zZounds' Take on MTD Kingston KZX 5-String Bass
To bassists in the know, the name Michael Tobias stands alone. Beginning production on his own line of basses in the 70's, he sold the designs to Gibson in 1990. Michael eventually left Gibson to start yet another company of his own, this time christening it MTD. Highly sought after, his hand-crafted basses are brilliantly designed and constructed instruments, carrying along a hefty custom shop price tag and often a heftier wait time. Because of the high demand, Michael developed a more affordable line of Kingston basses. They're manufactured offsite, but all of the design and quality control still takes place in Michael's hometown of Woodstock, NY.
A Bass Fit for a King
Each Kingston bass features a one-piece Maple asymmetrical neck, with 24 frets plus a 0 fret. The skewed design is much more ergonomically sound than a standard symmetrical neck, and the 0 fret comes into play with the Buzz Feiten tuning system these basses employ. Designed by studio great Buzz Feiten, this system corrects many of the shortcomings inherent in the standard practice of intonating a strung, fretted instrument. Shielded, whisper-quiet electronics, a quick release one-piece bridge to promote sustain, and a perfectly balanced contoured body are additional highlights you'll find in these models. Expect tight, fat, round, cutting tone.
There are several variations within the Kingston series, with a bass for every taste. This KZX model is the king of them all.
The Bass That Keeps on Giving
The MTD KZX has the sort of features you would never expect to find on such an affordable, production model bass. Michael Tobias knew exactly what he wanted for this bass when designing it, which is why you'll notice that this model is only available as a 5-String. Wow, Bartolini pickups, preamp, and active electronics, standard? That's right--Mr. Tobias knows how much bass players love Bartolinis, which is why he has outfitted each and every Kingston ZX with them. The onboard preamp has controls for volume, pickup panning, bass, mid, and treble. The body is made of carved Mahogany and is tastefully topped off with a striking Burled Maple, finished in a breathtaking translucent black gloss finish. That asymmetrical neck features an exceptionally comfortable 35-inch scale with 24 medium jumbo frets, for reaching all the way down from the nether-regions of Llow B up to the apex of Mount High G. The special design quick-release bridge features 3/4-inch spacing for really digging into your riffs. The bridge, along with the rest of the hardware, is finished in smoked chrome to coordinate with the translucent finish on the body. Plus, the dual-action truss rod ensures the neck will stay straight and rigid for as long as you have it!
The MTD Kingston ZX is made with a specific bassist in mind: the active player who needs a versatile tone-machine in an eminently attractive, affordable package. The onboard electronics are capable of handling everything from jazz to hard rock at the turn of a knob, so you're ready for whatever the gig throws your way. With a name like Michael Tobias, you know can't go wrong, and with the KZX, that custom shop MTD sound is more affordable than ever!
Manufacturer's Description for MTD Kingston KZX 5-String Electric Bass
The MTD ZX is a very special instrument made for serious players. Available only as a 5-string, the ZX features a carved Mahogany body with a maple burl top and finished in a stunning translucent black gloss. The ZX comes loaded with custom Bartolini pickups and preamp, hand-installed in the US. This bass has an extremly wide range of tones and will fit perfectly in any genre of music.
zZounds is an authorized dealer of
Michael Tobias Design products.
35-inch scale
24 medium jumbo frets
Zero fret 1-3/4 in. wide, 5-string
One-piece neck with satin polyester finish
Carved Mahogany body with Maple Burl top
MTD quick release bridge, 3/4 in. (19mm) spacing
Double-action truss rod
Five controls:volume, blend, plus 3 band EQ
MTD active, wood covered soap bar pickups
Shielded electronics compartment
Buzz Feiten Tuning System
Smoked chrome hardware
