The Official MTD USA Thread

[dangomez66]

WOULD YOU MAKE THIS TRADE???

Mine is a 2014 535, Myrtle top cherryburst, poplar body, all wenge neck, matching headstock.

Straight up trade for a

2016 535, solid quilted maple body purple, maple neck with birdseye fingerboard, matching headstock.

Otherwise, same specs.

 

[arszon]

I wouldn't

 

[Taustin Powers]

Which one do you own, which one would you get?

If the Wenge is yours, keep it. If it’s not, get it!

 

[dangomez66]

The red with wenge neck is mine. Same one in my profile pic. I'm just a sucker for purple lol

Which one do you own, which one would you get?

If the Wenge is yours, keep it. If it’s not, get it!

 

[evilgus]

Ok, I was already pretty sure that my roasted ash 534-24 had a lot more bottom-end than my previous "standard" ash 535-24 basses, but now I'm totally sure of it. A near-new 535-24 in ash/walnut/maple/ebony came up for sale at my local dealer, so I took my 534 around to compare. (Mine is Roasted ash/maple-burl/maple/ebony, so only the body, top-wood and scale length are different.) Through the same rig at the same volume, my bass had at least 20-25% more low-end response and "heft". (But a tiny bit less top-end "sizzle".) Even though I was hoping that would be the case, I was still a bit surprised that it would be that obvious. Anyway, given that the basses were made within 5 years of each other, I would assume that the pickups and pre-amps are basically identical, so that does point to the body wood being the main contributing factor. Not sure that scale-length or difference in top-woods would affect the low-end quite that much....?

Cheers,

EG

 

[MattLplaysBass]

WOULD YOU MAKE THIS TRADE???

Mine is a 2014 535, Myrtle top cherryburst, poplar body, all wenge neck, matching headstock.

Straight up trade for a

2016 535, solid quilted maple body purple, maple neck with birdseye fingerboard, matching headstock.

Otherwise, same specs.

View attachment 7186659
View attachment 7186660

On paper/the internet, those are going to be pretty different sounding basses... in the real world, ymmv... they're both purty though

 

[Taustin Powers]

Ok, I was already pretty sure that my roasted ash 534-24 had a lot more bottom-end than my previous "standard" ash 535-24 basses, but now I'm totally sure of it. A near-new 535-24 in ash/walnut/maple/ebony came up for sale at my local dealer, so I took my 534 around to compare. (Mine is Roasted ash/maple-burl/maple/ebony, so only the body, top-wood and scale length are different.) Through the same rig at the same volume, my bass had at least 20-25% more low-end response and "heft". (But a tiny bit less top-end "sizzle".) Even though I was hoping that would be the case, I was still a bit surprised that it would be that obvious. Anyway, given that the basses were made within 5 years of each other, I would assume that the pickups and pre-amps are basically identical, so that does point to the body wood being the main contributing factor. Not sure that scale-length or difference in top-woods would affect the low-end quite that much....?

Cheers,

EG

Interesting observation! Do you know what strings both basses were wearing? Big factor in tone.

 

[evilgus]

Interesting observation! Do you know what strings both basses were wearing? Big factor in tone.

My 534 is currently wearing R Cocco Nickels and I think the newer 535 had MTD Nickels. (There is a chance they were MTD Steels, but they felt and looked more like nickels.) I'm very familiar with both sets of strings and even used to run MTD Steels and do recognise the difference, but this was far more obvious than that. Besides, I've previously owned two "standard" (medium-weight?) ash-body MTD 535-24 basses and always ended up boosting the bass and low-mids to offset the bright nature of the basses. I just don't have to do that on this bass, just roll off the passive tone a bit.

Cheers,

EG

 

[frosty4d]

I'm curious which one you all would choose? I've already decided, but still curious. This will be a 532 with PJ pickups, and a nebula fade finish, FYI.

 

[bass12]

WOULD YOU MAKE THIS TRADE???

Mine is a 2014 535, Myrtle top cherryburst, poplar body, all wenge neck, matching headstock.

Straight up trade for a

2016 535, solid quilted maple body purple, maple neck with birdseye fingerboard, matching headstock.

Otherwise, same specs.

View attachment 7186659
View attachment 7186660

Depends on whether you like the sound of the one you've got. If so then no trade. If not then you probably have nothing to lose by trading.

 

[Taustin Powers]

I'm curious which one you all would choose? I've already decided, but still curious. This will be a 532 with PJ pickups, and a nebula fade finish, FYI.
View attachment 7192024View attachment 7192025View attachment 7192023

Of these three, I would pick the middle one.

 

[Jugghaid]

I'm curious which one you all would choose? I've already decided, but still curious. This will be a 532 with PJ pickups, and a nebula fade finish, FYI.
View attachment 7192023

This one. (last one) Especially with a fade finish.

 

[frosty4d]

That's the one I chose.

This one. (last one) Especially with a fade finish.

 

[Taustin Powers]

That's the one I chose.

Nice! Maple burl?

What are the specs?

 

[frosty4d]

532-24, roasted, flamed maple neck, roasted bird's eye maple board, alder body, burl maple top. Matching knobs and headstock, magnetic covers, nebula fade. The 532 is the Lynn Keller signature, with a 32-in scale and 16.5mm string spacing. Bartolini P/Js on this one, and I asked for a tone knob and active/passive switch.
I told Michael that I was looking for a versatile-sounding bass, and this is the wood combination he recommended for this bass.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

532-24, roasted, flamed maple neck, roasted bird's eye maple board, alder body, burl maple top. Matching knobs and headstock, magnetic covers, nebula fade. The 532 is the Lynn Keller signature, with a 32-in scale and 16.5mm string spacing. Bartolini P/Js on this one, and I asked for a tone knob and active/passive switch.
I told Michael that I was looking for a versatile-sounding bass, and this is the wood combination he recommended for this bass.

Cool. How long have you been waiting? And how much longer do you have to go? I hemmed and hawed over the top for my bass for several days, went down many internet rabbit holes, but am 100% pleased with the results

 

[frosty4d]

Cool. How long have you been waiting? And how much longer do you have to go? I hemmed and hawed over the top for my bass for several days, went down many internet rabbit holes, but am 100% pleased with the results

View attachment 7193429View attachment 7193435

I placed my deposit in August of '22, so almost 32 months. Not sure how much longer it will be, but it should be in the batch they started this week.

You made a great choice! That's a very nice looking bass.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

I placed my deposit in August of '22, so almost 32 months. Not sure how much longer it will be, but it should be in the batch they started this week.

You made a great choice! That's a very nice looking bass.

Thanks, it really did turn out great. I should play it more than I do

Wow, that is a long time, mine was around 2 years total, but things happen. But yeah, once I picked out the top, things started moving. Hopefully it won't be TOO much longer... every time i got progress picks I would get all anxious to get it

 

[graphics1988]

So ....this happened. 2011 and it is in fantastic condition and such a great tone. I missed having an MTD...

 

[thumbslapper]

Cool. How long have you been waiting? And how much longer do you have to go? I hemmed and hawed over the top for my bass for several days, went down many internet rabbit holes, but am 100% pleased with the results

View attachment 7193429View attachment 7193435

what does the 2nd toggle switch do?

beautiful bass, love that combo