My V7s are heavy, sure, as any full J is, but they're not too heavy - I wouldn't hesitate to gig any of them. I do use good wide padded straps though!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
NBD Sire Marcus Miller P7
- Thread starter Bluzlvr
- Start date
I’m not envious… I couldn’t handle it and would show up next time with a
headless. I might be able to handle that.
Otherwise I really like the J bass and have an old cool red Squier Affinity from back when I had no money, wife just left me….. I decided to buy a bass. Needed one. Went down to Harrisburg GC and spotted a bright metallic red one that grabbed my attention. It drew me to it… The price tag was around $175 new.
I purchased it on the spot along with a Fender Rumble 100 bass amp, with the flashing red lights in the bottom vents. I learned to love those lights. Flashed to the beat. I still have it in my drum room.
This old J bass has special value to me because of the ‘hard times’. I didn’t care! I was ‘buying’ that bass and amp for myself with the little money I had. For myself. I am now a happily divorced man for about the last 20 years.
My new girlfriend fiance bought me a brand new Fender shoreline gold American Stratocaster. And lots of other guitar gear and stuff. She just bought me a brand new Honda 250 recon ATV in September, 6k$, cash on the barrelhead.
Don’t underestimate yourself… My x wife wouldn’t let me buy a $150 guitar with my own money. I had to lie about it. That’s no way to live. Life goes on. There is another page to the book of life you haven’t seen yet. You just don’t know about it.
The day I bought the red affinity I had the tech install a pair of Fender Noiseless J bass pickups in it passively. It sounds great. But it shows the tests of time now. A little on the rough side.
I want to get a new J bass actually and will find something on the light side. But like you said these big bass guitars are inherently heavy.
I don’t think heavy weight contributes much to tone that can’t be compensated for with other means.
I don't disagree, Any effect on tone is negligible, I just don't mind the weight as much as some folks do although I feel it more now in my 60s than I used to. This getting old business, I tell you. I bail when they get over maybe£12 lbs. My Gibson Rd standard weighs close to 14 and yeah I wouldn't gig that much for sure.
There has been quite a lot of talk about these new basses and that they are specifically designed to be light weight. Even from those of us who complain that their basses tend to be heavy. The other product lines do still tend to be heavy so nothing there has changed. And these sandblasted ones look like plastic.Funny how the ol' "Sires are too heavy" crowd have gone silent....
Cool.
I am 76 now. In recent years I began noticing the weight factor acutely and relatively suddenly. I never cared about weight.
Several years back I injured my right shoulder, torn, due strictly to age related over doing it while working in the yard. I didn’t see a surgeon. Over the next couple years I injured it 2 more tines with more tears and didn’t see a surgeon until I going to one a year ago.
I told the surgeon about my neglect and that I am a guitar player and drummer. I told him about the pain in my shoulder being a disincentive to playing guitar. Especially lifting my arm over the body of a big acoustic guitar. The surgeon understood and told me I would be able to play guitar but no more playing it behind my head!!!!
That began the period when I began looking for and getting light guitars. I just bought a nice headless guitar and like it.
My surgery was successful and I no longer experience pain in the shoulder. Playing guitar and bass is again painless. I play more now.
My nicest bass is from around 2013 and is a Gibson Rd3 big modern firebird headstock bass. It is an awesome 4 string bass. Long scale. 2 big black plastic humbuckers. This is my biggest but by far the lightest bass I own. It wants to float off the stand if you know what I mean. Very unusual to find a big bass that is feather light.
It does impart an artificial almost plastic appearance to the surface but I like the texture and effect, for sure.
I haven't had my P7 5er out in a long while, ought to go grab it out of storage. I believe it's fretless. (Have so many Sires now that it's tough to keep track lol) In any case, I love it!!
Last edited:
No, but my typing has gone all to heck since retiring! heheI'm puzzled! So many Sires, you put one into an ant colony?
I see someone on another forum mentioned the following as downsides:
- Pickups are a bit noisy
- Knobs/hardware feel cheap
- Active EQ not that great, but the passive tone is good
- Back of the neck is lacquered and they prefer satin or natural. (personal preference item obviously)
Nope. Do not agree, point by point. Particularly the preamp comment - I LOVE the Sire preamp! I "fix" the gloss neck backs with a Scotchbrite pad - easy peasey. And many now come with satin backs. YMMV and all that.
I wonder if he has an older one. The ones I'm seeing for sale now appear to have satin/smooth necks based on the photos.
Could be. Most of mine are older Gen 1s, including #99 (signed) from the very first batch, and a fretless 5 from the very first fretless batch. All still great basses. But yeah, Gen 2s, especially the latest ones, are even better.
Have you seen the features on the new line of P7 coming out this year?
Marcus Miller P7 New Gen
Features Specification Our core models — V7, P7, and V7 Vintage — will transition to the New Gen, seven years after the launch of the 2nd Gen. We have reflected the extensive feedback we’ve received for our flagship models, V7 and P7, and this update represents the most significant effort we’ve...
www.sire-usa.com
I'm debating if waiting for the new model will be in my best interest even though I'm probably paying more for it. The new ones claim to have lightweight tuners, etc.
Yeah, I've read some early reviews. Even more impressive. IMHO. Doubt I'll be getting one, though, I'm kinda "full up and then some".Have you seen the features on the new line of P7 coming out this year?
Marcus Miller P7 New Gen
Features Specification Our core models — V7, P7, and V7 Vintage — will transition to the New Gen, seven years after the launch of the 2nd Gen. We have reflected the extensive feedback we’ve received for our flagship models, V7 and P7, and this update represents the most significant effort we’ve...
I'm debating if waiting for the new model will be in my best interest even though I'm probably paying more for it. The new ones claim to have lightweight tuners, etc.
