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Marcus Miller 5 string

MSIMSBASS

MSIMSBASS

Nov 25, 2007
177
48
#1
I played this bass in a store and really, really liked the feel
of the neck. It feels like my old jazz bass. However didn't
think the B was growly enough. Is this the preamp or pups?
I am gonna get this bass and wanting to know if anyone
who has this bass has made any mods, and what mods were
made. Holla
 
#2
hello

I own a miller 5 and I'm very satisfied with the low B string.
Mine is very powerfull so I don't think I'm going to do any mod on thi bass.
From the first moment I knew it's going to be my main "gig bass". (I own also a MTD 535 that I love). But "my sound" is quite related to the j bass.
Also I like the way that the electronics are made, which is in line with my "keep it simple philosophy". :)

Also the passive mode makes this bass sound like a real '70s j bass should plus you have the addition of the five string ;)

In active mode is a bomb... the preamp works very well on mine and actually I was surprised when I've read your post about the 5 string that's not "growly enough". Maybe it's a matter of setup ?

I definitly wouldn't touch anything in this bass.
 
#3
I just ordered one of these on Sunday and it came into the shop today!!! Hopefully get it tomorrow after work. YAY! My first 5!!

Anyway, I tried a bunch of 5s and this bass really was the nicest. I loved the sound of the B. Out of all the ones I played, to my ears, it had a great sounding B...which is really why I got it. No point getting a 5 if you don't like the B!!

The only thing happening to mine will be dunlop straplocks and maybe remove the pickup cover (but only if it gets in the way!!)
 
#4
Wow JohnPaulBass!! I want an MTD 535 also with the MM5!! My thing is that I want the
B to have a different voicing. I don't like the fact that it blends in with the other strings
like a four.Well then this shouldn't be the bass for me huh? But I just love the feel sooo
much that I am willing to modify it a bit to get the sound I want out of the B. Let me
know what you think.
 
#5
yes you can do this... but you know... it's a 70s bass.. the string were blended this way...
also I love the neck ... I just played it for 5 minutes and I got used to it like it was my bass for years.

My goal was to have 2 completely different basses: a modern and the traditionl j bass which, as I have already said, has always been my favourite type of bass. Now that I have this two ... yes.. you know .. the GAS never stops.. but... I know now that this two are surely keepers.
I think that you wont regret the purchase.
Good luck and let us know ;)
 
#7
You guys are cool man,

THanks for all the insight. After thinking about I think that I will leave it
and play the bass and see what it will do for me before I make any hasty
decisions on modifications. After all Marcus had a hand in the progress
and I just got thru listening to him play it on his website. Thunderous
sound is all I can say, and he was playing it passive. Again thanks guys!!
 
#10
MSIMSBASS said:
I played this bass in a store and really, really liked the feel
of the neck. It feels like my old jazz bass. However didn't
think the B was growly enough. Is this the preamp or pups?
I am gonna get this bass and wanting to know if anyone
who has this bass has made any mods, and what mods were
made. Holla
Click to expand...
The B on mind is " HUGE !! ,and mind you I play it in it's passive mode 95% of time, because the preamp leaves alot to be desired IMO,however when I do switch it to it's Active mode, the B string just sounds outrages !
 
#12
The B sounds good on mine, and it's phenomenal passive. The preamp on the other hand is not killin' like it should be. That's why the Sadowsky onboard preamp is going
in it. I think after that it's will be up to par with a Sadowsky. (Hope this is not blashemy)
 
#15
Has anyone noticed a lack of high end for these MM 5 stringers? I have played many of the 4s and the 5s and the 5s seem to lack a lot of high end even when unplugged. Maybe this isn't the norm?

The 4s I have played usually have perfect high end. Just enough, snappy, but not harsh.

Any thoughts?
 
#16
EricTheEZ1 said:
Has anyone noticed a lack of high end for these MM 5 stringers? I have played many of the 4s and the 5s and the 5s seem to lack a lot of high end even when unplugged. Maybe this isn't the norm?

The 4s I have played usually have perfect high end. Just enough, snappy, but not harsh.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

hmmm here I have to desagree....
when I've played some 4 string MM basses I was not happy with the overall action, sound, construction of the bass... I would not spend 1000$ on a bass like this.. maybe it was a metter of setting it un properly...
I have heard some good ones... but they were only a few.. a minority


All the MM5 that I have tried 'till now.. were absoluetly fantastic
 

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