Sire bass or MarkBass? (spend my $$$)

[Liko]

I have literally been looking for a bass with the feature set of the Sire P7 as long as I've been playing. A 5-string P/J with defeatable active preamp in traditional styling is the complete package, and a sub-grand price tag for it is an absolute win. However, now that I have the money socked away, the P7 is rare as hen's teeth among US sellers; the surest route to getting one is a retailer in Denmark with a Reverb presence, which about doubles shipping costs.

Compounding that, I have gigs coming up with a new band, and my current workhorse, a (not so) little Fender Bassman 150 1x12 kickback, just barely keeps up with a 30w and 40w guitar amp plus a drummer in the rehearsal space (it was bought for home studio use and acoustic church gigs, at which it excels). I could rely on the PA and soundman, but I'd rather not have to.

I have a line on a really good deal for an older well-kept Italian-made MarkBass 2x10 kickback. 300w through the cab it has, 500 with an extension, if that isn't enough I definitely need to be looking at the PA (or for my bandmates to back it way the hell off, which is already an active discussion). It gives me what I need, or think I need, for the immediate future, and my primary axe (Yammie TRB-1005) is absolutely a gig-worthy instrument capable of a lot of good tones, that has served me well for over a decade with no signs of slowing down.

The money I have saved up is enough for one or the other. So, get the dream bass, and risk being buried in the mix by an adrenaline-fueled drummer, or get the gig rig, guarantee I'll balance without PA help, and defer the dream axe for months, possibly years more.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[BaileyMan]

My $.02...

If you're planning to gig soon, get the gig rig. Keep your eyes out for a good deal on your dream bass that's more local. It'll pop up eventually.

If your gigs are on hold, get the bass...

 

[Pizza1988]

*If it were me* I'd go with the amp

Sounds like you are more happy with your bass than you are with your amp so that should push you in that direction as well. Since you said that bass is a rare find these days it might be wise to hold off on it until it comes around, rather than overspending on shipping from another country.

I'm not too familiar/have no experience with any of those items you mentioned so I can't speak on comparisons or opinions on them. I do think Sires are nice though.

 

[godofthunder59]

A gig worthy rig is a must have.

 

[CallMeAl]

Amp, 100%

I've been using a Rumble 100, and it was generally ok. I could get away with PA support, until the times I couldn't.

By coincidence, I got to use that Markbass 102 as backline and that thing blew me away. Crazy loud yes, but the tone! Not a great bedroom tone, if I tested in store IDK if I'd buy one. But on stage with a band, they just sing.

I ended up getting the Markbass 121p, as my band volumes are generally tame, and I found a screaming deal. But for all-purpose gigging combo amp, I don't think you can do much better than that 102.

The only way I'd vote bass is if you didn't have a 5 string, and that was holding you back. It's quite possible you will like your bass more when you get the Markbass (cause I sure did! )

 

[One Way]

Get the amp

 

[Liko]

If you're planning to gig soon, get the gig rig.

*If it were me* I'd go with the amp

A gig worthy rig is a must have.

Amp, 100%

Get the amp

Pretty unanimous consensus, and to be honest, talking it out in the OP had me going that direction. And $650 for a Markbass CMD102P made in Italy is a bit hard to pass up when the Indonesian ones are retailing for $1250. So now you'll see Reverb stating these combos are available from $725

 

[CallMeAl]

Pretty unanimous consensus, and to be honest, talking it out in the OP had me going that direction. And $650 for a Markbass CMD102P made in Italy is a bit hard to pass up when the Indonesian ones are retailing for $1250. So now you'll see Reverb stating these combos are available from $725

Let us know when you get it, and how much you like it

on a side note- have you considered the Yamaha BB735? PJ bass with active/passive switch. Not quite as "traditional" looking, but still pretty classy. Might be a viable alternative when the time comes

 

[Wisebass]

Hi Liko

Decisions, decisions...

You can give me a cheap bass. As long as it works (it can be set up and the electronics are not toast)

I can gig with it. (most of them are okay today) And your Yamaha is way better than that!

But please don't ask me to gig with a "beginner practice amp"

That's a no go!

