Gunsfreddy2003

That story does ring a bell, he could make a £50 bass sound a million dollars. What preamp is in the Fender Marcus Miller? [quote name='LZD56' timestamp='1465644491' post='3069882'] I may be wrong (often am) but I seem to recall reading that Marcus' pre-amp was a Bartolini that just happened to be fitted by Roger Sadowsky back in the day. So many requests for similar caused Sadowsky to make his own. Marcus sounds like Marcus even when he's playing Jaco tracks. [/quote]

That sounds like one hell of a set up! SWR Redhead has always intrigued me too but never tried one. [quote name='luckydog' timestamp='1465634397' post='3069752'] Going back some decades now, I used a Warwick Streamer stage 1 (Seymour Duncan pickups with those odd switches), Rotosound Nickel (?) rounds 95 gauge, active preamp (whatever was standard in the guitar), Boss rack compressor, Trace Elliot AH350 mids scooped TE 2x10 + 1x18. Pretty classic growling sound, halcyon days. The other amp I fancied and tried but never obtained was SWR Red (2x10)..... As you say, much of the 'correct' sound starts in the fingers, and timing is everything. After that, it's having proper action and elasticity in the guitar/strings, then the strings themselves, PUs, compressor is key, and a rig that can cope with the top end transients as well as the shear kick drum like impact. I'd almost forgotten those times ! LD [/quote]

Yep and annoyingly out of all of my basses the 74 jazz gave me the closest thing to the sound I was after by a mile but just a shame it only has 4 strings! [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1465638465' post='3069809'] This might be a silly question, but have you recorded yourself and played it back? After all, you're standing right over your bass and hearing the acoustic sound. Your audience are hearing the sound. Maybe if sounds ok out-front? [/quote]

Cool clips - to my ears the live tone is infinitely better than the studio tone! Does anyone know what compressor he uses live? [quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1465639151' post='3069818'] Any decent round wound string brand would do, along with a Jazz Bass pup configuration. After all, Marcus and Co were getting great slap sounds long before the DR strings came along. (Although, they really are good strings) Marcus could also get great finger AND slap sound with minimal tweeking. Just rolling back the neck pup slightly for finger style. Marcus in the early 80's, with 'His' sound. Doesn't sound like very much mid cut to me. I have seen him live a few times, and his compressor does seems to work hard. http://youtu.be/rKNjKBszLA8 Studio version '81. http://youtu.be/tZntuL32_ps [/quote]

Agree to some extent but when I am playing live all I can hear is the tone from my bass and back line and this is the tone that I crave. Got some good basses so guess it's just the strings and amps to sort! [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1465636942' post='3069783'] I'd suggest Jerry Barnes is using his regular gear. In this clip you're probably just hearing a DI'ed jazz type bass. You can hear him switch to a regular finger style Chic bass line at about 3 mins so he's not focusing on slap for the sound of this bass. You need a good 2 pickup bass and a set of new round wound strings. As an overall comment I'd say there is no "correct" slap sound. You can fit in anywhere between Mark King and Louis Johnson. Try to find your own sound and have others want to copy you. [/quote]

Ok, never used them before so will give them a go. How long do they stay bright for? [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1465635399' post='3069767'] Strings - DR HiBeams (Stainless) for sure. No signature, no nothing - straight forward HiBeams. Stainless is where this all starts. [/quote]

