MTD 535 Fretless

I have an MTD American 535 Fretless, made in 1997. 35" scale, 5 string, tulipwood body, unlined wenge fingerboard on a maple neck. Bartolini pickups. Active electronics, 3 band EQ with a 3-way switch to select the mid-EQ frequency; pickup blend pot; volume.

Everything about this bass feels good. It looks fantastic. The MTD web site pictures really don't do their basses justice - strange color choices. (Photos of mine at http://www.white-mountain.org/pictures/gallery/MTD_Fretless) The things look *awesome*.

I can't think of anything that this instrument is missing. Piezo pickups? Don't need it. It sounds outstanding as-is.

The tone is great. Bartolini pickups rule. Rumble, growl, mwah, bark, you name it, all those good bass sounds are in there and these pickups get it out, loud and clear. This is the sort of sound that makes you want to play simple parts really loud so people can just listen to the development of each note. Yum.

I've had instruments where I had to do specific things (play hard, set the knobs just right, feed it new strings all the time, etc.) to get a really good tone. Not this bass. Killer tone, killer I say. Just twiddle the knobs to pick *which* killer tone you want to hear.

I bought it used so I can't speak to the original setup but it was set up well when I got it, except for intonation. I guess fretless players don't really pay much attention to the instrument's intonation 'cuz they fix it with their fingers? Dunno. I spent a good while reading about how to set up an unlined fretless and took an hour or so getting it perfect. So, that was sort of a chore but it's great now.

It's very well put together. I don't think it'll fall apart by wear and tear at all, but I will treat it gingerly to avoid dings since it's so nice to look at right now (wouldn't want to beat this thing up and leave a bunch of ugly marks). But, I suppose if I did beat the hell out of it for whatever reason, it's probably still play and sound fine even if it wouldn't be so easy on the eyes anymore.

I did email MTD at one point and got a delayed response from Michael Tobias himself. It was informative and friendly. I wish he had gotten back sooner but he had some kind of surgery. I sympathize but I think he should have had someone covering for him while he was out.

This instrument is excellent but I have mixed feelings about playing an unlined fretless. On one hand, it looks super cool, and not just for the "golly how does he find the notes" reaction. The big plank-o'-wenge that is the fingerboard just looks nice. I've thought about buying a set of those black-coated bass strings just to see if that would look interesting. Still, playing an unlined fretless is hard and requires concentration. I'm not sure it's worth the effort compared to just getting a lined fretless and having better intonation. But, I can't bring myself to part with this instrument (at least, not yet).

And if I got a lined fretless heck yes it would be another MTD American 535. :)

I also got a total steal of a deal on this thing. $1699 on eBay vs. ~$3500 in a local music store new. MTD seems to be an unknown brand, even though Tobias's name is well known. So they don't fetch as high a price as they might, which is nice if you want to pick one up used.

Beautifully Flamed Redwood/Fretless Over Mahogany Body, Maple Neck w/Lined Fretless 24 Position figures Deep Brown Maccasar Ebony Fingerboard, Matching Headstock (Body) & Truss rod Cover (Fingerboard), Bartolini Humbuckers & 3-Band EQ, Black Hipshot Hardware, built in strap locks.

It also comes with this outstanding soft/hard case. When I first heard about the case I was a littled annoyed. For all the money that this bass costs I figured I should get a hard case. Well, once it came I realized how wrong I was case. This is a fabulous case (hard to explain) and fits the bass like a glove.

I really like the mat finish on the bridge and tuners it feels thick and durable. In terms of features I don't know what more you could ask for...10

Great sounding and very versital. If you want a P bass or J pas then go buy them or better yet buy the Lakland clones they're better.

Here are some of the great tones I can get.
Tight, airy, growling bridge, almost acoustic sounding (neck pickup tone,) open mids, tight punchy mids, low swampy mids, deep and boomy, tight and brittle. With the eq's adjustable mid friquencies and these pickups the number of good/usable tones seemes endless.

I think the key to picking out an MTD is to play them and know your woods. A guitar should always sound nice unplugged. If it does then you are ususlly set, unless the electronics are junk.

On the MTD site Mr Tobias talks about woods. I emailed Mr. Tobias on several occasions to talk about the tone of woods before ording my fretted bass and he was extremely helpful. I also talked to the great guys at Bass Central for quite some time about the tone of this Mahogony/Redwood body....and I played a few as well.

Again a 10, great sound great versitility.

The Assymetric neck is marvelous. The neck is actually on the fatter side because of the wider string spacing. However, if you close your eyes and play you would never know. The neck is slim and assymetrically cut so your/my smaller hands have pleanty of reach. This is the best neck I have ever played.

Simply put it is a work of art.
Beautifull wood, the best craftsmanship I have ever seen and I HAVE played them all. The action is great.
The pickups were properly adjusted.

Just fantastic, but that's what people come to expect from Micheal Tobias.

Only had it for about a month, so far so good.

Just email the guy, his feedback is great and timely.

Great sounding.
Versital.
Flawless.

I did change the strings the strings to DR Sunbeams (Nickle Plated)
It brings out some warmer mids and the plating is easier on the fretboard.

The 9 rating is because 535s are expensive, but worth every penny.