NBD Sire V6 7.65 lbs. FAIL

[five7]

Just picked this up from fedex. Was a bit scared as the box had a nice size hole in it. Made a good handle to pick it up with though. Bass was okay and not damaged.
New model of Sire and I had to try it out as I have owned 7 other Sire 5 strings and they were all heavy except for 8.3 lb V3 p I owned for a couple of years.
7.65 weighed it at fedex, sweetwater had it listed at 7lbs 10 oz
Amazingly no neck dive and nice balance on a strap.
Preamp is a little different with no mid sweep, knobs feel better than the previous plastic ones.
Dragon strings feel nice and sound good, probably will get a lighter gauge.
A couple of high frets but action isn't too bad.
Truss rod turns very smoothly and the bridge is nice and solid.
Neck and new tuners feel very nice.
The sandblasted swamp ash top looks and feels like plastic, don't really care for that. So I tried something on for size a spare pg from a V7. Let me know what you think of that.

 

[FretRiff]

Congrats. Looks very cool. I like the headstock better than most Sires.

 

[darev]

I tried something on for size a spare pg from a V7. Let me know what you think of that.

Right idea wrong pick guard? I am unsure. The bass looks awesome.

Regarding your delivery, it must have been handled by the same crew that worked on mine. lol. Mine was delivered with a big ole hole as well. This was picture is obviously of the inner box but whatever made this hole just missed the neck. Just like yours.

 

[EagleMoon]

I’ve been looking at these en Sweetwater, but once they got the actual basses in instead of the stock photo, I didn’t think they looked as nice. And I wondered if the top would feel as plasticy as it looks. I think the idea in theory is a great idea. I just wish they had given them a different top.

 

[TeeSee]

It is a shame, Sire are capable making some beautiful pieces of work, but this, to take a decent wood and cheapen it to look like it's a £20 item bought from Toys'r'us, it just looks like one of those cheap pieces of plastic garden furniture that has wood grain moulded into it.

 

[five7]

The body looks as though the Flintstones carved it with a dull rock.
How could Sire send this out and think it is acceptable?
How could Sweetwater's 55 point inspection miss this?

 

[Brandon Shea]

The body looks as though the Flintstones carved it with a dull rock.
How could Sire send this out and think it is acceptable?
How could Sweetwater's 55 point inspection miss this?

Gotta ask for the 56 point inspection next time…

 

[Zooberwerx]

The body looks as though the Flintstones carved it with a dull rock.
How could Sire send this out and think it is acceptable?
How could Sweetwater's 55 point inspection miss this?

Yeah, that's pretty severe. I have an expensive bass with very subdued grain-dimpling (translucent blue-burst) but nothing like that. When done correctly, it lends texture & character...unlike yours.

Riis

 

[OldShark]

Is that still the V6 in black? The latter pictures of the body's side and back look to me as if it were kind of Grey or silverish...

 

[FretRiff]

The body looks as though the Flintstones carved it with a dull rock.
How could Sire send this out and think it is acceptable?
How could Sweetwater's 55 point inspection miss this?

Sweetwater's much-marketed inspection system is better than nothing and can catch problems with instruments, but I don't recall anyone ever posting about not getting a specific instrument they ordered because Sweetwater found a big enough problem not to ship it.

 

[five7]

Is that still the V6 in black? The latter pictures of the body's side and back look to me as if it were kind of Grey or silverish...

Yes this is a black V6

 

[MaxSpinrun]

That looks terrible!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Love the look with the pick guard. The condition of the bass is horrendous.

 

[TeeSee]

I have the Z3 and it's peerless for the price paid new, it knocks the Sterling out of the room, I understand that the P, U & V series are also well received from what I've heard on here. I kinda get it that they want to appeal to all players tastes but that thing is an abomination, what were they thinking? I'd expect they'll drop it like a Lead Zeppelin once they hear the feedback, I don't hear you complaining about how it plays so it is probably is a very good player, but honestly, you have paid for an experiment that's gone wrong. I hope they listen to the feedback because they make such quality instruments at that price range, that a fail like this could rob them of aspiring musicians and the brand become a laughing stock. Even Harley Benton would not produce a finish like this.

 

[pb9717]

I actually ordered a V6, then canceled. I have a V 5–24 and it’s spectacular. It is a fretless model. But I like it so much that I canceled the V6, and asked for another V 5–24 instead. This time fretted. The John East J Tone I installed is also an incredible upgrade. I had some trepidation regarding the V6. Your insights have helped confirm I made the right decision. But if you want one of the best they make, I cannot recommend the V 5–24 enough.

 

[five7]

How can they make something as nice as your fretless and then so crappy as the V6 I was sent? Come on now.

 

[five7]

I have the Z3 and it's peerless for the price paid new, it knocks the Sterling out of the room, I understand that the P, U & V series are also well received from what I've heard on here. I kinda get it that they want to appeal to all players tastes but that thing is an abomination, what were they thinking? I'd expect they'll drop it like a Lead Zeppelin once they hear the feedback, I don't hear you complaining about how it plays so it is probably is a very good player, but honestly, you have paid for an experiment that's gone wrong. I hope they listen to the feedback because they make such quality instruments at that price range, that a fail like this could rob them of aspiring musicians and the brand become a laughing stock. Even Harley Benton would not produce a finish like this.

A $70 Glarry I owned was finished better than this V6. WTH

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

For the low prices these go for, how can they be perfect?

 

[five7]

I have owned 7 different Sire's. The finish and paint was perfect on all of those. The first v3p I had was $350 with a perfect finish. This one cost $850

 

[Brandon Shea]

Is this the wrong time to joke that Fender would charge extra and call it a relic?