The Official MTD USA Thread

[MattLplaysBass]

Well it arrived today, sadly I only got a few hours with it before this plague I have been dealing with (and losing so far ) came storming back… (I’ll be okay, I’m just a big baby when I’m sick )



It has by far the lowest action of any bass I have ever played, and no fretting out. Ridiculously low. I gave the truss rod a half a turn to loosen it up and get some more relief, will let it sit overnight and resume setting it up in the morning.

It is beautiful, and very “woody”. It’s been a bit since I played an MTD USA, I love how the finish feels like it’s not there and like you’re touching the wood itself. The neck is so thin front to back (I got the standard/asymetrical profile, which is NOT as airplane wing-like IIRC the old Tobias basses being, but it’s pretty sweet), so easy to play. And it’s only 8lbs, 10oz, which makes it the lightest bass I own (besides my Wing bass, but that doesn’t count ). And it balances beautifully- no dive or tugging on my left shoulder at all, like some light basses can do.

I’ll wait until I have the bass where I want it before I make my final decision on the sound and super electronics, but they are pretty clear and hifi. Quite versatile too. Even in passive mode, it sounds great. The output is quite low in active (i can’t get it to trigger the gain indicator on my amp), but there’s no volume loss/gain between active/passive, and there’s a gain adjustment in the cavity, so it can be fixed, if it’s that big a deal.

I found this Jason Rasso/Ultimate Basses video while waiting for UPS, different woods, but he does a great job of demoing the super system. I do not sound as good as him



And for the record, here’s the MTD custom A bridge, vs the regular one on my Modulus Q5. I dig the way it looks, while still maintaining the A style functionality.



So anyways, I’m definitely keeping it, it’s a world class bass, looking forward to getting to know it better.

 

[bass12]

Well it arrived today, sadly I only got a few hours with it before this plague I have been dealing with (and losing so far ) came storming back… (I’ll be okay, I’m just a big baby when I’m sick )

View attachment 5250870 View attachment 5250871 View attachment 5250872 View attachment 5250873 View attachment 5250874 View attachment 5250875 View attachment 5250876

It has by far the lowest action of any bass I have ever played, and no fretting out. Ridiculously low. I gave the truss rod a half a turn to loosen it up and get some more relief, will let it sit overnight and resume setting it up in the morning.

It is beautiful, and very “woody”. It’s been a bit since I played an MTD USA, I love how the finish feels like it’s not there and like you’re touching the wood itself. The neck is so thin front to back (I got the standard/asymetrical profile, which is NOT as airplane wing-like IIRC the old Tobias basses being, but it’s pretty sweet), so easy to play. And it’s only 8lbs, 10oz, which makes it the lightest bass I own (besides my Wing bass, but that doesn’t count ). And it balances beautifully- no dive or tugging on my left shoulder at all, like some light basses can do.

I’ll wait until I have the bass where I want it before I make my final decision on the sound and super electronics, but they are pretty clear and hifi. Quite versatile too. Even in passive mode, it sounds great. The output is quite low in active (i can’t get it to trigger the gain indicator on my amp), but there’s no volume loss/gain between active/passive, and there’s a gain adjustment in the cavity, so it can be fixed, if it’s that big a deal.

I found this Jason Rasso/Ultimate Basses video while waiting for UPS, different woods, but he does a great job of demoing the super system. I do not sound as good as him



And for the record, here’s the MTD custom A bridge, vs the regular one on my Modulus Q5. I dig the way it looks, while still maintaining the A style functionality.

View attachment 5250887 View attachment 5250888

So anyways, I’m definitely keeping it, it’s a world class bass, looking forward to getting to know it better.

Beautiful bass - in every way!

 

[red_rhino]

I love how the finish feels like it’s not there and like you’re touching the wood itself.

+1, especially the ash necks. So organic, you almost feel like you're playing the tree!

The output is quite low in active (i can’t get it to trigger the gain indicator on my amp), but there’s no volume loss/gain between active/passive, and there’s a gain adjustment in the cavity, so it can be fixed, if it’s that big a deal.

Yep, set the gain to taste; there's a lot more boost on tap if you want more of a difference between active and passive. One of the best things about the super pickups/pre is that even in passive it's incredibly versatile.

Beautiful bass. Congratulations!

 

[JCMuziq14]

Hey Matt,

Beautiful bass!! Does the bass come with a specs sheet that gives you the weight? Or you weighed it yourself? My MTD is currently making its way from Kingston.

