Many thanks. I hadn't actually played it since the 80's, which I guess shows how much I must have played it back then and how much Mark King had been an influence in my teenage years. It's definitely a fun one to play though, especially in a band.
Hey man, great tone....Ive wanted one of these for years but everybody says the preamp is weak. Is John East the best one to keep that Marcus tone without any coloring? I like the way the stock bass sounds on other clips I've listened to, but everybody complains about the preamp. Thanks
I honestly believe the John East delivers that tone - though of course there are many other variations in the pre-amp settings. The playability of this bass has always been fantastic, but I was disappointed with the preamp. In fact I did another RU-vid video comparing a Sire V7 and this bass when it had the stock preamp, and I have to admit the Sire won out for me (tonally - not playability) and that's when I researched and found the John East. It wasn't cheap though. The preamp, along with some new Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups, and the installation came to around £500. I don't regret it though. I was delighted with the end result.
@@bern207Thanks. I watched your Sire comparison...great playing and song choices...especially the Luther and Whispers tune....those were both great examples to hear the slap/fingerstyle tone. I might just go with the Sire. One last thing....my GF has an OLP MM Stingray copy. I want to upgrade the PUPs and preamp, and if she decides to get a real MM we'll transfer the electronics to that. I noticed you also played a Stingray, I was going to drop in a Nordstrand PUP. Do you have a John East in that bass as well? They get good reviews over on talk bass, I was thinking that would be a good preamp for her rig. Thanks again
@@justinwill1163 Roundwound. Flats would never be so bright and responsive for slapping. Nickels are great for that, even more so that steel in my opinion, but they begin to deaden quite quickly.
Great video. Everyone’s taste is different. My opinion is that both sound incredible, but a set of better Fender, Fralin, or Radio Shop pickups would be something that I would put I to my Sire. I think that with that small change, the Sire is a clear winner. To me, they are much more comfortable and playable than the Fender basses.
Since making this video, I've put a John East preamp and Dimarzio Ultra jazz pickups on the Fender. The sound is amazing now, such a great tonal range. Highly recommended.
Thanks. That's a Marcus Miller model Fender Jazz. It's been modified though, with a John East preamp and Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups. It has a lot more output and tonal range than the stock version.
I have reason to believe all of these, especially Lessons In Love, as it's in writing he used his red Status he owned at the time... but Love Games is purely his original JayDee. He didn't have any Status basses back in 1981. Great compilation.
Hey man! Loved the video! Great bass playing! So, I love fenders, but honestly, the Sire V7 2nd generation is so good, so much more options in tone and finishes, and the neck is so good man! The pickups are awesome, you can replicate the exactly Marcus tone with it. To me, the best bass around, and don't cost a arm and a leg
Many thanks - and I agree that the Sires are amazing. Since making that video, I've upgraded the Fender with a John East preamp to get the sound closer to the Sire.
@@bern207 really nice! Honestly, I don't see myself buying other bass, just if I need more strings 😂 I love Marcus tone, and the Sire is a Marcus Emulator Bass, but not just that, he can play any genre, that's the beauty of that pre amp!
