MTD

[merello]

CRB

Saratoga

Heir - love this one!

Are these not a highly desirable collection of basses?

[velvetkevorkian]

They're nice, but ridiculously overpriced in this country compared to how they're priced in the US- even more so than usual.

[OutToPlayJazz]

They also depreciate like falling bricks - Someone wanted to trade me one a while ago for a £1500 bass until I told him I could buy his MTD Kingston Heir bass new for £799. At the time they were going used for £350.

I have no idea how these far eastern versions compare with the American originals, though.

Edited July 6, 2010 by OutToPlayJazz

[velvetkevorkian]

I always quite fancied a Zephyr 6 actually...

[molan]

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='887624' date='Jul 6 2010, 06:31 PM']They also depreciate like falling bricks - Someone wanted to trade me one a while ago for a £1500 bass until I told him I could buy his MTD Kingston Heir bass new for £799. At the time they were going used for £350.

I have no idea how these far eastern versions compare with the American originals, though.[/quote]

I tried one once - not even remotely the same bass as a US one

Mind you, I think exactly the same about Spector & I don't rate the Euro ones at all compared to the US models but lots of other people say they are pretty damn close - I say. . .

Yes, but not close enough

[XB26354]

+1, they're nowhere near the US models in terms of looks, tone or build quality. Love the Tobias/MTD shape though.

[velvetkevorkian]

Or price!

[7string]

The non-US MTD basses are fine, just don't pay too much

Have to agree that the Z-series look very cool.

[steve-soar]

sh*te.

[steve-soar]

Ugly basses, ugly prices, ugly.

[foal30]

I got a Grendel 5 and it's the bargain of the year
strung with flats it's become an all purpose #1 gigging anytime groove machine
if the USA ones are that much better than the Czech
I'd be more than keen for whirl.

[Gwilym]

[quote name='foal30' post='888040' date='Jul 7 2010, 03:26 AM']I got a Grendel 5 and it's the bargain of the year
strung with flats it's become an all purpose #1 gigging anytime groove machine
if the USA ones are that much better than the Czech
I'd be more than keen for whirl.[/quote]

always wanted to try a grendel - what wood is yours made of, I think I've seen them with various different neck/fingerboard woods.

I think the main difference with the non-US MTDs is that they have massive competition at that price point. I've only played 1 when I was in NY last year, and I'd say they are quite different to the US models. IMO they'd look better without the fancy topwoods too. I'd be interesting to hear how they sounded with the US-MTD electronics/pickups in there.

[Doddy]

[quote name='steve-soar' post='887957' date='Jul 7 2010, 12:01 AM']sh*te.[/quote]

Harsh.

I've got one of the older style Heir models that I got super cheap,because the guy in the shop had never heard
of them. It's a really good bass.I've done a lot of gigs with it and it holds it's own very nicely.

[foal30]

it's got Bartolini pick up and pre-amp
especially made apparently

the fingerboard is wenge(?)
the body is maple with poplar (?)

it's lightweight, and very bright
hence flats and raised action
very well made, pretty much flawless. if it was headless I'd be potentially sorted for life.

[flip]

[quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='887618' date='Jul 6 2010, 06:25 PM']They're nice, but ridiculously overpriced in this country compared to how they're priced in the US- even more so than usual.[/quote]

Whereabouts? I didn't think they were available in the UK yet?

[velvetkevorkian]

Are these new models? The older ones have been available for a few years now. Anyway, it looks like [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/MTD.html"]Bass Direct[/url] are stockists.

[flip]

[quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='893627' date='Jul 13 2010, 12:41 PM']Are these new models? The older ones have been available for a few years now. Anyway, it looks like [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/MTD.html"]Bass Direct[/url] are stockists.[/quote]

Yes, the top two are new models and I'm under the impression that there's no UK pricing on them yet...

[Rich]

I've seen Kingston fretless 5s going for ludicrously cheap 2ndhand prices. I mean, we're talking Squier Jazz money.

[foal30]

well if you see a Grendel over your way foal says HAVE A GO
bang for bucks this Bass wins.

[flip]

It's interesting how everyone is harping on about high prices when the top two basses pictured are apparently going to be under the £400 mark.

I'm not sure how official that is, but it seems prudent to reserve judgement until the basses are actually on the high street rather than just speculating.

[Guest jbarks]

Raising this thread from the dead—

Has anybody seen a Kingston Saratoga anywhere in London? I've been looking high and low for one.

[Happy Jack]

Nope - but I missed this thread last time,so you've given me the opportunity to say

+100 for the Grendel.

I had this ( [url="http://tinypic.com/a/pkz6/3"]http://tinypic.com/a/pkz6/3[/url] ) quite early in my brief bass-playing career, and I had no way to appreciate what a good bass it was. I probably wouldn't have sold it if I had!

[funkle]

BUmp for an old thread. I've a MTD Kingston Saratoga on the way - I'll stick up some pics and a review when I get it.

Pete

[paul h]

[quote name='funkle' post='1265113' date='Jun 11 2011, 05:02 PM']BUmp for an old thread. I've a MTD Kingston Saratoga on the way - I'll stick up some pics and a review when I get it.

Pete[/quote]

Ooh, exciting! I have just added a zero fret to my bass to stop me GASing over a Saratoga! I had an old Kingston years ago and it was the best playing bass I have ever owned.

Damn Youtube videos giving me gas!

[risingson]

I haven't been impressed with the U.S ones I've tried and have been put off MTD basses for life, sonically unimpressive to my ears. Prices for these ones are silly!