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Marcus Miller Jazz vs. Sadowsky

crispygoat

crispygoat

Aug 22, 2006
1,172
3
London, Ontario
#1
I've gone through 3 basses in the past year and I want would like to settle on a bass until I finish school.

I currently own a Sadowsky MV4. Don't quote me wrong, it's a phenomenal bass but it's not exactly what I'm looking for. I put down exactly what I would want and what I don't want and came ended up that the Miller Jazz bass would be what I'm looking for.

I want a passive bass. I mean, no offence to people who like active, but what's the point of having an EQ on a bass? I have a Eden WT800 which has a tons of EQ settings that I barely even use and again, when recording, there's tons of plugins out there. I rather have a tone knob.

My girlfriend has a Squier VM with Volume/Volume instead of Volume Panning and I seem to have more ease with Volume/Volume than panning on the Sadowsky. For some reason it's easier for me to get the tone I'm looking for with Volume/Volume. Sure panning has the advantage of having one knob instead of two, but I don't see how it can be useful other than wanting a different tone in the middle of song. Then again, it's no biggie.

What I don't mind about an active pre amp is the boost of gain.

The Marcus Miller Jazz has Volume/Volume and Tone/Tone which I feel it perfectly suits my need. It also has an active/passive switch.


I'm looking for a more vintage tone than modern. Hence, I believe that the Marcus Miller would be better for this. While I could go completely passive, instead, the Miller Jazz bass has a preamp with tone/tone instead of treble/bass or whatever which I believe will give me the more vintage tone, yet I could also use the pre amp to add gain if ever needed.

I thought about getting a Precision, but I like slapping. Some may say it is overrated, but a technique is a technique. It's like a mechanic's wrench. It may be overrated, but it's not a bad thing to have. As a matter of fact, I love playing Jamiroquai tunes. We also cover a few Red Hot Chili Pepper songs with the band. I feel that a precision, though is a nice bass, would be lacking without a jazz bass by its side.

So I think this is all. Any opinions? Further suggestions?

thank you,
 
#3
The reason I use an EQ on my bass is to change the inherent character of each song and enhance the approach I'm using with my hands. Also, it helps me dial in the appropriate tone as my strings die...

I use my amp EQ solely for dialing in the best soon to accomodate the room I'm playing in. I set it and don't touch it for the rest of the night. Plus the isea of turning around and fiddling with the amp in the middle of a song or set is annoying to me.

And the MM fender does have a Sadowsky approach to a preamp...
 
#4
According to the Fender website,

Controls Volume 1. (Neck Pickup),
Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup),
Tone 1. Active Bass Boost/Cut,
Tone 2. Active Treble Boost/Cut
Pickup Switching 2-Way Mini Toggle Switch for Active/Passive Mode.
In Passive Mode, Only The Two Volume Controls Function.
In Active Mode, Both Volume and Tone Controls Function.

So it's actually Bass / Treble and not "tone" like actual passive basses?
 
#5
Easy, then get the Marcus Miller......
Personally, I like Sadowsky's much more, but if the Miller suits your needs/wants, then have at it man!
 
#6
The MM isn't a vol/vol tone/tone setup. I'm not sure if it's vol/vol or vol/blend, but the other two are most definitely EQ. Treble and bass. So even though it has a passive option, you won't have tonal control aside from pickup balance when you're in passive mode. If you want a passive bass, I'd get a passive bass, not an active that can do passive. My .02.
 
#10
I think you looking at two seemingly similar basses but they really are not.

I love the Marcus Miller's! They are great basses without a doubt! I have what one would call the Japanese Marcus Miller style with my Atelier Z M265. It nails the MM tone and then some. I actually did a write up of it vs. My Sadowsky UV70. I shortly realized we are talking about two different animals.

My suggestion is get what you love! If you dig the Marcus over the Sadowsky, get one. You cannot go wrong either way. If you are really looking for that iconic 70's funk sound, the MM is the way to go. If you want something a little more versatile, keep the Sadowsky (IMO of course). If worse comes to worse, you can always give me the Sadowsky and I will buy you a Marcus Miller! :D
 
#11
I saw a wise quote when I first joined talkbass. It said something along the lines of,"don't try to find a bass that does it all, find a few basses that each do their own thing well."

It's ok to have a few basses that each do their own thing. A pbass would be great for Jamiroquai stuff, but get a jazz too, and maybe a stingray, and then also a modern sounding bass. lol
 
#16
hate to break it to you, but the marcus millers are active jazz basses. the last 2 knobs are not tone knobs. they are bass boost only and treble boost only. Turned all the way down, they are "flat" like the sadowsky pre-amp. There is a active/passive switch. when in passive mode, the last 2 knobs do nothing. There is no tone control on the Marcus in passive mode. you'd be better off having a VTC installed on your sadowsky and getting it wired for V/V instead of the V/pan. Just IMO of course. But the Marcus Miller is a very active, modern sounding jazz bass and doesn't do the passive vintage sounding jazz bass all that well. If it had a passive tone control on it, I would have kept the one I used to have.
 
#18
Get a Sadowsky PJ w/VTC. Problem solved.

Until you start reading about another bass...

If you are in school and have a Sadowsky you're way ahead of the game. My advice would be to stick with that bass and see how many sounds you can get out of it. There are more tones residing in your fingers than in the electronics imho.

Hey, you said you wanted an argument :p
 
#19
chris.gotfunk said:
Get this.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=596391
Click to expand...

The bass doesn't interest me that much... :ninja: I'd need to sell my bass first.

you'd be better off having a VTC installed on your sadowsky and getting it wired for V/V instead of the V/pan. Just IMO of course. But the Marcus Miller is a very active, modern sounding jazz bass and doesn't do the passive vintage sounding jazz bass all that well. If it had a passive tone control on it, I would have kept the one I used to have.
Click to expand...

This is interesting, however, is it as easy as you make it sound like?
 
#20
chris.gotfunk said:
If you are really after that 70's vintage vibe, why don't you get a '75 reissue? They are strictly passive and sound great!
Click to expand...

+1

I love my 75' RI. I have since owned many other Jazz basses (newer US models) and P-basses a none of them gave me the tone I really like other then the 75'. Can explain why its sounds different then a new Jazz bass but it just has this vintage bark to it that I love.
 

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