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Marcus Miller is on SWR now !

#61
figuredbass said:
+1

I never totally understood why Marcus actually seems to prefer SWR live. This is not in any way a comment on the quality of SWR or a negative opinion of its sound. It's just that for such a definitive tone such as the MM tone we all know, the SWR's (especially the cabs) are probably not going to nail that sound as well as some other gear. So my guess is that he's either very familiar with and used to using it, or somehow in a live stage context it allows him to monitor himself optimally in terms of content and execution, with a slight trade-off of actual tone. The SWR's just may have the kind of cut-through (especially in the top end) that projects well to wherever he's standing, or however loud things get, without him having to work as hard. He knows that the audience will hear the DI'd FOH or recording, so a less than "perfect" stage sound is not an issue.

The other thing I thought is that the SWR's may provide a beneficial monitoring situation for him that goes beyond just his own sound: the blend of his bass with the other instruments in its musical context. As an ensemble player and as the musical director the SWR's may work best for him since he's not only critically listening to himself play, but the entire band in a more demanding way. Again, just a guess; only the Man himself knows why he chooses what he's using! :)
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I don't think there's much of a mystery there... he uses them because they work for him. IME SWR cabs always seemed a good match for that kind of sound. I have an old Triad that nails it so hard, I took it on one gig with my LMII and my Ash Marleaux Jazz and I slapped more that night than I had in years. Almost like a slap trance. I haven't taken it out since:D

I think a Marcus preamp would sell like hotcakes because all jokes aside, most bassists are gullible IME. They'll think they can buy what Marcus couldn't even buy... his experience. That is why he sounds like he sounds. Of course getting a good Ash Jazz bass type bass (and no, it doesn't have to look like one) will probably get you in the front door.
:D
 
#64
Brad Johnson said:
To a degree it is... but after what you wrote, how can you say that when you heard two completely different things with two very different types of basses?
:D
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My point there was that, even for Marcus, getting that unique tone he has out into the audience is a combination of him, his bass, and DEFINITELY the gear. The voicing of the EBS and SWR gear fits his voicing (I agree with you, the SWR rigs make it effortless), but just like any of us, if the rig is pushed too hard or the room doesn't cooperate, Marcus even will not 'sound like Marcus'.

And if Marcus did his Marcus thing on that PBass with flats, well.....:smug:

I know you know this, but so many post 'Marcus would sound like Marcus playing anything'. Not true... that's why he chooses the instruments and backline rigs he does (although with backline, it's more him choosing a rig that let's his tone come through, versus a rig that squashes it). I agree he will sound GREAT through anything, but all things come together for his tone (again, you obviously know this.. many don't seem to realize it.

IMO and IME
 
#69
KJung said:
My point there was that, even for Marcus, getting that unique tone he has out into the audience is a combination of him, his bass, and DEFINITELY the gear. The voicing of the EBS and SWR gear fits his voicing (I agree with you, the SWR rigs make it effortless), but just like any of us, if the rig is pushed too hard or the room doesn't cooperate, Marcus even will not 'sound like Marcus'.

And if Marcus did his Marcus thing on that PBass with flats, well.....:smug:

I know you know this, but so many post 'Marcus would sound like Marcus playing anything'. Not true... that's why he chooses the instruments and backline rigs he does (although with backline, it's more him choosing a rig that let's his tone come through, versus a rig that squashes it). I agree he will sound GREAT through anything, but all things come together for his tone (again, you obviously know this.. many don't seem to realize it.

IMO and IME
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Just funnin' with ya. If the tone was in his hands, he could take those hands and make the P Bass sound like his Jazz. He can't.

I've always been a proponent of the tone being in your hands, I know mine is in mine... but there are limits;)
 
#70
figuredbass said:
+1 I've always believed that at least in part, this is what the marketers of all "signature" gear are counting [money] on.
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It's a sure thing.

Places like TB can try to educate people to the fact that how they sound has as much to do with them as their gear.

There's a local used gear store where many of us meet occassionaly, sitting around shooting the breesze and checking out gear. I almost feel guilty when someone is hanging around the fringes, listening to someone put a bass or amp through it's paces and then immediately pounces on it as soon as it goes back on the rack. They buy it and run all the way home with it.

:hyper:

Fast forward a few days, maybe a week and that same item is back on the rack. Why? Usually because when it got home it no longer sounded like it did in the store.
:cool:

As long as people can't or don't figure that out, stores will stay in business, helping them work the vicious circle.
 
#71
I don't understand why someone wouldn't think Marcus Miller wouldn't dig SWR. I mean, it would seem to fit perfectly for him. Scooped hi fi slap goodness, ash J bass with 70s pickup spacing, preamp. Lots of thump, lots of pluck.

I don't know if this is true, but a friend of mine told me that when he met Victor Wooten he said he regretted going Ampeg with his endorsement and should have gone SWR, then figured out how to dig the Ampeg stuff.

It does not surprise me. These guys could go either way and still sound good, still sound like themselves.

Even Brad Johnson sounds like himself playing on Ampeg :smug:
 
#76
IMO I really think we as bass player should take the focus off of getting the Marcus,Victor,Stanley or whoever ur favorite bassplayer is sound. Yes it's good
to learn from them, but then it comes a time when we have to get "my" sound.
I also think we rob ourselves, and the world of beauty stuggling to sound like
"someone" else.
 
#78
Maybe this is more the endorsement not doing much for Marcus financially compared to what SWR will do for him. How many people are going to run out any buy EBS because Marcus plays it compared to SWR. Especially the consumers in the US who enthusiastically like to buy American made. Who knows if he sounded any better on either setup anyway.
 
#80
Did any of you guys ever check out Marcus on Kenwood Dennard's recording "Just Do It" ?
Overall it's killer and Marcus tears it up as usual. Great signature MM tone and there is a track "Just Advance" where Marcus plays a fretless and it's just him and Kenwood playing on the track. It's a great performance by the two of them and also shows that Marcus is just an all around GREAT player. I love that track. If you never heard it, get your hands on that CD. I think you will dig it.
 

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