Pre-amp suggestion for Fender Marcus Miller V?

Sean Baumann · #1 10-06-2011, 11:13 AM

I've got this Marcus Miller V, which is a great player and sounds great. I think for my purposes, a tone control would be a useful addition. It is an extremely bright bass, as it should be since it is in the 70s jazz style -- but there are those songs where I would like to mellow it out. The stock controls are V,V,Treble boost, Bass boost. My usual go-to basses are Alleva-Coppolo, and I would look into one of those pre-amps but I think they are seriously expensive and probably not warranted since I am going to keep the stock Fender pickups.

Any suggestions on a pre-amp I should check out which would add tone control and keep a similar vibe, or mellower vibe (more toward passive sounding)?

mikezimmerman · #2 10-06-2011, 11:29 AM

If you like the basic sound of the bass but want the option of a darker sound, why not just look at adding a passive tone control to the circuit?

qwench · #3 10-06-2011, 12:21 PM

Hello...I understand 100% of what you mean by trying to tame the inherent brightness on this bass...I just two weeks ago got my bass back from a local luthier fella that did a rewire for me...essentially, he combined the two preamp boost knobs into one dual concentric knob and added a typical tone control knob that allows me to dial down the tone, brightness in passive and active mode...it worked great and I might recommend this as an inexpensive fix before completely replacing the exisiting preamp...completely your call..but that added bit of tone shaping has helped me dig this bass alot more (i have always loved the feel, the spacing , and the overall playability of the MM5...but the brightness has a lil' over the top for my liking...) Best of luck!!!

Sean Baumann · #4 10-06-2011, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikezimmerman

If you like the basic sound of the bass but want the option of a darker sound, why not just look at adding a passive tone control to the circuit?

Yeah that would definitely be an option. I don't want to change the number of holes in the pick guard though. Guess it is no big deal to buy a new pick guard. I haven't even taken it off yet, so no clue how much room is under there for the pre.

Sean Baumann · #5 10-06-2011, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwench

Hello...I understand 100% of what you mean by trying to tame the inherent brightness on this bass...I just two weeks ago got my bass back from a local luthier fella that did a rewire for me...essentially, he combined the two preamp boost knobs into one dual concentric knob and added a typical tone control knob that allows me to dial down the tone, brightness in passive and active mode...it worked great and I might recommend this as an inexpensive fix before completely replacing the exisiting preamp...completely your call..but that added bit of tone shaping has helped me dig this bass alot more (i have always loved the feel, the spacing , and the overall playability of the MM5...but the brightness has a lil' over the top for my liking...) Best of luck!!!

Yeah, I didn't know that was possible, combining the two boost knobs. Is so, that is probably the way to go. I'll need to find somebody to wire it for me. I don't have a good track record with a soldering iron

bucephylus · #6 10-06-2011, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwench

Hello...I understand 100% of what you mean by trying to tame the inherent brightness on this bass...I just two weeks ago got my bass back from a local luthier fella that did a rewire for me...essentially, he combined the two preamp boost knobs into one dual concentric knob and added a typical tone control knob that allows me to dial down the tone, brightness in passive and active mode...it worked great and I might recommend this as an inexpensive fix before completely replacing the exisiting preamp...completely your call..but that added bit of tone shaping has helped me dig this bass alot more (i have always loved the feel, the spacing , and the overall playability of the MM5...but the brightness has a lil' over the top for my liking...) Best of luck!!!

Interesting mod. I suspect several folks here might be interested in a little more technical detail, if available.

A simpler way to do the same thing might be to put the 4th added active/passive pot where the active/passive toggle switch is located. There actually isn't much in that routing; kind of makes one wonder why Fender had to route out that area in the first place. This might be more useful than the toggle (which I personally never use anyhow). Added bonus is you could leave the existing 2 band boost knobs intact.