Jorge

Well it arrived today, sadly I only got a few hours with it before this plague I have been dealing with (and losing so far ) came storming back… (I’ll be okay, I’m just a big baby when I’m sick )

View attachment 5250870 View attachment 5250871 View attachment 5250872 View attachment 5250873 View attachment 5250874 View attachment 5250875 View attachment 5250876

It has by far the lowest action of any bass I have ever played, and no fretting out. Ridiculously low. I gave the truss rod a half a turn to loosen it up and get some more relief, will let it sit overnight and resume setting it up in the morning.

It is beautiful, and very “woody”. It’s been a bit since I played an MTD USA, I love how the finish feels like it’s not there and like you’re touching the wood itself. The neck is so thin front to back (I got the standard/asymetrical profile, which is NOT as airplane wing-like IIRC the old Tobias basses being, but it’s pretty sweet), so easy to play. And it’s only 8lbs, 10oz, which makes it the lightest bass I own (besides my Wing bass, but that doesn’t count ). And it balances beautifully- no dive or tugging on my left shoulder at all, like some light basses can do.

I’ll wait until I have the bass where I want it before I make my final decision on the sound and super electronics, but they are pretty clear and hifi. Quite versatile too. Even in passive mode, it sounds great. The output is quite low in active (i can’t get it to trigger the gain indicator on my amp), but there’s no volume loss/gain between active/passive, and there’s a gain adjustment in the cavity, so it can be fixed, if it’s that big a deal.

I found this Jason Rasso/Ultimate Basses video while waiting for UPS, different woods, but he does a great job of demoing the super system. I do not sound as good as him



And for the record, here’s the MTD custom A bridge, vs the regular one on my Modulus Q5. I dig the way it looks, while still maintaining the A style functionality.

View attachment 5250887 View attachment 5250888

So anyways, I’m definitely keeping it, it’s a world class bass, looking forward to getting to know it better.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Hey Matt,

Beautiful bass!! Does the bass come with a specs sheet that gives you the weight? Or you weighed it yourself? My MTD is currently making its way from Kingston.

Jorge

I weighed it on my postal scale. I knew when I first picked it up that it was under 9lbs though.

Congrats on the new bass! Hope it gets their soon- now that mine is here, I don’t anything to complain about

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Can of worms question and you'll likely get all kinds of responses (though MTD players seem to generally be less inclined to think that "wood doesn't matter" tone-wise). I've read a lot of comments about ebony being more "focused" in the low mids, producing a stronger fundamental than maple (possibly the same thing as being more "focused") and - the term you're likely to hear most often applied to ebony - a "ping" to the note. Maple is often regarded as contributing to a sound which emphasizes harmonics but with a less pronounced note fundamental. In real world settings, however, anything is possible. I got scared off maple for a while because a number of my maple-boarded basses were not sitting in the mix in a way I liked (this included a 535), but my current main player has a maple fretboard. Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don't (as I often say, any custom order is a crap shoot). My next bass will have an ebony board. Fingers crossed I end up liking the sound of that particular bass.

My second MTD 535 had an ebony board and was rather "pingy". That put me off from ebony for a long time, but my current 534 has ebony board and it is amazing - more focused in the mids, it seems. I also have a Yamaha BBNE2 with ebony board and that one is also quite good, though more pingy than the 534. I just sold my EBMM Stingray Special that had ebony board, I thought it was too polite.

 

[Just Wrong]

Those of you with pickups in the Super position, what do you think? Is it limited? Does using a single pickup over the other change the tone all that much? Thanks.

 

[Pablo Primo]

Hi, yes, it’s very growly and more aggressive. And single pickups it does make a lot of difference. If I want to mellow things out, I put the tone at around 30% open. I love my super 5!

 

[Just Wrong]

Hi, yes, it’s very growly and more aggressive. And single pickups it does make a lot of difference. If I want to mellow things out, I put the tone at around 30% open. I love my super 5!

Hey Pablo! How are you? I actually got a question for you — I found a job so I’ll be keeping the Swan. Nothing plays or sounds like this bass. It’s phenomenal in every way. Thing is, since Christian is building me another Swan, I’m looking to make it different from the one I already have and so I was thinking of having him build a sort of Super Swan with the Lake pickups and Pope preamp. Do tou think it’s a good idea?

 

[Pablo Primo]

Yeah man, I think we need to create a Swan forum, they are just remarkable instruments. I think it will sound more aggressive and growler if this is what you are looking for. Just check with him what he thinks!

 

[JCMuziq14]

Finally got it this Monday. Haven’t been able to really spend time with it since the kids are sick but hope to soon.

 

[Pablo Primo]

Finally got it this Monday. Haven’t been able to really spend time with it since the kids are sick but hope to soon.

Oh my goodness, congratulations!! How long did you wait?

