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P-Bass options - Sire P5?
- Thread starter Pep
- Start date
Can we please stay on topic. If you had read through the responses you would have found the answer to your question. It’s in there.
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My 1st Generation Sire V7 was an excellent instrument. Superb build quality with some cost savings evident in components however they all functioned very well. It was a keeper until I modified it to “make it even better” which was a mistake and it was never as good as original. I believe you will be very happy with it Sire P5
I have owned all three, fender P5, Squier P5 and Sire P5. The fender sounded the best. The sire was great for the price and the Squier was pretty darn good. After I changed the tuners on the sire I was close to what I paid for a used fender.
I just tried out a sire P5 with quarter pounders in it. Very nice. I would have kept it but someone had changed the tuners and hacked up the headstock.
I just tried out a sire P5 with quarter pounders in it. Very nice. I would have kept it but someone had changed the tuners and hacked up the headstock.
I have 2 Sire P5's and 2 MIM Fender P's. The Sires are good solid basses and they, other than the headstock, look good, but the Fenders are better. They sound better out of the box and they play better, especially once they have been set up properly.
For Peter Cetera, you could just as easily go with a Gibson EB-3 or a Rick. For a tribute, color is more important than anything if you are going for a look.
For Peter Cetera, you could just as easily go with a Gibson EB-3 or a Rick. For a tribute, color is more important than anything if you are going for a look.
Perhaps when we mention P5 guys are thinking a 5-string P-Bass. P5 is a Sire model number and it’s a 4-string. Fender and Squier have never made a P5 model.
The EB-3 and Ric aren’t the sound we need for this group. We need that “clunky” P-Bass sound.
Myself, I had tried a Sire P5 and didn't like the neck shape and feel. But that's just me as I seem to enjoy the feel of the brand that shall not be named 
I thought it sounded okay, for the most part. But if I wanted a real P bass I would have gone with something else in the previously owned market that belonged to the brand that is out of contention, or even cheaper options like SX, some of those cheaper brands on Amazon, or even a Glarry for a new P bass as I am very budget conscious especially for a P bass. I understand folks may have more disposable income than me too.
While I do understand wanting a warranty on a new instrument, a P bass is a P bass. One could be discerning on picking one on the used market, neck straight, electronics working, and finish in an acceptable condition. If it's not beat to death, the warranty would not be needed as one would not pick an instrument in poor condition and a P bass at that point would remain a P bass for the rest of its life.
It's like buying a new car, once it leaves the lot it is now a used car. Only difference is that there is no computer control or engine, and pumps to worry about. Just the neck, body, single pickup, two pots, and a jack oh and tuners and a bridge. Hard to mess that up. It is possible though.
But yes buying new is always more funner if you got the cash to burn
I thought it sounded okay, for the most part. But if I wanted a real P bass I would have gone with something else in the previously owned market that belonged to the brand that is out of contention, or even cheaper options like SX, some of those cheaper brands on Amazon, or even a Glarry for a new P bass as I am very budget conscious especially for a P bass. I understand folks may have more disposable income than me too.While I do understand wanting a warranty on a new instrument, a P bass is a P bass. One could be discerning on picking one on the used market, neck straight, electronics working, and finish in an acceptable condition. If it's not beat to death, the warranty would not be needed as one would not pick an instrument in poor condition and a P bass at that point would remain a P bass for the rest of its life.
It's like buying a new car, once it leaves the lot it is now a used car. Only difference is that there is no computer control or engine, and pumps to worry about. Just the neck, body, single pickup, two pots, and a jack oh and tuners and a bridge. Hard to mess that up. It is possible though.
But yes buying new is always more funner if you got the cash to burn
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Did we list Harley Benton as an option?
harleybenton.com
PB-62 SB - Harley Benton
Comfortable body shape | Body: Basswood | Bolt-on neck: Vintage caramelized Canadian maple | Fingerboard: Laurel | White ABS dot fingerboard inlays | Neck profile: C | Fingerboard radius: 305 mm (12") | Scale: 864 mm (34") | Nut width: 43 mm | White graphite nut | 20 Medium frets | Pickup...
harleybenton.com
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Maybe a little late to post, but I have both a 4 string and 5 string Sire P5. In the same time I’ve owned them, I’ve bought and then sold twice as many MIM Fender P basses. In my experience, Sire build quality is much better than the MIM Fenders. The only thing I’ve done is swap pickups, which I also did to the Fenders. Sire offers great value for your $ in my opinion.
