[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='848888' date='May 26 2010, 08:41 PM']They're actually two very different instruments - The Marcus Miller Japanese signature model is usually made of just about the heaviest piece of ash you'll ever encounter. The gloss finishing, hardware & overall build quality is stunning on these, but they're let down by the absence of a passive tone control, noisy Japanese pickups & the fact that the Fender preamp is possibly the worst preamp out there. Harsh sounding nasty $2.50 thing!
The new American Standard is a great bass - The necks are among the most stable Jazz necks around (with the posiflex graphite rods), the new thinner undercoat really does let more tone through the wood & the satin necks/gloss fingerboards (maple board versions only) are really nice, too. The new American pickups are shielded very well and the Am.Std is one of the few very quiet (buzz-wise) single coil Jazzes out there.
So even though the MM is a lovely thing to hold and look at, I'd still go for the American Standard as the default player's choice. [/quote]
Interesting, thanks. A white American Standard, fit a black guard and ashtrays then I guess!