First 5 string - Sire Marcus Miller V7 Reissue a good entry point?

[ColdFusion]

Hey all. Looking to get my first 5 string and saw this Sire on bassbros. Just wondered if anyone had any experience with these? 

I had actually been looking at fanned fret Ibanez's, Dingwalls etc, but now thinking I might have been trying to run before I can walk and that it would be better to get a 5 string at a lower price point in case I don't get on with it. 

 

Anyway here's the exact bass in question, seems a reasonably good price? 

 

https://bassbros.co.uk/product/2024-sire-marcus-miller-v7-reissue-5-string/

 

Thanks in advance for your help/comments/condemnation :). 

 

 

Edit - Sorry, just realised I posted this in the General forum rather than the Bass Guitars - I can't see a way to delete it though, sorry! 

Edited October 30 by ColdFusion

[Mrbigstuff]

Sire is a very good starting point. Particularly second hand will retain its value well too should you not get on with it. I preferred the passive version but that’s my preference in all basses.

[dave_bass5]

Just be aware that's its quite heavy. Other than that, the Sire's are very well respected on here . I had one of the first ones. Other than weight it was fantastic.

[ColdFusion]

Hmmm I hadn't considered the weight. That's a good kilo heavier than what I'm playing at the moment. Is that going to be the same for Fender/Squier J type basses? 

[dave_bass5]

12 minutes ago, ColdFusion said:

Hmmm I hadn't considered the weight. That's a good kilo heavier than what I'm playing at the moment. Is that going to be the same for Fender/Squier J type basses? 

Have a look at the Sire sandblasted basses if you want light. 
Fenders etc can all vary as well. I have a Squier CV Jazz which is just over 9lbs, but that’s a 4 string. 

[Mrbigstuff]

4 hours ago, ColdFusion said:

Hmmm I hadn't considered the weight. That's a good kilo heavier than what I'm playing at the moment. Is that going to be the same for Fender/Squier J type basses? 

Squiers and Sires are both inconsistent with weights. If it’s a potential issue, I’d suggest visiting shops with them in store. I believe they have the same scale length and string spacing which are another two key factors in 5 string comfort. 

[ColdFusion]

I don't think weight would usually be a problem for me, I've just got a dodgy shoulder at the moment from carrying my son around a lot 😅. 

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be anywhere near me that stocks Sires so I think I'll struggle to give one a try. 

[Norris]

I have a Sire P7. It's a really nice bass. Not the lightest ever, but no problem dangling from my Comfort Strapp. I gigged it regularly, until I upgraded the preamp (to a Retrovibe Stinger) in my Sterling Sub5 - that is lighter, tighter string spacing and now also sounds great. The Sterling gets to go out most times now. Both are budget 5-ers, but very playable

[Geek99]

I have exactly this one. It isn’t heavy. 

I’d buy another in a heartbeat 

[dave_bass5]

10 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

I have exactly this one. It isn’t heavy. 

I’d buy another in a heartbeat 

Weight – 10lbs7oz/4.7kgs is counted as heavy for some. 

[Kiwi]

I tried one of the Z basses in Andertons and was deeply impressed by how well it compared to Musicman basses.  I even preferred the sound, more growl and bite...and there's a slight problem with that...I would find it a struggle to find anything better at any price point unless I hand selected the materials myself.  However, I can't get on with that shrunken lower horn on the body so my bank balance remains safe.  But if I could find a P bass that sounded like that Z bass...oh boy.

[basexperience]

On 30/10/2025 at 12:21, ColdFusion said:

Hey all. Looking to get my first 5 string and saw this Sire on bassbros. Just wondered if anyone had any experience with these? 

I had actually been looking at fanned fret Ibanez's, Dingwalls etc, but now thinking I might have been trying to run before I can walk and that it would be better to get a 5 string at a lower price point in case I don't get on with it. 

 

Anyway here's the exact bass in question, seems a reasonably good price? 

 

https://bassbros.co.uk/product/2024-sire-marcus-miller-v7-reissue-5-string/

 

Thanks in advance for your help/comments/condemnation :). 

 

 

Edit - Sorry, just realised I posted this in the General forum rather than the Bass Guitars - I can't see a way to delete it though, sorry! 

I've got a V7 Mk 2 in swamp ash / maple - it's a heavy beast, but with a little extra setup I did it's become a go-to bass. The preamp does have plenty of capability of unusable tones, and the sweepable midband is probably way too complex for most, but in terms of playability it's an excellent bass, and as a first 5-string, I'd recommend it. Hardware on that bass is good if it's like mine (it's a 2020 model secured new for what now seems like a ridiculously reasonable £463) - build quality great, and those rolled fretboard sides are incredibly comfortable.

 

The only mod I made was replacing the plastic knobs with silver metal knurled ones - I'm not a fan of those black plastic ones.

 

The colour on that bass is killer, what a gorgeous finish! I'd go for it.

Edited 8 hours ago by basexperience

[SteveXFR]

Don't discount the fan frets, I find they feel really natural to play. It took about half on hour before I learned to just ignore the fact it was fan fret and just play it and it felt fine. I had the Ibanez SRMS805 which is less extreme than the Dingwall. 

My experience of fan frets was a much brighter and more defined B string. If you don't want that, then don't get fan frets

[mcnach]

On 30/10/2025 at 12:21, ColdFusion said:

Hey all. Looking to get my first 5 string and saw this Sire on bassbros. Just wondered if anyone had any experience with these? 

I had actually been looking at fanned fret Ibanez's, Dingwalls etc, but now thinking I might have been trying to run before I can walk and that it would be better to get a 5 string at a lower price point in case I don't get on with it. 

 

Anyway here's the exact bass in question, seems a reasonably good price? 

 

https://bassbros.co.uk/product/2024-sire-marcus-miller-v7-reissue-5-string/

 

Thanks in advance for your help/comments/condemnation :). 

 

 

Edit - Sorry, just realised I posted this in the General forum rather than the Bass Guitars - I can't see a way to delete it though, sorry! 

 

 

Nice bass and not just as an entry point. Affordable no longer needs to mean 'meh'.

 

The bass I'm using the most right now is another Sire (Z3-5), while other basses that cost up to 4x as much stay at home. A Sire V7 is a very nice bass, they can be a bit heavy in my (limited) experience of that model, but they're nice.

 

 

 

[asingardenof]

I can vouch for the 4-string version being excellent, and even if I think it sounds nicer with the Sadowsky preamp I've put in it than the stock one, that's not to say the stock one is in any way not good.

[chris_b]

Sire get good reviews but that bass is 3lbs heavier than I would go for. Unless you are a fit 30 something I'd give it a pass.

[SICbass]

I like my V7 4-string and I‘ve had it for years. One slight nag, but by no means a deal-breaker, the controls are a bit faffy. My one had a stacked volume/passive tone pot, pick-up blend. Treble, stacked mid/sweep, bass, plus the switches. They all work fine, but on-the-fly tone changes take a little bit of practice.