Fender Marcus Miller 5 String Jazz Bass

[Bass Guido]

I just purchased a new Fender Marcus Miller 5 string Jazz Bass. I love everything about this bass...except the sound. It sounds pretty much like a RI 70's Marcus Miller should sound, if you are trying to sound like Marcus. I'm not.

I prefer the darker sound of a 60's Jazz Bass. I figured I would start by changing the pickups. But to what? I really like the sound of the SD Antiquity's in my passive 4 string, but this thing is active, and I would really like to leave it that way.

I can't seem to find a direct replacement on the SD site. Anybody got any ideas?

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Fender Marcus Miller 5 String Jazz Bass

Check out the SJ5 67/70 pickups.

If you like the sound of a passive, single coil Jazz Bass but with the extended range to capture the bottom-range growl from your low-B string: this is it. Check the dimensions just to make sure it'll drop in.

Yah, I'm biased. But they do sound great. Mike Lull and Roger Sadowsky use them.

 

[italic zero]

Re: Fender Marcus Miller 5 String Jazz Bass

Just out of curiousity, why are you set on keeping it active?

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Fender Marcus Miller 5 String Jazz Bass

Speaking of which, you can use our STC-2p or -3p Tone Circuits with this pickup.

 

[Bass Guido]

Re: Fender Marcus Miller 5 String Jazz Bass

Evan,
Thanks for the reply.

I currently own 6 Fender basses. They are all passive. I purchased this bass because I like having the active EQ, and the ability, at least on one bass, to shape the sound, which seems to be more flexible on an active bass. It is also my only 5 string. Otherwise, I probably would have saved some money and purchased a Standard MIA Fender 5 string jazz bass.

Initially, when I realized that I was not happy with 70's sound that it produces I had decided to change out the preamp to an East Retro U along with the pickups. However one day, after playing my 4 string MIA Jazz (ash body, maple FB, just like the MM) with Antiquity pickups installed, I realized that this was the sound I was looking for. That dark 60's Jazz Bass sound. If I can create that sound in the passive mode and then turn on the preamp and fine tune for the sound or room or the type of music I was looking for, this thing would be a monster.

I guess my next question is, will you guys make me a set af active pickups that will create that 60's sound I'm looking for?

 

[Imp]

Re: Fender Marcus Miller 5 String Jazz Bass

man, that's a beautiful instrument! i got fender GAS now lol

apart from looking at the duncans on offer and an outboard EQ to darken things a bit, i'd still look at the passive duncans and then shaping the tone later.. if you know exactly what gets you the sound, i'd say go for it and worry about the rest later

tom