• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

bad GAS

#21
rogerbmiller said:
I suppose I should play one before I rush to judgment but these just don't do it for me.

It is simply not the bass Marcus plays so what is it at the end of the day other than an imported J copy with active electronics?
Click to expand...
Which is exactly why I like the other one (M3) more. But yeah, nothing all that original going on here, other than, perhaps, value for price, if they're as good as they claim. I don't particularly care whether it's the exact bass MM plays or not. No signature models really are, though some are quite close, but the artists' actual instruments always get special treatment, even if they're using one off the production line.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nuage420b
#22
rogerbmiller said:
I suppose I should play one before I rush to judgment but these just don't do it for me.

It is simply not the bass Marcus plays so what is it at the end of the day other than an imported J copy with active electronics?
Click to expand...
And being that they're mail order only currently, hard to play one before deciding.
 
#23
bholder said:
Which is exactly why I like the other one (M3) more. But yeah, nothing all that original going on here, other than, perhaps, value for price, if they're as good as they claim. I don't particularly care whether it's the exact bass MM plays or not. No signature models really are, though some are quite close, but the artists' actual instruments always get special treatment, even if they're using one off the production line.
Click to expand...

From about the most reliable source you can imagine I know that the MM Fender V was designed and played by Marcus...
 
#24
rogerbmiller said:
From about the most reliable source you can imagine I know that the MM Fender V was designed and played by Marcus...
Click to expand...
The claim is that he also designed the Sires, don't know what he's playing now (don't follow his music, myself, other than equipment). Still, don't you think they cherry-picked his out of the "best of the best" that came off the line, or even made one or more specifically for him?
 
#25
bholder said:
The claim is that he also designed the Sires, don't know what he's playing now (don't follow his music, myself, other than equipment). Still, don't you think they cherry-picked his out of the "best of the best" that came off the line, or even made one or more specifically for him?
Click to expand...

The one they produce is 100% his specs. It was a process of constant refinement. Other than maybe wood lot selection what else could be that different?
 
#26
rogerbmiller said:
The one they produce is 100% his specs. It was a process of constant refinement. Other than maybe wood lot selection what else could be that different?
Click to expand...
Good question, I don't know, but I suspect the chosen instruments get a little more attention to details, fit, finish, & polish, and his preferred setup.

So I guess my question is, why would anyone suspect he'd be less demanding of Sire than he was of Fender?
 
#27
bholder said:
Good question, I don't know, but I suspect the chosen instruments get a little more attention to details, fit, finish, & polish, and his preferred setup.

So I guess my question is, why would anyone suspect he'd be less demanding of Sire than he was of Fender?
Click to expand...

Not saying he would be but let's face it- to manufacture a $499 MSRP instrument you have to automate and skip certain finer details.

The MM V sig was made in the US and I would imagine had a little more "finish" to it for the near $2K price tag.

I could be wrong but in broad strokes I can't be that far off.
 
#28
rogerbmiller said:
Not saying he would be but let's face it- to manufacture a $499 MSRP instrument you have to automate and skip certain finer details.

The MM V sig was made in the US and I would imagine had a little more "finish" to it for the near $2K price tag.

I could be wrong but in broad strokes I can't be that far off.
Click to expand...
Yeah, hard to see how a $500 bass could match up against a $2000 bass, but that's the claim he and they are making. Did he leave Fender and jump to Sire so he could have more control? Or a bigger share of the profits? And is he actually currently playing one? All fair questions for a "reliable source". :)
 
#29
bholder said:
Yeah, hard to see how a $500 bass could match up against a $2000 bass, but that's the claim he and they are making. Did he leave Fender and jump to Sire so he could have more control? Or a bigger share of the profits? And is he actually currently playing one? All fair questions for a "reliable source". :)
Click to expand...

Have no idea if there is still an arrangement with fender or not. But I would be awfully surprised if he stopped playing his 75-78 Js in favor of his signature. Did Flea stop playing his Modulus FU basses when he launched Fleabass?!
 
#31
Hey everyone, NBD for me today. The M3. IMO...value for money!
image.jpg
image.jpg
image.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: PortlandBass77, dieseldalziel, Low Class and 2 others
#34
rogerbmiller said:
Have no idea if there is still an arrangement with fender or not. But I would be awfully surprised if he stopped playing his 75-78 Js in favor of his signature. Did Flea stop playing his Modulus FU basses when he launched Fleabass?!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'd actually like to see a list of who does and does not actually play their endorsed / signature instruments. Jack Casady does, there have to be others.
 
#37
bholder said:
Great! How's the feel and sound?
Click to expand...
Feel - alright out of the box, sent it for a minor action set up ...sweet!
Sound -
Passive - reliable and usable
Active - reliable and usable EQs..
headroom - plenty due to 18v

It'll not be soon before my next bass guitar purchase. My GAS is cured for now! I play covers - incubus , 311, muse, radiohead, sublime, bob Marley

It's versatile!

YMMV
 
  • Like
Reactions: nuage420b and bholder
#38
jim777 said:
Not to go too off topic, but I wonder if MM left Fender if Carvin would go after him with all they've got?
Click to expand...
Sounds like he's "in play", since Fender's not shipping new MMs any more. Unless Sire is his sole instrument endorsee - no clue how those things typically work. Question for folks with endorsements - how exclusive are the usual terms?
 
#39
For myself, and I'm sure many others who are novice/hobbyist bassists with a low budget finding an extra 300-400 dollars for a used professional grade instrument just isn't reality. If someone like MM (who I am only recently becoming familiar with but surely appreciate his talent) creates a budget bass I am grateful. Sure Flea didn't play a Flea bass much if any on stage but I've seen him use it plenty in instructional videos and demo's, he also created it so that the young and the poor could afford quality instruments. I love Flea and MM and anyone who has not only the foresight to see that quality instruments and instruction should be available to the masses and not just those with access to wealth, but also act on this to do something about it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bholder
#40
A lot of people on these threads have been questioning whether its possible for a $400-$600 instrument to match the more expensive fender models, but if you read on sire's site, pay attention to the real claim they are making. They seem to be saying that its entirely possible with new advances in technology and efficiancy to create a high quality instrument for less money but that big companies like fender are "ripping us off".

I don't think that necessarily means fender is intentionally screwing us over, like someone earlier said, fender has tons of different models to build, endorsers to pay, and advertisements to fund, which all drives the price up since they need to make a profit. But since sire isn't doing any of that (except for paying MM as an endorser) it would make since that the instruments could be sold for cheaper while still retaining quality materials.
And from the things people have said on the other thread, they seem to have succeeded.

Not ragging on fender or anything, I mean its just business.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bholder and nuage420b

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back