Great Advice From Marcus Miller

[MikeBass]

Yes he did. It was the first modern 6 string electric bass. Then AJ went over to Ken Smith who made some killer 6 string basses(still does). And from there AJ went with Vinnie Fodera where he's been ever since.

Actually he followed Vinnie from Smith.....

Get the best that you think you need.
If it's a $200 SX...awesome.
A $10,000 Fodera...awesome.
If it's a 4 string...awesome.
If it's a 11 string....you need help. Turn off the computer and relax. Someone is on their way.

really, most players wouldn't really know the difference between a $1400 bass and a $7000 bass if they were blind folded.
Myself included I'd bet.
(IMO $1400 is roughly the mark where very very good quality starts- not a hard rule, but a mark).

 

[chadds]

If Poogie Bell gave me bass advice, I would listen very closely.

Of course!!!!!
Just reinforcing a stereotype

 

[Brad Johnson]

That's why I started my thread about "what was your last bad bass?" The truth is that most of us own good or great basses, we are just greedy, and always want something else.

I think there's an even more basic truth, which goes to the heart of what Marcus was saying. People have far more available time to obsess over the next level in gear worship than they seem to have available to shed. How many understand that when you put it what some consider the hard work, it can pay off in every instrument you touch afterwards?

I have a bunch of basses though not as many as I used to. I don't think greed had anything to do with why I have them. I don't sit around Scrooge McDuck style (mainly because unlike him I usually wear pants) flinging my possessions around and squealing with glee. So why do I have them?

Because they're just plain fun to play. A frickin' blast! Like Steve mentioned, on a far more regular basis than I deserve I find myself on a gig marvelling on just how good I sound. How what I'm doing is sitting in the mix perfectly. Could it be better? That is big fun for me.

And I don't feel I need to stick with one bass because I spent the time learning how to getwhat I want out of each bass I own. Many do have their own vibe and it's far easier to grab the bass with the vibe than to try and make another one sound like all of them.

If I hadn't spent the shed time I have no doubt they wouldn't be as much fun to play. We work together towards my goal. And it kind of cracks me up when I see people who get upset at what others think about their gear? Is that why you got it and use it... peer pressure? I've had people tell me a bass I own is ugly and I'd tell them with a genuine smile on my face "Thanks". Because I know it matters not. What matters is that I'm happy with what I have and use. If someone told me my bass looked like a toilet seat I'm give them the same thanks for their input and keep on keepin' on. The rest of this stuff has nothing to do with making music, which last I checked was the ultimate purpose of both a musical instrument and a musician.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Funny thing is that Marcus' bass is active.

That poster was talking about passive Fenders so that's what I was also referring to.

Active basses quite often get a bad rap for a lot of reasons that have nothig to do with active basses in general. Because there is no active bass sound... there are people who don't know how to use them, people who go for the overhyped sound that's often available, etc. In many cases active basses are far more flexible tonally... but of course you already knew that.

 

[tekhedd]

This may have cured my GAS!

Oh certainly not--there is still plenty of room to buy endless quantities of basses based purely on how cool they look.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I think you may have missed my point because were it not for AJ "pushing the envelope" as Brad said, the number of companies making bass guitars with low Bs would have been much smaller than it was by the time you wanted a 5 or 6. AJ was a behind the scenes influence on how bass guitar has developed, and because of that, he is an influence whether one plays like him or listens to him or not.

Wouldn't that make him an influence on the instrument, not the player?

I'm a big AJ fan but what initially made me want to play below E was the fact that I heard music where the bass instrument played below E. And that was typically an early synthesizer. So I did the same thing I later found out he did... I detuned my E string. So when commercially available below E basses and strings became available I was already waiting... and the early ones left a lot to be desired.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Actually he followed Vinnie from Smith.....

Yes he did.

Wouldn't that make him an influence on the instrument, not the player?

Exactly.

I wanted to go lower and higher because it was the logical direction I was headed.

Again I have no issues with AJ at all.

 

[lhoward]

Amen brother, amen.

I know I'm going to bring on the wrath of many here, but that is exactly why I play a Fender P strung with flats. I'm in a classic rock cover band and it just plain sounds good all night. Your experieence and needs may (and probably do) vary, of course.

+10

The key phrase is to 'keep your eye on the ball'. The ball is making music, good music. A good sounding, playable bass is what helps make it happen and worthwhile.

Lloyd Howard

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Wouldn't that make him an influence on the instrument, not the player?

That was my point, I guess I was unclear. His influence on the instrument has touched countless players, whether they know who AJ is or not.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I think there's an even more basic truth, which goes to the heart of what Marcus was saying. People have far more available time to obsess over the next level in gear worship than they seem to have available to shed. How many understand that when you put it what some consider the hard work, it can pay off in every instrument you touch afterwards?

I have a bunch of basses though not as many as I used to. I don't think greed had anything to do with why I have them. I don't sit around Scrooge McDuck style (mainly because unlike him I usually wear pants) flinging my possessions around and squealing with glee. So why do I have them?

Because they're just plain fun to play. A frickin' blast! Like Steve mentioned, on a far more regular basis than I deserve I find myself on a gig marvelling on just how good I sound. How what I'm doing is sitting in the mix perfectly. Could it be better? That is big fun for me.

And I don't feel I need to stick with one bass because I spent the time learning how to getwhat I want out of each bass I own. Many do have their own vibe and it's far easier to grab the bass with the vibe than to try and make another one sound like all of them.

