MTD Beast 5

I don't know what year my Beast 5 was made. The serial number is a bunch of zeros and end in three numbers with a B. I call this bass "The Beast" because that's exactly what it is. I emailed Mike Tobias with that date questions and he replied with he'll be out of country for a few days and that he will get back with me. The bass is made outside of the U.S but I love it. First let me tell you that I have other basses such as an American Fender Jazz 5, a Lakland Skyline 55-02, an Alembic Epic 5, a Zon Sonus 5, a Roscoe Beck 5 and now this beast. I have a Fender Squier Precision 5 also that I upgraded but it's going to be gone so fast that I will soon hardly remember it. Okay this Pearl Red Beast has the wenge neck, two jazz style pickups, passive electronics with plastic knobs, bolt on neck and it has a standard looking (cheap) bass bridge. All the hardware is black. The finish is great and a bit unusual. I bought this bass with out a gig bag or case for $475.00 plus $15.00 shipping. It was a good deal. The body must be made of poplar wood which is a soft wood.

This bass suits my style and I play gospel music. I have three different amp sets and they are a SWR combo, a Peavey FireBass 700 with a Peavey 210 TVX and a 410 TVX and the other amp set up is an Ampeg B4 with a Peavey 210 TVX with a Crate 1/18 bottom. I sort of wish the bass had a pre-amp sometimes but eventually I may add one. I can get some great sounds out of this bass and I especially like the deep bass and the treble combination setting. The pickups are very quiet, they are the exposed poll peice Bartolinis made especially for this particular bass. I have not had this in the studio but live this bass makes me sound like I can play.

I like my action set a bit low and that's the way it arrived. The pickups were adjusted just right and the only thing I question is whos idea was it to put on the cheap black plastic knobs? The bass I bought was suppose to have a flaw on the back but I'm still looking for it and maybe I should stop since I have not found it. I think some of the hardware could use an upgrade one day for instance the bridge. I don't know what poplar wood is and why it was the chosen wood but I know it is pretty fragile or soft. These discripencies maybe the reason that these basses are no longer made and you can get them pretty cheap too. I am in love with this bass and it fits me like a glove. When I play this thing I just feel good all down in my bones. I dig in and get it.

This bass must be handled with care because it is made with a softer wood but it's a good bass otherwise. I think the original hardware will last if this bass is not abused. This bass can't handle that real rough jumping up and down wild style abuse. I want to install some straplocks but I'm scared to death that the poplar wood will strip. I know I can depend on this bass if I keep it as is but eventually I plan to mod three of my bass and this will also be included. I wouldn't even think twice about playing it without a backup.

I emailed Mike Tobias and asked him the year of my bass but he has not gotten back with me yet. He was out of the country in Germany.

I have been playing off and on for about 25 years. I have a few other nice basses and they are all five string instruments. I have owned at least 60 Fender Precisions in my lifetime and have always been cordial to it's string spacing. I play basically finger style and with my thumb occassionally. I'm not a slapper but I don't have anything against the slappers, I have not been able to master that style for some reason or another. But every now and then I accidently slap something but it's usually by mistake or pure luck. I love this bass because of the weight and the style and most of all the string spacing. I can pull off some nice stuff once in a while with it. I feel pretty special when I play it. I am a 19mm man. All of my basses must be similar to the 19mm string spacing. I gave up a G&L L2500 and a Spector CRFM5 because of the string spacing not being my cup of tee. I compare this bass to Yamaha BB series as far as string spacing is concerned which I plan to get someday soon. The Beast is getting harder to find since they are no longer being produced at this time but check one out if you can. You will love the neck.

I'm considering a Beast 5. I contacted Mike Tobias, himself, about my uncertainty of a zero fret feature. I wrote him late on a Saturday night, and he wrote me back the next morning! He was very helpful, and it still amazes me that he responded so fast. If I get the Beast, I'll write a review, after a bit. But, I thought I'd like to remark, simply on the customer support. Mike Tobias is a genuine guy-very caring, helpful, friendly, and seems to really care about customers, and potential ones, even. This guy is the real deal, and there aren't many big-name craftsmen out there like this anymore. An epitome of customer support-kudos!

See the previous review for the all the stats - one thing though, the controls are NOT, I repeat, NOT volume, blend, tone. It's a basic jazz bass config of neck volume, bridge volume, tone. Who knows what the other guy's been smoking. :P It's got passive Bartolini pickups, and either a wenge or rosewood fretboard (I think its wenge, but I'm no wood snob). Basic tuners and bridge, the pots and knobs feel rather cheap. The blue metallic finish is ok, and plenty vibrant.

The bass sounds good, a bit more hi-fi sounding than a typical similar jazz-type bass, but still retaining the classic tone of those basses. No surprises, and not a whole lot of variety. Very good range on the tone control - goes from muddy and thumpy to clanky and almost brittle sounding. I found the pickups a tad noisy when soloed by themselves, with both at full volume the bass was quiet.

