New Sire P Basses!

[buldog5151bass]

I wouldn't necesarily rely on that bit of info too much. Clearly more people use basses skinny necks, but if the current market is an indicator, buyers either prefer p-bass necks on p-style basses or don't notice that they're not skinny.

Maybe Sire is really onto something, but there have been plenty of j-necked P's over the years from a variety of companies and the majority of P's being sold still seem to have P necks.

Because Ps are popular basses, and many people who buy beginner basses don't know the difference. Putting a J neck on a P bass is a very popular mod/option. In over 30 years of playing bass, I know of exactly one example of the opposite - it was a bass I bought in about 30 years ago, not knowing otherwise. Do you really think they had any doubt what the result of the poll would be?

 

[MrJohnston138]

If you're going to build a precision bass, then build a precision bass. The P/J style is definitely what some bassists are looking for, but some of us are simple and just want a standard P bass. No active pickup, no jazz nut, or neck,and two knobs only!
Not hating on anyone's choices, just saying a P/J is not a P.
Dig?

 

[FingerDub]

Because Ps are popular basses, and many people who buy beginner basses don't know the difference. Putting a J neck on a P bass is a very popular mod/option. In over 30 years of playing bass, I know of exactly one example of the opposite - it was a bass I bought in about 30 years ago, not knowing otherwise. Do you really think they had any doubt what the result of the poll would be?

I'm just waiting for the right P neck for my build, but I have all of the parts ready to go to build a jazz with a P neck, which I'm excited about. I just can't play the thin necks. More power to those that can though. I feel like I've been left out. Not sure why it is so hard to make it an option. There are some boutique shops that do it too.

 

[Eilif]

I'm just waiting for the right P neck for my build, but I have all of the parts ready to go to build a jazz with a P neck, which I'm excited about. I just can't play the thin necks. More power to those that can though. I feel like I've been left out. Not sure why it is so hard to make it an option. There are some boutique shops that do it too.

Go for it, you likely won't regret it. I've trimmed every narrow-nut neck out of my stable and I'm much happier with my basses now.

As it happens, the bass in my sig is a part's jazz that I put a Warmoth P-neck on. I may shave down the thickness just a bit at some point (it's a baseball bat) but I had a j-width neck on it before and it definitely didn't work for me. Hope your is everything you want it to be.

 

[FingerDub]

Go for it, you likely won't regret it. I've trimmed every narrow-nut neck out of my stable and I'm much happier with my basses now.

As it happens, the bass in my sig is a part's jazz that I put a Warmoth P-neck on. I may shave down the thickness just a bit at some point (it's a baseball bat) but I had a j-width neck on it before and it definitely didn't work for me. Hope your is everything you want it to be.

Me too. I'm making this just for me and don't care about resale value or anything like that. I've never had a jazz because I never got along with the necks, but I love the sound, the snarl and snap. I'm a better player now that I've ever been, and I tried another jazz a few months ago and despite my improved technique, it still didn't work for me, while some here have said that if you can't play a jazz neck, your technique must be bad. I have a reasonably lightweight cherry burst body, vintage gotoh 203 bridge, Hipshot Ultra Lights clovers and a custom wiring harness that will do series/parallel, and has a mid control with an instant music man style push pull pot which is being paired with Aguilar AJ 60's pups. I do not want to make it a "Fender" in fact, I'm gonna make my own waterside decal for the head stock and so I'm leaning toward a Mighty Mite neck, which I love. It will have to be a maple board and I want black block inlays, like a Geddy, so that's why I've been waiting to find the right neck. There is a P Squier neck that fits this bill but it has stuff on headstock. If the right Fender P Bass neck came along with the black block inlays built in, I'm a go for that anyway though.

I have a tech who's gonna do all the work and setup. So I'm really hoping this can be an everyday player for me. If it is, I'll keep my P with flats, this Jazz and my stingray, the rest is going.

 

[Eilif]

Sounds like a cool project. You might have to go custom for the neck though since as you've discovered, P-width necks with blocks are like hens teeth. Would USACG do such something like that?

 

[i hate username]

purely basing this on knee jerk reactions to the photo's I cant decide if i like or loath the control layout. Still though excited to hear these, im more of a P-bass person at heart so if this was available at the time probably would have gone for this over the v7.

 

[socialleper]

I will agree that the announcement of a "Sire P bass" is a little misleading. Calling it a PJ up front would be a little more honest. On the other side of that, the hysteria over the neck and controls is kind of laughable. If you want just a single split coil with two knobs, there are already hundreds of those out there. Sire is trying to create a niche by offering a feature rich jazz bass at a low cost; that is surprisingly rare. Cheap P basses are a dime a dozen. Sire can't make money selling that, and it isn't like you can't find them everywhere from other manufacturers, so cool your jets. Clearly you aren't the market they are after. Get over it.
If I had to guess, their initial idea of going with a PJ, which commonly has a slimmer neck, is so they could keep using the same necks as the V7. The more different parts you have to manufacture, the higher your costs. Plus they already have a ton of jazz pickups and preamps around, so why not use them? A split coil with this preamp with be overkill, and building a regular passive set would require a whole new assembly chain. Again, more money.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

+1 Socialleper.

 

[TCSS]

It will have a P neck. Sire announced today.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Interesting to see if it will affect the price... smart move imo.

