The Official MTD USA Thread

[Bass Viking]

Here is my MTD and my do-all pedal board.

View attachment 4418663

Killer top!

 

[MMiller28]

Has anyone ever switched their 5-string MTD bridge from 19mm to 18mm? Is there a swap with holes that line up other than waiting for a special order through MTD?

 

[Ancientwhale]

Can anyone compare wenge/wenge with wenge on maple? Im intrigued by the latest 535 in the classifieds, it has maple neck with wenge board though and I would hate to sell my all wenge neck 535 to fund it and regret it later. Just wondering if anyone has tried both

 

[mikezimmerman]

I’ve had both, though with different body woods.

The all wenge necks seemed to have a more articulate and compressed tone, but the wenge/maple neck was on an ash body like the one in the ad, and it was honestly the best sounding MTD I’ve had—articulate but balanced, with fuller low end than all-wenge necked basses had.

 

[bass12]

Can anyone compare wenge/wenge with wenge on maple? Im intrigued by the latest 535 in the classifieds, it has maple neck with wenge board though and I would hate to sell my all wenge neck 535 to fund it and regret it later. Just wondering if anyone has tried both

All I can say is that I wouldn’t recommend selling a bass you are happy with to fund a question mark. Just because one bass in a given wood combo has a certain sound doesn’t mean that a different bass in that combo will sound the same.

 

[Ancientwhale]

I’ve had both, though with different body woods.

The all wenge necks seemed to have a more articulate and compressed tone, but the wenge/maple neck was on an ash body like the one in the ad, and it was honestly the best sounding MTD I’ve had—articulate but balanced, with fuller low end than all-wenge necked basses had.

Interesting, thanks. I love wenge

All I can say is that I wouldn’t recommend selling a bass you are happy with to fund a question mark. Just because one bass in a given wood combo has a certain sound doesn’t mean that a different bass in that combo will sound the same.

That’s a good point!!

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Well I finally submitted my order for a 535-24

-swamp ash body (to try and get it down to around 9lbs
-ash neck
-birdseye maple fingerboard
-10 walnut top with matching headstock covers (front and back- never seen back ones before, but it's on the option sheet, so...)
-magnetic covers
-world logo
-mtd custom bridge
-ramp (matching the top)
-super electronics in the 535 position
-matching knobs
-mtd vectra case

I know at least one person on here isn't a fan of the ash/ash/maple combination, but I snagged a used 535-21 to check it out and I'm digging it, it sounds different enough from my FBass BN5 (northern ash body, quartersawn maple neck with birdseye 'board and stainless steel frets) and Lakland 55-94 with Barts (swamp ash body, quilted top, quartersawn maple neck with birdseye 'board), so even though there's some overlap, thinking this will be good. Now the waiting begins. I was quoted 10 months, but possibly can get an earlier build spot, so we'll see.

Pics for attention. Assuming it's a walnut burl top? Nice bass, just over 9.5lbs, pots are a bit scratchy, but overall in great shape for a 2007. Sounds and plays great too! This one does not have an asymmetrical neck (at least as I understand it, like the old Tobias basses with the airplane wing/thinner at the high strings shape), but my order should. Things may have changed in 14 years . It's not a baseball bat (although it is ash) though, fits my hand well. Will move it closer to my delivery date.

 

[iplay5strings]

Well I finally submitted my order for a 535-24

-swamp ash body (to try and get it down to around 9lbs
-ash neck
-birdseye maple fingerboard
-10 walnut top with matching headstock covers (front and back- never seen back ones before, but it's on the option sheet, so...)
-magnetic covers
-world logo
-mtd custom bridge
-ramp (matching the top)
-super electronics in the 535 position
-matching knobs
-mtd vectra case

I know at least one person on here isn't a fan of the ash/ash/maple combination, but I snagged a used 535-21 to check it out and I'm digging it, it sounds different enough from my FBass BN5 (northern ash body, quartersawn maple neck with birdseye 'board and stainless steel frets) and Lakland 55-94 with Barts (swamp ash body, quilted top, quartersawn maple neck with birdseye 'board), so even though there's some overlap, thinking this will be good. Now the waiting begins. I was quoted 10 months, but possibly can get an earlier build spot, so we'll see.

Pics for attention. Assuming it's a walnut burl top? Nice bass, just over 9.5lbs, pots are a bit scratchy, but overall in great shape for a 2007. Sounds and plays great too! This one does not have an asymmetrical neck (at least as I understand it, like the old Tobias basses with the airplane wing/thinner at the high strings shape), but my order should. Things may have changed in 14 years . It's not a baseball bat (although it is ash) though, fits my hand well. Will move it closer to my delivery date.

