Ander87 Posted June 9, 2023 Share Posted June 9, 2023 (edited) Hey gang! I'll start by saying I've often been a bass brand snob, but life has taught me there's more than gear that I need money for, and recently I've gone around selling lots of stuff and downsizing. For context, it's been rare to see me buy a bass of less than £1k so this is a nice turn of events - and boy I've been missing out...! Recently I came across a Fender Precision MIM in Lake Placid Blue for £450 that I modded for just some bits and trades and now I have a very very very killer/competent bass with the EMG GZR P for about £520 net... After the cull and sorting money for some projects, wife invited me to 'keep the change and buy yourself something nice' - of course, it was gonna be a bass... I've just ordered it this morning so I'm hoping that forum will help me whilst I spend the week looking out the window - the reward? Pictures and a review of the Sire V5R in Mild Green (2nd Gen). It's in budget and didn't want to wait around or drive to collect etc, £399 free shipped via Thomann. I'm a sucker for pastel colours and even if I already have this on my Stingray, I was more interested in this combo rather than Natural/Sunburst. Having a Stingray and a Precision it made sense to get a Jazz for my 3rd wall hanger, and I'm set to myth bust that 'Sire is as good as MIA Fender / Better than MIM Fender' that I've been hearing for so long . Not expecting a miracle, just something to compliment the tones and playability of the Precision on stage whilst the Stingray covers all the recording ground and nice/safe gigs. I've not seen a lot about this particular bass, but rosewood fingerboard with blocks & bound, alongside passive electronics and roasted neck... Yep, way to go. Again, rosewood is the only board of interest I didn't have as the precision is maple and the stingray is ebony... ...I just wanted to invite folk to share their comments on this bass, positives? negatives? Picture for interest: Edited June 19, 2023 by Ander87 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted June 9, 2023 Share Posted June 9, 2023 I keep looking at the Sire P range...cos I need another bass (sic). 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander87 Posted June 9, 2023 Author Share Posted June 9, 2023 (edited) Yeah I think it’s a great time to look into the sub £600 range tbh 😅 and buying new and delivered free felt a great treat instead of driving half the country to collect/trade/deal/pickup over what I really can afford 😅 Edited June 9, 2023 by Ander87 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted June 9, 2023 Share Posted June 9, 2023 I've had my P7-5 (v2) since January and still loving it. Black & tort too - gorgeous! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted June 10, 2023 Share Posted June 10, 2023 Can’t go wrong….. they’re fantastic instruments 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franticsmurf Posted June 10, 2023 Share Posted June 10, 2023 I've had my V5 for several months now and I'm very happy with it. Great playability out of the box, looks good and sounds great. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrolOfStroll Posted June 10, 2023 Share Posted June 10, 2023 Their Mild Green looks absolutely fantastic to me paired with the roasted necks, in pictures and video footage both. Beautiful looker and if my own new experience with an '18 V7 is anything to go by then I bet this newer bass will be a joy to play. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander87 Posted June 10, 2023 Author Share Posted June 10, 2023 Yes! I was considering regular v5/8 (Thomann has a v8 b stock for £580!) but having the stingray I wanted as much instrument without electronics so I chose passive. the V3p looked really nice, I could’ve well gone for the Sonic Blue for more colour variation but I couldn’t resist the roasted neck and binding/blocks so here we go again 2 teal basses haha the hanger is ready waiting; Best, Ander. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted June 10, 2023 Share Posted June 10, 2023 Looks great. I had a first Gen Sire I bought for £230. Utterly incredible bargain 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leroydiamond Posted June 10, 2023 Share Posted June 10, 2023 Played a Sadowsky NYC for years and then my brother introduced me to his Sire V7. omg. Seriously impressive instruments in every way other than the weight being 10lb +. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander87 Posted June 10, 2023 Author Share Posted June 10, 2023 Haha I'm getting really excited, funny enough this is the cheapest bass I've ever bought followed by my Fender MiM Precision so I'm really looking forwards to trying it out. I know that these 'edgeless' fretboards is the marketing name for rolled edges frets but they do look very heavily rounded, will be interesting to see I reckon - the pictures make for very good finishes but won't be able to judge until it's in my hands I guess. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander87 Posted June 10, 2023 Author Share Posted June 10, 2023 Just now, leroydiamond said: Played a Sadowsky NYC for years and then my brother introduced me to his Sire V7. omg. Seriously impressive instruments in every way other than the weight being 10lb +. Wow! Yep I find myself missing a punchy jazz tone - didn't want to do active electronics though, and youtube makes the passive Sires sound very authoritative, but what do I know, I know that can be deceiving - worth a try though...! Also heard that the weights were more of an issue of the gen 1, the v2 seeeeem to have remedied that a bit more and stay around 4kg - hopefully that's the case, long as it's not a boat anchor...! Ander. