Good review, thanks. Never played a short scale, and the idea of Sire without the preamp is weird... but it sure is pretty!
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New Sire U5 review and discussion thread
- Thread starter Plutonium244
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- 30" short scale sire u 5 u5
That's my concern. I have a Fender Aero Jazz. I love the way the bass looks and I love the neck but the lack of contour is really annoying when I'm practicing sitting down.
I had a gen 1 v9 that has a similar binding on the outside of the contour. It was okay, if I was playing for a while sitting down it started to bother me after a while. I'd say the weight of that bass was more of an issue.
I'm also very curious about the opinions of the contour from owners.
I'm also very curious about the opinions of the contour from owners.
So, the back is pretty flat, and the top edge isn't contoured. I could see how maybe that might bother some people. I didn't find it to be a problem, and in fact it hadn't really caught my attention until several people mentioned contour, and then I focused on it a bit. As soon as I quit focusing on it, it didn't bother me really at all, but while focused on it I could see how maybe for some, it might not be what they prefer.
One reason I don't think the lack of contour on the back is an issue, to me anyway, is how light the bass is at about 7 pounds. It doesn't feel like its pressing on me or confining me; and I've got a little bit of a gut so contour is usually a friend. Interesting also that while mmbass21 and bassb66 both found the binding/edge more problematic when sitting down, it did not bother me sitting down. Standing, I noticed it a little more. Either way I did not find the flat back or binding to be a deal breaker by any means, for me. Everyone is different and I do not consider myself super finicky. So I can't say if it would be problematic for others. But I did find the light weight made it comfortable for me.
The feel and playability and tone are all good, for me. They are better than I anticipated, really. It's passive so I thought I might miss a preamp-- and I do really like the V7 preamp. I find I can get a tone that I like-- crisp, clear, solid-- with the two volumes, and tone, and using amplification that suits my style (my "test" home rig is a Trace Elliot ELF and a Barefaced One10 cab). I get a tone pretty much close to spot on for the tone I like in a 34" V7. The more I play it the more I like it. My first semi-foray into short scale was when I bought a cheap 32" Squier Mustang that is also a PJ passive with VVT controls. Yes, it was a $200 bass so caveat there-- but this Sire is MUCH better in all repsects.
Hopefully more of these will find their way into retail stores so that people can try 'em out and see if it "feels" right. I feel I can vouch for the tone and if you like Sires esp the V7, and you probably do if you're considering this, you'll like this tone, esp if you like maple boards. As far as body comfort, I don't have a problem with it especially given the very light weight, but that's definitely subject to personal variation and (unlike tone where I have a common reference point with most of you-- Sire bass tone) it's hard for me to know what others will or won't like in that way.
I see that G&L is now making a Tribute version of their 30" Fallout bass that is $599, so I am curious as to what that's like. I like G&L's generally (have an old L2000) but I am not a fan of the old single-pickup Fender mustangs/Broncos that the design is based on-- though the one pickup is one of those nice G&L humbuckers with the 3-position switch. I am pretty much a 2 pickup guy, I am used to being able to have more control over the tone.
I am hoping to see more new U5 owners put in their two cents. You probably want to hear several perspectives before trying to make any judgments about these, if you can't make your own direct conclusions by playing one.
Hi all new to the forum and have just added a U5 in tobacco sunburst to go with my long scale basses. I've wanted a short scale for a while as I don't have big hands and I'm loving it so far, there's a really good range of tone available from it.
I've been having a bit of an issue with the E string in terms of tuning and intonation and I'm wondering if I have a duff string. The E string harmonics don't ring like the other strings and sound terrible, making it impossible to tune the E and A using harmonics. Using a tuner it seems to struggle to lock on to the open string, often showing sharp when first plucked, but drifting downwards as it decays, as if the tuning is wandering. If I set it so the open and 12th fret are in tune notes between the two are slightly flat. The other thing that doesn't feel right is to get the intonation correct on the E string the bridge is as far forward as it can be, almost out of adjustment range, which is unusual based on my experience with the long scales, the ADG and stepped in sequence as I've come to expect from the action I like.
One thing I have noticed which I've never seen on long scale basses is there's a step in the string winding by the 4th fret, is this normal, or do I have a faulty manufactured string? All strings I've ever had before taper after the nut (see pic attached).
I've never had any issues with my other basses and am comfortable making adjustments to get the feel I want, but don't have a wide experience beyond my own basses and none with a short scale.
Andy.
I've been having a bit of an issue with the E string in terms of tuning and intonation and I'm wondering if I have a duff string. The E string harmonics don't ring like the other strings and sound terrible, making it impossible to tune the E and A using harmonics. Using a tuner it seems to struggle to lock on to the open string, often showing sharp when first plucked, but drifting downwards as it decays, as if the tuning is wandering. If I set it so the open and 12th fret are in tune notes between the two are slightly flat. The other thing that doesn't feel right is to get the intonation correct on the E string the bridge is as far forward as it can be, almost out of adjustment range, which is unusual based on my experience with the long scales, the ADG and stepped in sequence as I've come to expect from the action I like.