I've been playing the fretless SR370EF for a very long stretch now, and hadn't taken the P5R out of its case in over a month. Playing it today, and now I remember how much fun a P bass is to play, and how it just naturally wants to groove.
Granted it's a little more work to play than the SR, due to higher action and thicker LTFs vs the Chromes on the SR, but what a blast it is! I'm going to have to work it into the rotation more often.
Granted it's a little more work to play than the SR, due to higher action and thicker LTFs vs the Chromes on the SR, but what a blast it is! I'm going to have to work it into the rotation more often.
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There is a cheap Markbass P (34") for sale at a local music store for 550CAD. It looks and plays great. Dunno about the pickups but that's a simple thing to upgrade. I have a hard time resisting.
Markbass is something you may consider. I dunno about whether it comes in five string, though.
Markbass is something you may consider. I dunno about whether it comes in five string, though.
How's the action on the fretless version? They cut the nut pretty high on the P5R, and it's got jumbo frets, so it's a relatively high action. That works well for a fretted P bass, but I'd want a lower, faster action for fretless.
FullumMusic
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Got this Sire P5 5-string. Sounded like a P Bass when i got it (remembering that all P Basses sound like P Basses, and every P Bass sounds a little different). Still sounds like a P Bass. Nothing remarkable notable about its tone other than, "Yup. That's a P Bass," which is a good thing.
Good build quality. Not too heavy, although i've heard some do get fairly heavy. Roasted neck & fretboard are nice. Has a good neck shape. B string plays nice even with Tapes on it. Stays in tune. Stock colors are pretty much standard, classic colors. Not exact-exact with vintage fenders, but definitely have a classic color feel.
Obviously mine's been modded. I painted it a sparkly orange. Got a custom mirror pick guard on it. And put in a set of Nordstrand Power Blades. A bit more output and a bit beefier low end than the stock pickups. But i wouldn't say the stock pickups are bad or need to be replaced. I just can't leave well-enough alone.
For the price, for a passive P bass, i would absolutely recommend it. I would recommend it over the P6, or P7, or P10, because they add a PJ layout and electronics, all of which i think are overkill when the P5 is a great bass if you're looking for a traditional P style.
I have a Squier Affinity P bass (the red one on the left of the pic) and an Olinto P bass. Does the Sire come anywhere close to my Olinto? Absolutely not. Do i think the Sire is better than the Squier? Absolutely. The neck feel alone puts the Sire in a different class from the Squier.
Good build quality. Not too heavy, although i've heard some do get fairly heavy. Roasted neck & fretboard are nice. Has a good neck shape. B string plays nice even with Tapes on it. Stays in tune. Stock colors are pretty much standard, classic colors. Not exact-exact with vintage fenders, but definitely have a classic color feel.
Obviously mine's been modded. I painted it a sparkly orange. Got a custom mirror pick guard on it. And put in a set of Nordstrand Power Blades. A bit more output and a bit beefier low end than the stock pickups. But i wouldn't say the stock pickups are bad or need to be replaced. I just can't leave well-enough alone.
For the price, for a passive P bass, i would absolutely recommend it. I would recommend it over the P6, or P7, or P10, because they add a PJ layout and electronics, all of which i think are overkill when the P5 is a great bass if you're looking for a traditional P style.
I have a Squier Affinity P bass (the red one on the left of the pic) and an Olinto P bass. Does the Sire come anywhere close to my Olinto? Absolutely not. Do i think the Sire is better than the Squier? Absolutely. The neck feel alone puts the Sire in a different class from the Squier.
Squier Affinity is a beginner-never-played-bass before bass, no surprise there....
