Sire Bass Club!

[PortlandBass77]

I don't notice a difference but I use more of a classical guitar technique, and rarely if ever my thumb pokes over the fretboard. Even so, I think the fretwork on the V7 1st gen is very good and in line with american series fenders.

Huh, maybe I got a bad 1st gen V7 (or a good Fender), but the fretboard edge of the Mexican Fender that I used to own was noticeably better than the Sire. The fretboard edge of my T-40 is also noticeably better, but the T-40 has a completely different neck style so I don't know if that is a valid comparison.

 

[Sanci]

Hello,

I do have a sire v7 5string 1st Gen and a v3 5 String 2nd gen.

Tuners on my v3 seem to be of a better quality than on the v7.
The rolled edge on the fingerboard of the v3 is really a big step up in my opinion.
Very Comfortable to play and it seems they changed the neck profile too.

Best neck, let's say most comfortable, I have ever had on a bass.
Very easy to play.

I you ever have a chance try it.

 

[Malak the Mad]

The rolled edge on the fingerboard of the v3 is really a big step up in my opinion.
Very Comfortable to play and it seems they changed the neck profile too.

Best neck, let's say most comfortable, I have ever had on a bass.
Very easy to play.

They definitely changed it. All 1st-gen V-Series necks had a 7.25" fretboard radius. On the 2nd-gens, only the V7 Vintage that while everything else is 9.5".

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Yep. Even 1st Gen V3 have 9.5 radius. edges aren't rolled, but still a comfy neck with the satin finish.

 

[80jazz]

That sounds about right. I dug the satin on the neck of the V3 and knew going in that this one was going to be gloss. I really wanted a white blonde one this time around though and I'm a sucker for blocks and binding so I went for the vintage.

Passive tone seems a bit less fat than I remember on the V7 and V3 I've had before, so maybe that's the 60's spacing on this one. A bit of neck dive but the bass feels overall light.

Ahh- and because pics....

View attachment 3287524 View attachment 3287525 View attachment 3287526

I plan to make one bass purchase this year; either a Geddy Lee Jazz or a Sire Vintage V7. These pics are not helping (full disclosure: my color choice would be black, but that white over ash is nice).

 

[twc1313]

Huh, maybe I got a bad 1st gen V7 (or a good Fender), but the fretboard edge of the Mexican Fender that I used to own was noticeably better than the Sire. The fretboard edge of my T-40 is also noticeably better, but the T-40 has a completely different neck style so I don't know if that is a valid comparison.

I sold my Gen1 V7 and got the same one in a Gen2. I think the neck is substantially better, mainly because it now has a 9.5in radius. The 7.5 on the Gen1 was too round for me and always took some adjusting to during a gig.

Aside from the neck, the real reason to get a Gen2 for me is the tone, it is much clearer than my Gen1 was; that alone is worth it to me.

 

[PortlandBass77]

Update:
I sold the 1st gen V7, and the buyer confirmed that the fret edges are unusually sharp, so seems like a good move to me . I will be purchasing a 2nd gen Sire as a replacement unless anyone has any other suggestions.

 

[whamni]

Update:
I sold the 1st gen V7, and the buyer confirmed that the fret edges are unusually sharp, so seems like a good move to me . I will be purchasing a 2nd gen Sire as a replacement unless anyone has any other suggestions.

Get a Yamaha 734a, now that is a bass

 

[Malak the Mad]

Update:
I sold the 1st gen V7, and the buyer confirmed that the fret edges are unusually sharp, so seems like a good move to me . I will be purchasing a 2nd gen Sire as a replacement unless anyone has any other suggestions.

Any particular model and configuration? Looking at the specs-sheet, the V7 Vintage's neck profile is the closest to that of the 1st generation's. (That's a big reason why I pounced on a 1st gen V9. I wanted that vintage-style radius. )

 

[PortlandBass77]

Any particular model and configuration? Looking at the specs-sheet, the V7 Vintage's neck profile is the closest to that of the 1st generation's. (That's a big reason why I pounced on a 1st gen V9. I wanted that vintage-style radius. )

View attachment 3307174

V7 vintage, though I am extremely stuck up on the finish.... I can't decide on the black vs. metallic red vs. white. I actually really like the 7.25" radius neck, my only issue with the first gen was the fret edges being sharp. I think I just got a bad one though, and the issue should be fixed anyway with the new rolled fretboards.

