This thread is not for attack the guy, is just to know if there what are some people like me who simply doesnt like his tone at all, very very bright for me (I think I just love the low end) and after one song I hear it becomes boring to my ears. I like Pastorius 95% of his songs, Jamerson 95% percent of the songs he plays in to give an example, but Miller I like 5% of what I have heard.
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Everybody loves Marcus sound, except me?
- Thread starter Richard Sabines
- Start date
This post is Blasphemy!
Ha!
Personaly, I love the tone he gets and have always tried to capture that sound.
Really though, it comes down to what sound you hear in your head and want to use to express yourself.
James Jamerson was a smoking musician but I would never try to emulate his tone. With that said though, it was perfect for him and I would not want him to ever change it.
Peace out!
Gerry
Ha!
Personaly, I love the tone he gets and have always tried to capture that sound.
Really though, it comes down to what sound you hear in your head and want to use to express yourself.
James Jamerson was a smoking musician but I would never try to emulate his tone. With that said though, it was perfect for him and I would not want him to ever change it.
Peace out!
Gerry
I am also a fingerstyle player and use only flats. Marcus Miller is the opposite of how I play and I have no desire to play like him. But I still appreciate his playing, his super tasteful style and his unique sound.
I had the opportunity to go on the Marcus Miller Playboy Jazz cruise last January and got to meet Marcus and see him play 6 times with 5 different bands. Besides the 2 shows with his own band, he played, Jazz with Herbie Hancock, Blues with Keb Mo, funk covers with another band, etc.
What impressed me the most was this: He played fingerstyle 95% of the time. He never left the groove. He rarely slapped, popped or soloed. He always put the song first.
If you don't like his recordings that is a matter of taste. But this artist is also a producer, movie scorer, studio cat, bandleader, etc. Not just a bass player. He is a master stylist and one of the most tasteful cats out there who will continue to stand the test of time. (He turns 50 this month)
And, besides he signed my bass.
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To me neither...I like both their tones
As far as the statement about not knowing fingerstyle...Aghhh....
I don't know why everyone is trying to achieve the Marcus Miller tone. That is the only tone I can achieve. I am not trying to state that I have a similar level of ability to him, but my tone is very similar. It is like I am a 12 year old Marcus Miller every time I pick up a bass. I want something new!
I have to side with the Marcus fans here.
Even though i dont own any of his albums, I have heard him many times over the years. I believe that he has a great tone for what he does. Slapping with hi-fi gear like he uses is going to be inherently bright unless you purposely muffle it. I dont believe he is overly bright and i also dont consider his sound thin.
I actually remember (on more than one occasion) thinking that he had a nice and thick sound to his "thumbing."
I may not be a huge fan of his music. However, I do consider him a great musician.
Even though i dont own any of his albums, I have heard him many times over the years. I believe that he has a great tone for what he does. Slapping with hi-fi gear like he uses is going to be inherently bright unless you purposely muffle it. I dont believe he is overly bright and i also dont consider his sound thin.
I actually remember (on more than one occasion) thinking that he had a nice and thick sound to his "thumbing."
I may not be a huge fan of his music. However, I do consider him a great musician.
Hmm.. solo recordings where his music is the feature, or his sideman gigs? Most of what he plays isn't the typical "Marcus sound" that a lot of people other than him create.
I understand the first few posters' feelings. The sound that lots of bassist call "The Marcus Miller sound" isn't the most pleasing to me, especially when it's used by other bassist in an inappropriate manner. But Marcus' recorded sound and what I've heard of him on TV (both his band and with other artists) is a lot more mercurial than the typical interpretation of his slap sound.
jte
I understand the first few posters' feelings. The sound that lots of bassist call "The Marcus Miller sound" isn't the most pleasing to me, especially when it's used by other bassist in an inappropriate manner. But Marcus' recorded sound and what I've heard of him on TV (both his band and with other artists) is a lot more mercurial than the typical interpretation of his slap sound.
jte
Do yourself a favor and check out Miles "the man with the horn" record - the first cut on it (Fat Times) shows how really, really wrong you are. And that was recorded what? 28 years ago? So he`s much better by now
+1....his work on Mile's(even though he composed 99.9% of the pieces) Tutu is beautiful as well....tonally, rhythmically, and melodically!!!!! But not everyone hears things the same....so its all good.
Marcus is mostly slap, agreed. However, in his early days, he was viewed as somewhat of another Jaco clone. I took this to mean that he did do a lot of fingerstyle. Plus, he is also quite good on fretless, which I can tell you he doesn't slap. Check out the track "Tutu" or "Sophisticated Lady"
Here's an interview I found on fretlessbass.com if anyone else is interested in that -- Invalid Link Removed
And here's a video of him playing fretless:
Sorry for the seemingly fanboyish posting of links, but this sprung up my own interest.
For those who don't like Marcus Miller's tone, how many of you really listened to the work that made him famous: his recording with Luther Vandross; David Sanborn; and of course, Miles Davis? Marcus Miller was also awesome as a young man on the Roberta Flack Peabo Bryson live album, and he killed with Chaka Khan too. His sound was almost always bright, but it was in no ways overbearing when he was mainly a sideman.
I saw Marcus in the clubs when he was still a teenager, I never thought of him as a Jaco clone at all. He had that tone even before the preamp was in his bass. I was in Hawaii when I first heard Luther on the radio, I knew it was Marcus before I even bought the album and checked the credits.
I think there are two different Marcus Miller's. One plays HIS music in the style, and with the tone, HE likes. Then there is the other pro. The studio guy who plays EXACTLY what is needed to get the job done, regardless of style or tone. I'm assuming the OP is talking about his solo stuff. It's cool. You don't have to like everything you hear. Just for reference, who DO you like tone wise? I'm not trying to bash you I promise! You can like/dislike whoever you want to. I'm just curious as to what kind of tone you DO like.
I've found that I like his contributions as a sideman more than his lead stuff. I am OK with his tone, but his way or arranging every tune with himself popping the lead wears me out. A little of that goes a long way for me.
I also notice that his G string seems a little loud compared to the rest of his bass at times. That may be a J thing.
I also notice that his G string seems a little loud compared to the rest of his bass at times. That may be a J thing.
+1 He has more mids in his slap tone than other big name slappers plus he is using a vintage Fender bass with passive pickups. most of the big time slappers are using super modern, hi-fi basses with active EMG pickups that will slice your face off with no midrange, deep lows and searing hi-end.
For a slap tone, I like his tone but as I said in an earlier post, it's just not my playing style so it's not the tone for me.
I'm a big fan of Miller, but I do agree that his sound is his weakest point in my books too. I'd love to hear him with nickel strings and with the treble/tone rolled of a bit and with some mids brought up. Funny thing, I can get really close to his sound with a modded vintage mod squier with steel strings. That's why I prefer nickel.
It's (his slap tone) bright but with a thick bottom at the same time. which is pretty perfect to my ears. I listen to other cats slap and many of them have no bottom at all in comparison. But hey, can anyone name ONE bassist that EVERYONE likes? I don't think so. BTW Marcus can finger style with the best of them... thats a fact.
