Hey -- finish that thing up and post up some photos
If I could not have the big black guard (and especially if I could do a successful passive conversion), I'd be tempted to pick one of these up.
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Fender Marcus Miller 5 vs Sadowsky RV5
- Thread starter bucephylus
- Start date
Hey -- finish that thing up and post up some photos
If I could not have the big black guard (and especially if I could do a successful passive conversion), I'd be tempted to pick one of these up.
Anybody know how to remove the preamp ciruit from the control cavity in a MM5? Its glued to the bottom.Its also not the same black box shape as the MM4 preamp.
- Nov 2, 2005
- 1,284
- 587
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Pyramid Strings, MPE Audio
I feel you..
that's a similar reasons why I sold mine...
I was also looking for a more "modernish" tone..
then I ended buying a RV5
ahahhabut I must tell you that a sadowsky really does it all.. modern j tone and passive, good 'ol j tone.
My experience:
Got a MM5 that lasted about a month. There was something "hollow" and "fragile" in sound and construction respectively (most subjective opinion). Wouldn't sit down on the mix like my Sandberg, Sadowsky or others I had owned previously, even after I changed pickups to Nordstrand singlecoils and Preamp to OBP1 with passive tone option. Sold it and got a Sadowsky UV...which I returned after 5 days (Excellent instrument, but more modern sounding and even less fenderish than my previous RS5 Sad). Now I've got my old Sandgerg with Aeros and Sad pre and a m-265 AtelierZ. Happy...for now!
Got a MM5 that lasted about a month. There was something "hollow" and "fragile" in sound and construction respectively (most subjective opinion). Wouldn't sit down on the mix like my Sandberg, Sadowsky or others I had owned previously, even after I changed pickups to Nordstrand singlecoils and Preamp to OBP1 with passive tone option. Sold it and got a Sadowsky UV...which I returned after 5 days (Excellent instrument, but more modern sounding and even less fenderish than my previous RS5 Sad). Now I've got my old Sandgerg with Aeros and Sad pre and a m-265 AtelierZ. Happy...for now!
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,607
- 18,648
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
Did you ever get that preamp removed.
If I picked one up it would be one of the first things I ended up doing.
This thread is nearly vintage, but to some extent that is a measure of the lack of urgency on my part. Anyhow, I finally got around to converting the pickguard.
I understand the original guard design and all, but it just never worked for me. Looked too much like a Borg conversion. Resistance is futile. Fine for Marcus, but I wanted something a little more standard. Pickguard from Pickguardian. The plate is in brass with chrome plating.
Admittedly, the plate doesn't look quite right, but it is close enough and did not require any significant mod to the bass. So, the instrument can be put back to stock.
I still totally dig the bass - great neck calibrations for me. Preamp is perfectly acceptable. Enjoy.
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Boombass76
Commercial User
With the risk of being slaughtered, I say the MM IV is just as good as (or better than) the MM V... 
(I have owned both, and I didn't like the B-string on the MM V one bit. On the other hand, I loved the MM IV - it sounded amazing, and at that price it's a no brainer, IMO. I only let it go because I got a sweet deal on a partial Celinder trade
)
(I have owned both, and I didn't like the B-string on the MM V one bit. On the other hand, I loved the MM IV - it sounded amazing, and at that price it's a no brainer, IMO. I only let it go because I got a sweet deal on a partial Celinder trade
)
With the risk of being slaughtered, I say the MM IV is just as good as (or better than) the MM V...
(I have owned both, and I didn't like the B-string on the MM V one bit. On the other hand, I loved the MM IV - it sounded amazing, and at that price it's a no brainer, IMO. I only let it go because I got a sweet deal on a partial Celinder trade
Interesting take on it. I had just the opposite experience. I only kept my Marcus 4 for about a week. Didn't care for the sound of it. Couldn't get anything out of it that I really liked. The pre- seemed weak to me and not voiced very well. In all the situations I played it in, it was just thin sounding for the most part.
My current Marcus 5, I'm loving. The pre- seems voiced better and more usable. The B string is nice, tight, and extremely usable. And the neck is just butter when playing. I'm really digging the MM5 so far. But I'm probably still in the honeymoon phase with it. I just don't remember the MM4 making quite the same impression on me. But that's just my opinion and $.02 worth.
ROTFLMAO!You did a good job but that control plate looks a little like a sex toy to me!
Its a bit on the sharp side, but if that's your thing.....
Boombass76
Commercial User
Interesting take on it. I had just the opposite experience. I only kept my Marcus 4 for about a week. Didn't care for the sound of it. Couldn't get anything out of it that I really liked. The pre- seemed weak to me and not voiced very well. In all the situations I played it in, it was just thin sounding for the most part.
My current Marcus 5, I'm loving. The pre- seems voiced better and more usable. The B string is nice, tight, and extremely usable. And the neck is just butter when playing. I'm really digging the MM5 so far. But I'm probably still in the honeymoon phase with it. I just don't remember the MM4 making quite the same impression on me. But that's just my opinion and $.02 worth.
Hey, what would the point in having a bass forum be if we all had the same opinion.
We all have different likings, and that's a good thing! I totally respect your opinion, of course
Congrats on having found your perfect bass! (I am still searching
)
Hey, what would the point in having a bass forum be if we all had the same opinion.
We all have different likings, and that's a good thing! I totally respect your opinion, of course
Congrats on having found your perfect bass! (I am still searching
Very true on all counts. Wasn't trying to dis-credit your take on it at all, just offering my thoughts on the matter. Totally respect your opinion as well. Happy bass hunting to you my friend. My home life has forced me to halt my bass hunting for a while. So even if this doesn't end up being my perfect bass, I'm gonna have to live with it for a while.
I need to try out a Celinder some day. Heard fantastic things about them.
The pickguard is the part I can't stand on the MM bass. I realize that Fender had to make a replica of his modified bass, but seriously - that's a lot of plastic. I don't know if this has been discussed, but I always wondered why Roger didn't route out the BACK of Miller's Jazz when installing the preamp - leaving the front of the bass looking stock.
I see what you were going for with that custom control plate, but personally, I'd get a chambered J Deluxe body from Warmoth or USA with the proper rear routing to fit the all the junk.
I was basically referring to the output level of the instrument with the active tone controls off; and as compared to the Sadowsky.
This hasn't been so much of an issue to me lately, since switching to the wonderful Genz Benz ShuttleMax 12.0, which has a highly effective low gain input boost. Great amp, BTW.