For due diligence I also looked into what other brands have on offer, and boy have prices risen since I last bought a bass. And outside of Sire and the Squire VM series, no one seems to offer my preferred neck configuration of maple on maple with black block inlays for under $700... The Schecter CV4 also looks very intriguing, but it seems niche enough where I would want to play it before buying it, and it seems pretty rare to find in stores.

 

[Malak the Mad]

For due diligence I also looked into what other brands have on offer, and boy have prices risen since I last bought a bass. And outside of Sire and the Squire VM series, no one seems to offer my preferred neck configuration of maple on maple with black block inlays for under $700... The Schecter CV4 also looks very intriguing, but it seems niche enough where I would want to play it before buying it, and it seems pretty rare to find in stores.

I would say "Check out the newly resurrected Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jazz", but all indicators point to it being a rebranded Squier VM. Still, they now offer the '70s-inspired Jazz in black with your maple/maple/binding/blocks config for $350 brand-new, so there is that.

 

[Papuzzo]

... I actually really like the 7.25" radius neck, my only issue with the first gen was the fret edges being sharp. I think I just got a bad one though, and the issue should be fixed anyway with the new rolled fretboards...

I too think you got a bad one. I have a V7 and a P7 (same neck) and with the binding I don't ever notice the fret edges.

To be honest, I think this "Rolled Edges" sounds cool and I bought a 2nd gen M2 for this, but in practice the difference in playability is not really noticeable. Note that before this feature everyone raved about how well dressed the fretwork was on the 1st gen basses. I suppose rolled edges is a nice upgrade feature, but it does not at all render the 1st gen basses as inferior in any way and I see no reason to sell my V7 and P7 to get a 2nd gen.

 

[PortlandBass77]

I would say "Check out the newly resurrected Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jazz", but all indicators point to it being a rebranded Squier VM. Still, they now offer the '70s-inspired Jazz in black with your maple/maple/binding/blocks config for $350 brand-new, so there is that.

Yeah the Squier basses are tempting for the price. If I buy one though I will just spend a lot of time modding it, and I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

 

[Modler]

I'm thinking of starting a "Broken Sire tuner-club"...
The gear has grinded itself into mush on the D-string tuner of my V7.
Warranty claim send to Thomann, waiting for their response.
Meanwhile, my Harley Benton is going to work a bit harder

 

[bholder]

I'm thinking of starting a "Broken Sire tuner-club"...
The gear has grinded itself into mush on the D-string tuner of my V7.
Warranty claim send to Thomann, waiting for their response.
Meanwhile, my Harley Benton is going to work a bit harder



View attachment 3308061

That's really disappointing. I hope you have no trouble getting it fixed.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I'm thinking of starting a "Broken Sire tuner-club"...
The gear has grinded itself into mush on the D-string tuner of my V7.

This begs the question, "Is there a perfect-fit replacement tuner through another manufacturer like Hipshot or someone similar?" Specifically, I'm talking about a four-screw version, not a single-screw type like Ultralites.

 

[Bassesh]

Is there a perfect-fit replacement tuner through another manufacturer like Hipshot or someone similar

It seems like Schallers require some drilling, but do cover the existing holes:

I promised i will post some photos when the modify is done. So here it is...
View attachment 3016792 View attachment 3016783 View attachment 3016788 View attachment 3016789 View attachment 3016790

I've enjoyed my vv7 5 string for 2 years now. I replaced the tuners with hipshots soon after purchasing.View attachment 3133402

@jazzenfunk - could you share your experience?

 

[Felix1776]

I'm going to be pulling the trigger on a V3 in the near future but some comments in this thread made it sound like there's a wait time before it'll actually show up. Anybody order one recently? If so, how long did it take to get?

 

[Breeze3]

I'm going to be pulling the trigger on a V3 in the near future but some comments in this thread made it sound like there's a wait time before it'll actually show up. Anybody order one recently? If so, how long did it take to get?

You can get a 1st gen direct from Sire or a 2nd gen from the Reverb site without a wait

 

[crammit442]

You can get a 1st gen direct from Sire or a 2nd gen from the Reverb site without a wait

Ditto. I was able to get mine from Chicago Music Exchange in a few days. Came set up nicely. Recommended.
Charles