MTD vs. Fodera - Back to Back with the 535-24 and The Emperor Standard - LowEndLobster Tone Shootout

[@Eugensson]

I just love the clarity of the custom Barts in the US MTD!

[@nickpicc]

Totally flat EQ and I actually prefer the fodera slightly. But watching the in depth reviews of both of these, I like the MTD much more. The preamp in the MTD really adds a lot.

[@KapnKregg]

MTD all day long! I think a better comparison might be the MTD Saratoga USA model - since it has more of a traditional jazz-bass-vibe like the Fodera does. But I'm pretty sure it would win out in the end as well.

[@Greatgigmen]

I'm not a fodera guy but i love the sweet tone of this emperor,not too harsh and brittle just sit right to the mix!

[@NeauxLA_Man]

MTD KZ owner here. They are both great bass guitars. However, your demo points out the greatest strength of MTD bass guitars and in my opinion what separates them. When you play them with fingers, you noticed that the MTD bass is a little bit more focused and articulate than the Fedora, especially the B string. However when you go to slap bass, that’s where the MTD shines, it can sit in the pocket of the mix doing its thing or you can bring it forward when you move to a slap technique and it really stands out more than a Fedora in the mix. You like to play a Fedora but you WANT to play that MTD! Last, when you pickup and hold a MTD, the craftsmanship jumps out at you.

[@DTaylorGuitars]

I love both of these bad boys 😍

[@DTaylorGuitars]

They are so alike but yet so different. The flame maple top on the Fodera looks amazing when it’s in lap. The contrast in the grain is 🔥🔥🔥

[@AlexOnBass]

I’ve owned an MTD and I have a Fodera being built for me. I can honestly say that the way an MTD feels in your hands is incredible. I love their neck profile, but I’m not a fan of the electronics, moreso the glassy type of highs. Also the dual coils compared to the MTD single coils will sound different no matter what. Fodera is able to make different neck profiles and my particular bass will have lent Armstrong pickups. I may lend it to you when it’s done. 😌

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Alex! I would totally be down for that :)

[@rodneyat]

@alexonbass the MTD pickups are not single coil. They are most like a reverse P pickup in a soapbar shell.

[@gabrielnilsson7955]

I just love the warm sound on the Fodera. The MTD can sound a bit analytical and that sure has its own place but i tend to love alnico. Tubes and Alnico.

[@tipico809]

I love my MTD535-21 buckeye but I'm saving to get a fodera emperor estandard walnut. Also I owned a elrick in natural and a Keith Roscoe LG3005 in cocobolo wood thanks lobster for ur video review

[@joaniepeters2565]

Man.. i absolutely love those MTD basses, they have such a clear-clean tone

[@rl-ub9hx]

The more I hear MTDs the happier I am I have one on the way

[@DoNotLikeThis]

That was great! I liked the MTD535-21 better. Thanks crustacean for the demo.

[@eldorado5319]

I like the more vintage warm (alnico5?) sound of the Fodera and I hate that super bright (ceramic?) sound of the MTD, but that's my personal taste.

[@BukanIbuMu]

I love bright basses

[@greyfoxzero]

I would love to see a video on how to setup a Buzz Feiten equipped bass like this MTD for proper intonation.

[@philipmcadam5339]

Thanks Lobster. For my part, I would like to hear you mess around with the different preamp settings et al just to hear what the two basses can do. As it was, they both sound wonderful.

[@ShazShaun]

Which one would you choose? Me: yes

[@12to3Guitars]

This is weird for me because it's clear the Fodera is an incredible instrument and it does sound good. To me, it just doesn't share the same tonal airspace as MTD's super transparent bell-like sound. I am terrible at describing sounds, but MTD's tend to occupy some spectrum that I have difficulty explaining but know when I hear it. Both awesome. MTD edges it out.

[@jamesobrien8529]

Is it the growl? That's what I'm obsessed with. That pitbull sound

[@blaurobe]

The Fodera sound never was my cup. Fodera are the vegan basses of the luthiers but i prefer t-bone steak basses, in this case here, the MTD.

