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The Official MTD USA Thread

#14,722
Hey folks,

After a long break, I'm thinking about buying or maybe even custom-ordering another 535 or maybe 534, but I've grown very used to the 17mm string spacing on my Tobias basses. (In fact, I only have 1 bass out of about 15 that has 19mm spacing!) What sort of up-charge are we talking about for narrower spacing? Or is it just the "MTD Custom Bridge" option in the price-list?

Cheers,

EG
 
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#14,723
evilgus said:
Hey folks,

After a long break, I'm thinking about buying or maybe even custom-ordering another 535 or maybe 534, but I've grown very used to the 17mm string spacing on my Tobias basses. (In fact, I only have 1 bass out of about 15 that has 19mm spacing!) What sort of up-charge are we talking about for narrower spacing? Or is it just the "MTD Custom Bridge" option in the price-list?

Cheers,

EG
Click to expand...

I believe you’re right, that should just be the custom bridge option
 
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#14,725
I believe the MTD custom bridge is the a style with the lower sides/“less mass in the tray”, at least that is what I was told when I ordered mine (which is standard 19mm, btw)

IMG_5555.jpeg
IMG_5548.jpeg
 
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#14,726
MattLplaysBass said:
I believe the MTD custom bridge is the a style with the lower sides/“less mass in the tray”, at least that is what I was told when I ordered mine (which is standard 19mm, btw)

View attachment 5435108 View attachment 5435109
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Oh interesting, that's good to know. Thanks for clarifying!
Maybe it would be best to ask Daniel or Michael to check about different spacing (the only reason that I thought it would be an additional charge is because of the other boutiques I know of charge extra for different bridge spacings).
 
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#14,729
Benjamin Koshy said:
Oh interesting, that's good to know. Thanks for clarifying!
Maybe it would be best to ask Daniel or Michael to check about different spacing (the only reason that I thought it would be an additional charge is because of the other boutiques I know of charge extra for different bridge spacings).
Click to expand...

I will be talking to them at some point soon, when I'm closer to having the funds. :) In the meantime, I checked the Hipshot specs and the Type A is the only one that goes below 18mm spacing, Type B is only 19 or 18mm.

EG
 
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#14,730
evilgus said:
I will be talking to them at some point soon, when I'm closer to having the funds. :) In the meantime, I checked the Hipshot specs and the Type A is the only one that goes below 18mm spacing, Type B is only 19 or 18mm.

EG
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Hey EG!

Mike has neck blanks tapered for both 17.5mm bridges and for 19mm bridges. You just need to specify which construction at the time of spec / downpayment. It’s NOT like Sadowsky, which only has the 19mm neck taper, but will put either bridge on the same taper.

My build a few years back involved a discussion with Mike, in which I told him that my actual neck taper pref was 18mm. So, he used the 17.5mm taper neck blank with no additional carving at build time. He did send the bass with the 17.5mm HipShot A bridge; which I adjusted to 18mm spacing with no problems. I’ve subsequently replaced that bridge with a HipShot B bridge; which is NOT adjustable, but is slightly lighter, and has a more open resonance than the A bridge.

In fact, I’ve replaced most of my bridges with HipShot B bridges. They don’t look very impressive vs the A bridge; but, they sound significantly better to me while playing.

Good luck with your build. FWIW, here is mine with the A bridge set at 18mm, before I swapped in the B. Guess it’s time for a photo update.

IMG_0300.jpeg
 
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#14,731
Benjamin Koshy said:
Also, might I add that's a beautiful top!!!
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Yes, I hemmed and hawed over a few for like a week, staying up late looking at pics trying to predict what it would look like finished. It came out better than I'd imagined.

Feb_2_2023_12_27_55_5.jpeg


bucephylus said:
Hey EG!

Mike has neck blanks tapered for both 17.5mm bridges and for 19mm bridges. You just need to specify which construction at the time of spec / downpayment. It’s NOT like Sadowsky, which only has the 19mm neck taper, but will put either bridge on the same taper.

