I put a wanted ad up a few weeks ago for a White Fender Marcus Miller.
I had a MM for years - gigged it regularly and loved it.
My ex got into financial troubles and we had a brand new baby. I duly sold off about 15 basses I’d amassed over 13/14 years and quite a few left through basschat.
My old one went to Nick Smith (of Enfield/Grainger Guitars game). He sold it on and the trail goes cold.
I’ve bought and sold a fair bit recently - and still missed that Miller Sound.
So, sure enough I set out to find one - I really fancied a white one this time. They’re like rocking horse poop.
I’d narrowly missed a sunburst on here...a shame.
Like busses...a very clean 2004/5 white one came up on Facebook (in Portugal...) and as all arrangements were finalised and I paid the guy, a natural 2003/4 one shows on another FB page - 3 miles down the road. It was rough, but very reasonably priced. So I thought “I’ll go for it...”
2 for the price of...well 2, by the time shipping, insurance and currency charges from banks are factored in on the white one, I’ve paid the going rate for 2 MIJ millers - even though the natural was A fair bit cheaper than the white one.
As a side note - I had so many messages telling me that people had Sires for sale - that they’re “better” and I should save my money by buying a Sire...
I was also offered 3 USA 5 string Marcus Millers...
I also had the “the preamp on the Fender MM is cr*p” brigade on - that I HAD to buy an East Preamp if I was adamant it had to be Fender.
Do you know, I had thought about it...but really...I actually don’t want more to mess with and if used tastefully - the limited preamp absolutely dials in ‘that‘ sound (kind of the reason you’d buy a Marcus Miller bass really).
There is a plan for the natural one.
The car went pop on Wednesday and I’m picking it up today so the plan is delayed because I’m skint...This should become clear in time.
My original Wanted ad IS still running for the last run of Millers made in Mexico - they had an 18v circuit, ran in true passive if the battery failed and had a different pickup set in them.
They only made them for a year - so don’t crop up often enough for me to panic. There’s one for sale in Australia but I’m not getting into that.
In the Meantime...