MTD Review: Kingston 5

History:

Purchase: Bought it in Belgium for about 600 $ (regular price out here is about 670 $ - made a good deal indeed). Was looking for a MM-like bass, without the price tag.

What I Like About This MTD Kingston 5: 5-string, maple fretboard, MM-style pickup near the bridge. Tight B-string (35 inch), no dead spots. Tone cuts easily through the mix, good sustain. Nice slap and plectrum sounds (very MM-like, if you boost sharp and narrow around 3-3.5 kHz). Sound is not a direct copy of MM, but character is very comparable. No dead spots on the neck. Stays in tune well. Although limited electronics, wide tonal range possible by changing right-hand position and low-mid / high-mid settings of amp.

What I Do NOT Like About The MTD Kingston 5: Limited electronics: passive, 1 volume, 1 tone, (although electronics compartment is huge and will provide ample space for any preamp), no lever to choose between single coil, series and parallel (like original MM). Don't like the color (metallic red) and the pickguard (I hate pickguards anyway) - must be the reason why I could buy it so cheap. Balance is slightly top-heavy, but after a few days of playing you forget about it.

MTD Kingston 5 Quality Rating: It is light (considerably lighter than my 1991 American Fender JB V), neck is very wide (3/4" string spacing instead of standard 11/16" JB-V or MM-V string spacing - nice for slapping!) and is very comfortable. Very nice fretwork. Neck is not as stiff as I would like it, but is still very well. Bridge is very basic, but since the sound and sustain are OK, I guess it is must be of good quality. Accurate tuners.

Review Summary: Outstanding price/quality relationship. Not a top instrument as compared to the (horribly expensive) hand-made MTD's, but probably one of the best in this price range. I love it, and it's my favorite axe for live gigs (eighties coverband, funk to metal).

Rating of this MTD product: 5

This MTD Kingston 5 Bass Guitars Review Submitted By: Joghy

Review Date: 2003-02-26