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The Official MTD USA Thread

#12,822
tminus10 said:
Just put my order in earlier today:
534-21
17mm spacing
Alder body
Maple Burl Top
Dark Cherry Burst Finish
Roasted Maple Neck
Roasted Birdseye Maple FB
Matching Headstock
Matching Truss Cover
Matching Painted Knobs

Now just have to try and forget about it and the time will fly by......right?
Click to expand...
Well I’m 3 months in, thankfully the holidays kept me somewhat distracted, but now I’m back to working from home so…
 
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#12,823
tminus10 said:
Just put my order in earlier today:
534-21
17mm spacing
Alder body
Maple Burl Top
Dark Cherry Burst Finish
Roasted Maple Neck
Roasted Birdseye Maple FB
Matching Headstock
Matching Truss Cover
Matching Painted Knobs

Now just have to try and forget about it and the time will fly by......right?
Click to expand...

For me the bulk of it flew by, but once I got the first update pic from Daniel to approve the body and finish, that last month to completion felt like a year lol.
 
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#12,824
tminus10 said:
Just put my order in earlier today:
534-21
17mm spacing
Alder body
Maple Burl Top
Dark Cherry Burst Finish
Roasted Maple Neck
Roasted Birdseye Maple FB
Matching Headstock
Matching Truss Cover
Matching Painted Knobs

Now just have to try and forget about it and the time will fly by......right?
Click to expand...
Nice. So the neck and nut width will be narrower than standard I am guessing.
 
#12,827
Drummerboy2 said:
View attachment 4536116

One of the TB members did already, and he said Mike said it was the exact same. Even Lowendlobster mentions this.

Here's mine.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to update

Screenshot_20220115-022958.png
 
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#12,828
PrimitiveMan said:
Just wanted to update

View attachment 4543149
Click to expand...

Thank you! I'm actually headed up to Kingston today and will get some clarification. I remember them saying that the pre was the same but I could have misunderstood. The pickups are different but are dual coil (hence the switching) as opposed to the low impedance reverse P of the regular USA models
 
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#12,829
PrimitiveMan said:
Just wanted to update

View attachment 4543149
Click to expand...

Wow, ok. Hopefully Lobster can get the info clarification on this, If it is what you posted, then I will skip the upgrade.

I do remember there was a TB member here selling a Super 5 he upgraded with the exact pickups, preamp, and hardware of the USA Super 5. He even put the part numbers of the pickups and preamp used in the upgrade. Gotta go back and find that post again.
 
#12,832
Drummerboy2 said:
Here is the video with Mike even saying these modded Super 5's have basically the same parts as the USA Supers. So now it's kind of confusing.

NAMM '18 - MTD - Kingston Super & MTD 530 24 - YouTube
Click to expand...

Drummerboy2 said:
I found that TB post of the upgraded Super 5. So this may be what Mike was talking about. Here it is!

SOLD - MTD Kingston Super 5 - Heavily Upgraded - L@@K!! | TalkBass.com
Click to expand...

Mike certainly does do artist considerations with the Kingston stuff, but those are usually case by case. The normal upgrades are generally their own thing. In the case of the supers, it's easy to offer the same preamp as the U.S. basses because it's a stock Bartolini harness, so it's being made all the time. When it comes to Mike's pickups, they're usually very specific specs which makes them both labor intensive and cost prohibitive. Even moreso in the case of the Kingston because the US pickup shapes are different from the Kingston shape, this would make them one-off customs which is getting increasingly harder to get Bartolini to do anymore.
 
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#12,833
iplay5strings said:
Mike certainly does do artist considerations with the Kingston stuff, but those are usually case by case. The normal upgrades are generally their own thing. In the case of the supers, it's easy to offer the same preamp as the U.S. basses because it's a stock Bartolini harness, so it's being made all the time. When it comes to Mike's pickups, they're usually very specific specs which makes them both labor intensive and cost prohibitive. Even moreso in the case of the Kingston because the US pickup shapes are different from the Kingston shape, this would make them one-off customs which is getting increasingly harder to get Bartolini to do anymore.
Click to expand...

Thank You for the info, appreciate it.

I really do like the USA Super sound too but I will be happy with what my Super came with. :)
 
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#12,836
tminus10 said:
Just put my order in earlier today:
534-21
17mm spacing
Alder body
Maple Burl Top
Dark Cherry Burst Finish
Roasted Maple Neck
Roasted Birdseye Maple FB
Matching Headstock
Matching Truss Cover
Matching Painted Knobs

Now just have to try and forget about it and the time will fly by......right?
Click to expand...

modbass said:
So I put in a deposit last week on a new build!

534-24
Quilt Maple Top
Walnut Body
Ash Neck
Birdseye Board
Gold Hardware
Abalone dots

And now the wait begins...
Click to expand...
I guess its 534 fever. Last night I placed a deposit on a 534 as well!
My specs:
534-24
Ash body and neck
Birdseye Board
Matching Headstock and Trussrod cover
Wood Knobs
Top TBD.Top of the list is a highly figured Quilted Maple top.
Also would consider Poplar or Maple Burl , whatever Mike and Daniel have in stock that would best compliment the Ocean Fade finish.
 
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#12,837
E3F2A29E-B2CD-4778-BA85-F8D72B2F48A2_1_201_a.jpeg


While a lousy photo I grabbed it on the run from my MTD file upon reading threads about MTD 4-bangers. This has been my go-to bass for many years....but especially since my bones aged and arthritis set in. I also spend more time now playing my Tobias Basic 5.....purchased in the early 80's when I was Mike's Rep and AR guy. The String spacing on that bass is much tighter than a MTD 535. Getting Old absolutely Sucks....but this Bass is Bassilicious to the Max.....and sports a much nicer Strap now. I think the Leg was optional back then.
 
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#12,838
GHOST AT said:
I guess its 534 fever. Last night I placed a deposit on a 534 as well!
My specs:
534-24
Ash body and neck
Birdseye Board
Matching Headstock and Trussrod cover
Wood Knobs
Top TBD.Top of the list is a highly figured Quilted Maple top.
Also would consider Poplar or Maple Burl , whatever Mike and Daniel have in stock that would best compliment the Ocean Fade finish.
Click to expand...

I love poplar burl in blue!
Screenshot_20220115-164320.png
 
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