Plays great, the Tobias signature asymetrical neck is the best neck I have played in a 5-string. Frets are fairly skinnier than the jumbo/medium fret wire I am used to. For a 35" scale bass, I expected a bit more tightness and 'pow' from the B string, but it seemed to fall just a bit short - this could be possibly helped by installing an active preamp. Which is why MTD probably discontinued this model anyway, the Grendel is the same bass but uses an active preamp.

I'm sure the bass will hold up fine, as do most instruments made today. Unless you're going to drag it through the dirt and smash TVs with it or do some silly on-stage stunts.

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I've had numerous basses over the years...the Beast definitely comes in second place of all the 5 strings I've owned. It's one of the best import basses I've played from a major brand. The best 5 string I've owned was an actual Gibson-made Tobias, wenge neck, hand rubbed finish, neck through, and a great preamp. The Beast plays almost identical, but doesn't quite match the sound of the Tobias - of course they are fairly different animals, but the Beast would make a great starter 5 string bass.

Made in Czech Republic, 2002,24 fret 5-string bass, typical MTD body shape.Designed by "the man", Mike Tobias.It has a beautiful pearl black finish, contoured carved body with "relieved" neck heel for neck-thru feel.Passive vol,blend and tone. Custom-made pickups by Bill Bartolini with exposed pole pieces, steel and ceramic magnets. Hipshot bridge, hard rock maple neck /birdseye maple fingerboard.Came stock with MTD strings(awesome strings!!)Buzz Feiten tuning system w/gotoh tuners.Came with gig bag and super low action!

I still can't believe I have one of these.Forget the active/passive crap, this bass is phenomenal.I am absolutely blown away by the sound and feel of this thing.I currently use an SWR workingmans 12 and no effects.I play many different styles including 311, Latin(the real stuff),funky blues and reggae.This baby can handle it all and then some(much more)It can be very bright, then bluesy, then mellow if you know how to use the controls and your amp.I play slap often and this bass cannot be beat in this style by any bass I have ever played.Nice and rich,bitey snap. Sounds as amazing as the American MTDs. Trust me, I have played them.I have not gigged with it yet because I just got it 3 hours ago and can not get away from it. I am dead serious.I am a fingerer and never played with a pick. Picks are for guitarists. You can't beat the sound of a finger hitting a bass string. The 35" scale gives a tight and focused B string and nothing short of exquisite.There is nothing I dislike about the instrument except I wish I found this thing 20 basses ago.This 5 string has made up my mind to never return to 4 string ever again. The sound you hear in your head is in this bass if you enjoy playing the same type of music as I do. These are discontiunued so grab one if you have a chance to. The best musical choice of my life.

Set-up from Steve's music store in Rock Hill, NY was perfect. Needed to be tuned up and thats all folks.I examined the instrument from head to toe and it was perfect. Action is super low on MTDs just the way I like it. Construction is superb and geniously performed.

I know this bass will handle anything thrown at it for live purposes and recording which I plan to do.Definitely play this w/out a backup.I will never need a backup because it has passive electronics and has every sound I will ever need. I can also throw a Grendel preamp in there if I want but I probably will not.Strap buttons seem very solid and tight. I will not write that it can be thrown down a flight of stairs or take abuse like some of the idiots in these reviews. If you take care of your instruments then these things won't happen. I would never let anything like that happen to my bass. I have played in many clubs and my instruments have always remained in great shape because I care.

I emailed MTD and had many responses from Mr. Mike himself. He Seems very nice and was very helpful in guidance to achieve my sound and questions I had regarding basses, pricing and other options. It came with a 1 year warranty for defects(not normal wear or neglect).Before I bought this bass I asked Mike about installing a Grendel preamp if needed and he told me that it really wasn't necesary because they both sound great, but you can if you want. This guy is a class act for that... not trying to push or sell, just friendly advice.

I have been playing for 20 years and have owned 3 Am.Fenders,Peavey,Music Man stingray, 2 Warwicks,2 Ibanez, an alvarez and this treasure which I will never get rid of. I traded my Am. P-bass for this bass. Best move I ever made musically.My bass-buying days have finally ended and I am very excited about my whole experience with this MTD. I would throw all of those basses away for this one..its that awesome. I chose this bass because I heard it was a good company and was told by someone that I would be blown away by the Beast/Grendel(active)basses. Boy was I ever to say the least.If you are constantly looking for "the sound" and think it will never end, think again,try one of these and then email me. I went through that stage for 10 years and lots of wasted money before this baby came along and won me over. I am very thankful for this instrument. My wife knows absolutely nothing about bass and she even said that it sounded great.If stolen, I would admire the person who has such a great instrument, cry, and try to find another brand new one. There is no competetion and even the boutiques I have tried don't touch it. I wish all you people out there have an opportunity to play one of these soon. You won't believe it!