The Official MTD USA Thread

[bucephylus]

I have the HipShot A style bridge on 3 basses: my 534, set with 18mm spacing on Mike’s 17mm neck (minimal shaving from the blank); my Zon Sonus 5 Special fretless; and my Frankenstein 5 string Jazz Bass (2008 neck on 2014 body). The Fender has the Fender replacement A style bridge with the through holes, which don’t get used, but are functionally correct.

All 3 basses have 18mm spacing at the saddles; my pref for 5 string instruments.

On both the Zon and the Fender, the A bridge replaced previous stock bridges; and the improvement in instrument intonation and response was distinct. I prefer more resonant instruments, and the A bridge produced a much more resonant voice for both of those basses, compared to the factory bridges.

My 534 was built with Mike’s somewhat recent medium weight Northern Ash; and that instrument is a bit less resonant, but displays much of the mid-70’s Jazz Bass slap character, with immediate front edge on the note. I believe that character is dominated by the body as opposed to the bridge. The Zon, which has a MUCH lighter ash body, has a far louder acoustic character with essentially the same bridge.

FWIW

 

[red_rhino]

except for the wood knobs.

Wood knobs are actually one my favorite MTD options. I was considering wenge knobs to match the neck on the 434, along with an A style bridge. Briefly thought about swapping pickups and pre for the Super versions, but I really like the standard electronics that are on there and decided not to mess with it.

 

[DRay521]

I’m in the somewhat weird position of having two basses sharing the #1 slot, and a little voice in my head wondering out loud if “I might be done.”

In June of 2020, I spotted a 535-24 on Reverb being sold by Music Force in S. Korea. The demo video was really nice, and I wanted back into the MTD family. So I jumped thru all the customs and shipping hoops and bought it. Really happy with it. And I mean really happy. I could go on and on about how great this bass sounds, the versatility of the super pickups and pre, etc, etc.

Then this past August, I picked up a 434-24 here on Talkbass. I’d always wanted an MTD 4, and thought it would be a nice addition. Completely different woods and electronics. What I didn’t expect was how much I would enjoy it. I figured after a time, the newness would wear off and I wouldn’t play it as much. Wrong. I love what this bass does. It’s so different from the 535, but compliments it so well.

I know, never say never. I think about the only thing that might tempt me would be a new 434 build. But then I worry I’d end up with 3 basses in the #1 slot. LOL

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Is the 434 ash body/maple top with wenge neck/fb?

 

[red_rhino]

Is the 434 ash body/maple top with wenge neck/fb?

Yes. I like the wenge neck/fb combo more than I thought I would.

 

[DRay521]

Yes. I like the wenge neck/fb combo more than I thought I would.

I’ve wanted to try that combo! I have a korina/wenge, and an ash/walnut/maple/rosewood, and they’re both killer! But I feel like the combination of the two would really highlight the best characteristics of each!

 

[red_rhino]

I’ve wanted to try that combo! I have a korina/wenge, and an ash/walnut/maple/rosewood, and they’re both killer! But I feel like the combination of the two would really highlight the best characteristics of each!

View attachment 4558990

Well then , since they're both 21 fret necks, I guess you'll just have to swap necks between the two and see what happens! Beautiful basses, BTW. Korina/wenge is a great combo, and that walnut top looks like a delicious, sinful desert.

 

[Taustin Powers]

Good to see some 4 bangers out there. Now I don't feel so alone!

 

[Taustin Powers]

I’m in the somewhat weird position of having two basses sharing the #1 slot, and a little voice in my head wondering out loud if “I might be done.”

In June of 2020, I spotted a 535-24 on Reverb being sold by Music Force in S. Korea. The demo video was really nice, and I wanted back into the MTD family. So I jumped thru all the customs and shipping hoops and bought it. Really happy with it. And I mean really happy. I could go on and on about how great this bass sounds, the versatility of the super pickups and pre, etc, etc.

Then this past August, I picked up a 434-24 here on Talkbass. I’d always wanted an MTD 4, and thought it would be a nice addition. Completely different woods and electronics. What I didn’t expect was how much I would enjoy it. I figured after a time, the newness would wear off and I wouldn’t play it as much. Wrong. I love what this bass does. It’s so different from the 535, but compliments it so well.

I know, never say never. I think about the only thing that might tempt me would be a new 434 build. But then I worry I’d end up with 3 basses in the #1 slot. LOL

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What are the woods on the 535? Is that a maple top?

