The Official MTD USA Thread

[Sithian]

Still on the hunt for my favorite strings. What’s your favorite strings on a 535/534?

A while back Mike suggested I try the Pure Nickels (not the nickel plated standard ones). I have a slew of strings and forgot about them and recently strung then up. I really like them! Great fundamental, nice feel, and responsive.

I also like the MTD SS strings - these are my usual go to.

 

[bucephylus]

Still on the hunt for my favorite strings. What’s your favorite strings on a 535/534?

I’ve stuck with the Fodera Nickels, which came to me with my used Tobias Classic 6 way back when. But, I’ve also tried the DR Sunbeams, which are razor close and equally great.

Mike’s instruments are so articulate, that they just seem to pair well with Nickels to pick up that little bit of thickness. IMO YMMV

 

[Spreck76]

Yep, on my 535 I have gone with DR Sunbeams. Great string for this bass.

 

[Saluki]

I've been using the original MTD strings with great results. Gonna' try DR's next tho, then maybe GHS.

Vic,

What MTD do you have in arsenal right now?

 

[Vic]

Vic,

What MTD do you have in arsenal right now?

635/24, ash body and neck, walnut top, birdseye board. fairly mid-forward and cutting tone. yes, i'm trying to get into playing a 6. bought it from mike at namm 2020 right before the pandemic hit.

 

[Element Zero]

I did what Vision did—I had Mike add a passive tone control. I think the bass sounds great with the preamp flat and the passive tone rolled back between 25% and 50%.

If you haven't tried this already, you also might want to try adjusting the pickup heights. I usually play with them both full up; I wasn't a huge fan of the blended sound with the pickups as Mike (or Daniel?) had set them; but when I adjusted the heights to favor the neck pickup, the bass sounded more like the tone in my head—which is a lot like this video from 20+ years ago with David Dyson (on his avodire/wenge 535-21):



It took me a while (at least an hour) to adjust them to sound the way I like.

Man… I’ve known who she is but never listened to her music. Is this a more, stand alone tune or is a lot of it similar to this… cuz MAN that bumps. Sick.

 

[bass12]

Man… I’ve known who she is but never listened to her music. Is this a more, stand alone tune or is a lot of it similar to this… cuz MAN that bumps. Sick.

The albums to check out for more of that style are Plantation Lullabies and Peace Beyond Passion.

There are also some great clips from various concerts that are worth checking out (the Montreux shows are great).

 

[foal30]

Peace Beyond Passion is an A+ Record

I see on eBay David Dyson 535 Fretless

 

[Element Zero]

I had a 635 and a 535 with those same specs, and it was amazing how different the two were. The 635 was sweet sounding, with a beautiful piano-like quality. The 535 was totally rude, sounding like a rusty chainsaw cutting thru a wedding cake. I bought them both at the same time, but ended up with the 635 as my #1 for many years. Kinda regret selling it, but I had my reasons at the time.

Of any 6 strings that I've ever played, the MTD's have always been the best playing; at least for me.

A rusty chainsaw cutting through a wedding cake. Man… in my head that sounds amazeballz. What a great description.

 

[Element Zero]

Anyone live in the California central valley that has a 534/5 or Super 5 that would be willing to let a stranger slap their bass around for a few hours? Lol.

In all seriousness, I’m gasin’ HARD now after reading through 200 pages of this thread.

 

[MMiller28]

Anyone live in the California central valley that has a 534/5 or Super 5 that would be willing to let a stranger slap their bass around for a few hours? Lol.

In all seriousness, I’m gasin’ HARD now after reading through 200 pages of this thread.

I bought my first MTD having never seen one in person and now I have three...

 

[red_rhino]

Anyone live in the California central valley that has a 534/5 or Super 5 that would be willing to let a stranger slap their bass around for a few hours? Lol.

In all seriousness, I’m gasin’ HARD now after reading through 200 pages of this thread.

