Hi all - looks like the transfer of all things MTD BE from Ning.com over to our
new home here on Grou.ps has gone pretty well. I've been quite quiet
since that time, as I've been totally swamped between family, IT work, wine work, and
gigs.
BUT... I just yesterday received my MTD Saratoga 5, and I'm guessing that, since it shipped directly from the distributor, I am among the first out there to have one of the official production versions in my hands - so here are my first thoughts!
More to come after I gig with it in a few days.
Cheers!
BUT... I just yesterday received my MTD Saratoga 5, and I'm guessing that, since it shipped directly from the distributor, I am among the first out there to have one of the official production versions in my hands - so here are my first thoughts!
It still sounds MTD-Kingston-ish, but probably is
55% jazz bass and 45% MTD in sound. Think of it as a cross between the MTD
Kingston Artists (the old passive model, which was kind of Mike's take on a
MusicMan/Stingray or G&L bass) with a jazz bass. It's tone "home" is very
much that of a J-bass, less in-your-face than the rest of the Kingston line so
if you play in a rock band your bandmates might really like this bass.
Hardware is standard Kingston stuff of recent years, which is to say it looks good, is solid and highly functional. Weight is a tad heavier than I'd like, but it's not *heavy* by any means for a 5er. Setup / intonation were not bad at all right out of the box, and it's SO AWESOME to have a standard-scale MTD available... it's been years since I've been able to play one, and as a small guy this bass feels so familiar and comfortable that it has the unfortunate side-effect of making me want to overplay :-).
Playability is fantastic, as Mike's design just... *works* :-). Construction is very good, better than I'd have expected from China actually, with a few small blemishes mostly around where the wood is cut for the pickups. Pickup height seems a bit strange in that the bridge pickup is much higher than the neck J-pickup, favoring a midrang-y sound. I rather like it, and it feels like making you jam on 80s Rush records :-).
Hardware is standard Kingston stuff of recent years, which is to say it looks good, is solid and highly functional. Weight is a tad heavier than I'd like, but it's not *heavy* by any means for a 5er. Setup / intonation were not bad at all right out of the box, and it's SO AWESOME to have a standard-scale MTD available... it's been years since I've been able to play one, and as a small guy this bass feels so familiar and comfortable that it has the unfortunate side-effect of making me want to overplay :-).
Playability is fantastic, as Mike's design just... *works* :-). Construction is very good, better than I'd have expected from China actually, with a few small blemishes mostly around where the wood is cut for the pickups. Pickup height seems a bit strange in that the bridge pickup is much higher than the neck J-pickup, favoring a midrang-y sound. I rather like it, and it feels like making you jam on 80s Rush records :-).
More to come after I gig with it in a few days.
Cheers!
This started out as a relatively stock Michael Tobias Designs Kingston 5 string
(left handed) bass with an upgraded passive pickup. I bought it from the
quadriplegic bass god Beaver Felton in Orlando around the year 2000. After 10
or so years of staring at the black finish (a color I swore I would never buy
in any guitar), I decided I had nothing to lose by trying a refinish. I
considered diluting automobile paint in borax and doing a swirl dip but I knew
the black undercoat would show through.
After researching steampunking techniques, I decided I would take things in a different direction. I really enjoyed the aged finishes I was finding in my research and began running tests on acrylic-based iron oxide. The following photos document how I developed the one-of-a-kind Apocalypse Bass Guitar.
Click the image to see it at full-size.
Prior to the deconstruction.
It looks worse than it really was. I didn't clean the fingerprints prior to photographing the instrument.
The backside had belt buckle scratches and any dings and dents were highlighted when light shone on the glossy finish.
Primed, sanded, and then hit with silver hammered metal paint for subtle texture. It actually looked really good like this and I considered leaving it. The pickguard was hit with gold paint and then sponged with silver. The pickup and bridge were painted gold and then coated in black acrylic iron.
The knobs were painted gold and hit with black iron, too. The iron is responsive to the acidic washes and begins to rust.
I was really scared that the masking tape wouldn't hold up and the acid was going to oxidize the magnetic pickup poles. They work fine though and any visible rust was there from prior to this project.
Sponging on black acrylic iron.
Top side done getting black acrylic iron. Acid wash #1 just applied.
About 4 minutes after 1st acid wash.
Bottom side about 4 minutes after 1st acid wash.
Touched up selected areas with black acrylic iron and acid washed one more time.
Beginning acid/iron process on headstock. Its dark grey in this picture because the acid is starting to work.
Almost fully re-assembled.
Strung up and ready for string height adjustments. The neck has been lightly and selectively dressed with a coating of ebony stain. It sinks in the cracks and crevaces and makes dark scratchy lines.
After researching steampunking techniques, I decided I would take things in a different direction. I really enjoyed the aged finishes I was finding in my research and began running tests on acrylic-based iron oxide. The following photos document how I developed the one-of-a-kind Apocalypse Bass Guitar.
Click the image to see it at full-size.
Prior to the deconstruction.
It looks worse than it really was. I didn't clean the fingerprints prior to photographing the instrument.
The backside had belt buckle scratches and any dings and dents were highlighted when light shone on the glossy finish.
Primed, sanded, and then hit with silver hammered metal paint for subtle texture. It actually looked really good like this and I considered leaving it. The pickguard was hit with gold paint and then sponged with silver. The pickup and bridge were painted gold and then coated in black acrylic iron.