EDIT: Just watched the demo video which answered my questions. Man, what a bass! Looks and sounds incredible, and you can see in the video how low the action is.

 

[Taustin Powers]

Please educate me on the Super pickups. What’s the story, how do they compare to the regular Bartolinis?

 

[LowEndLobster]

Please educate me on the Super pickups. What’s the story, how do they compare to the regular Bartolinis?

I believe they're passive dual coil barts vs the active low impedance reverse P's that are in the standard USA series.

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

I believe they're passive dual coil barts vs the active low impedance reverse P's that are in the standard USA series.

Active?

 

[LowEndLobster]

Active?

Yes. The standard proprietary bartolinis are active low impedance pickups with an external buffer in the cavity (vs built into the pickup like on EMG)

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

Yes. The standard proprietary bartolinis are active low impedance pickups with an external buffer in the cavity (vs built into the pickup like on EMG)

I didn't know that...thanks for the knowledge.

 

[DRay521]

Well then , since they're both 21 fret necks, I guess you'll just have to swap necks between the two and see what happens! Beautiful basses, BTW. Korina/wenge is a great combo, and that walnut top looks like a delicious, sinful desert.

Swap necks?!?!? Brilliant! If I want to risk it…

 

[Combinator]

Yes. The standard proprietary bartolinis are active low impedance pickups with an external buffer in the cavity (vs built into the pickup like on EMG)

Well, they're passive pickups, but they are low impedance/low output and do need the stereo external buffer to be raised to the level MTD wants out of them. They're not technically active, but as I like to think of it, "active in 2 parts". However they can be used without the buffer with lowered output, so in that way they're not true active pickups. The original pickups MTD used were, but for many years the buffer and pickup itself have been divorced in the control cavity.

 

[LowEndLobster]

Swap necks?!?!? Brilliant! If I want to risk it…

It's kind of funny, I would never dream of removing the neck of my USA MTD. I went to visit Mike and Daniel a couple of weekends ago to drop off the two Kingstons I was borrowing for review, snag another bass for review, and get the magnetic truss rod cover of my 535 modified (it slightly swelled making it impossible to come out!). Within a few minute of me taking my 535 out of the bag, she was in pieces on the work bench and then back together again and good as new. The efficiency and nonchalance at which this was done was incredible to watch. Mike and Daniel are amazing craftsmen.

 

[LowEndLobster]

Well, they're passive pickups, but they are low impedance/low output and do need the stereo external buffer to be raised to the level MTD wants out of them. They're not technically active, but as I like to think of it, "active in 2 parts". However they can be used without the buffer with lowered output, so in that way they're not true active pickups. The original pickups MTD used were, but for many years the buffer and pickup itself have been divorced in the control cavity.

Thank you for the clarification!

 

[red_rhino]

Please educate me on the Super pickups. What’s the story, how do they compare to the regular Bartolinis?

On my 535, the super pickups are individually switchable between single coil, dual coil parallel, and dual coil series. It’s surprising how much versatility that provides, even when running passive. The Super pre has mid frequency points at 400/800, as opposed to 250/500/1k for the standard pre.

I find myself wondering if you can match Super pickups with the standard pre. The standard pre sounds great on the 434, and there’s really no point to having both my MTDs sounding too similar, but I’d kinda like to have coil switching for the extra versatility.

 

[Combinator]

On my 535, the super pickups are individually switchable between single coil, dual coil parallel, and dual coil series. It’s surprising how much versatility that provides, even when running passive. The Super pre has mid frequency points at 400/800, as opposed to 250/500/1k for the standard pre.

I find myself wondering if you can match Super pickups with the standard pre. The standard pre sounds great on the 434, and there’s really no point to having both my MTDs sounding too similar, but I’d kinda like to have coil switching for the extra versatility.

You can use either preamp for either (any) set of pickups. Best practice would be to bypass the separate buffer module if not using low impedance pickups, which is about 98% of all pickups you're likely to come across. But, you can use it too. If the gain's too hot for the preamp and it clips, go back to bypassing. If you bypass the buffer, you're going to need a blend pot with values appropriate for your high-Z pickups (250k vs 25k).

 

[MMiller28]

magnetic truss rod cover of my 535 modified (it slightly swelled making it impossible to come out!).

What did they do? I have the same problem.