, you can't tell it is asymmetric unless you really really really put effort to realize it is asymmetric. Usually it goes like this this -- talking to yourself .. "Wow this bass is awesome, I seem to be able to play faster and it is more comfortable. I wonder why." Inspects neck ... "Oh, it's an asymmetric neck profile, coolness."

 

[phillipkregg]

Honestly, you can't tell it is asymmetric unless you really really really put effort to realize it is asymmetric. Usually it goes like this this -- talking to yourself .. "Wow this bass is awesome, I seem to be able to play faster and it is more comfortable. I wonder why." Inspects neck ... "Oh, it's an asymmetric neck profile, coolness."

Ha ha, good point. I think I'm just going to have to jump in and give one a try. If it turns out not for me, it would be relatively easy to flip. But I'm suspecting I will find them to be pretty great.

 

[Vic]

Ha ha, good point. I think I'm just going to have to jump in and give one a try. If it turns out not for me, it would be relatively easy to flip. But I'm suspecting I will find them to be pretty great.

the MTD asym profile is amazing. if you're like me, it'll just feel completely natural and maybe even somewhat slender/fast. i'm pretty sure most vendors don't offer them simply because it's more difficult/costly to do.

 

[bass12]

the MTD asym profile is amazing. if you're like me, it'll just feel completely natural and maybe even somewhat slender/fast. i'm pretty sure most vendors don't offer them simply because it's more difficult/costly to do.

When I got my first 535 I didn’t even know about the asymmetrical neck - I just knew it felt great in my hands. Once I learned about Mike’s approach to neck shaping I thought, “Oh, okay - that helps explain it”. Subtle but very effective.

 

[Sithian]

I am not a Fender expert but I think they have asymmetrical neck heels in a current production model.

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MTD necks are so comfortable. It helps to best assess if you have an idea of what you like and don't- personally I love them and my 635 is my go-to. Whenever I come back to it after playing others its home.

 

[Vic]

I am not a Fender expert but I think they have asymmetrical neck heels in a current production model.

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MTD necks are so comfortable. It helps to best assess if you have an idea of what you like and don't- personally I love them and my 635 is my go-to. Whenever I come back to it after playing others its home.

that's not the same thing.

It's more correct to say they have a compound radius and a compound profile, but not an asymmetrical neck profile/shape.

Asymmetrical means the neck shape changes from the low string to the high string. Think of a bass clef as the cross-section.

Fender's compound profile changes profile as you go from the nut to the heel, but remains uniform from low string to high the whole way.

 

[Sithian]

that's not the same thing.

It's more correct to say they have a compound radius and a compound profile, but not an asymmetrical neck profile/shape.

Asymmetrical means the neck shape changes from the low string to the high string. Think of a bass clef as the cross-section.

Fender's compound profile changes profile as you go from the nut to the heel, but remains uniform from low string to high the whole way.

Cool, makes sense. The article misled me. Was thinking the Fender may have been something to get hands on to check out as a reference. Like I said, clearly not a Fender expert...

 

[Vic]

Cool, makes sense. The article misled me. Was thinking the Fender may have been something to get hands on to check out as a reference. Like I said, clearly not a Fender expert...

lol, no worries. as far as i know, the asymmetrical neck is not new to MTD... it dates back to the tobias bass days i think even back to the burbank days before gibson, but not exactly sure.

btw, i have one of those fenders and love it. actually just gigged it this past saturday.

 

[Sithian]

btw, i have one of those fenders and love it. actually just gigged it this past saturday.

I like the Fenders too - I just wish the recent models didn't use the narrow tall frets... I would have gotten one if not for that -

The MTD frets are another differentiator - in the same vein as the neck profile. Comfortable.

 

[red_rhino]

as far as i know, the asymmetrical neck is not new to MTD... it dates back to the tobias bass days i think even back to the burbank days before gibson, but not exactly sure.

That is true. I have a Tobias Classic 4 from the Burbank days; it does have an asymmetrical neck. When Mike started up MTD, I was really happy that the neck profile design was carried over.

To me, the asymmetrical aspect is a very subtle thing. If you didn't know about it, you really wouldn't notice it, other than the neck is very comfortable to play and you're not exactly sure why.

 

[penny0072001]

MY MTD 535 NAMM

 

[MMiller28]

The many cases of Michael Tobias

 

[PrimitiveMan]

MY MTD 535 NAMM View attachment 4275883 View attachment 4275879

Wow what a beautiful pair!

 

[kesslari]

lol, no worries. as far as i know, the asymmetrical neck is not new to MTD... it dates back to the tobias bass days i think even back to the burbank days before gibson, but not exactly sure.

btw, i have one of those fenders and love it. actually just gigged it this past saturday.

It dates at least to the Cahuenga (Hollywood) days, where I bought my bass from Mike and his shop.

 

[phillipkregg]

Thanks for the advice on the Saratoga earlier ya'll... happy to say that I now have my very first MTD on its way to me.

Here's a glimpse:

Roasted alder body, with maple neck and Indian rosewood fingerboard. I'm also a big Bartolini fan and excited that it has the B-Axis pickups and bart preamp.

 

[tombowlus]

Thanks for the advice on the Saratoga earlier ya'll... happy to say that I now have my very first MTD on its way to me.

Here's a glimpse:

View attachment 4279276

Roasted alder body, with maple neck and Indian rosewood fingerboard. I'm also a big Bartolini fan and excited that it has the B-Axis pickups and bart preamp.

Congrats! That looks like a beauty!