My build a few years back involved a discussion with Mike, in which I told him that my actual neck taper pref was 18mm. So, he used the 17.5mm taper neck blank with no additional carving at build time. He did send the bass with the 17.5mm HipShot A bridge; which I adjusted to 18mm spacing with no problems. I’ve subsequently replaced that bridge with a HipShot B bridge; which is NOT adjustable, but is slightly lighter, and has a more open resonance than the A bridge.

In fact, I’ve replaced most of my bridges with HipShot B bridges. They don’t look very impressive vs the A bridge; but, they sound significantly better to me while playing.

Good luck with your build. FWIW, here is mine with the A bridge set at 18mm, before I swapped in the B. Guess it’s time for a photo update.

View attachment 5435620
Click to expand...
That is also a beautiful top- doesn't seem like Mike & co are lacking in them :)
 
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#14,733
Taustin Powers said:
My 535 is nearing completion! :)

Weird question: Does this bridge look unusual to anyone?

abaca5c8-f4d0-4cd0-ae7c-0eddc9d7dee9.jpg
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That’s the HipShot B bridge. They sort of look unimpressive; but, they have the best resonance I’ve ever found from a bridge. I use the aluminum versions, which are extremely light. And, I know that is counter to traditional bass thought, which ascribes sustain to bridge mass; but, I find quite the opposite to be true.

As an aside, both 4 string and 5 string versions conveniently allow the plectrum to be jammed between the D string and the saddle spring.
 
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#14,734
bucephylus said:
That’s the HipShot B bridge. They sort of look unimpressive; but, they have the best resonance I’ve ever found from a bridge. I use the aluminum versions, which are extremely light. And, I know that is counter to traditional bass thought, which ascribes sustain to bridge mass; but, I find quite the opposite to be true.

As an aside, both 4 string and 5 string versions conveniently allow the plectrum to be jammed between the D string and the saddle spring.
Click to expand...

Interesting! I just checked, and I have the same style bridge on both my 435's (2009 and 2022). But practically all 535's I see have a different style bridge. I wonder how this gets decided, since I didn't specify anything in my order. Maybe it's just the new standard bridge they use now.
 
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#14,735
Taustin Powers said:
Interesting! I just checked, and I have the same style bridge on both my 435's (2009 and 2022). But practically all 535's I see have a different style bridge. I wonder how this gets decided, since I didn't specify anything in my order. Maybe it's just the new standard bridge they use now.
Click to expand...
I believe that Mike’s preference for tonal purposes is the B bridge. But, he uses the A bridge when the player may want the adjustable string spacing.
 
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#14,736
Taustin Powers said:
Interesting! I just checked, and I have the same style bridge on both my 435's (2009 and 2022). But practically all 535's I see have a different style bridge. I wonder how this gets decided, since I didn't specify anything in my order. Maybe it's just the new standard bridge they use now.
Click to expand...
The b style was/is the standard, I remember reading somewhere that Mike prefers it.

I personally prefer the a, but to each their own.
 
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#14,737
MattLplaysBass said:
The b style was/is the standard, I remember reading somewhere that Mike prefers it.

I personally prefer the a, but to each their own.
Click to expand...
+1

The A bridges are much more carefully engineered, to allow the adjustable spacings. They are impressive. But, that design leaves more metal in the base plate. So, there are weight trade-offs.

There are also resonance trade-offs, which I can’t explain by any engineering aspects. They just are.

I find the B bridges have more of a Jazz Bass vibe in the resonance dept; while the A bridges have more of a studio focus to the vibe. If that makes sense.
 
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#14,740
In other news, the custom order will have to wait! A Roasted Ash/burl/maple/ebony 534-24 came up for sale locally, last night, so I put a deposit on it! :hyper: My birthday is next month, so I'll see if I can pay it off as a present to myself! :woot:

Doesn't have the fancy knobs, but does have a passive tone!

EG
 
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