View attachment 4435085 View attachment 4435086 View attachment 4435088 View attachment 4435089 View attachment 4435090

Most people who didn't get on with the ash/ash/maple builds had the normal MTD electronics (proprietary reverse p soapbars and NS3 variant preamp), but the super electronics are their own animal and that should be one lively bass

 

[bass12]

I didn’t like the ash/ash/maple 535 I had because the fundamental of the notes would disappear in the mix and there was a big drop out switching from fingers to thumb/slap. But I haven’t gigged with any other MTDs in that combo so I might have just been unlucky (though I have heard at least one other person complain about having a similar experience with the combo in question). You can never know until you pick up the bass and try it for yourself...

 

[Combinator]

Hey folks - I just spent the evening compiling a Spotify playlist of US MTD artists' work. It's not a done deal, will still add stuff as I discover it or folks suggest it. Enjoy!

MTD Bass Artists / Michael Tobias Design Basses

 

[Element Zero]

Hey folks - I just spent the evening compiling a Spotify playlist of US MTD artists' work. It's not a done deal, will still add stuff as I discover it or folks suggest it. Enjoy!

MTD Bass Artists / Michael Tobias Design Basses

Cool! This is something I’ve been wanting.

 

[Combinator]

Who else plays along to tracks, live? Anyone do it as a solo bassist? Anyone go one step further and control the individual song part/instrument launches and FX as part of your rig? I'd love to see what you do if so.
I've been working on a new live stage setup and playing scenario, but this is some of that stage gear just on my normal working desk (rather than the DJ style table I'll be using live) for practice:

 

[nonohmic]

Purely kicking tires here. But it looks like a headless MTD would be quite painful when playing in the classical position, due to the bottom strap button. Esp when compared to the big ol' bottom of the conventional headstock.

Anyone have any experience?

 

[bass12]

Purely kicking tires here. But it looks like a headless MTD would be quite painful when playing in the classical position, due to the bottom strap button. Esp when compared to the big ol' bottom of the conventional headstock.

Anyone have any experience?

View attachment 4454723 View attachment 4454722

I don't know, but all it would take is a few turns of a screwdriver to fix the issue should an issue exist.

 

[LowEndLobster]

Hey everyone! I have a treat for you all in this very special video. We went to upstate NY to visit Michael and Daniel Tobias! What great dudes. Had so much fun and learned so much. Still trying to get the on location audio sorted so sorry for the audio quality. Enjoy!

P.s. you may be seeing some other posts from me here very soon

 

[R Briere]

Hey everyone! I have a treat for you all in this very special video. We went to upstate NY to visit Michael and Daniel Tobias! What great dudes. Had so much fun and learned so much. Still trying to get the on location audio sorted so sorry for the audio quality. Enjoy!

P.s. you may be seeing some other posts from me here very soon

Yo Lob. Isn’t the MTD “Love Shack” a Marvelous place to hang? I was the “Tobias” rep and Artist Relations guy when Daniel was a baby. As you’ve noticed, he’s grown a bit Welcome to the Tobias Tribe.
RB

 

[LowEndLobster]

Yo Lob. Isn’t the MTD “Love Shack” a Marvelous place to hang? I was the “Tobias” rep and Artist Relations guy when Daniel was a baby. As you’ve noticed, he’s grown a bit Welcome to the Tobias Tribe.
RB
View attachment 4470046

This made me smile ! Killer coat! It was absolutely amazing. Such humble and knowledgeable dudes who have such passion for bass. A particular bass I played there left quite an impression on me..... so much so I may have done something drastic

 

[bass12]

One of the things I enjoyed most about ordering my MTDs was going down to the shop and visiting the guys. Mike, Dan and Charlie are such nice, down to earth people. I’d love to be able to order another 535 but right now I just have to be grateful for what I already have.

 

[R Briere]

I'm often asked: "Rich, if you could have JUST One Bass, what would it be?" ...... 2 Fig Newtons to the First Person to get the Correct Answer.

 

[LowEndLobster]

I'm often asked: "Rich, if you could have JUST One Bass, what would it be?" ...... 2 Fig Newtons to the First Person to get the Correct Answer.

View attachment 4470975

Glarry! What do I win? ;P I'm kind of jealous I didn't get any swag during my visit hahaha