[@TheCrusader1099]

both good but different....the foderas are, in my opinion, way to overpriced....so is fender custom shop...sound and craftmanship maybe superb but the hefty prices keep me away from this boutique basses...there are craftman which are able to build same quality for less in my opinion...expecially nowadays you really pay for the brand name on the headstock... i recently visited Adrian Marusczyk in his shop....you got any experience with them? found them really nice! handmade in poland...very good value for the price and a nice configurator on the website as well...

[@HondoFelder]

I’m about to get a 6 from them! Super excited to see some love for them here🤘🏽

[@_B_E_A_D_G_C]

#MTD4LYFE ! Great review, Lobster 🦞!

[@Rondoggy67]

Two great basses, but...there is too much of a tone shift when playing the B string compared with the E string on the MTD. It almost sounds like different instrument. The tone difference on the Fodera is much smaller.

[@jazzbassjames6403]

I noticed that too, but it’s not like that on my MTD 635. The B string is extremely even and blends really well with the E string.

[@RaulTorresMorfin]

Great review, Amazing basses, because I am biased to dark wood fingerboards I would go with the FODERA! :)

[@perfektspace]

MTD, not surprisingly, sounds more "woody" and bright. Fodera is fuller and richer. I thought the slap tone of the MTD sounded cleaner but perhaps a little thin. The real question is, which bass sits better in the mix in a band setting? My guess would be the Fodera.

[@jeangillesguerlin3271]

I will always, always, always, always go with the MTD. they are the beast

[@KeithCopeland778]

I like both but the growl of the Fodera grabs my ears more.

[@NicholasANappiNick]

Both nice, my old ears liking the tobias

[@warwicker22]

I like the MTD for finger style and the Fodera for slap. With that said, I typically don’t play slap so the MTD would be the “winner” in my book. Not that there’s a loser. Haha!!!

[@zyxwfish]

MTD all the way

[@ElricX]

Two of the best! If I could only have one? It'd take me weeks to decide! They both sound amazing in their on way so it would come down to playability. 34" scale vs. 35" I'd just have to flip a coin :)

[@calvincurry8496]

OMG. Beast👹 Basses Love Both of them. Both are Wonderful but different. I lean more towards the ROM MTD ( love MTD Necks for my Huge Hands buuuuuttt would be quite happy with the FODERA. Love that first demo song of your. Really can here the E&B strings. Nice!!! Again your Reviews are amazing. God Bless you Sir🙏

[@Therealchuckbailey]

Great Video! I am Biased in my opinion so I think you know where my vote is but Fodera is one of those basses where I hate they way they sound in my hands but love how they are played by others! go figure right?! anyways loved the vid and well done!

[@EMMPandHercorp]

MTD for me, MTD have more soft sound, less mid punch, and more natural open sound, Fodera sounds little bit boxy. Fodera for metal, MTD more for jazz. Thanks Lobster for comparison. Do you wanna try Marleaux?

[@mrmusic21]

Fodera uses a Mike Pope preamp. You may be able to find the specs on his website.

[@davidsolano9363]

To me the Fodera more like a bass, the MTD is just to harsh sounding, really pretty for fancy playing but im not sure i can “fill” the room with normal bass playing with that ULTRA mid scoop sound

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks David! I think I found my sound with the MTD after putting flats on it! I'll be doing more comparos with it (also turned the gain down on the pre). You're right, in the current setting with the rounds it was a little too harsh

[@derickthomas380]

The fodera emperor is the clear winner

[@bassclef1962]

Both are amazing sounding instruments and in my opinion well worth the high price tag. But very different tones. To me, the MTD is a bit too bright for my taste where the Fodera kills a more traditional tone. I think that's why you see allot of top players like James Genus, Felix Pastorious, Mike Pope, Anthony Jackson, Matthew Garrison and the man Victor Wooten using Fodera basses.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Ken! Indeed very different ones. So great to be able to put these back to back and listen to the tonal differences.