If I hadn't spent the shed time I have no doubt they wouldn't be as much fun to play. We work together towards my goal. And it kind of cracks me up when I see people who get upset at what others think about their gear? Is that why you got it and use it... peer pressure? I've had people tell me a bass I own is ugly and I'd tell them with a genuine smile on my face "Thanks". Because I know it matters not. What matters is that I'm happy with what I have and use. If someone told me my bass looked like a toilet seat I'm give them the same thanks for their input and keep on keepin' on. The rest of this stuff has nothing to do with making music, which last I checked was the ultimate purpose of both a musical instrument and a musician.

Marcus and you are absolutely right about the importance of shedding over gear. I was not attacking instrument collections either. I was attacking the attitude that somehow getting the bass is going to allow me to be better. In certain specific cases, getting an instrument does allow a player to play better, but most of the time we are just picking up new toys.

 

[randy clere]

@mikebass - ROGER THAT on Peter Muller.... what a RIP OFF! Hell, even some of his tunes are using MM's figures and quotes on it... I guess since he lives in Germany he figures no one will notice.

 

[T. Alan Smith]

Rule #1 (for me), only buy musical equipment with money made from my music (gigging, shows, etc...). Since I don't get that much that cuts down on a lot of unneccessary purchases..

This is my primary justification as well.

Funny thing is that Marcus' bass is active.

LOL

 

[burk48237]

Not really the case. Especially when so many players have no clue about the history of AJ's instrument contribution. There are kat's who were inspired to play a 6 string bass because of John Pattitucci. They had no clue who AJ was at all.


And just because a player uses a 5 or 6 it really doesn't mean AJ fit's in the players influence consciously or otherwise.. Again some kat's are oblivious to AJ. And if they are playing a 5 or 6 it doesn't mean that they are because of AJ.

I personally have no connection at all to AJ because I play a 5 or 6. I chose to play the 5 originally because I wanted to go lower. And I chose the 6 because some times I want just a little more range.


I have mad respect for AJ but again AJ had nothing to do with me playing a 5 or 6 string bass.

OTOH, I doubt John Pattituchi could have walked into a shop and ordered or purchased a Six string had Anthony not blazed the trail. And I can guarantee you that John has sure heard of Anthony. No doubt that guys like John Pattituchi and John Myung put the six string on the map for most common players of this era.

But most of us growing up in the seventies were certainly checking out what AJ was playing unless we were living in a cave. And the fact is without the pioneer work of AJ and to a lesser extent Jimmy Johnson, those fives and sixers may not have even been available for the guys who later "put them on the map".

It's kinda like the Clapton worshipers of the seventies, they may not have known who Robert Johnson was, but Clapton certainly did. And without Johnson, we probably don't end up with Clapton.

 

[dany]

Marcus is spot on with his advise.Two weeks ago,I bought a custom made bass after I swore to myself that I would'nt go down that road again and while it was a great playing bass,it was'nt as good as my passive 64 jazz or my 69 p-bass.I returned the bass and minus a small fee made my bank account look real good again.

Good advise... Very good i would like to do the same...but when you have sentimental relation with your basses you would like to sell.. What do you do?
.. It's serious question

 

[Brad Johnson]

Marcus and you are absolutely right about the importance of shedding over gear. I was not attacking instrument collections either. I was attacking the attitude that somehow getting the bass is going to allow me to be better. In certain specific cases, getting an instrument does allow a player to play better, but most of the time we are just picking up new toys.

I didn't think you were. And even if you were, it's cool.



I guess I'm lucky that I was broke when I first started playing or I might've fallen into the same trap so many musicians do.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

OTOH, I doubt John Pattituchi could have walked into a shop and ordered or purchased a Six string had Anthony not blazed the trail. And I can guarantee you that John has sure heard of Anthony. No doubt that guys like John Pattituchi and John Myung put the six string on the map for most common players of this era.

But most of us growing up in the seventies were certainly checking out what AJ was playing unless we were living in a cave. And the fact is without the pioneer work of AJ and to a lesser extent Jimmy Johnson, those fives and sixers may not have even been available for the guys who later "put them on the map".

It's kinda like the Clapton worshipers of the seventies, they may not have known who Robert Johnson was, but Clapton certainly did. And without Johnson, we probably don't end up with Clapton.

Steve I agree but at the same time every player is not influenced by AJ nor have they all heard of him.



But I'm glad that I was around to get the early aspect of what AJ is bringing

 

[Brad Johnson]

Good advise... Very good i would like to do the same...but when you have sentimental relation with your basses you would like to sell.. What do you do?
.. It's serious question

Don't sell until you truly resolve them.

 

[dany]

Let me know, i'm confuse between choice : play main Bass with 4 strings or 5 strings ? I have a very good 4 strings but is it enough to play actual music, funk jazz rnb west indies etc... For example I have this problem when i'm playing a song originaly play with a 5 strings... Marcus Miller and others, plays just a 4 string even if he can play 5 too
Thank all for your response

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Let me know, i'm confuse between choice : play main Bass with 4 strings or 5 strings ? I have a very good 4 strings but is it enough to play actual music, funk jazz rnb west indies etc... For example I have this problem when i'm playing a song originaly play with a 5 strings... Marcus Miller and others, plays just a 4 string even if he can play 5 too
Thank all for your response

The whole point of this thread is that you need to take what you have and make music with it. Plenty of great players make grea music with four strings. Frankly, learning to play a detuned or partially bass is a great excercise for mastering the fingerboard.

 

[calebbarton]

Aside from the preamp, pickups, and pickguard, are they substantially different than a standard Jazz Bass?

I wanna say the standard jazz bass is alder, where this thing is ash. It also has a BadAss2 installed from the factory and reverse tuners.

Oh and its full of awesome.