One thing I have noticed which I've never seen on long scale basses is there's a step in the string winding by the 4th fret, is this normal, or do I have a faulty manufactured string? All strings I've ever had before taper after the nut (see pic attached).
I've never had any issues with my other basses and am comfortable making adjustments to get the feel I want, but don't have a wide experience beyond my own basses and none with a short scale.
Andy.
Attachments
Somehow looks like a shorter scale string on there. That can't be right, like you said any taper is above the nut.
Thank you, everyone I've spoken to has said the same. Have emailed retailer to ask for a replacement.
Just thinking about it, as a 30" scale I wonder what string that could be for besides a uke bass.
I was wondering the same, you'd need an instrument with around a 24" scale for it to fit. I'm more inclined to think it's just faulty manufacture.
I don't know what strings Sire use, but from the colours of the ball ends and the smooth feel, my guess would be D'addario.
They use D'addario nickel chromes on their other basses, I confirmed that through email with them a few months ago. I had a Kala California solid body bass that was 23.5" scale, their acoustic ukes are even shorter. Definitely a manufacturing mistake on the strings part and slight miss on QC before Sire boxed up that bass.
Bit of an update that may help others.
The online retailer wanted me to return the bass, which seems excessive for a dodgy string and I don't really want to pack it up and send it away, especially as replacement stock seems limited at the moment, so I reached out to Sire to find out the string gauges and types.
They measure circa 38-60-72-104 on the bass (at the pickups), the E measures 93 at the nut. I couldn't identify a D'addario set that matched, but Sire have confirmed they use D'addario EXL220S 40-95 (EXL220S Nickel Wound | Bass Guitar Strings | D'Addario) on the U5, which confirms the faulty string theory.
For the modest cost of a set of strings I'm just going to replace them, which gives me the opportunity to try stringing the U5 through-body to see what difference it makes.
I may contact D'addario direct afterwards to see if they can offer a replacement for the E but otherwise I'll chalk this one up as a learning experience!
Andy.
The online retailer wanted me to return the bass, which seems excessive for a dodgy string and I don't really want to pack it up and send it away, especially as replacement stock seems limited at the moment, so I reached out to Sire to find out the string gauges and types.
They measure circa 38-60-72-104 on the bass (at the pickups), the E measures 93 at the nut. I couldn't identify a D'addario set that matched, but Sire have confirmed they use D'addario EXL220S 40-95 (EXL220S Nickel Wound | Bass Guitar Strings | D'Addario) on the U5, which confirms the faulty string theory.
For the modest cost of a set of strings I'm just going to replace them, which gives me the opportunity to try stringing the U5 through-body to see what difference it makes.
I may contact D'addario direct afterwards to see if they can offer a replacement for the E but otherwise I'll chalk this one up as a learning experience!
Andy.
The retailer should offer you a set of strings over a return imo. I bought a Lakland hobo30 right before the pandemic and the E string was dead. The salesman I had wanted me to send it back too but it arrived perfect and why chance damage in shipping either way. After a few more days I called the 800 # and a nice saleswoman shipped me a set of tapewounds on them. Installed and solved the problem. I'm really enjoying the short scale world.
I played a full gig with the U5 this past weekend, it performed well. Sounded good! Since the strings on a shorty are lower tension, I had to pay a little more attention to technique so as not to bend the strings inadvertently, but it was an easy adjustment to make. I had been concerned that perhaps the short scale would not sound as solid and hence good as a 34" but with proper EQ (with the passive VVT I don't have as much control as I am used to at the bass) there was not perceptible drop off from a V7 to U5 though it takes different adjustment at the amp naturally. I continue to be very impressed. The maple fret board brightens up the sound compared to rosewood neck shorter scale basses such as the Squire Mustang (32") scale I have had as the "short scale" voting member of the caucus.
That top edge doesn't bother me, but I can understand how maybe someone else might be. I have never been a princess-and-the-pea type. Some details that bug other people, they don't keep me awake at night. That's not meant to say that people whom it bothers are princesses
That top edge doesn't bother me, but I can understand how maybe someone else might be. I have never been a princess-and-the-pea type. Some details that bug other people, they don't keep me awake at night. That's not meant to say that people whom it bothers are princesses
I played a Gibson LP DC Junior Bass at Guitar Center a few months back..it was some weird situation where they only wanted $599 for it, new. It was blue, which I would have picked. And it sounded and felt incredible. I played it for like 25-30 min and loved everything about it. Except the slab corners. I had told myself a while back I would never compromise again for an instrument, so I put it back on the shelf.
It was gone the next day.
I've found the dealer sell the EXL220S strings so have asked for a set.
Perfect, much cheaper for all parties and a much simpler fix.
