marcus miller tone in a micro?

Bjazzman · #1 01-19-2011, 08:58 PM

really really dig his sound

what micro or lightweight setups would do it?

silky smoove · #2 01-19-2011, 09:32 PM

The Tecamp Puma stuff has this type of voicing in spades. They also cost an arm and a leg... And an ear... And the other arm...

OldogNewTrick · #3 01-19-2011, 10:45 PM

SWR Headlite with the aural Enhancer switched to the MM setting, plus of course a Fender Jazz

Hippos Melas · #4 01-19-2011, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldogNewTrick

SWR Headlite with the aural Enhancer switched to the MM setting, plus of course a Fender Jazz

+1

Marcus uses SWR amps and his custom designed preamp. He also uses his signature bass. If you're looking for the Marcus vibe, you're going to want his signature bass, an SWR Headlite amp, and the Marcus Miller Preamp.

Also, FWIW, I've heard people getting close to the MM tone using an East preamp, but that's a topic for another thread.

MikeBass · #5 01-19-2011, 10:59 PM

Fender Jazz.
Some cab 210/410 with a tweeter.
Cut about 1K, boost about 80hz and have fun.

JimmyM · #6 01-19-2011, 11:36 PM

i think it's easier to get marcus tone from a wide variety of gear than not

KJung · #7 01-20-2011, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBass

Fender Jazz.
Some cab 210/410 with a tweeter.
Cut about 1K, boost about 80hz and have fun.

That about sums it up! And make sure it is a solid state head (or a hybrid with very little impact of the tube like the SWR or Eden heads) with a top end that is open and extends all the way up. Markbass, Genz, GK... pick your poison... they all sound great for that playing style and tone.

KJung · #8 01-20-2011, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hippos Melas

+1

Marcus uses SWR amps and his custom designed preamp. He also uses his signature bass. If you're looking for the Marcus vibe, you're going to want his signature bass, an SWR Headlite amp, and the Marcus Miller Preamp.

Also, FWIW, I've heard people getting close to the MM tone using an East preamp, but that's a topic for another thread.

Just FYI, his bass is no more than a relatively stock 70's Fender J with a preamp (stock Bart pre I believe for many years). Any ash/maple J with some sort of preamp/active buffer and some nice stainless steel roundwounds will get you in that tone universe.

There is a LOT special about Marcus's playing and tone, but it isn't dependent on very specific gear other than an ash/maple active J with 'Fendery' sounding single coils in 70's pickup position, and a reasonable clean and full range (i.e., cabs with a tweeter) rig.

hasbeen · #9 01-20-2011, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i think it's easier to get marcus tone from a wide variety of gear than not

Agreed. I've seen him play through Ampegs, SWR, EBS and a brand I might be affiliated with. He always sounded like Marcus. Odd how that works.

f.vega · #10 01-20-2011, 08:29 AM

I thought the preamp in his bass was a custom sadowsky pre??

cybersnyder · #11 01-20-2011, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f.vega

I thought the preamp in his bass was a custom sadowsky pre??

It's a bartolini.

http://www.marcusmiller.com/faq.html...qid=22&color=2

KJung · #12 01-20-2011, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f.vega

I thought the preamp in his bass was a custom sadowsky pre??

No, that confusion comes from the fact that Roger installed Marcus's preamp when Roger was doing repair work way back in the day. There was no 'Sadowsky preamp' at that time.

Musicfreak1988 · #13 01-20-2011, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hasbeen

Agreed. I've seen him play through Ampegs, SWR, EBS and a brand I might be affiliated with. He always sounded like Marcus. Odd how that works.

I've seen him a few times and have been backstage with him when he played here in Belgium on a jazz festival. His bass goes to a Groove Tubes DI which goes to the FOH. His backline signal doesn't go to the FOH I believe.

hasbeen · #14 01-20-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musicfreak1988

I've seen him a few times and have been backstage with him when he played here in Belgium on a jazz festival. His bass goes to a Groove Tubes DI which goes to the FOH. His backline signal doesn't go to the FOH I believe.

you are correct. I've sat/stood next to him on occasion though.

KJung · #15 01-20-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musicfreak1988

I've seen him a few times and have been backstage with him when he played here in Belgium on a jazz festival. His bass goes to a Groove Tubes DI which goes to the FOH. His backline signal doesn't go to the FOH I believe.

Last time I saw him, he was using an Avalon U5 to the front house. +1, the amp has very little to do with his sound to the front of house. He was using EBS when I saw him, but has since moved back to SWR.

hasbeen · #16 01-20-2011, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hasbeen

you are correct. I've sat/stood next to him on occasion though.

btw, this wasn't meant as a "name/hang dropping" thing.

seungkoo · #17 01-20-2011, 09:48 AM

most of his tone comes from his hands

Bjazzman · #18 01-20-2011, 10:53 AM

I've tried the gk mb500 and have had the mb f1 and I can't say these really nail that fat crisp tone marcus gets. My m6 is much better at this and even an ampeg svt 4 pro can do it it my ears. I'll have to try that swr headlight just to see. The only downside I can see to that amp is that it can't be bridges with the amplite if you ant that tone at 8 ohms and higher volume.

Also wondering why his signature cab is sealed when you guys say a tweeter is the way to go for mm tone

Bjazzman · #19 01-20-2011, 10:59 AM

I've tried the gk mb500 and have had the mb f1 and I can't say these really nail that fat crisp tone marcus gets. My m6 is much better at this and even an ampeg svt 4 pro can do it it my ears. I'll have to try that swr headlight just to see. The only downside I can see to that amp is that it can't be bridges with the amplite if you ant that tone at 8 ohms and higher volume.

Also wondering why his signature cab is sealed when you guys say a tweeter is the way to go for mm tone

anubis16 · #20 01-20-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bjazzman

I've tried the gk mb500 and have had the mb f1 and I can't say these really nail that fat crisp tone marcus gets.

I'm surprised you aren't able to at least approximate his tone with these amps. A lot of his tone comes from scooping the right midrange frequencies (the man practically invented the scoop tone). Most GK amps have an almost scooped sound built in, and although the F1 is a very midrange-focused amp, the midrange eq and the VPF control should help you get the right kind of scoop.