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Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V USA
- Thread starter Sparkl
- Start date
There was only 1, the 5 was USA made, great bass. Not made anymore since MM went to a Sire endorsement, so that may have driven the price up. That price isn't that far off what a new one cost if I remember right.
Randy
Randy
Pricing for the MM 5 has been around the $2k range. They are amazing instruments and highly sought after. Not many on the used market. At this moment, only one is on Reverb, and it is in Russia...
Fender American Marcus Miller Artist Series Signature ULTRA Jazz Bass V 2004 Natural | Andrew's Gear Garage LTMusic | Reverb
If it’s in great condition, 1500€ isn’t a bad price.
I always wanted one myself, but can’t swing the going price. I’ll have to build one out of parts as I find them...
Fender American Marcus Miller Artist Series Signature ULTRA Jazz Bass V 2004 Natural | Andrew's Gear Garage LTMusic | Reverb
If it’s in great condition, 1500€ isn’t a bad price.
I always wanted one myself, but can’t swing the going price. I’ll have to build one out of parts as I find them...
I have a Fender MM4, and I love it. I think I paid about 1400 for mine, and I've seen 4's for about 1000 locally more recently, but they seem to go fast at that price. So that price seems a bit high compared to US prices, but perhaps that is the norm for Europe. I'm not sure if the 5's are as good as the 4's- someone else would have to comment on that.
The 5vers are only US made and are exceptional basses.
Mine is very light and the neck is extremely comfortable. I would keep it as the only 5 string I would ever need.
Great basses
Years ago I weighed keeping a Sadowsky Metro over the Fender MM5. I ended up keeping the Fender. For me, the deciding factor was the pickups. I really preferred the single coils compared to the hum cancelers. Note though, I moved on from the stock MM5 pre amp to a John East Marcus Retro. Definitely an improvement.
This all being said, the Marcus 5 is a well put together bass. The quoted price seems reasonable.
Bones
This all being said, the Marcus 5 is a well put together bass. The quoted price seems reasonable.
Bones
Thank you guys!
I am pretty sure I remember this bass being sold at around 3000eur price tag here in Europe when it was still in production.
I'm kinda having high hopes on this one and sure hope it will beat my USA Elite V JB in terms of build quality and playability.
My only concern is the neck radius. My original Marcus Miller 4 MIJ 1994 has an extremely thin neck and I wasn't particularly fond of the badass bridge on it. Weirdly high string stiffness near the bridge and the very thin neck makes it buzz on the frets quite easily with semi-decent string action.
Saying that, maybe I should take it to a luthier to have him check the frets but from first glance, they seem to be alright.
What is the preamp in these USA MM's? Some Fender home thing or some Sadowsky's, or something else even? Japanese MM has a Glockenklang pre installed AFAIK (I may be wrong on this one).
I am pretty sure I remember this bass being sold at around 3000eur price tag here in Europe when it was still in production.
I'm kinda having high hopes on this one and sure hope it will beat my USA Elite V JB in terms of build quality and playability.
My only concern is the neck radius. My original Marcus Miller 4 MIJ 1994 has an extremely thin neck and I wasn't particularly fond of the badass bridge on it. Weirdly high string stiffness near the bridge and the very thin neck makes it buzz on the frets quite easily with semi-decent string action.
Saying that, maybe I should take it to a luthier to have him check the frets but from first glance, they seem to be alright.
What is the preamp in these USA MM's? Some Fender home thing or some Sadowsky's, or something else even? Japanese MM has a Glockenklang pre installed AFAIK (I may be wrong on this one).
The neck is the only reason I have elite jazz v instead of the Fender Marcus V. I don’t get along well with the 7.5 radius and thick C shape. But I have small hands so it might not bother you. I find my Elite to be excellent quality and the compound radius neck is very comfortable .
I can see wanting that 70’ s pickup placement and true single coils .
Early 4 string models were made in Japan.
Late 4 string models were made in Mexico.
All 5'ers were made in the US.
Extremely fortunate to have a NOS 2005 MM that my wife got me for our anniversary year. That bass will be buried with me...
Late 4 string models were made in Mexico.
All 5'ers were made in the US.
Extremely fortunate to have a NOS 2005 MM that my wife got me for our anniversary year. That bass will be buried with me...
Congrats!
Yeah I've seen and played many MM Japanes and Mexican models over the years and for some reason they all had a slightly unique neck shape.
A friends CIJ MM4 had a considerably wider and thicker neck as opposed to mine which really feels like playing a pencil sometimes. Granted I have large hands so that plays a big role for sure.
I think I will really have to try it first.
On this video the neck seems nice and wide (which I prefer) what I'm not sure about is the neck thickness. I prefer semi thick necks, overly thick necks are unplayable for me in terms of playing speed while thin necks make me feel like I have nothing to grab against, too much space between the wood and my fingers.
Bonus round...
Same thing (slightly) applies for the Geddy Lee Jazz basses
Most production models were produced in Japan (black inlays)
Late models were produced in Mexico (black inlays) - same neck was used for the surf green MIM P specials that were a GC special to the best of my knowledge.
Current models are made in the U.S. (white inlays)
In this video, I feel that the bridge pickup solo is perhaps the best bridge pickup tone ever.
Yes, there is something magical in the 70s bridge sound! 
I really want a 70s 5er lol.
I really want a 70s 5er lol.
Yes, there is something magical in the 70s bridge sound!
I really want a 70s 5er lol.
I actually have a set of MM5 pickups - saving them for that 70s Jazz V build I mentioned in my first response to this thread....along with a Rudy Pensa 2-band boost-only preamp...
Sounds sweet! Hope you get some nice results from it.
In the meantime I'm meeting the seller on friday, hopefully we land some sort of a deal
Supposed to be similar to Sadowsky's, bass and treble boost only.
I put in Audere's hum cancelling preamp to get rid of the single coil hum, highly effective, and very happy. It also has Vol/bal instead of vol/vol, which I didn't like.
Randy