 

[JCMuziq14]

Oh my goodness, congratulations!! How long did you wait?

Pablo,
About 16 months.

 

[thumbslapper]

I bought this last week off another TB'er - thx tons @idoker - 2016 535-24 with myrtle burl top, figured makore body, birdseye maple fingerboard, and ash neck - it honestly looks new, there isn't a scratch on it. It is amazing to play - it came with low action and i've never played a bass that has felt so good or played so easy. Double thumbing is doable even on .45 strings with the 19mm spacing, but it remains easy to play at the nut due to the Jazz-ish neck shape. B string is tight and sounds great. I haven't played it with my band yet so I don't really know what it sounds like mixed in, but so far i've been able to get some pretty versatile tones just playing thru my home rig.

Thx everyone who helped answer my questions earlier... it was definitely a leap of faith spending quite a bit of money on a bass I had never played (this was my first time playing a USA MTD) but so far I'm loving it and really see what the well deserved hype is all about.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Looks awesome!

 

[dirtbird]

What is everyones opinion on the low end tone of the 635, compared to that of say a F-bass bn6 or a bassmods k6?

I have heard both through studio monitors and I'm curious what folks think.

By "low end tone" i assume you mean the low B, or at least the lower register...
I've owned BN5 with ebony and maple fingerboards. Both enhanced grain ash bodies, same Fbass preamp and pickups. Very similar sounding as i recall.
Compare the three MTD 535s (including a chambered Marilyn) and 635 I've owned, same standard MTD pickups and pre, but different wood combinations, and they can sound quite different.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that a comparison is not particularly useful (or easy to make) as it depends which MTD you are comparing the F bass with.
You could probably eq the MTD to get close to the F sound, but perhaps not the other way around.
Really, they are different beasts, and you probably need both

 

[GHOST AT]

Finally got it this Monday. Haven’t been able to really spend time with it since the kids are sick but hope to soon.

I bought this last week off another TB'er - thx tons @idoker - 2016 535-24 with myrtle burl top, figured makore body, birdseye maple fingerboard, and ash neck - it honestly looks new, there isn't a scratch on it. It is amazing to play - it came with low action and i've never played a bass that has felt so good or played so easy. Double thumbing is doable even on .45 strings with the 19mm spacing, but it remains easy to play at the nut due to the Jazz-ish neck shape. B string is tight and sounds great. I haven't played it with my band yet so I don't really know what it sounds like mixed in, but so far i've been able to get some pretty versatile tones just playing thru my home rig.

Thx everyone who helped answer my questions earlier... it was definitely a leap of faith spending quite a bit of money on a bass I had never played (this was my first time playing a USA MTD) but so far I'm loving it and really see what the well deserved hype is all about.


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Congratulations your MTDs they’re beautiful definitely worth the wait!

I have been spending as much time as I can playing my 534 the neck is finally settling in.

I love low action and with a new bass it can be challenging with the neck moving.
Finally found a set of strings I like. Really love the MTD nickels just wish they offered a lighter gauge.

Now I have to learn how to intonate the Buzz Feiten
I have a Peterson Strobo plus tuner I’m pretty sure it s Feiten friendly.
When the new set of strings arrives will reread Mikes directions and hopefully get the Feiten system down.

 

[J.Wolf]

Hi all. Quick question, I am considering a Super 5 and I understand that they are designed to be more focused and less wide/hifi than a 535, which is a good thing for me. But what I’m looking for is some kind of info and specs on the preamp and pickups in a super that explain the differences, besides the obvious pickup placement. TIA

 

[Nuage420]

Hi all. Quick question, I am considering a Super 5 and I understand that they are designed to be more focused and less wide/hifi than a 535, which is a good thing for me. But what I’m looking for is some kind of info and specs on the preamp and pickups in a super that explain the differences, besides the obvious pickup placement. TIA

Last January I received my super 5 and ended up selling it because it just could not achieve the sound in my head with the neck pickup. Just know going in if you like a solo p or jazz tone the Super 5 is not going to do it and the 535 pick up placement is probably the one you want.

 

[red_rhino]

designed to be more focused and less wide/hifi than a 535

I think what gives that impression is the mid EQ voicing selector of 400/800 on the super preamp as opposed to the 250/500/1K on the standard preamp. Personally I prefer the standard mid voicing options; 400 vs 800 just doesn't seem to make a big tonal difference IME on any bass I've tried. But the coil switching of the Super pickups adds more tonal options in both passive and active modes.

Make no mistake though, it still sounds like an MTD.

Just know going in if you like a solo p or jazz tone the Super 5 is not going to do it and the 535 pick up placement is probably the one you want.

Agreed.