The Official MTD USA Thread

[iplay5strings]

All the modern creature comforts of the MTD design, all the tone of days gone by


Higher quality video here:
https://youtube.com/shorts/Bf7dOjTQN4c?feature=share

 

[BoesPronounBass]

This was a massive undertaking, done completely out of simple and foolish love for gear and tonal exploration. I painstakingly documented the isolated and blended tones of my favorite Bartolini pickup set with 3 different EMG Pickups models in my custom 635-24, in many combinations, and provided easy timeline links in the description as well for maximum ease of navigation and comparison.

I used the exact same set of strings on the same bass and captured all the samples over a contiguous 2-day period. More info is available in the video description.

I know which my favorites are, and now you can hear for yourself and draw your own conclusions!

thanks for all this work! The EMG DCX were my favorite… I think I’m both positions. The Bartolinis were close second for me, particularly in the neck position. Curious what you prefer given it is your setup? Shoot me a message if you don’t want to influence others perspective.

 

[Combinator]

thanks for all this work! The EMG DCX were my favorite… I think I’m both positions. The Bartolinis were close second for me, particularly in the neck position. Curious what you prefer given it is your setup? Shoot me a message if you don’t want to influence others perspective.

Glad you got something out of it! The Bart pair is probably my favorite overall, but I found the JAX very comparable to them - with just a slightly higher high end. The DCX is cool because it sounds different than a typical passive humbucking dual coil - it's neither in parallel nor in series in the traditional sense because each coil is isolated from each other via the onboard opamp inputs. It's a cool tone, but man, they're loud! Probably about 2x the output of all the others.

 

[iplay5strings]

The DCX is cool because it sounds different than a typical passive humbucking dual coil - it's neither in parallel nor in series in the traditional sense because each coil is isolated from each other via the onboard opamp inputs. It's a cool tone, but man, they're loud! Probably about 2x the output of all the others.

What I was not expecting is how much darker the DCX are (or at least seem to be) than the HZ pickups I have. With them being fully active I expected much more sparkle, but they actually seem to have chosen to give them more lows instead. Very interesting.

 

[Combinator]

What I was not expecting is how much darker the DCX are (or at least seem to be) than the HZ pickups I have. With them being fully active I expected much more sparkle, but they actually seem to have chosen to give them more lows instead. Very interesting.

You know that stood out to me, too. I've always thought of DCXs as very bright, but in direct comparison with J type pickups, they're not really. Their resonant peak may just be much higher, as they do tend to have a similar air zone as parallel wired duals do, but this one didn't have a ton of lower or mid treble in the way the Js did.

 

[CTC564]

Hi all
While we’re on the subject of pickups…I’ve been thinking seriously about swapping out the pickups and preamp of my 535.
I play mostly 70’s rock, blues and r&b and while I LOVE the bass, I’ve never been very happy with its “voice”

I’m looking to get something that’s more traditional yet will give me a broad range of tones if necessary. And I’m most interested in the Nordstrand 3b preamp and either his Zen blades or his Big Blademan pickups.

Curious if anyone has any advice or recommendations regarding this issue.

Much thanks in advance

 

[red_rhino]

I’m looking to get something that’s more traditional yet will give me a broad range of tones if necessary. And I’m most interested in the Nordstrand 3b preamp and either his Zen blades or his Big Blademan pickups.

You should seriously consider the Super pickups and pre. I have them on my 535 and it’s an especially versatile package with the coil switching and passive tone controls added. I can dial up everything from thick P-bass tones to Jaco all day long, to uber modern chording/slap/tap sparkle. The coil switching really does provide huge voicing options.

 

[CTC564]

You should seriously consider the Super pickups and pre. I have them on my 535 and it’s an especially versatile package with the coil switching and passive tone controls added. I can dial up everything from thick P-bass tones to Jaco all day long, to uber modern chording/slap/tap sparkle. The coil switching really does provide huge voicing options.

I had actually considered this and it does appeal to me, however I would need my wooden knobs rebuilt and another switch drilled in my bass…

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Sassafras body? Interesting… that top is killer too…

https://www.fretspot.com/in-stock-n...body-50-year-old-indian-rosewood-fingerboard/

 

[iplay5strings]

Hi all
While we’re on the subject of pickups…I’ve been thinking seriously about swapping out the pickups and preamp of my 535.
I play mostly 70’s rock, blues and r&b and while I LOVE the bass, I’ve never been very happy with its “voice”

I’m looking to get something that’s more traditional yet will give me a broad range of tones if necessary. And I’m most interested in the Nordstrand 3b preamp and either his Zen blades or his Big Blademan pickups.

Curious if anyone has any advice or recommendations regarding this issue.

Much thanks in advance

More than a few people have had great success with the Zen Blades paired to a Mike Pope pre. Much more traditional j bass territory with slightly more refinement from the wind of the Zen Blades.

 

[R Briere]

 

[bucephylus]

More than a few people have had great success with the Zen Blades paired to a Mike Pope pre. Much more traditional j bass territory with slightly more refinement from the wind of the Zen Blades.

+1 Absolutley.

 

[iplay5strings]

+1 Absolutley.

View attachment 4592114

Exactly the bass I was thinking of lol

 

[Ancientwhale]

Does anyone keep their 535 in an aftermarket hsc (not mtd)? I greatly prefer to keep mine in a hard case and don’t have one at the moment. I know the inside shape fits the mtd perfectly (I have one that does have the case) and was wondering if anyone has come across others that fit. Thanks!

 

[GHOST AT]

Hi everyone
I placed an order with a dealer in early January, he quoted me ten months build time.
Just curious what time in the build process does Mike and Daniel sent tops to choose from?

 

[iplay5strings]

Hi everyone
I placed an order with a dealer in early January, he quoted me ten months build time.
Just curious what time in the build process does Mike and Daniel sent tops to choose from?

Usually any cosmetic proofs happen weeks before the build is completed. The wait time is not because it takes them long to build the bass, it's because there's that many orders in front of yours.

 

[DaveTomasi]

Hi everyone
I placed an order with a dealer in early January, he quoted me ten months build time.
Just curious what time in the build process does Mike and Daniel sent tops to choose from?

Hmmm. 10 months? I placed my order 1 year ago and have heard nothing further. I figure Mike and Daniel are facing the same supply and delivery issues that most other businesses are facing these days.

 

[iplay5strings]

Hmmm. 10 months? I placed my order 1 year ago and have heard nothing further. I figure Mike and Daniel are facing the same supply and delivery issues that most other businesses are facing these days.

Ya, 18 months is more realistic these days unfortunately. One of the biggest blocks in the process is Bartolini trying to survive/get product out despite all the crazy restrictions that continue to pile on in California

 

[bass12]

Hi everyone
I placed an order with a dealer in early January, he quoted me ten months build time.
Just curious what time in the build process does Mike and Daniel sent tops to choose from?

Unless you specifically arranged to choose your own top then Mike/Dan will do the choosing.

 

[GHOST AT]

Hmmm. 10 months? I placed my order 1 year ago and have heard nothing further. I figure Mike and Daniel are facing the same supply and delivery issues that most other businesses are facing these days.

Ya, 18 months is more realistic these days unfortunately. One of the biggest blocks in the process is Bartolini trying to survive/get product out despite all the crazy restrictions that continue to pile on in California

I don’t mind the wait, as long as the dealers upfront and honest about the build time. I’m currently at the halfway mark into a three year build! Dave I hope you hear something soon.