All user reviews for the MTD (Michael Tobias Design) 535 American

Hand Made in the USA by Mike Tobias.
Mine at 21 frets, poplar body, maple table dappled, custom oil finish, but you can order it 24 frets. This has a slight influence on the shape of the instrument (the body does not have exactly the same form, there is more material) and can also be in sound: slap in the sense that one attack not the strings in the same place on a 21 frets.
Mine has a Hipshot A style bridge (option), the standard being the B style. The main difference between the two is that the best A can adjust the spacing of the strings. It can also be influenced sound but it is minimal, although with such an instrument, every detail, however small it may have a great influence on the final result. Visually it is a very significant detail.
Bartolini humbuckers designed specifically for Mike Tobias.
Electronics Bartolini 3-band selector + boost / cut the midrange balance + microphone + volume general.
The neck is wenge, wenge button on mine, but it can be many other configurations. Mike Tobias happy experimenting with new combinations: I recently saw a wenge neck maple fingerboard.
It was undoubtedly an instrument in the hands of its exceptional features, right from the first contact, it is noticeable as soon as it leaves the holster.
For more information, go to the website of Mike tobias.

UTILIZATION

The handle is very ergonomic, there is no other word except that it suits me perfectly. I have rarely been so comfortable on bass.
Access to acute is very easy.
The ergonomics are excellent. This bass is really designed for the bassist. Mike Tobias, in the design, more thought to the person who will play at top performance in terms of violin making that kind of bass is. The instrument is perfectly balanced, free from defects in finish, this is really art of violin making, lack of praise and Qualifiers as the work is neat and precise.
This gives excellent sound very easily (this is very subjective). At this level of excellence, the appreciation of the sound is more a test of personal taste: the quality is there, the sound suits me perfectly.

SOUNDS

This instrument is designed to meet all the requirements of musicians and all music styles. Sounds right for me in the sense that this bass sounds like I want to hear ringing, and this, in rehearsal or recording as in concert.
I play on a rather "good" amp that allows me to really benefit from this low. I do not use effects, but I do not exclude use one day ...
This gives all kinds of sound you want, for my part I get what I want to hear: sound set with the full spectrum of the body (So serious is impressive accuracy), no "dead "on the handle, the presence, a beautiful grain ...
The sound is also very dependent on the choice of wood. The way Mike Tobias has designed the instrument is that by changing the configuration of wood, it's got to change the final.
I really like everything about this bass. What I hate is to stop play.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it since January 2006.
I love everything about this bass is really a different dimension from what I played before. The sound, ergonomics, finish ... every detail has been drawn up and executed with great care. In all areas of evaluation criteria, we achieved excellence in virtually perfect.
I tried several similar models (535 and 635 American, 21 and 24 frets, with different combinations of wood) before buying.
Quality at a price and it is high, but it is justified under exceptional qualities of this instrument.
Repeat this choice? My second is already "started" ... Mike Tobias is currently without doubt a genius of violin, the "creme-de-la-creme" as they say over there ...
(I have set as 10, but it is largely justified)