Edit: oops, I see you use the tone cut pot for both active and passive settings. Still, you could use a tone pot with a push/pull for the active/switch and leave the rest of the wiring intact.

randysmojo · #7 10-06-2011, 07:58 PM

I would guess that Fender routed out that much because the Marcus' original bass was routed out that much. I don't know how many preamps might have been tried in his bass, but it might have required that big of a route. OK. Back to the real discussion!

mikezimmerman · #8 10-06-2011, 08:05 PM

You could also do it like Fodera does it, and use a stacked pot for volume and passive tone in the "V" spot. The signal's probably coming from the pickups to the blend and then to the volume pot, so you could add the passive tone into the circuit after that before it goes to the active EQ. Then it wouldn't require another hole or extensive rewiring, and would work in both active and passive mode.

qwench · #9 10-06-2011, 11:26 PM

hey everybody...

the fella who did my work (or actually all my work) did up a lil' wiring diagram for me...i will ask him if he is cool with me posting that...i am sure he will be...but it will be a bit before i can scan and upload that pic as i am away for a few gigs starting tomorrow...essentially the two volume knobs stay the same but the two preamp boost knobs are combined into the one dual concentric knob thus leaving one of the four available control spots for the added tone control...it really makes all the difference in the world for me...i have owned two Marcus Miller V basses (sunburst first & now the natural finish one) and both times i loved the feel and build of these basses but the trebley brightness was always something that was a lil' too sharp for my flavor...this helps immensely and actually makes me really appreciate the existing pre's bass boost more...i will follow up when i get a chance...it just might be a few days away...i am sure any guitar tech/luthier would be able to rig something up...the guy i use is pretty brilliant though!!!!

rogypop · #10 10-07-2011, 05:22 AM

The cheapest and the easiest way of doing so is just replacing bridge volume pot wiith 250/250 k stacked pot and adding a cap, so you have it like vol neck, vol bridge/tone (stacked), bass, treble.

MAMMOTHvolume · #11 10-07-2011, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Baumann

I've got this Marcus Miller V, which is a great player and sounds great. I think for my purposes, a tone control would be a useful addition. It is an extremely bright bass, as it should be since it is in the 70s jazz style -- but there are those songs where I would like to mellow it out. The stock controls are V,V,Treble boost, Bass boost. My usual go-to basses are Alleva-Coppolo, and I would look into one of those pre-amps but I think they are seriously expensive and probably not warranted since I am going to keep the stock Fender pickups.

Any suggestions on a pre-amp I should check out which would add tone control and keep a similar vibe, or mellower vibe (more toward passive sounding)?

does turning down the treble and boosting the bass a lil not work?

SGD Lutherie · #12 10-07-2011, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAMMOTHvolume

does turning down the treble and boosting the bass a lil not work?

I was thinking the same thing. It should come out the same as reducing the treble.

Sean Baumann · #13 10-07-2011, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwench

hey everybody...

the fella who did my work (or actually all my work) did up a lil' wiring diagram for me...i will ask him if he is cool with me posting that...i am sure he will be...but it will be a bit before i can scan and upload that pic as i am away for a few gigs starting tomorrow...essentially the two volume knobs stay the same but the two preamp boost knobs are combined into the one dual concentric knob thus leaving one of the four available control spots for the added tone control...it really makes all the difference in the world for me...i have owned two Marcus Miller V basses (sunburst first & now the natural finish one) and both times i loved the feel and build of these basses but the trebley brightness was always something that was a lil' too sharp for my flavor...this helps immensely and actually makes me really appreciate the existing pre's bass boost more...i will follow up when i get a chance...it just might be a few days away...i am sure any guitar tech/luthier would be able to rig something up...the guy i use is pretty brilliant though!!!!

That would be awesome if you could provide the diagram! I'd attempt to tackle the rewire myself if you could.

Sean Baumann · #14 10-07-2011, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAMMOTHvolume

does turning down the treble and boosting the bass a lil not work?

Nope, the treble is boost only. A tone pot does more than just cut at the same frequency as the treble boost.

qwench · #15 10-12-2011, 08:40 AM

sorry folks...I haven't had a chance to get this done (scan the diagram and post it) as I have been busy and I am off again out of town...so...I will get it done as soon as I am able...sorry about that...most techs should be able to figure out how to set it up as explained previously...cheers

Sean Baumann · #16 10-12-2011, 09:47 AM

yeah but if the diagram is easy to follow, I might attempt myself

Thanks for remembering to post

qwench · #17 10-21-2011, 11:12 AM

Hey Sean...

I meant well but it is looking like I won't be able to scan that diagram in any time soon...I just didn't have time...now, it is in a gig bag in a different city as I had to use an alternate case for a flight so...by the time I get to it....it would probably be too late...I also have an inkling that the diagram was just to show the original wiring in case I wanted to switch it back...for what it is worth at this point, the aforementioned Fender Marcus Miller V passive tone control mod has made all the difference to me...I don't think I wil change the preamp in it now ever...I use a tiny bit of bass boost with the pre engaged but the beauty is in the ability to roll of the tone (I have at about 1/4 of the way)...

-Shawn