Where are the "new" Marcus Miller Jazz 4 made?

zachbass02 · #1 11-05-2012, 07:14 AM

I know the Geddy Lee is NOW being made in Mexico. Are the current/new Marcus Miller J4 the same way?

mdogs · #2 11-05-2012, 08:28 AM

Yes, Mexico.

zachbass02 · #3 11-05-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdogs

Yes, Mexico.

any chance you've had the opportunity to play a MIM yet? is it as well made as the MIJ?

Geroi Asfalta · #4 11-05-2012, 08:40 AM

I played the new MIM MM jazz the other day at sam ash. They had a mij one about a year ago, though I never really played it. Not quite a perfect comparison, but they have a MIJ geddy...I noticed the finish on the MIM Miller is kinda sticky. The body was three or four pieces...I don't recall alot about it, but I'll czech it out again if it's still there after work today.

black.rose1402 · #5 11-06-2012, 01:40 PM

I tried today a marcus miller mim, and maybe I was lucky, but the one I tried was really good, the set up was really good out of the box

I might add that there was in the shop a japanese one signed by Marcus himself, he borrowed the bass to play a gig, so I could try how this one was set up, the bass was good, sounded nice, but the mexican one was better, the body of the mexican was also better looking.

the preamp on the mexican is 18v, and it reminded me a lot the way the american 5er marcus miller sig , the treble were so delicate, and the bass boost was really powerfull and taking the guts to dance!

the strings on the japanese version were DR marcus miller sig, on the mexican strings were fender, but I bet that the treble character coming out of the japanese also came from the strings.

To me the mexican one was better, I used to have the first batch of marcus' sig, I mounted a sadowsky preamp, I sold the bass, but now , as my style is close to marcus when I play a jazz, I decided to go again for a marcus sig, and imo, no need to change the preamp on the mexican one.

zachbass02 · #6 11-06-2012, 01:49 PM

good info there black.rose. Thanks for that.

tightbidness · #7 11-06-2012, 09:06 PM

^ Agreed. Thanks black.rose. Looking forward to playing a MIM Marcus Miller.

Fender moved the battery compartment to the rear of the bass:

Wallace320 · #8 11-07-2012, 12:00 AM

Everybody knows and loves Marcus, and his signature bass as well, but not those mammoth pickguards on such an otherwise elegant Jazz kind of shape!

Cheers,
Wallace

MUSHROOMSeAcOw · #9 11-08-2012, 05:28 PM

They did away with the nice vintage reverse tuners... I'm glad I got my MIJ while I still could. I love that bass

Edit: The MIM Natural has the nicer tuners, but the white one has what look like standard MIM tuners... What's up with that?

Natural:
http://www.sweetwater.com/images/gui...rial-large.jpg

White:
http://www.sweetwater.com/images/gui...rial-large.jpg

black.rose1402 · #10 11-09-2012, 11:43 AM

I just bought the one I tried it s great, great tone the set up out of the box is good
I must admit that i was a little bit reluctant when I saw Mim but when i tried it all my doubts were gone!

narud · #11 11-09-2012, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MUSHROOMSeAcOw

They did away with the nice vintage reverse tuners... I'm glad I got my MIJ while I still could. I love that bass

Edit: The MIM Natural has the nicer tuners, but the white one has what look like standard MIM tuners... What's up with that?

Natural:
http://www.sweetwater.com/images/gui...rial-large.jpg

White:
http://www.sweetwater.com/images/gui...rial-large.jpg

reverse tuners arent correct for that bass anyway. theyre supposed to be schallers like the ones they are using now. one set isnt better than the other.

wvbass · #12 11-09-2012, 04:15 PM

That is traditional Fender. You just dont see it much anymore. Grab whatever parts are within reach and slap them on!

zachbass02 · #13 11-09-2012, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wallace320

Everybody knows and loves Marcus, and his signature bass as well, but not those mammoth pickguards on such an otherwise elegant Jazz kind of shape!

Cheers,
Wallace

Completely disagree with you about the pickguard. I really like the oversized piece and its part if the appeal for me. I'm actually disappointed they moved the battery box to the back, but whatever. It's not that big of a deal. If they downsizes the guard as you're suggesting, then doesn't that change the bass to no longer be a remake of MM's original '77 jazz?

leegreenman · #14 11-09-2012, 05:18 PM

I'm assuming the price hasn't been reduced. Don't get me wrong, plenty of MIM stuff is great, but it is also cheaper to produce.

zachbass02 · #15 11-09-2012, 06:37 PM

they went from 1299 to 1199 from what I've seen.

narud · #16 11-09-2012, 09:43 PM

really curious to play one of these because i thought the newer tokai made marcus' were noticeably cheaper feeling then the fuji-gen made basses of the earlier run.

wvbass · #17 11-10-2012, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narud

really curious to play one of these because i thought the newer tokai made marcus' were noticeably cheaper feeling then the fuji-gen made basses of the earlier run.

Wait, what? You are pointing out the silliness of talkbass here. There are several active threads talking about quality and country of origin. I maintain that this is irrelevant. Moving production to a new factory, or even to a different production line with different staffing and equipment, though, is very relevant. This is the third factory to produce the MM, and we gloss over the first change because both factories are in the same country?

I have only played two MM basses, made in Japana few years apart. Both were good players. When did they move production from one Japanese factory to another?

narud · #18 11-10-2012, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvbass

Wait, what? You are pointing out the silliness of talkbass here. There are several active threads talking about quality and country of origin. I maintain that this is irrelevant. Moving production to a new factory, or even to a different production line with different staffing and equipment, though, is very relevant. This is the third factory to produce the MM, and we gloss over the first change because both factories are in the same country?

I have only played two MM basses, made in Japana few years apart. Both were good players. When did they move production from one Japanese factory to another?

the tokai factory took over production at some point but dont remember exactly when. within the last few years, ive played some of the newer tokai made basses and the necks felt a little clunkier and cheaper then they originally did. they werent bad at that price point by any means though. i bought a tokai jazz sound last year and the necks felt very similar and had a similar response.

black.rose1402 · #19 11-10-2012, 04:19 PM

I spent a good amount of time with my new MM, and imo, it's as good , and I clearly prefer the preamp on the mexican one, the finish is flawless, I didn't need to change the action because it was top notch

I'm picky with basses, the only time I decided to buy a bass as fast was with my pino palladino.

And believe me I used to own Fodera, ken smith, fbass...

but this jazz bass has something, I don't even think to change the preamp!

Hou · #20 11-11-2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by black.rose1402

I spent a good amount of time with my new MM, and imo, it's as good , and I clearly prefer the preamp on the mexican one, the finish is flawless, I didn't need to change the action because it was top notch

I'm picky with basses, the only time I decided to buy a bass as fast was with my pino palladino.

And believe me I used to own Fodera, ken smith, fbass...

but this jazz bass has something, I don't even think to change the preamp!

Nice. What color?