BeLow

This is the new range of headless basses - looks really good to me. This is the Anaconda Medusa MD5 Essence, Anaconda already build this as a custom bass at their North London workshop, but this is from the lower cost range. The spec looks really good.

Not sure if anyone wants to hear it in action, and you will have to deal with my ugly bass face, but a short clip from a covers gig last year. Going through GR Bass Dual head and TC / PJB cabs. There is probably a bit of spill from the PA, but I think mostly you are hearing the backline more.

I would agree with your summary. I don't like telling people their bass is not as good another bass, so always try to tread gently. As you say Sire offer a lot of features for the money, and their finish for the price is pretty good, however the Anaconda probably fits into a bracket above Sire, both in pricing and performance. I am a bit out of touch with the higher end US built instruments these days. Probably a decade ago I tried a Fender USA P5 which did nothing for me and I found a Squier Modified P5 which I much preferred, even though the finishing on the US version was undoubtedly better. This can all get quite subjective. For me Andrew's basses are very carefully refined versions of the Fender design, the graphite reinforcing seems to make a noticeable difference to my ears, the neck profile is just that tiny bit more comfortable, the pickup and electronics add that tiny bit of extra oomph and flexibility. As a retired production engineer I know that the processes in use in some of the Chinese manufacturers now is close to what is used in prestige manufacturers in say the US. So apart from the Kudos of where things are made probably the key differences are now down to material choice, design and attention to detail on finishing and final set up. If you are based in the UK, a trip to see Andrew in his North London workshop is recommended, he is not only knowledgeable, but his show room is well set up. I tried an earlier version of the Essence there before I bought - I have added a write up here in case anyone is interested. Anaconda Basses visit a.pdf

Yes I think the later Sire's are better, I had to reseat the bridge on mine, and replace the tuners as one failed. The intonation adjustment was limited as the adjustment screw went into a blind hole in the saddle, I had to recut the nut as well, but it was a later generation 1 so those issues might have been resolved. I don't think I am incredibly picky, and set up is partly a question of preference. All I did on the Anaconda was very lightly wire wool the back of the neck, which in effect recreates playing in the finish.

One other comment I should make, when I mentioned each bass is checked, this is a pretty thorough process of setting the instrument up, rather than plugging in and checking it plays. One are where offshore manufactured basses can fall down is this final attention to detail. I have had to recut nuts, adjust truss rods, shim necks on mass produced basses and fret level, but this is done for you. I am sure if you had an issue Andrew would personally sort it out because he cares about his reputation. When Overwater Basses did their partnership work with Tanglewood(?) they had some issues with how basses were set up in shops, and it can make undermine even reputable brands.

Sires can be really good, I have a 5 string fretless, which has been problematic hardware wise (it was an earlier version). I work with a number of young bands and several of their bass players have had to bypass the electronics due to failures. The machine heads on the Anaconda are very good (among the best I have used, and light too). The Sire is essentially a good Jazz style bass, the electronics are certainly flexible, but the stiffness of the neck construction and pickup / electronics on the Anaconda is in a similar league to my Custom ACG basses, which is high praise indeed. Of course not everybody wants that clarity and zing. I can't say it would be the right upgrade for you, our tastes all vary of course, but for me it was an easy decision. People used to talk about a studio quality sound, and for me, this describes the Anaconda really well.

Indeed it is - Super Jazz describes it really well, the pickups and electronics make this really stand out, and the neck profile is particularly good IMHO.

I don't post much, but have actually been a member on here for many years. I was recently talking to Andrew Taylor-Cummings at Anaconda Basses about how many of his instruments went to America, and as a UK brand relatively few made their homes here in the UK. I said I would try to do my bit to change that - this is a review of the Ultra Jazz Essence 5 I bought a while back (hopefully you can read files in this format). I am pretty enthusiastic about what Andrew does, the bass is made overseas to his design, and checked before dispatch. He also crafts his top end basses in his North London workshop. The great thing for UK bass players is he does support his instruments, which some other suppliers of offshore made basses struggle to do. He is also very pleasant to deal with. I played it in a covers band since I got it, where it replaced my trusty Squier Jazz Deluxe. The Drummer said it was the best bass sound he had heard (more to do with the bass than me I think). These are great basses which are more affordable than many of the established brands, and in my humble opinion outperform some of them. I have owned a number of high end basses including a Wal 5 midi bass, a pair of Shukers, 4 ACG basses and my beloved Ashley Pangborn among others. I have also built from scratch a few basses of my own. So while I am no professional reviewer, I think I know a bit about what I am talking about. Anaconda Ultra J Essence 5 String review.pdf

It looks great, and I am sure it sounds as good as it looks. Is it the scale length that gives it the improved balance? I was out with my medium scale 5 last night and it does make life easier, less unwieldy, lighter and you don't feel as if the strings are fighting back. There is a time and place for the strings to be tight and aggressive, but it's not every gig. Nice one!

I should add an update, my unit went back to Thomann. It was a little delayed getting back but I got my money refunded. Just recently I followed up and they confirmed the unit was faulty. They did not clarify what exactly but a knowledgeable friend suggested it was a power supply issue. There was a loud repeating click when linked up to two BFM Omni cabs, which suggested a capacitor was charging and discharging. My dilemma now is whether to retry with a different unit or go with a GK Legacy 800. I like the features on the GR better, and also the tone seems less harsh than the GK. Other than that I guess they are aimed at similar users. The drive setting on the GK, is something I doubt I will use. Anyone got experience of the two brands who could offer views?

Thanks that helps, my suspicion is that I was unlucky with this particular unit.

Does it get warm? I suspect as you say I have been unlucky. I did like the sound when it was working.

I have just sent my GR BassOne 800 back as it had a few issues - most noticeably a loud repeated clicking when I connected it to my BFM Omni 105's. As they were self builds suspicion would normally fall on them, but they have done over 10 years of gigs, never missed a beat and, I can't replicate the fault with either a LittleMark2 or a Trace Elliot Elf. The amp was generally Ok with other 8 ohm and 4 ohm cabs I have, although I did think I could hear some background pops occasionally and the volume "hunted up and down" occasionally. Also I found the top of the casing was pretty warm even at low volumes, so about the temperature you might expect on TE ELF after a gig. My Markbass head only evert got this warm after a hard 3 hour wedding gig in the summer. I know different amps would expect to have different thermal behaviour, and I am guessing the GR Bass head is pretty tightly packed inside its chassis compared to the much taller / larger LMK2. When it was working properly I loved the sound, but after a chat with a knowledgeable engineer who suggested it was likely to be a capacitor problem (repeated clicking, charging and discharging) and the other slightly strange anomalies, I thought it was potentially a faulty unit. It had the edge on my elderly MB head, but didn't want to have concerns about reliability from new. Have others had issues with the amp being noticeably warm?

Still in touch with Thumper on FB (not Finnbass) - he has strong opinions, a wicked sense of humour, and is really great on electronics. He is a good guy in my opinion. BBC - Big Cheese or whatever appeared on Finnbass for a bit after he was ejected from BassChat, but he did not hang around that long there either. As far as I can recall the only person who really got thrown off FB (rather than left of their own accord) was Bass Ferret who overstepped the mark on several occasions. I don't think there was much actual moderation, more of a class action by the membership.