[@glennlee699]

I've owned dozens of MTDs and a handful of some sought after Foderas, but I've always been highly disappointed with the sound of all of my Foderas. I found their electronics very inflexible and could never grow to like the brass nut sound. The MTDs just sounded more organic, though they do have a distinct voice. If you want a modern vintage, go with an F bass (Alleva if you want full vintage), if you want modern/it's own thing, go MTD. Either are better for the money, in my opinion.

[@kimabrams97]

Hey Lobster, unrelated but you should check out the Michael Kelly basses. Went in to sam ash get either a Sterling or a Squire 5 string just so I could have something to get the lower notes with and the Element 5OP killed both of them in terms of playability. Had no plans to get one and now have one in my collection. Thanks again!

[@stanley-fghijk441]

I've had three Foderas now and they all had three things in common: 1. They were offensively overpriced. 2. They played great. 3. They sounded like crap no matter what I did.

[@TheAtlantaThrasher]

These, are all, really nice things.

[@johnh.george9059]

MTD for me

[@vanc3289]

Beautiful

[@freda9498]

get an MTD norm stockton or their Super pickups for more vintage sounding and split coil versatility.

[@ishta]

It would be interesting what the preamp of the Fodera can do.

[@sicilianmammalian]

You almost got enough basses going for a soapbar shootout!

[@zerothree332]

Both sound different, and i want both 😂

[@zonbassman71]

Fodera

[@brrosskiee]

to me it sounds like the strength of the treble control on the mtd is higher when at the middle position

[@robertjova5400]

I'll be the judge 🤔 Send both of them to my house 😂👍

[@ramshaar2597]

Real hard but i do agree with you .👍

[@ileutur6863]

See, this is my issue with these really high end basses. Yes their quality, fit and finish is top notch, but so many of them lack unique tone. I didn't hear a single tone here that I couldn't get out of any mid range active bass.

[@sunn_bass]

You have a point about sound. I prefer passive volume and tone. Heck I love single coil J pickups. I'm the person that if I was given a $10,000 bass with all the active bells and whistles, I'd probably yank the pickups and electrons out and put DiMarzios or Fender custom shops in it with passive Vol-Vol-Tone controls.

[@travatron4000]

In Lobster's last one he did the Fodera vs a Sire M5 and sound wise you're right.

[@diamondfieldmusic]

I agree. I still struggle with the sound of active electronics on a bass so that’s a minus for me, but I genuinely think you could have a nice collection of perfectly good basses for the price of one of these. And Fodera has to be the ugliest bass out there (although the one in this video looks a little better). The butterfly logo is so whack. I think if you are a lumberjack and like wearing chinos and Timberland work boots then Fodera is for you. There’s nothing rock’n’roll about it. All it says is “I went to Berkeley”.

[@hasannurihardy5879]

my personal tone is the MTD but my personal luxury is the fodera XD

[@glenndjubilee]

They are both great instruments but I would get the MTD as it it's more what I would be looking for in new instrument.

[@AZDraft]

MTD sounds thin and tinny. Fodera had way more warmth and bigger sound. The MTD had some more nuanced sounds but without full exploration of controls it’s hard to say. My vote is Fodera but I would like to hear the MTD with full bass and no treble.

[@roughyyedidia5357]

Fortunately I don't have to choose between them, I have them both (:

[@christocr]

Gonna have to go with the Fodera here. They both sound good, but the Fodera seems to be a bit more in the direction I like as far as the sound--still a "modern" sound but definitely warmer than the MTD, which I like.

[@Esmeraldalab]

Mtd !

[@willdeadlift4food862]

Hey I have a question. Not relative to the video but I recently got an Ibanez btb bass and it has the monorail 2 bridge I believe it is. But I don’t know how to restring it. Please help!

[@MrGerm06]

MTD!!!

