Sire V7 Marcus Miller 5 String bass

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Firstly, I'm not really a bass player, I can just about play a little bit of slap, but really I'm a root notes with a little bit of fill for messing around, just to help with song writing or whatever.

I fancied getting a 5 string bass just for noodling on at home and some recording maybe, I didn't want to spend a huge amount so started looking for a secondhand 5 string Jazz on eBay. Turns out they are quite rare!

I asked a bass playing friend of mine, who suggested the Sire v7, based on all the good reviews it had. A quick Google confirmed how well liked these are, to cut the story short, I ended up on Thomann and bought one :) - Alder body in vintage white. A total of £370!

It arrived around 4 days later, the first thing that struck me is just how good quality this is for the money, this is easily on par with my Mex 4 string Jazz, maybe better! - It plays great straight out of the box, arrived in tune (well, with it's self) and is fitted with D'Addario strings from new.

I'll get round to some proper pictures at some point, but this is it:
image

Here it is next to my Mex Jazz
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It comes with a 3 band eq which I haven't messed around with much, but this will let you dial in some great tones.

Positives:
Amazing value for money, the fretwork seems great, the finish is flawless, decent strings, great sounds etc... This is punching way above it's price tag.

Negatives:
No manual supplied (just would have been handy for the eq)

At this price point the hardware isn't premium, but it's certainly up to the task. The tuners all work smoothly, the bridge seems to be a take on a 'badass', so maybe a cheapass? :D - Either way, it works :)

I wouldn't hesitate in recommending one of these, this would be my first call if I was considering a J style bass 4 or 5 string in the up to £600 range (basically, this over a Mex).

Here's a very quick clip of me messing around, the controls are all set to neutral, so no eq dialled in, using an Ampeg Kemper profile:


Excuse the ropey playing, bit of slap, riff with the B and a run to show all strings.

Dave. 
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Comments

  • Van_HaydenVan_Hayden Frets: 437
    Interesting - I'm thinking of ordering a 4 string Jazz instead of a Mex, thanks for the insight!
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  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3301
    I've got the 4 string version and I'd echo the OPs comments. Superb value and great bass,

    Cheers for the review :)
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  • PVO_DavePVO_Dave Frets: 2364
    Interesting - I'm thinking of ordering a 4 string Jazz instead of a Mex, thanks for the insight!
    @Van_Hayden Nothing to lose really, Thomanns return policy is easy enough, but can't see you being disappointed :)

    Check some of the YouTube reviews by people that can actually play bass


    Kebabkid said:
    I've got the 4 string version and I'd echo the OPs comments. Superb value and great bass,

    Cheers for the review :)
    I saw your thread after I'd ordered, was nice to have the reassurance!
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  • EricTheWearyEricTheWeary Frets: 16253
    If I ever decide to upgrade the Weary family bass these are on the list.
    Tipton is a small fishing village in the borough of Sandwell. 
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  • PVO_DavePVO_Dave Frets: 2364
    Still extremely happy with this bass - finally got my photography setup going:

    image
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  • JezWyndJezWynd Frets: 6021
    edited June 2016
    Nice headstock shape. You see some horrors as makers try to avoid the Fender outline, that one looks great, balanced somehow with the 5th tuning peg. Very cool bass.
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  • BGGBGG Frets: 688
    Our bass player has just bought the fretless and it's amazing quality and tone for the price.
    He's had some great high end basses through his hands over the years but he's loving this so much he's on about buying the fretted one.

    Here's a clip of him, you can hear it on the intro.


    #thebatesmotelband
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  • paul_xtpaul_xt Frets: 86
    I've just ordered one of these! Can't wait to get my hands on it!
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  • DrJazzTapDrJazzTap Frets: 2158
    Thanks for the review. These have piqued my interest for some time.
    I would love to change my username, but I fully understand the T&C's (it was an old band nickname). So please feel free to call me Dave.
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  • EricTheWearyEricTheWeary Frets: 16253
    Probably says on thomann but does a gig bag come with these?
    Tipton is a small fishing village in the borough of Sandwell. 
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  • PVO_DavePVO_Dave Frets: 2364
    paul_xt said:
    I've just ordered one of these! Can't wait to get my hands on it!
    @paul_xt - how did you get on? :)
    DrJazzTap said:
    Thanks for the review. These have piqued my interest for some time.
    No worries!
    Probably says on thomann but does a gig bag come with these?
    No gig bag sadly
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  • EricTheWearyEricTheWeary Frets: 16253
    Cheers :)
    Tipton is a small fishing village in the borough of Sandwell. 
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  • paul_xtpaul_xt Frets: 86
    Mine was B stock as its out of stock till August. All was great on it except the volume pot was broken. Thomann sent out a replacement and I had it fixed in no time.

    The bass is unbelievable for the money. It plays as well if not better than basses I've tried in the £1000+ category. It's incredibly versatile and looks great too.

    Highly recommended!
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  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3301
    edited June 2017
    Hi Sire-users or potential ones.

    Just to let you know that Andertons will be stocking them and they appear to be similar prices to Thomann. Whilst no ETA, it would be great to try them first as I'd imagine most of us who took a punt on buying it mail order from Thomann didn't get that opportunity. However, straight out of the box and 2 hrs after arriving, I was up and running with mine and using it at a rehearsal

    https://www.andertons.co.uk/c/5/bass-guitars?p=1&q=5&by=5&v=0&me=_No-of-Strings&f=No-of-Strings:4-String-Basses|Brand:Sire&x=Brand|No-of-Strings

    I still absolutely love my V7 Marcus Miller 4 string but if you look closely, there appears to be a new one in the range - the P7- and that's a hybrid precision/jazz bass pickup configuration

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  • FretwiredFretwired Frets: 24601
    BGG said:
    Our bass player has just bought the fretless and it's amazing quality and tone for the price.
    He's had some great high end basses through his hands over the years but he's loving this so much he's on about buying the fretted one.

    Here's a clip of him, you can hear it on the intro.


    Is this your band?

    Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
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  • BorkBork Frets: 252
    Can anyone comment on the difference between swamp ash and maple fingerboard vs alder and rosewood?  I'd be interested if I could find one with a lot of midrange snarl.  I'm guessing it'll be in the swamp ash bodied ones.

    [This space for rent]

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