Sire Bass Club!

[mb94952]

I love mine. But they're discontinued, replaced by the M2.

Why discontinued ? What is the cool factor of the M3 ? Difference ? Reason is I saw anM2 for dirt cheap.

 

[bholder]

Why discontinued ? What is the cool factor of the M3 ? Difference ? Reason is I saw anM2 for dirt cheap.

They wanted an even more budget-friendly version so the M2 finishes and woods aren't as nice as on the M3. Bridge might be different as well. Both are great basses, but a used M3 in good shape would be a steal.

 

[MyMusic]

The M3 is a great bass if you can find one.

 

[Nazarbass]

Does someone have problem with volume control like this?

 

[One Way]

@Nazarbass Sounds like Potentiometer oxidized windings and happens to many instruments. I correct as part of routine maintenance by rapidly turning the adjustment knob back and forth (not necessary to bang into the end of travel and stops hard) until the noise stops.
DeoxiT is a spray product designed to correct the issue you're experiencing although my process has always eliminated the noise without need for the spray cleaner.

 

[jlepre]

The problem with the Marcus Miller bags though is that it was obviously designed for the 4 string models, the headstock on the 5 string models doesn't quite fit? In hindsight I would rather have had the cash refund and bought a better fitting bass bag.

I've owned several Sire 5 string V and P series basses, and they all fit fine in my Sire gig bags. JMHO

 

[Nazarbass]

Does someone have problem with volume control like this?

I am not sure about cleaning the potentiometer, because in passive mode without batteries it's work without any noise.

 

[gerrywarwick]

I am not sure about cleaning the potentiometer, because in passive mode without batteries it's work without any noise.

You could try changing the battery and inspect the battery lead and wire.
If that doesn't work, I'd pack it up for return.

 

[Nazarbass]

Do you know guys how to contact Sire? I am from Switzerland.

I am not sure about cleaning the potentiometer, because in passive mode without batteries it's work without any noise.

 

[mmbass21]

Do you know guys how to contact Sire? I am from Switzerland.

Should be a link on their website in your country to contact them. Sire USA site has a contact us link under the support tab.

 

[TheBass]

Do you know guys how to contact Sire? I am from Switzerland.

In Europe you may want to contact them via their distributor (Thomann)

 

[GH van Dijk]

My new Sire V7 vintage arrived, this is how it performs straight out of the box:

 

[bholder]

Here we go - for those sad M3 fans who felt there was now a gap between the M2 and the M7:



It's got the M7's extra switches! (Series / parallel and coil switching.)

 

[SunByrne]

It's got the M7's extra switches! (Series / parallel and coil switching.)

Yep, I just wish they'd publish full specs on their web site. As an M2 owner I'm not in a rush to get one, but I might pick one up at some point.

 

[mb94952]

So the M3 has all the bells and whistles ?

 

[bholder]

So the M3 has all the bells and whistles ?

No, the M3 didn't have the extra switches, the M5 does.

 

[SunByrne]

It's got the M7's extra switches! (Series / parallel and coil switching.)

It appears to also have the M7's pickups, and maybe the M7 bridge, too. And nicer knobs. Anderton's says the fretboard is ebony. Sire's said a 5-piece neck, too.

So as far as I can tell, the M5 is basically the same as an ash M7 with a better neck and nicer knobs—minus the pretty maple top—but for substantially less money.

Seems too good to be true, which is why I really want to see Sire publish final specs.

 

[jlepre]

It appears to also have the M7's pickups, and maybe the M7 bridge, too. And nicer knobs. Anderton's says the fretboard is ebony. Sire's said a 5-piece neck, too.

So as far as I can tell, the M5 is basically the same as an ash M7 with a better neck and nicer knobs—minus the pretty maple top—but for substantially less money.

Seems too good to be true, which is why I really want to see Sire publish final specs.

Maybe this will suffice.
PRE-ORDER Sire M5 5-String Bass Guitar, Swamp Ash Body, Ebony Fretboard, NT Natural | Music Store Live | Reverb

 

[SunByrne]

Maybe this will suffice.
PRE-ORDER Sire M5 5-String Bass Guitar, Swamp Ash Body, Ebony Fretboard, NT Natural | Music Store Live | Reverb

Tantalizing. According to that, the M5 will indeed have the same bridge and pickups as the M7. Sweet!

 

[Chrisx5x5]

I received my Marcus Miller V7 Swamp Ash-5 LH WB yesterday.
View attachment 880028



I'm very satisfied with the quality!
Normally, the first thing I do is to adjust things like action, intonation, etc. None of that needed here.
The only thing I corrected was the neck pickup height; it was to close on the bass string side.

As a lefty, I'm sensitive to the 'correct' rotation of the pots, which, for a lefty, is anti-clockwise to increase volume, etc.
Not all manufacturers pay attention to this. On some instruments, they use audio taper pots (for righties) wired backwards, so you basically end up with a control that does nothing until the last 5 degrees of rotation (On/off).

With the complicated preamp in these basses, I was expecting a normal (righthanded) preamp, with controls working clockwise for increase, but to my surprise everything worked correctly for a lefty.
It seems that Sire went through the trouble of designing a dedicated lefty preamp!
I opened up to have a quick look at the wiring, and it seems that the attention to detail continues on the inside too: nice wiring, properly ground shielding paint, correct taper on the pots.


View attachment 880029

As for playing: this is my first 5-string.
I'm not a good bass player, and that's an understatement. Although trying, on and off, for 25 years now. While a 4-string feels comfortable, I have to get used to that 5th string. I often mistake it for the E-string.
From now on, I can't blame it on the bass anymore, though. I might try practicing now.

Number?

Regards,
Mark

From one lefty to another, I'm curious, how is it that you feel it's better to have the volume and tone pots wired backwards? To me it's intuitive that clockwise should mean louder, like on every other volume knob in the world. I rewired my first bass (an MIM Jazz) to correct that.
Be that as it may... I'm not going to tinker with my new P7 any time soon.
But since you've been under the hood of a lefty Sire: when you say that there's "correct taper" on the pots do you mean they're reverse log pots which are wired in reverse?
Cheers,
Chris