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leroydiamond Posted June 10, 2023 Share Posted June 10, 2023 (edited) 32 minutes ago, Ander87 said: Wow! Yep I find myself missing a punchy jazz tone - didn't want to do active electronics though, and youtube makes the passive Sires sound very authoritative, but what do I know, I know that can be deceiving - worth a try though...! Also heard that the weights were more of an issue of the gen 1, the v2 seeeeem to have remedied that a bit more and stay around 4kg - hopefully that's the case, long as it's not a boat anchor...! Ander. My brothers Sire was a gen 1. If they get the weight right well that's a home run. With basses of this quality available for so little money, I for one would be very happy to have it as my go to. Over the years I have spent a fair bit of time putting boutique and vintage basses through my hands. I am retired from playing for a while, but if I was ever to go back playing, I would get a Sire and leave it at that. Edited June 10, 2023 by leroydiamond Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted June 10, 2023 Share Posted June 10, 2023 45 minutes ago, Ander87 said: Yep I find myself missing a punchy jazz tone - didn't want to do active electronics though, You can always add a preamp pedal should the need arise, all of my basses have a Sadowsky preamp, in that they go through an SBP2. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander87 Posted June 10, 2023 Author Share Posted June 10, 2023 3 minutes ago, ezbass said: You can always add a preamp pedal should the need arise, all of my basses have a Sadowsky preamp, in that they go through an SBP2. Exactly my reasoning mate! My Capo does an awful lot of tone shaping now, it really has made my active preamp redundant really - just a bit of muscle on the bass and treble and my passive basses have punched a bloody lot! Off topic but that pedal has just changed my sound so so so much, it is shocking - defo my 'one pedal to an island' kind of thing, makes me wonder even whether I need a compressor and I could even live without an extra distortion - I just have it for extra niceness lol but yeah...! Ander. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted June 11, 2023 Share Posted June 11, 2023 I played the first two songs at our gig tonight thinking that my Sire didn't quite have the usual "punch". Then I realised I'd accidentally flicked it onto passive mode. The other band members didn't notice. It's got a lovely passive/active balance. Tonight I learned: The treble knob doesn't really do much tbh once the strings are a couple of weeks old - all the twang is in the swept middle knob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesy Posted June 11, 2023 Share Posted June 11, 2023 I played one of their 2nd gen J basses (can't remember which. Sunburst, maple neck with blocks. Maybe a V7?) and was really impressed with it. The neck was very slim front to back and felt great. I'm not usually a fan of active basses, but that preamp was pretty great too. Congrats on your new bass, I'm sure it'll be great. Just hope the wait doesn't kill you, not too long to go now! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander87 Posted June 11, 2023 Author Share Posted June 11, 2023 8 hours ago, Jonesy said: I played one of their 2nd gen J basses (can't remember which. Sunburst, maple neck with blocks. Maybe a V7?) and was really impressed with it. The neck was very slim front to back and felt great. I'm not usually a fan of active basses, but that preamp was pretty great too. Congrats on your new bass, I'm sure it'll be great. Just hope the wait doesn't kill you, not too long to go now! Aha! yep I was tempted for the V7/new V8 - Thomann has a B Stock one for £580 which is quite nice against new £700something... but then again with the Capo and my pedals I don't neeeeed an active, and do still want to have the Stingray at work if I need active... Haha just being dramatic, waiting a week for a bass isn't really the biggest struggle but I'll be hoping it's Thursday instead of Friday will hopefully test it on Friday at our Slim Jim's rig and report back...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted June 11, 2023 Share Posted June 11, 2023 1 hour ago, Ander87 said: Haha just being dramatic, waiting a week for a bass isn't really the biggest struggle but I'll be hoping it's Thursday instead of Friday 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander87 Posted June 12, 2023 Author Share Posted June 12, 2023 ORDER DISPATCHED 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asingardenof Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 From the reviews I've seen the V5s look to be fantastic instruments. Honestly, if they'd been a thing when I bought my V7, I wouldn't have my V7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander87 Posted June 12, 2023 Author Share Posted June 12, 2023 I liked the V7/V8s but I was less keen on the colours and don’t need active bass this time… and only rosewood missing in my trio of basses which I think it’s fundamental sometimes…! Ander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andruca Posted June 13, 2023 Share Posted June 13, 2023 (edited) I've just succumbed too, loving my V3. Unfortunately not as good looking as the V5R you're getting ❤️ Edited June 13, 2023 by andruca 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander87 Posted June 13, 2023 Author Share Posted June 13, 2023 20 minutes ago, andruca said: I've just succumbed too, loving my V3. Unfortunately not as good looking as the V5R you're getting ❤️ but you’re blessed with that solid playing my man! I was REALLY considering the sonic blue V3 but roasted maple won me over in the end. Un saludo 😉! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andruca Posted June 13, 2023 Share Posted June 13, 2023 1 hour ago, Ander87 said: but you’re blessed with that solid playing my man! I was REALLY considering the sonic blue V3 but roasted maple won me over in the end. Un saludo 😉! Flattering but funny at the same time. Lately I've been struggling to lay down some fast HC bass tracks for my own band (100% picking). I have this tendency to chase the drums and it doesn't always work right. Definitely doesn't work with quantized drums in the 200BPM zone 😢 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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