[@junyisu1235]

fodera sounds more like a fender jazz while mtd is more stand in morden sound... I have a mtd 535， it is wonderful！

[@junyisu1235]

my mtd is wenge neck and poplar body，I think it is more “in the band” than the maple neck，the maple neck is abit hard and bright to me ，if you are solo play，maple neck should be better. fodera always good, but the price is too..... if you are going for a vintage sound in 5 strings , mike lull, f bass , should be good. fender 4 strings are great, but...5 strings should buy the masterbuild, otherwise the low b string will be sxxk....

[@MikeTaffet]

Pretty sure Hipshot makes the Fodera bridges

[@Blakelysworld358]

Never heard an MTD I didn't like.

[@josephjordan2883]

Gosh that MTD sucks!! But, seriously… both are great! I’m always torn about the scale thing. I’ve found that 35” usually (I said usually-not always) yields a more solid and musical B, but at the expense of the D and G strings. They sound too treble-y. That’s why a Rick’s (and other medium and even short scale’s) D and G sound so darn good. Dingwall offers the right compromise, but I can’t stand the bipolar fret layout! Anyways, In the end, and after decades of playing both 35” and 34” scale basses, I prefer 34” cause I just don’t use a B enough to sacrifice the sound of the D and G. I’ll still buy a 535 though someday, with no hesitation!

[@michaelb.42112]

I had the privilege of playing a Fodera once, and it felt nearly identical to my Peavey Cirrus.... Just saying.

[@vodekz1534]

it is 35 scale vs 34 inch. B string always comes better on the 35-inch scale. Not very fair comparison

[@jagerking7020]

Why are these and Ken Smiths always used as Church basses? Who the hell can justify this sort of flex?

[@crapadopalese]

So much compressing, hard to get the actual clean sound.

[@NelsonMontana1234]

No comparison. The MTD is far superior -- and I don't even think it sounds all that amazing. I just think the Fodera is an overpriced dud.

[@jameswilson8867]

MTD has more spit!!!

[@botyaalimbekov9401]

Fadera supper

[@alanhearne6733]

MTD

[@roadworn61]

MTD top.

[@funfanacyland1172]

Thank you for showing me not to spend that much money on that mtd it's not fat enough to spend that kind of money 💰 on it needs to sound more like a bass suppose to sound not kinky thank you.🧐

[@One-Bigg-Kydd]

To me the Fodera bass sounds better fingerstyle. The MTD bass slaps better.

[@russellzauner]

After feeling like I've been down this road before, watching them both together again my answer is still "How about Nodera"...the only people I've seen make them look real good are Johnny Long, Victor Wooten, and that guy from the spin doctors who is still tearing it up but I'm too lazy to go scrounge the name up. Then again, JLL can make a 2x4 look real good lol And every time someone invokes an east coast "production boutique" model, I'll repeat that not only is Mas Hino still in the office at times but that Joel Dantzig is also still building instruments at ridiculously unobtainable prices (to me). I mean, I've seen Suhr branded basses but why not just walk to the other side of the shop and fill out that form for a Mas instead?

[@LowEndLobster]

I really want to try a Mas built bass.... like really bad. Going to see if we could make it happen (or at least a shop visit) later this year or next year. The NY shops are a few hours drive for me.

[@smeagle3295]

@@LowEndLobster Please do. It’s probably the only way I’ll ever see one…

[@pjmuck]

Unless a bass has 4 wheels and an engine and can drive me cross country, I'm not spending that kind of $ on one.

[@PM-oq6ku]

Come on Lobster. Show a real bass. A P! Anyway, have you ever heard of the brand Fame guitars?

[@smeagle3295]

MTD is the winner!

[@Facu_Roldan]

The B string on the MTD is just killer, on the Fodera hmmm, not so much.

[@jamesobrien8529]

Ryan Martine should have switched to MTD, instead of fodera. Fodera is to soft sounding. Not enough balls. It's like a timid teenager who isnt loud enough. I'm sure Ryan joined just to get the expensive bass for free that's the only reason I would join them