It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 1:53 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V with BadAss V bridge
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:23 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
I've seen a few 5-string USA Marcus Jazzes with a LeoQuan BadAss V.

Image

But the product's specs say this bass sports an American Deluxe 5-string bridge!

Perhaps Marcus changed his mind about the bridge specifications or the BadAss V is an aftermarket mod?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V with BadAss V bridge
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 11:41 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:21 am
Posts: 84
Location: The Netherlands
Perhaps the 2013 Marcus Miller has a American Deluxe 5-string bridge and the older ones a badass. The Marcus Miller IV still has a badass.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V with BadAss V bridge
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 2:32 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:19 pm
Posts: 1480
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada
When Fender was Developing the MM Jazz 5 with Marcus Miller,(which debuted in 2003) Fender had some proto types with Badass 5 string bridges on them ... Marcus & Fender opted for what would become the Fender HMV bridge ( all currently found on the American Standard, American Deluxe Basses & Select Basses to name a few) ...... Marcus found that he preferred this bridge over the Badass & other bridges,....... The Marcus Miller Jazz 5 has always been sold with the Fender High Mass Vintage bridge, this was also the first Fender bass to have this bridge,.....I personally really like this bridge (it's on my 2011 American Deluxe Jazz 5 & my 2012 Select Jazz Bass)...... Here's a excerpt from the Q&A section of Marcus Miller's website explaining the process of designing this bass:

Tell us something about the new Fender Marcus Miller 5 String bass!
I've been working with Fender on the MM 5 (Marcus Miller 5 string model) for awhile now. It's the first time I really sat down and worked with someone on the design of a bass. The MM 4 is basically a copy of my existing 1977 4 string bass but I got into the 5 and worked to develop a bass that I would like.


The biggest difference is the curve of the neck (neck radius). The thing that bothers me about most 5's is that the necks feel very flat. It starts to feel like a classical acoustic guitar. For the MM 5 we worked on making the neck radius more round - more in the direction of the curve of an acoustic bass neck (although not as drastic). The result is an instrument that feels REALLY good in your hands. Guys at Fender said this was the best feeling 5 string they ever played.


The spacing between the strings is great for slapping or finger style. Some 5 strings are difficult to slap on because the strings are so close together. I also feel like close spacing prevents you from really digging into a note. It's cool when you're playing certain styles where you are really concentrating on your bass. But when you're in the middle of some funk or when you're headbanging or dancing and playing, you really need to be able to dig into your notes!


Next, we worked on the tuning of the pre-amp. This is where you determine what frequencies the pre-amp will affect. We started with a tuning similar to my 4 string then adjusted it to help the B string sound like it blends in with the rest of the instrument. We also worked to give the bass a great sound with the pre-amp off. This is a sound I've been using more and more. When you play with the pre-amp off, it sounds more like a classic Jazz Bass - more growly.


The bridge is a new design from Fender. We went through a bunch of bridges (they were sending me all sorts of bridges made from all types of exotic metals!) and decided that this one felt/sounded the best.


What I like best about the bass is that it still has that classic feel and sound. If Fender had made a 5 string bass in 1977, this would be it.


With this bass, you can play as modern as you want or as 'old school' as you want and you won't have to change basses.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V with BadAss V bridge
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:01 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Quote:
Fender had made a 5 string bass in 1977


CBS did a Bass V which was discontinued in 1970 because of poor sales. After that Fender didn't offer a 5-string bass until the late 1980s/early 1990s.

A shortlived 5-string prototype of the USA Performer Elite bass was released in 1987; unfortunately this project never caught the attention of die-hard Fender purists and was finally abandoned.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V with BadAss V bridge
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:49 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:19 pm
Posts: 1480
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada
The Fender Bass V was released in 1966. The Bass V added a high C- string to the usual
E A D G. it was a full 34" scale but had a short neck, with the fifth string catering for the upper registers. The theory was that it would be easier to play 'across' the strings rather than along the board. Players disagreed & it was short lived.

