MTD USA 535, hand built by Mike Tobias. Makore body, maple neck, Indian rosewood fingerboard, flamed redwood top, satin finish. Includes a custom fit MTD tolex case and is hand signed and numbered by Mr. Tobias. This bass is a classic example of understated elegance from Mike Tobias. (This one was on layaway, but is back for sale).

Weight: 10.34 pounds

MTD Handmade American bodies and necks are ergonomically carved to allow comfortable access to the extended scale bass. A wenge neck and board add compression and focus to the speaking voice of the bass. The pickups and active electronics are a proprietary design for MTD made by Bill Bartolini which consist of a master volume and pan pot, treble, mid, bass cut and boost, with center click (from neck to bridge). The three position switch selects the mid range cut and boost point. Down is lower mids, center is middle and up is upper mids. When the mid pot is at center click, the switch has minimal effect. The EQ has 2 batteries and is a +/- 9 volt system.

• There is great variety in the settings of the EQ. The basses can be made to sound very traditional by cutting the mids all the way at 1000 (switch in top position), and boosting the bass and treble to 10 with the blend pot at center. This offers a great slap tone. Boosting the mids at 250 ( switch in lower position), with bass at 10 and treble at 9-10 with the blend pot on the bridge pick up gives the early Bartolini TCT tone. This offers a very percussive finger tone. These are just suggestions. The tone will vary depending on the rig and technique used.

Bridges and tuners are custom manufactured for MTD Handmade American Basses by Hipshot.

MTD Handmade American Basses all use the Buzz Feiten Tuning System. This revolutionary tuning system enhances tuning dramatically, allowing the player greater freedom of expression.

35" scale length

21 frets with zero fret

1-7/8" width at nut

3-1/16″ width at last fret

0.75″ or 19mm string spacing at bridge