Marcus Miller......what pre amp do I need?

[FronTowardEnemy]

Looks as if all active preamps draw current from the battery as soon as a cord is plugged into the output jack.

I am so used to playing in passive mode that I never have to change batteries.

 

[bigdavid]

Yeah, they drain if a cable is plugged in because the stereo jack acts as a on/off switch for preamp circuits. But most preamps are going to be low mA so they should take awhile to drain. I wouldn't let a battery issue stand in the way of getting a great preamp that you like.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

^^^^agree.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

VanillaThundah
Thank you for your response. I was on my phone and accidentally hit the reply while I wasn't done with my post so there is a little more detail there now. I would love a link to your Audere review if possible.

Sorry, didn't get an update that you replied to me

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/just-put-in-my-audere-preamp.1030742/

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Should answer all your questions! Definitely an easy drop in for a great price! The Pro-JZ3 is what would probably work best for you.

 

[fettbass]

Keep in mind the Passive mode on the East preamp is a bit more limited than some. For instance, the pickup blend control is an active unit and doesn't function in passive. In passive you can only use both pickups full on or just the bridge pickup. Still a fantastic preamp, and I've been enjoying mine in my Marcus 4 string for years now.

 

[DumpsterDave]

I am going to try and find out if the East has a passive battery drain. Might have to call BestBassGear and talk to a tech. Didn't seem to find anything on the sight.

Yesterday I had a great conversation with the Chris at BBG. He was very patient and super knowledgeable.

 

[jag-atk]

do yourself a favour get a Sadowsky preamp. i installed one in my marcus jazz and couldn't be happier!

 

[Belka]

While the preamp was installed by Roger Sadowsky it was actually a Stars Guitars preamp which was what Roger used before moving to the Bartolini pre and then finally developing his own pre around 1990.

That said, for the OP's style & genre I'd recommend the Sadowsky pre or the Aguilar OBP-3.

Are you sure? I think the preamp Marcus has installed in his bass is actually a Bartolini TCT. Maybe Roger bought it from Stars Guitars but I'm pretty sure it's the Bart in there.

 

[Jared Lash]

Are you sure? I think the preamp Marcus has installed in his bass is actually a Bartolini TCT. Maybe Roger bought it from Stars Guitars but I'm pretty sure it's the Bart in there.

That certainly could be the case today, as Sadowsky switched to the Bart TCT when Stars stopped making their preamp but according to Roger himself Marcus Miller originally got a Stars preamp.

http://books.google.com/books?id=5l... marcus miller "stars guitars" preamp&f=false

 

[Sonofagunden]

So what was the end result here? I am wanting to upgrade my MM as well.

 

[bucephylus]

So what was the end result here? I am wanting to upgrade my MM as well.

Well, there are a lot of options.

Marcus actually uses a Bart TCT preamp (the original install by Roger Sadowsky). If you need exactly that sound, that's where you need to go. Big issue is that for whatever reason Bart only offers the module. You would need to get a schematic and get the rest of the components from Bart and elsewhere. That is a great sounding preamp; but, Bartolini has gone mostly in the direction of 3 band circuits.

Meanwhile, the Sadowsky preamp is readily available these days. I just had Pat Wilkins install one in my "player" bass. It's an easy install, if you have soldering capability. I sent this one to Pat, because my bass also required some routing that I wanted done correctly. Pat is a cat.

The Audere is another great option. They have a 4 band, which to my ears sounds more useful than the 3 band circuits. You can hear examples if you search YouTube for the Wilkins Road Tested basses.

And I believe Nordstrand may now have a 2 band circuit which is probably nice; and I've heard whispers of a Pope J refit circuit in the works. Lots of options. Life is tough as an electric bassist. Do you want the prime rib or the filet?

 

[Sonofagunden]

Personally for the playing I do and often only having one bass available for a set I would lean toward 4 band EQ I have been debating the John East or the Audere. I don't have to have the miller sound exactly so that's where I am curious to go lighter on the wallet with audere. Just wondering what anyone's experience ended up being on this bass. I'm doing a pup swap as well.