Marcus Miller P7 Alder 4 AW 2nd Gen

I mainly bought this because I wanted something for my studio, so it needed to have all the things I want, plus the versatility to be used by anyone else that comes in - but this goes way beyond my expectations.

First impression: The build quality is fantastic - fit and finish is great all over, everything is pristine, hardware looks great. Tuners are precise and stable, bridge has a really nice range of adjustment. The frets are really well finished, no rough spots anywhere (I've had more expensive guitars that needed to be wire-wool'd out of the box).

It sounds great. The pickups sound exactly as you'd expect from a mid-range Fender. Switch it to active, it gets even better - that classic sound is still there, but with the EQ all set to noon it's just a little bit more "hifi", with a touch more clarity and depth. The EQ controls have really good, useable ranges (the bass is maybe a touch overkill, but when aren't they?), and the sweepable mid control is fantastic - I don't know why that isn't more common. I know some people had issues with the knobs not turning very well on early models, but they're fine on mine.

Also worth noting is was setup brilliantly - great action, just a hint of rattle to give it some grind when you dig in.

My one small complaint would be the knobs. The two-tiered controls are a great idea for cramming so much in, but they're taller than I'd like - they're higher than the strings, which means I'm not sure I'd want to put this in a soft case.

So: alder body, maple neck, ebony fretboard, bone nut; P and J pickups; the bridge can be either top-loaded of string-through-body; active/passive switch, 18v preamp; all the dials (bar volume/tone) have centre detents; sweepable mids; proper string tree on the headstock; gloss finish on the headstock, but satin finish on the back of the neck; rolled fretboard, with binding.

Honestly, the attention to detail on this thing is incredible - I've played P basses 3 times the price that are lower spec'd, not as well finished, AND have basically no tonal options. I don't know how they're putting these things out at this price, they could charge twice as much and I'd still be impressed by that spec sheet.

I order one due to all the buzz around Sire basses.

Build quality is overall great, except fot the knobs of the stacked potentiometers. When you turn the bellow ring it also turn the top knob, and the other way around. You can pull a bit the top knob and it get better.

I don't like the new top rounded neck, it fill more confortable at first , but the string tend to too easilly slip out the neck.

I don't like the sound rigth away, very hollow. After changing the string and setting up the neck to my preferences. It was better but not great.

The tonal range is not that wide, it's wide when you use active electronics.
I have the same tonal range with my Squier CV 70 with Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound. I don't have the fintuning, but I can get from brigth sharpe sound to dull dark sound. Which is fare enought for me. The rest is in the fingers.

I test it on my SWR Red Head Combo, and never manager to get a sound I like. I try it on my small Markbass 801, on which it sounds better.

After trying it for a small week, I decide to send it back.

Of course this is my own opinion.

When I received the Marcus Miller P7, the phrase "If only this bass playes and sounds as good as it looks" did cross my mind... and guess what.. It does... probably even better.. the playability is only surpassed by the sound.
I am only a bit unpleases with the fit and finish of the neck pocket as the tolearance of the gap between the neck pocket and theneck could be tighter... but what can be expected of a bass in this price range? I will have to see with my other Marcus Miller purchases if this is the case... all in all it's a superior base in more ways than one ,(I have purchased the V7 version).

This is my third Sire MM bass (V7 5-string, V7 4-string fretless and this). I read about QC problems with Sire basses but each of mine has arrived from Thomann in perfect condition and needing no fettling.

As for the sound - it's just what I expected. The split pickup isn't anywhere near as aggressive as the one in my Nate Mendel P-Bass (which will surprise no-one: that's a SD Quarter-pounder), and smoother than the (to my ears beautifully woody) one in my ancient Aria Pro !! P-Bass. The active preamp means, of course, that you can do a lot to adjust to taste.

Very happy with the bass and the price (Black Friday deal).