The knobs were painted gold and hit with black iron, too. The iron is responsive to the acidic washes and begins to rust.
I was really scared that the masking tape wouldn't hold up and the acid was going to oxidize the magnetic pickup poles. They work fine though and any visible rust was there from prior to this project.
Sponging on black acrylic iron.
Top side done getting black acrylic iron. Acid wash #1 just applied.
About 4 minutes after 1st acid wash.
Bottom side about 4 minutes after 1st acid wash.
Touched up selected areas with black acrylic iron and acid washed one more time.
Beginning acid/iron process on headstock. Its dark grey in this picture because the acid is starting to work.
Almost fully re-assembled.
Strung up and ready for string height adjustments. The neck has been lightly and selectively dressed with a coating of ebony stain. It sinks in the cracks and crevaces and makes dark scratchy lines.
See my graphic design, audio design and guitar creations at www.DarrenThomasClark.com
Hi all - it pains me to have to type this, but I've learned a few minutes ago
that Ning.com (the platform that hosts our MTD
BE network) is shutting down their free networks option as of
July.
Here's an excerpt from their announcement:
I'm upset, as it may well mean the end of MTD BE.
I will be exploring options in the next few weeks to see what can be done to keep the network alive. Apparently, Ning will be offering 3 pay-only options, but we're already too big to qualify for the lowest-cost alternative.
More to come - and again, sorry to have to tell you this.
Here's an excerpt from their announcement:
"We will stop
offering free Ning Networks when we launch the three new paid plans in July
2010. When we launch the plans, Network Creators will be given 30 days to
transition to one of the three paid plans. Following the launch of the three
paid plans in July, we will offer a free trial period for new Ning
Networks."
I'm upset, as it may well mean the end of MTD BE.
I will be exploring options in the next few weeks to see what can be done to keep the network alive. Apparently, Ning will be offering 3 pay-only options, but we're already too big to qualify for the lowest-cost alternative.
More to come - and again, sorry to have to tell you this.
We have a collection of guitars that is pretty impressive. We decided to look
into Home Security Systems to make sure
that our stuff was safe. I have been hesitant to put information about the
collection online because I do not want to draw attention to it. At the same
time, I would love to share pictures of the collection. How do you all balance
between being open about valuables online without drawing attention to someone
who would want to cause you harm. If you have any tips or advice about this
issue, that would be great.
Hey folks - looks like two new Kingston models will be hitting the shelves in
the not-too-distant future, both based on MTD USA prototype designs that Mike
has been tweaking for a while now: A CRB/Rockbass, and a Saratoga, which are
kind of like Mike's re-imaginings of the P-Bass/Thunderbird and Jass bass,
respectively:
http://www.mtdkingston.com/basses/index.htm
According to Mike, final samples were sent and orders were placed and the basses "should be available pretty soon."
Stay tuned, I'll post more when I get more info. from Mike and Dale Titus at Dana B. Goods. In the meantime, I'm putting that Saratoga sunburst with rosewood FB on my birthday list!
Cheers!
http://www.mtdkingston.com/basses/index.htm
According to Mike, final samples were sent and orders were placed and the basses "should be available pretty soon."
Stay tuned, I'll post more when I get more info. from Mike and Dale Titus at Dana B. Goods. In the meantime, I'm putting that Saratoga sunburst with rosewood FB on my birthday list!
Cheers!
Time for Twitter! http://twitter.com/MTDbassUSA and here's
the place to show your MTD love on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Tobias-Design-MTD-American-Handmade-Bass-Guitar/327007952465
Hello Fellow MTD BE members!! Just wanted to wish all of you a very Merry
Christmas and a very Happy & Prosperous New Year!! I know I'll be starting
the New Year off "right" with my KZ5!! Take Good Care All!
Bass Player
magazine's latest issue has a cover story on MTD-playing gospel-guru Andrew
Gauche, with some of his famous MTD gear on full display. The same issue also
has pics of Mike as part of a recent Bass Player panel, and a picture of
MTDBE'r Bob Lee
showing off one of Mike's creations! Check it out! Cheers!
Hello All! Yes, it has finally arrived! Actually, it arrived on Monday. But, I
didn't have a chance to play it until today..Dec. 12th ( My Birthday )!! What a
gift!! Not only is it beautiful, it sounds as good as it looks!! I posted some
pics, I am truly an amatuer at taking photos, but, I think you all can get a
"sense" of what it looks like. I also have a Carvin LB75P, and I must say, this
bass (MTD Kingston Z5), is a "cut above"! Let me know what you all think of my
"gift"!!
Hi All! I need some help, and ASAP! Found out today from my Orthopedic
M.D.......no more lifting or moving anything over 30 to 40 lbs!!! I've been
using a Fender 400 Pro (2x10) for awhile now. Weighs about 65 lbs. Guess I'll
have to retire it! Any suggestions on a replacement rig? I've heard from some
friends that the Markbass 102P is a good rig and not very heavy ( about 40 lbs
). Anyone ever had the occasion to play or hear one of these? I'm in a real
"funk" about my new "limitations", but, I don't want to end up having some kind
of corrective surgery or anything! So, any help or other amp suggestions would
be greatly appreciated!!
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