Have you ever played an MTD before, or are you just testing the waters? What are you playing now?

Threads like this are indeed GAS inducing. For a time, I was actually following this thread as well as the Club Sadowsky and Alleva-Coppolo threads (until my doctor advised me to stop). Never owned an AC; no Sadowsky I've ever owned has stuck around for very long. Those are great basses, but MTDs are my happy place. Whether or not it's your happy place depends on what you're after.

I've owned enough MTDs X35's to know that the playability and feel is exactly what I'm after. Tone-wise, I lean toward the Super pickups and pre, although the traditional pickups and pre are really nice too. (In fact, I just picked up a used 434 with the traditional electronics, and I'm really looking forward to having that sound available to me again.)

There's a Super 5 in the Classifieds with sound-clips that's worth checking out.

 

[Element Zero]

I bought my first MTD having never seen one in person and now I have three...

I did the same with a Pedulla and a Fodera. Only the Fodera remained.

 

[Element Zero]

Have you ever played an MTD before, or are you just testing the waters? What are you playing now?

Threads like this are indeed GAS inducing. For a time, I was actually following this thread as well as the Club Sadowsky and Alleva-Coppolo threads (until my doctor advised me to stop). Never owned an AC; no Sadowsky I've ever owned has stuck around for very long. Those are great basses, but MTDs are my happy place. Whether or not it's your happy place depends on what you're after.

I've owned enough MTDs X35's to know that the playability and feel is exactly what I'm after. Tone-wise, I lean toward the Super pickups and pre, although the traditional pickups and pre are really nice too. (In fact, I just picked up a used 434 with the traditional electronics, and I'm really looking forward to having that sound available to me again.)

There's a Super 5 in the Classifieds with sound-clips that's worth checking out.

I’ve never played an MTD. A few Tobias basses came through my hands a few times more than a decade ago but that’s it.

 

[BluesyCat]

Anyone live in the California central valley that has a 534/5 or Super 5 that would be willing to let a stranger slap their bass around for a few hours? Lol.

In all seriousness, I’m gasin’ HARD now after reading through 200 pages of this thread.

I'll sell ya my 635-24! It's too much bass for me.

 

[BluesyCat]

My 635-24 has finally arrived! I am officially IN now!!!
(I'm gonna be busy now....)

635-24
Medium weight Northern body
Birdseye Maple fingerboard
Figured Walnut 10 top presentation grade
Matching headstock
matching truss rod cover
Buzz Feitin Tuning
Matching Wood Knobs

View attachment 3963875 View attachment 3963876 View attachment 3963880 View attachment 3963894 View attachment 3963895 View attachment 3963896 View attachment 3963897

yup, it is too much bass for me. I am willing to let go to someone here. I just haven't posted in the classifieds yet.

 

[BluesyCat]

yup, it is too much bass for me. I am willing to let go to someone here. I just haven't posted in the classifieds yet.

Correction, it is posted. Minor interest as I expected.

 

[red_rhino]

Correction, it is posted. Minor interest as I expected.

Perhaps, but that bass is special, and for right buyer, it will be irresistible. I had a 635-24 with that same wood combo and I kinda miss it. The person I sold it to was a bit put off that I was only willing to come down a token $100 off my asking price, but I knew what I had. The store where I consigned it was relaying messages and said "He's playing it." to which I replied "Then it's sold.". I knew that once he played it, he'd have to have it.

For the 6 string player, it doesn't get much better than MTD. It'll sell. And new ones are just going to get more expensive.

 

[Acoustic356]

I prefer to use MTD nicklewound strings on my US Saratoga. Sadly, I can’t find them online anywhere… Does anyone know where I can order some?

 

[Aram]

I prefer to use MTD nicklewound strings on my US Saratoga. Sadly, I can’t find them online anywhere… Does anyone know where I can order some?

I requested nickel strings on my forthcoming 434 build, and Michael said he had some left to use for it. You should reach out to him (but don't take mine!)