 

[descendent22]

Waaaaay to many tone control knobs. Good looking instrument but looks like it has way to much goin on. I'll stick with my Fender P bass, jazz bass and PJ bass's. I'm a less is more get more from less kind of guy. 1 volume 1 tone is all you need

 

[Wfrance3]

Ohhh... Shiny.....

 

[Mosstone]

There is a P Squier neck that fits this bill but it has stuff on headstock.

Sandpaper does a good job of removing that.

If you're careful, you don't have to sand all the way down to the wood (I'd use 600 grit, dry). Then, just buff it with Maguire's Scratch-X to get rid of the scratches and lay down your own decal.

I recommend spraying a few coats of poly over the decal to protect it and dissapear the edges, but that's up to you.

 

[jrodbass39]

I wonder if these necks fit a standard Fender neck pocket. Depending on the price of the necks, they could be nice necks for a project or upgrade.

 

[FingerDub]

Sounds like a cool project. You might have to go custom for the neck though since as you've discovered, P-width necks with blocks are like hens teeth. Would USACG do such something like that?

This is the final look I'm going for. I will check with them...but I don't really want to go higher in cost, but I may. I have seen reports that the stickers work fine and stay on, but I'm still not totally comfortable with it. If I have to, I'll still go maple without the blocks.

Like this?

Blocks BLACK Fret Markers block Vinyl Inlay Stickers Decal for Jazz or ANY BASS | eBay

 

[Kukulkan61]

I was intrigued until I saw all the knobs, I would need to go to rocket science school to learn how to work it..WHY

 

[Plutonium244]

I was intrigued until I saw all the knobs, I would need to go to rocket science school to learn how to work it..WHY

It's a terrific preamp that Sire has developed, I mean really good. I guess that's the "why"... to continue to use a very good component, and to bring something to the table of P's/PJ's that you can't get in a thousand other p?PJ basses from a hundred+ other companies.

It may seem like a lot of knobs especially for anyone used to the standard 2-knob P bass, but it's really very simple and gives you great control. 10 minutes with it and you won't be confused anymore. The sweepable mid-control is fantastic and very useful.

 

[Plutonium244]

I am having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around their decision offer them stock ONLY with the P neck, but to sell J necks that can be purchased and installed by the buyer at his/her cost and risk. They should IMO offer them with either nec, from the factory.

No, this isn't a question of "I want them to offer MY custom option!" I understand they can only sell for low prices by having a stock set of features that all their machines are set up for. So, forget fret size, color, this or that option... it's not there and that's more than okay.

Here's the thing: they are already going to be manufacturing J necks that will fit the P7. So, in order to sell one that comes with a j neck installed, they won't need ANY additional machining or retooling; they will already be making these necks.

Why, then, won't they offer the bass with a neck they are already going to be making? Does it cost more to install a j neck than a P neck? No. All they need to do is have them at the factory where they are building these. Perhaps they will build the j necks somewhere far way, and would have to ship them to the manufacture location, whereas the P necks will be made onsite? Maybe. That's all I can come up with.

As much as I love Sire basses, (and I own 3), and as much as I have been wanting to add a PJ to the collection, I don't think I will be willing to pay $100-$200 more than the next P7 owner, in order to have the neck I want and which they will already be manufacturing. With the recent price increases, and then this added cost, I would hardly (if at all) save money buying a Sire P7 and an additional neck, versus just buying a Fender PJ that comes with a jazz neck such as the one pictured in this post, below (I know, I would not get the great Sire preamp with the Fender).

And, isn't one of the big points of buying a Sire to get a good bass for less money than a comparable one from another company? They'd be losing their calling card, with this weird plan for this new model. IMO that would be a mistake.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[bholder]

I am having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around their decision offer them stock ONLY with the P neck, but to sell J necks that can be purchased and installed by the buyer at his/her cost and risk. They should IMO offer them with either nec, from the factory.

No, this isn't a question of "I want them to offer MY custom option!" I understand they can only sell for low prices by having a stock set of features that all their machines are set up for. So, forget fret size, color, this or that option... it's not there and that's more than okay.

Here's the thing: they are already going to be manufacturing J necks that will fit the P7. So, in order to sell one that comes with a j neck installed, they won't need ANY additional machining or retooling; they will already be making these necks.

Why, then, won't they offer the bass with a neck they are already going to be making? Does it cost more to install a j neck than a P neck? No. All they need to do is have them at the factory where they are building these. Perhaps they will build the j necks somewhere far way, and would have to ship them to the manufacture location, whereas the P necks will be made onsite? Maybe. That's all I can come up with.

As much as I love Sire basses, (and I own 3), and as much as I have been wanting to add a PJ to the collection, I don't think I will be willing to pay $100-$200 more than the next P7 owner, in order to have the neck I want and which they will already be manufacturing. With the recent price increases, and then this added cost, I would hardly (if at all) save money buying a Sire P7 and an additional neck, versus just buying a Fender PJ that comes with a jazz neck such as the one pictured in this post, below (I know, I would not get the great Sire preamp with the Fender).

And, isn't one of the big points of buying a Sire to get a good bass for less money than a comparable one from another company? They'd be losing their calling card, with this weird plan for this new model. IMO that would be a mistake.

Just my 2 cents.

Yeah not much sense in causing a proliferation of extra necks. I applaud the decision to offer both, the way they're doing it seems like an odd unfortunate choice.