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NEW SIRE Marcus Miller V5 - passive

#64
Second month with my natural V5 four strings. So far so good, great feel and sound but with one issue that I can't understand: The signal level even for a a passive bass is SO low in both pickups that I have to push the preamp of my amplifiers almost to the max to clip. I have raised the pickups to the limit but it changes almost nothing. Anyone has experimented the same?
 
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#65
jsixties said:
Second month with my natural V5 four strings. So far so good, great feel and sound but with one issue that I can't understand: The signal level even for a a passive bass is SO low in both pickups that I have to push the preamp of my amplifiers almost to the max to clip. I have raised the pickups to the limit but it changes almost nothing. Anyone has experimented the same?
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No. Mine has a nice strong output. I did not change anything yet from how it was set up when it arrived from Andertons a bit over three weeks ago.
 
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#66
jsixties said:
Second month with my natural V5 four strings. So far so good, great feel and sound but with one issue that I can't understand: The signal level even for a a passive bass is SO low in both pickups that I have to push the preamp of my amplifiers almost to the max to clip. I have raised the pickups to the limit but it changes almost nothing. Anyone has experimented the same?
Click to expand...

Mine is able to clip the input on my BBE383 but not my Behringer amp. My Peavey Milestone can even clip the Behringer. So the output isn't as hot as my Peavey, but plenty useable. Yours might have an issue.
 
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#68
jsixties said:
Thank you guys. Not a real problem the low output so it sounds wonderful and I'm not short of watts in the rehearsal, just it's strange this behaviour. Cheers
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On the three V7’s I’ve had, low output was always noticeable, but not a problem in a gig, just turn up the gain. My V5 is much more .....standard...with it’s output, a nice even loudness.

I recall reading somewhere on the Sire site that they underwind the pickups to give it more aged Jazz bass sound. Marketing? Who knows. But yes, Sire’s tend to be more tame with the gain staging. It has zero effect on recording or gigging, except when you switch between basses. If I started the gig with my Reverend and switch to the Sire, I have to up my gain about 50%.

I do find the V5 to have that magical open, aggressive passive snarl compared to the V7s. That is why I bought it and I much prefer it to the more compressed, refined tone of the V7s. For rock, the V5 does the job wonderfully.
 
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#72
Any "semi long-term" reviews on the V5 already, preferrably the 5 string version? I'm looking into getting myself one of these and stringing it up with La Bella Low Tension flats. I think I'd go with the tobacco burst as I fear the body wood might not match the roasted neck too well.
 
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#77
Darren Saw said:
I really wish they'd release a passive split coil only P bass (P5?) as well. That would be a killer alongside the v5
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If you don't mind a PJ setup with a thin J style neck:
u5_ts_2048x.png

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