Anyway that's neither here nor there,.... the fact that Marcus is trying to point out is that in 1977 (not 1966,1970 or 1987) but in 1977 Fender didn't have a 5 string Jazz bass on the market, but if they did he likes to think it would be like his 5 string signature model.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V with BadAss V bridge
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:25 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
The Jazz Bass Plus V of 1990 was Fender's first successful 5-string bass to date; it was regarded as the precursor to the American Deluxe Series models which were introduced in 1995 and the first 5-string bass to sport a pao ferro fingerboard.

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V with BadAss V bridge
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:29 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:19 pm
Posts: 1480
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada
Yes That's great !! I know all about the 1990 Fender Jazz Plus V but in 1977 there was no Fender 5 string Bass on the market & once again that's the point Marcus Miller is trying to make.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V with BadAss V bridge
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 5:53 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:00 am
Posts: 1226
Location: In the pocket north of Washington D.C.
It is very easy to over look the fact that the early bass amps and most bass amps through the 70's couldn't handle a low B string. One exception might be the SVT with its eight 10 cabinet. The Fender Bassman and other amps of the day didn't have the modern speakers to handle that low range.

That's why the first Fender five string bass ( the Bass V) had a high C string instead of a low B.

_________________
If thine enemy wrong thee, buy each of his children a drum.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V with BadAss V bridge
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 8:24 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:19 pm
Posts: 1480
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada
BCbassman wrote:
t is very easy to over look the fact that the early bass amps and most bass amps through the 70's couldn't handle a low B string. One exception might be the SVT with its eight 10 cabinet. The Fender Bassman and other amps of the day didn't have the modern speakers to handle that low range.

That's why the first Fender five string bass ( the Bass V) had a high C string instead of a low B.

Yes good point ! .....
Fender did not have a 5 string Bass one market in the 1970's & 1980's (that was Marcus Millers point )
Fender's next foray into the 5 string market was in 1990 with the Successful Jazz Plus V,...this time the 5th string was a low B........ :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V with BadAss V bridge
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 10:13 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Fender entered the 6-string market starting with a couple of custom shop through-neck basses.

Image

They did an Artist Signature bass for Ty Zamora in the past, but alas this model was too un-Fender and never attired the attention of die-hard purists.

Image

The first successful 6-string Fender bass was the Steve Bailey Jazz Bass, introduced in 2009.

Image

Unfortunately it lasted only 2 years as Steve moved to the Warwick camp in 2011.

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V with BadAss V bridge
Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 10:58 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2010 10:22 am
Posts: 789
chromeface wrote:
Fender entered the 6-string market starting with a couple of custom shop through-neck basses.

Image

They did an Artist Signature bass for Ty Zamora in the past, but alas this model was too un-Fender and never attired the attention of die-hard purists.

Image

The first successful 6-string Fender bass was the Steve Bailey Jazz Bass, introduced in 2009.

Image

Unfortunately it lasted only 2 years as Steve moved to the Warwick camp in 2011.

Image


Now I feel really lucky I got that one when I did.

Sorry I've been lurking more than posting since most of the computers I've been viewing on have not been allowing me to log in.

C/S,
Rev J


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Marcus Miller Jazz Bass V with BadAss V bridge
Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 12:13 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:33 am
Posts: 4583
Location: North of Pittsburgh
Rev J wrote:
chromeface wrote:
Fender entered the 6-string market starting with a couple of custom shop through-neck basses.

Image

They did an Artist Signature bass for Ty Zamora in the past, but alas this model was too un-Fender and never attired the attention of die-hard purists.

Image

The first successful 6-string Fender bass was the Steve Bailey Jazz Bass, introduced in 2009.

Image

Unfortunately it lasted only 2 years as Steve moved to the Warwick camp in 2011.

Image


Now I feel really lucky I got that one when I did.

Sorry I've been lurking more than posting since most of the computers I've been viewing on have not been allowing me to log in.

C/S,
Rev J


Good to hear from you Rev!


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: