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Advice needed - Ibanez SR300E or Sire M3?

#21
I can't say enough good about my M3. Huge tone options and you can run it passive or active mode. My main bass now...can do the modern tone or just about anything else. Great neck, slightly wider than the SR300 I believe. Setup on my M3 was spot on out of the box. About 6 weeks for mine from Sire. Worth the wait :)
 
#22
OldFunBass said:
You are not the first person I have heard say that I should consider going up to the SR500 line. But it jumps from around $350 to $600, which is a little more than I wanted to spend. However, it seems like Ibby made some improvements when they came out with the 300E last year over the previous 300 line. However, I doubt this bass will leave the house, I really just want to play with some different tone possibilities.
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Why not consider a lightly used SR500 or 700? I've seen both in your price range. The 500 can have finish problems (it wears off) but not the 700. Many people say there is a big jump in quality at 500 and higher. I really like my 700 and 706.
 
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#23
If you want a different sound, why not add an effect pedal or an eq in the chain?

If you are dead set on getting a new bass, be sure to try it out in your hands and form your own opinion.

Your money, your life.
 
#24
Gots me a SR300M when I first got in this bass thang. I moved on to a BTB mostly now, but go back to the 300 quite a bit. Had it out last night wood shedding and said to myself, "self this is a nice bass" That being said I agree with the above commenter. If you go the Ibanez route I would get a used SR higher in the food chain. Or save $100 or more getting a used SR300, lots of them out there. Mine was used when I bought it for a very good price.
 
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#26
I had an older SR300M a few years ago. For the time I owned it, no complaints. Fast forward to last year. Bought the newer SR305E. Looked great, played fine, but the sound was very bland. Wasn't good, wasn't bad, it was just blah. Had no life or characteristics to it. Returned it after two weeks. The sales rep had the same opinion has me. Love the new color schemes though. I just feel they need an electronic upgrade.
 
#28
I own an Ibby SR300E as of last September and the electronics are phenomenal. The power tap position adds a really nice edge to slaps and low growls. Full humbucker mode sounds powerful. Regular tap sounds pretty close to a J. More so than my Squier J, I think. The EQ has really nice cuts and boosts, and sounds nice with everything on flat.
My favorite part of the electronics is that the knobs are notched in the middle to show 50% on the balance and neutral on the EQ. (Nothing on the volume knob)
It gets worse as you go up the neck, though. E string is only useful till the 16 fret, A to the 18, D and G to the 16. The fret edges are pretty sharp, but the neck is super fast and super strong thanks to the five piece build. The tuners hold very fine.
Given the opportunity, I'd have gone for the M3.
 
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#30
Thanks everyone for the input, it has given me a lot to think about. At this point I am still concerned about the availability issues with the Sire M3. Sire USA website says they are out of stock with no expected date, and will not let you add it to your cart to even place a backorder. Only place that I can find to order is from Thomann, and that has me very nervous about ordering something from Germany. If there are any damage issues it will be real pain to get resolved. As opposed to the 300E, which I can walk into GC and pick up today, no shipping risk and no shipping costs. On the other hand, it is not like I am getting a $1500 bass, so the risk could be a lot worse.
Like I said...a lot to think about.
 
#31
katalyzt13 said:
I own one of the slightly older Ibby SR300s, and I own a Sire V7 (so, neither of the actual instruments you're talking about), but for what it is worth, the Sire V7 is absolutely superior to the SR300 in my opinion.
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Finally, someone who comes close to answering what the OP asked for...the opinion of someone who played both.


Now, with that out of the way - the Ibanez fanboy in me says "get the SR". I love my older one, and the new ones I checked out at NAMM are every bit as nice. You've played it. You know it. You like it. Get it.

Then, start saving $35 a month. Call it the "Sire Fund". In about a year you'll have enough to get the Sire.

Last step...come back in here and give us your opinion of the Ibanez vs the Sire. I'm awaiting your comparison review, sir.
 
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#32
I has an SR375F, which is similar animal. If you are planning upgrades, it's a little problematic on that one but not impossible. I swapped out the bridge with a hipshot, and there was a small gap at the bottom, but no big. Filled it in with a small thin piece of flat-black wood. Looked pretty respectable. If you want to upgrade your pickups, I found some Barts that were pretty close to the Ibanez size, but were a little shy of being a direct fit. It worked ok because it was very close. I just split the difference and left a tiny gap a the top and bottom. Barely noticeable. Cannot speak to your your other choice, but can say the I get the draw of the Ibanez. It's very comfortable to to play. The neck raduis and the string spacing were great in my opinion.

Not that you asked me to, but let me throw another brand your way that may be worth a look:
Bass
I'v had 2 and really enjoyed them. Still have a Schecter 5 right now and is one of my main players. They have stuff in your price range, and if you go used, you might be able to find an even nicer model.

