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The M series Sire's are really growing on me. Very comfortable to play, great sound with or without the Pre-amp.
They don't seem as popular as the classically shaped Sire are but I feel they might be their best offering.
People should try one for a few weeks, Might never put it down again
I love my M5. The neck profile is perfect, thin and fast. The B string sounds AMAZING. And the range of tones is beyond comparison with separate single, parallel, and humbucker settings for each pickup. Couple that with a 3-band preamp and it's enough to make most peoples head to spin.
Its greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. I think many bass players are intimidated by the range of options. It's aggressive body style may also prevent the more traditional from giving it a try. It is their loss. This bass is a beast with sustain for days. It is a joy to play, perfectly balanced right off the shelf.
I only have one complaint. Where the neck seats into the pocket of the body, the neck is maybe a 32nd to 16th inch above the body. When I slap, I dig my nail into the body of the bass (or pickguard) in this area. I had to trim the nail on my middle finger to make the problem go away.
It is teaching me to not dig my finger in so much, but the first day I got it, it was a real problem for me. I hate to disassemble the bass juts to fix something like this and it will look a little butchered when it's done. So I have learned to deal with it.
I may be the only bass player that has this type of problem, but I would be interested to know if anyone else has noticed or suffered from this.
Considering a secondhand DELANO PC5 HE/M2-AS pickup for my 5-string P5, that is strung with LA BELLA LTFs.
Any input from someone who has done the mod or has comments about it? I'm expecting a better low end response.
Lobster says in a just released comparison video that the factory pickup on the P5 ("Marcus Vintage-P Revolution") lacks low end compared to the revised version on the newer P5R ("Marcus Vintage Fat-P Revolution").
The DELANO is Ferrite/Ceramic while the original Sire PU is AlNiCo, I believe.
The seller says it was previously on a Fender P-bass deluxe that he just sold with the original Fender pickup back on it.
Any input from someone who has done the mod or has comments about it? I'm expecting a better low end response.
Lobster says in a just released comparison video that the factory pickup on the P5 ("Marcus Vintage-P Revolution") lacks low end compared to the revised version on the newer P5R ("Marcus Vintage Fat-P Revolution").
The DELANO is Ferrite/Ceramic while the original Sire PU is AlNiCo, I believe.
The seller says it was previously on a Fender P-bass deluxe that he just sold with the original Fender pickup back on it.
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It's a well thought out instrument. My issues included some frets sticking out, that was probably a storage issue. And some scratchy popping pots that I lubed.
Truss rod had to be adjusted, again I'm sure it was temp changes and such that messed with mine, it was shipped from Germany to the U.S. and from Indonesia before that.
Mine is like yours, but I dont slap much so I never paid attention. And my nails are always very short.
The 5 string has a 35" scale so yeah, the B sounds great.
I live in South Florida. After one late practice, I left my M5 in the car until the next afternoon. When I took it out it was almost too hot to touch and the frets were sticking out all over the place. After half a day at room temperature it returned to normal, but it's not as good as the frets on my P7. There are still a few that could use some shaving. I've never done it, but my lead guitarist just bought the tool from StewMac. If it looks doable, I will probably shave a couple down.
The first M5 I ordered from Musicians Friend was so bad it would saw a pencil in half running up and down the neck. I had to send it back.
I hope you get yours fixed the way you like it. They are fine instruments, but this model in particular seems to be very susceptible to temperature changes causing fret issues.
Thanks Rod, I already fixed mine. It's pretty great now.
Having crazy weather changes here in the NY/PA/NJ area so will see how it all holds up.
I did order a Swamp Ash M7 4 string fretless as well. Could be a few months for that to get here.
Actually tempted to buy a M2, seems like fun on the cheap and I like the blacked out look.
Thanks Rod, I already fixed mine. It's pretty great now.
Having crazy weather changes here in the NY/PA/NJ area so will see how it all holds up.
I did order a Swamp Ash M7 4 string fretless as well. Could be a few months for that to get here.
Actually tempted to buy a M2, seems like fun on the cheap and I like the blacked out look.
Black basses are cool!
Sweetwater has some P5 Alder Fretless 4-string now:
Sire Marcus Miller P5 Alder Fretless 4-string Bass Guitar - Mild Green
Sire Marcus Miller P5 Alder Fretless 4-string Bass Guitar - Mild Green
Has anyone come up with a mod for the side position dots on roasted necks.
I surmise from the question that the dots are hard to read since the wood is dark?
I use glow in the dark sticky dots for one of my basses that has that issue.
I think they are called glow dotz on Reverb.
I use glow in the dark sticky dots for one of my basses that has that issue.
I think they are called glow dotz on Reverb.
I put a set from these guys on my HB with a roasted neck that had black side dots:
Rosette Fret Marker Dots — Rosette Guitar Products
Easy to apply, and removable, if you change your mind, but I am very happy with mine!
Quick update. I called Sire US Customer Service and they told me that they can get stiff being shipped and I should lube it and loosen it before tightening it. Which I did. And the truss rod snapped. I knew it didn't feel stiff if felt wrong.
Does anyone have any dealings with the warranty issues with Sire? I have started the process with them but it's more of a let me ask someone and get back to you then a process.
Thanks,
I took my M5 to a nail salon and had them use bright white nail polish. Made a world of difference. You could do this yourself, but this lady does my wife's nails almost every week. (I paid already)
Wow! That sucks! At least they knew up front you were having issues with the truss rod. Hopefully that works in your favor.
Back last year, I purchased a V7/G2 four string fretless from Thomann and the finish on the fingerboard was starting to lift/delaminate near the first "fret" line under the D string. I sent a picture to them and they offered for me to send it back to them or have it fixed locally and as long as the price was reasonable, they would reimburse me. I went with the "get it fixed locally" scenario. The place that did it did an amazing job and Thomann issued a credit to my credit card almost as soon as I sent them the receipt. They even paid me a bit extra for mileage (the shop was two hours away).
I wonder if you could get just a replacement neck from Sire...
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That's the hope. The customer service rep mentioned that. He just didn't know how long it would take for them to ship a neck from Indonesia. But did mention that they may send a neck and pay to have it installed. Which would be cool.
The first time I played my M5 was outdoors. As it got darker the dots disappeared and wrong notes ensued. My embarrassment drove me to the beauty salon to make them bright white. The dots were just very small and dull.
They disappeared in the dusk.
If you have a good tech and the bass is a keeper - you could have them put Glow in the dark or white dots for you. You need to be very precise in doing so. They pull the inlays out and replace them. That is my plan.
I'm not sure if this is the correct product - but I would do the 3mm or 4mm ones for my vision in green.
I'm not sure if this is the correct product - but I would do the 3mm or 4mm ones for my vision in green.
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I keep on putting the batteries back in, convinced I'm gonna find a great tone... as soon as I'm happy with one, I switch back to passive AND IT'S THE SAME TONE!! Batteries are staying out. Has anybody done a passive mod to a V7? Is the control plate a standard Fender of any kind? As long as I have the jack on the side, I thought it might be cool to do a V/T/V/T four knob passive something...?
