Marcus Miller's tone on The Nightfly

[faceman]

I've been listening to The Nighfly album by Donald Fagen a lot recently and there is some killer bass playing. My favourite has to be the title track, which features Marcus Miller according to the album notes.

Would I assume he'd be playing his Jazz Bass here with active electronics? It's such a powerful growly tone that works perfectly! Sounds almost StingRay-ish to me at times.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I've been listening to The Nighfly album by Donald Fagen a lot recently and there is some killer bass playing. My favourite has to be the title track, which features Marcus Miller according to the album notes.

Would I assume he'd be playing his Jazz Bass here with active electronics? It's such a powerful growly tone that works perfectly! Sounds almost StingRay-ish to me at times.

Nightfly is a great response to all of the folks who some how claim Marcus Miller can only slap.

 

[George Harvey]

I've been listening to The Nighfly album by Donald Fagen a lot recently and there is some killer bass playing. My favourite has to be the title track, which features Marcus Miller according to the album notes.

Would I assume he'd be playing his Jazz Bass here with active electronics? It's such a powerful growly tone that works perfectly! Sounds almost StingRay-ish to me at times.

I'm wondering what type of pickups he has? Lindy Fralin, Aguilar? The growl is OOTW

 

[TheCouchBassist]

Ironically, I was going to ask the same thing except Abe Laboriel's tone on New Frontier.

 

[T. Brookins]

Sounds like Marcus is playing a '70s Jazz Bass with clean strings near the bridge with both pickups on. Excellent articulation and pocket.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I'm wondering what type of pickups he has? Lindy Fralin, Aguilar?

The Nightfly was released in 1982, which is before either Lindy Fralin (late 1980s) or Aguilar (mid-1990s) were in business. Miller was almost certainly using his Fender Jazz Bass with the built-in Sadowsky preamp...but I don't recall whether the pickups are Fender or Sadowsky.

 

[George Harvey]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

The Nightfly was released in 1982, which is before either Lindy Fralin (late 1980s) or Aguilar (mid-1990s) were in business. Miller was almost certainly using his Fender Jazz Bass with the built-in Sadowsky preamp...but I don't recall whether the pickups are Fender or Sadowsky.

Wow, this rumor won't die. Roger Sadowsky was Marcus Miller's tech, but he never installed a Sadowsky preamp in his bass. The first was a Stars Guitars preamp, the second was a Bartolini. Look it up, Roger Sadowsky himself has said this.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Wow, this rumor won't die. Roger Sadowsky was Marcus Miller's tech, but he never installed a Sadowsky preamp in his bass. The first was a Stars Guitars preamp, the second was a Bartolini. Look it up, Roger Sadowsky himself has said this.

I stand corrected:
The story behind Marcus Miller's 1977 Fender Jazz Bass

 

[JimK]

Paul is a TB member...with a great YT Channel.