Hope this helps!!
 
#33
OldFunBass said:
Thanks everyone for the input, it has given me a lot to think about. At this point I am still concerned about the availability issues with the Sire M3. Sire USA website says they are out of stock with no expected date, and will not let you add it to your cart to even place a backorder. Only place that I can find to order is from Thomann, and that has me very nervous about ordering something from Germany. If there are any damage issues it will be real pain to get resolved. As opposed to the 300E, which I can walk into GC and pick up today, no shipping risk and no shipping costs. On the other hand, it is not like I am getting a $1500 bass, so the risk could be a lot worse.
Like I said...a lot to think about.
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Yeah, Sire USA doesn't do backorders, sorry, no idea when they'll get more M3s in (sure hope they're not phasing it out). But yeah, availability for "try before you buy" is one of the deciding factors, and is a downside for Sire until they get them into stores. Thomann has a pretty good customer service reputation, on the other hand.

Don't sweat it too much, you'll get a nice bass for not so much $ either way. :)
 
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#34
Wfrance3 said:
I has an SR375F, which is similar animal. If you are planning upgrades, it's a little problematic on that one but not impossible. I swapped out the bridge with a hipshot, and there was a small gap at the bottom, but no big. Filled it in with a small thin piece of flat-black wood. Looked pretty respectable. If you want to upgrade your pickups, I found some Barts that were pretty close to the Ibanez size, but were a little shy of being a direct fit. It worked ok because it was very close. I just split the difference and left a tiny gap a the top and bottom. Barely noticeable. Cannot speak to your your other choice, but can say the I get the draw of the Ibanez. It's very comfortable to to play. The neck raduis and the string spacing were great in my opinion.

Not that you asked me to, but let me throw another brand your way that may be worth a look:
Bass
I'v had 2 and really enjoyed them. Still have a Schecter 5 right now and is one of my main players. They have stuff in your price range, and if you go used, you might be able to find an even nicer model.

Hope this helps!!
Click to expand...
I had not really thought about upgrading yet. Need to see how I like it first. But in that respect I am sure the Ibby would be easier to find upgrades for (and input here on TB) than the Sire. Thanks for the Schecter link. One of the GC's here had a Stealth hanging on the wall, may give it a try just out of curiosity.
 
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#35
wintremute said:
Finally, someone who comes close to answering what the OP asked for...the opinion of someone who played both.


Now, with that out of the way - the Ibanez fanboy in me says "get the SR". I love my older one, and the new ones I checked out at NAMM are every bit as nice. You've played it. You know it. You like it. Get it.

Then, start saving $35 a month. Call it the "Sire Fund". In about a year you'll have enough to get the Sire.

Last step...come back in here and give us your opinion of the Ibanez vs the Sire. I'm awaiting your comparison review, sir.
Click to expand...
This sounds like it could be the plan.
 
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#36
OldFunBass said:
Thanks everyone for the input, it has given me a lot to think about. At this point I am still concerned about the availability issues with the Sire M3. Sire USA website says they are out of stock with no expected date, and will not let you add it to your cart to even place a backorder. Only place that I can find to order is from Thomann, and that has me very nervous about ordering something from Germany. If there are any damage issues it will be real pain to get resolved. As opposed to the 300E, which I can walk into GC and pick up today, no shipping risk and no shipping costs. On the other hand, it is not like I am getting a $1500 bass, so the risk could be a lot worse.
Like I said...a lot to think about.
Click to expand...
IMG_0362.PNG

It looks like the M3s will be available in mid march. I've played both but own the M3, it just sounds so good, the humbuckers just sound so alive! The neck is fast and the string spacing is nice. The Ibanez SR300E feels comfortable but not as much as the Sire to me. I do have a couple of higher up Ibbys (505 and 805) and those are great too, but for the price, you can't beat Sire! I've also ordered a V7 from Thomman and got it in 6 days in perfect condition. They pack them well!
 
#37
Take a look at the older Soundgears with the PJ configuration like [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]... they are excellent quality, and if you drop in new pickups like an EMG set, it would sound great and play like a Soundgear. And be in your price range too, likely.
 
#39
bholder said:
Well I'm still partial to the M3, but that Ibby 300E looks mighty nice too, see here: I got a new toy!!! NBD...
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Yes sir, I saw that :thumbsup: I think I might go for the SR300E. I saw his post and almost jumped in the truck and headed to GC. However, I need to prep the wife for another bass. Not like we can't afford it, just need to prep her for it. That fact she just ordered some sort of $1500 Louie Vaton purse thing will certainly help my case.
 
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#40
I think about buying a Sire M7 4-string. Cannot try it here in Quebec for there is no retailer that has them. Is there any additional fees (other than currency rates) when importing one to Canada ? I would not want any bad surprises on my credit card, for my budget is a little low, these days...
 

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