Morning all, After years of listening to the likes of Marcus Miller and Jerry Barnes I am on a mission to get as damn close to that dream tone as possible but I need some help guys! I am after opinions as to the the key ingredients that you need in your gear to get this kind of tone [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8PK9Z3Ww5w"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8PK9Z3Ww5w[/url] It obviously starts with your hands and been working on that for a long time with varying degree of success! Next up is the bass - Jerry Barnes uses Atelier Z with it's own preamp and electronics, whilst we all know about Mr Miller and his jazz bass and legend has it that his has a Sadowsky pre-amp in it that gives it that sound. First question, does the Fender Marcus Miller signature have a Sadowsky pre-amp in it - I doubt it. If not, you can buy them from Thomann so is it a better idea to out one of those into a Fender Marcus Miller or would it work just as well in the Sire Marcus Miller that I have? I do have a 74 jazz with an East pre-amp and have got somewhere close to the tone but no exaclt there - the other majot problem I have is that I am a 5 string player these days so have to get the tone from one of my 5's or buy a new one. Moving on to amps, apparently Jerry uses an Aguilar DB751 but for the life of me I can't see that amp getting this tone so that is a dead end and also it is too big and too heavy. So, we are into EBS and SWR area I would have thought, I have 2 x SWR Workingman's 1 x 10's and that with an old Hartke head sounded really nice with the 74 jazz and got quite close. Sadly that amp blew up 2 weeks ago and is probably not worth repairing. A knowledgeable friend on these things says that the tweeters used in older SWR stuff was comparable to that used in EBS cabs which helps to explain why they make a similar sound so I think I could work with these more and certainly 2, 1 x 10's is ok for live and rehearsal use. On to amp heads, happy to take suggestions and advice here but thinking it needs to be EBS Reidmar or HD350 but any other opnions are welcome and valued. Strings are also a key element, any advice on strings to give the closes sound would be good - I use Elixir at the moment which I know are not the brightest of strings but they are good to my fingers. The right combination of bass and pre-amp/electronics, strings, amp and cabs has to be out there to get to this holy grail of tone and I just want to find it! I am sure that its not impossible but do have to cut through a lot of the BS and marketing hype to get to the truth.

Hmm - I don't like the sound of that. Can anyone recommend a good repairer who might be able to take a look at it?

Apologies - the video clip was not playing properly. Will have a look at some of the fuses tomorrow and see if I can see anything obvious.

This amp was working fine until last Friday night, signal cut out, it was really hot and then started making this noise. In the video the volume is turned down to 0 and it still makes the noise. Any ideas anyone and someone who might be able to repair?[attachment=220896:IMG_1513.MOV]

Russ you are star - thank you mate! [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1458314570' post='3006557'] [url="http://tieftonerzeuger.ch/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Benson-George-Breezin-.pdf"]http://tieftonerzeug...ge-Breezin-.pdf[/url] [/quote]

Evening all, Does anyone have a decent tab or sheet music for this song? The web is severely lacking in any decent transcripts of this one. Thanks.

Yep, going to get a couple of tickets for the Heavies for sure - only downside is that it is at the town hall which is an awful venue sound wise. Didn't know that Tony was playing too - saw him last with the Sunburst Band at the Jazz Cafe a couple of years ago - great voice. Julian Crampton is playing bass with him at the moment so could be a good gig. [quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1455921076' post='2983763'] At last The Brand New Heavies are playing at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. May 1st bank holiday weekend. Its gonna be a funky one. Also Tony Momrelle from Incognito is playing in the day with his band. [url="http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz/whats-on/2016/the-brand-new-heavies/"]http://www.cheltenha...nd-new-heavies/[/url] http://tonymomrelle.com/live.html [/quote]

Recently bought my Funkulator pedal - good comms and quick payment. Would recommend.

Ah that makes sense - they sound like EBS but not quite so "zingy". Did have a Reidmar before with an EBS 2x12 but it as just a bit too harsh for my tastes. But like the EBS stuff there must be something in the Hartke heads as the Mark Bass through SWR does not sound anything like it!

I bought a Hartke amp a while ago and paired it up with two SWR Workingman 1 x 10" cabs. The sound from the rig is awesome especially when used wth my Jazz bass and has a Marcus Miller esque tone to it - plenty of high end sparkle which reminds me of the EBS tone. Keen to gig with this set up but the 140 watt rating of the head worries me as it does not give much headroom. So would like to know from others if Hartke are known for an EBS type zing in their sound or if it is coming from the cabs? I can then work out how I make a better rig for gigging with - any comments or experiences with these two brands would be welcome.

Man they were so good on Saturday night! Problem is I know in my heart that he could come down here and play any of my basses and sound fantastic so getting an Atelier is probably just bad GAS and nothing else! [quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1453935356' post='2964528'] When i saw your post and Atelier Z basses i knew Francis was in it. [/quote]

Cheers for the heads up - are they just a guitar shop? Never heard of U Box before!! Do you know why there are two prices, one in brackets and one not. [quote name='Doctor J' timestamp='1453928528' post='2964411'] Don't know of a dealer but there are usually a few second hand ones knocking around on the u-box. Ishibashi are great to deal with. Import it yourself, easy peasy. [url="http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/e/"]http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/e/[/url] And, yes, Jerry Barnes is responsible for Z gas here too [/quote]