White Cloud

If someone tries to hurt your feelings - and succeeds - then rush, run to the nearest bin ... and dump those hurt feelings! It's his problem ... leave it with him.

Is the nut cut too low on those strings? That could result in a slight rattle on 1st fret.

Owned two 4001's at separate times. Loved them both, very niche basses - and I found them to be a bit "one trick pony" soundwise - but, what a trick. If you want one then get it.

Great post. For me "Masques" by Brand X is tops. Percy Jones playing is hugely expansive, influential and undoubtedly had a meaningful affect upon Mick Karns development. ... I wouldn't disagree with any of the other opinions offered thus far. Jaco was obviously a monster on "Heavy Weather" by Weather Report.

No issues with mine ... and over the course of my ownership I have realised that it is my favourite jazz bass. That is inclusive of my 76 Fender and lakland Darryl Jones. I never expected that!

The combination of a tight neck pocket and aligned three screw fixing is absolutely structurally sound.

Oh dear. That is all.

Sure V5 ... above and beyond all expectations. It' my 'go to' bass and my least expensive

Ooooh, I lusted after the old handmade BC Rich's back in the day - seriously awesome instruments. I owned a NJ series Eagle during the late 80's and it was excellent. Congrats, this looks like a great buy (...as he slips away to begin an internet search for an Eagle)

Oh yes ... know this phenomenon all too well. Despite having owned some highly expensive boutique basses in my time I can't help but feel they are a bit 'Emperors new clothes'

The tuner gearing seems to me to be absolutely fine - I read somewhere that the latest Sire's tuners have been upgraded from the originals? The stock bridge also seems to be reasonably good. I've always upgraded the bridge on my Fenders - but I just don't see the point in this instance. It sounds great, plays really well and looks the part.

So, in answer to my original question it would appear that Sire are 'Dame' ... well, kind of! The Dame line of basses look excellent incidentally.

Now this is what I'm talking about - information! Great post. Yes that Dame is a Sire and no doubt.

Good post and thanks for sharing. What I would say however is that this is 'Sire' generated information ... information which purports something of a story, whilst concurrently lacking in any real detail at all. I hope BC'ers don't think that I'm having a cynical go at Sire in any way ... I just never think it's a bad thing to delve below the surface level marketing blurb.

Apparently so - it would seem that the entire guitar building industry is one that is an extremely complex web of 'who owns who' and 'who builds who'. Don't get me wrong though, I'm no expert. It's ironic in this respect that so many players become hung up on 'brand' loyalty ... given that so many of them are intertwined. The name on the headstock is something of an illusion really once you start rummaging around a little.

Well, mine isn't light ... but then again it's not a boat anchor either it weighs in the region of 9.6lbs. Great bass - very punchy and resonant unplugged, which is always a good sign. As I stated earlier, I would liken the build quality to that of a Lakland Skyline.

You are right - the claim of having no OEM's is almost impossible to believe. You are also probably right insomuch as nobody will be able to provide a concrete answer - and there could be a reason for this. I agree with the other post re Samick - I suspect it is either them or Cort (or one of their other many affiliates). I really admire Marcus Miller's core value regarding the release of the Sire models ... however given that Cort 'could' be behind them leaves me a little cold considering how they treated their Korean employee's before closing those factory's. If so (and it is a BIG 'if') it would kind of blow MM's standpoint out of the water. Should we, as players even consciously care about this stuff? Personally, I love owning great gear at knock down prices ... but I think I still kinda do ...

Okay, well I bought a Sire V7 (Marcus Miller) recently - and to be honest I am blown away by the quality of this instrument at this price point. This has however got me thinking who the manufacturers, Sire Global really are? I don't believe for one minute that this is an unaffiliated, stand alone company - based in their own standalone Indonesian factory - producing superb, affordable basses to meet a purely altruistic ethos as per their marketing. For example many players realise that Cort own the Ibanez brand (among many others) and used to produce the lakland Skyline series in Korean and Indonesian factories (which feel VERY similar to the Sire instruments). Does it really matter? Well, no ... maybe yes ... maybe maybe ... but who actually are Sire?