Amp all day over bass!



greetings

Wise(b)ass

 

[Liko]

Let us know when you get it, and how much you like it

on a side note- have you considered the Yamaha BB735? PJ bass with active/passive switch. Not quite as "traditional" looking, but still pretty classy. Might be a viable alternative when the time comes

I have kept an eye on the Yammies, no problems whatsoever with the brand as you know from the OP. The styling of the current BBs, however, is not quite my cup of tea. I know what they're going for, bringing back the '80s look of the line, but I prefer the move toward the TRB-ish styling that happened in the late-'90s BBNs and the early '00s BBs.

Which, other than sigs like the BBNEII, Yamaha just doesn't make for the US market anymore; the TRB has been hybridized with the RBX (abomination...) while the BB went retro. They never put a defeatable active into this range of BBs, and AFAICT they never went P/J in this era either.

So, y'know, the current BB styling isn't that far out there. Active 5-string P/J, defeatable EQ with tone control, and unlike Ibby I generally trust Yamaha's neck dimensions not to be crazy narrow or wide... Who knows, my next NBD just might be another Yammie.

 

[CallMeAl]

I have kept an eye on the Yammies, no problems whatsoever with the brand as you know from the OP. The styling of the current BBs, however, is not quite my cup of tea. I know what they're going for, bringing back the '80s look of the line, but I prefer the move toward the TRB-ish styling that happened in the late-'90s BBNs and the early '00s BBs.

Which, other than sigs like the BBNEII, Yamaha just doesn't make for the US market anymore; the TRB has been hybridized with the RBX (abomination...) while the BB went retro. They never put a defeatable active into this range of BBs, and AFAICT they never went P/J in this era either.

So, y'know, the current BB styling isn't that far out there. Active 5-string P/J, defeatable EQ with tone control, and unlike Ibby I generally trust Yamaha's neck dimensions not to be crazy narrow or wide... Who knows, my next NBD just might be another Yammie.

Cool, cool. I'm on the fence on whether or not I like the look of the latest BBs. They sound and feel great though. I'd kinda like to see one with the pickguard off, it looks like someone just sliced it in half lol. I'm also a sucker for that classic styling offered in the Sire P7. And it's hard to plan that far ahead, who knows what the market will look like when you get the cash again!

 

[SunByrne]

As much as I love to buy new basses, and I love those NBD threads... it doesn't matter what bass you're playing if you can't be heard. And that's a great deal on the MarkBass amp; don't pass that up.

 

[electracoyote]

I have a line on a really good deal for an older well-kept Italian-made MarkBass 2x10 kickback. 300w through the cab it has, 500 with an extension...

If you're leaning toward this option, FWIW I found that combo insufficient with a solid-hitting drummer and even moderately loud guitar player. I had to really crank it to the point of farting out and zero overhead. You will definitely need to couple that combo with another 2X10 or single 12"/15" cab to kick it into 500 watt zone and more speaker coverage.

Since I didn't want to have to go modular so often, I just settled on a MarkBass CMD 115p (15" speaker) combo. That will keep up with even a hard-hitting drummer just fine, and I can always turn it down for quieter gigs. And when I play large theater or outdoor stages, then I can add an extension cab.

 

[Leonid Nidis]

The Sire is a downgrade compared to the yamaha.The markbass is an upgrade.Seems simple.

 

[Peteyboy]

I voted Markbass! You can sell that Fender to recoup a little dough!

 

[4stringfarley]

Just ignoring makes and models, I'm voting Go amp. I've had more bad experiences during a live set regarding an amp than I have bass issues (both have occurred).

 

[Killing Floor]

Carrots are good for your eyes. Better night vision, less neck dots.
Plus orange is a cool color.

 

[mdogs]

The Sire is a downgrade compared to the yamaha.The markbass is an upgrade.Seems simple.

My first thought was this, the Sire is a downgrade to the Yamaha, not sure why the OP thinks the other way. Having said that, you must be talking about used P7's as they are readily available on Sire's website. Regardless, you have a decent bass, the Sire has more bells and whistles, but the Yamaha is a clear winner. I wouldn't buy a Markbass, but there are a lot of combos out there in that price range.

 

[bordinco90]

^^^^^^ this. The Sire is a downgrade. I would get the amp. It doesn't matter what bass you have. If you cannot hear yourself, you are in for a miserable gig.

 

[Ewo]

It sounds like you need the amp more than the bass, at this point. I'm singing with the choir on this point: an amp that's insufficient for the playing you do is a recipe for (1) frustration, and (2) a blown-out puny amp that's worth nothing for resale.

Hey--sounds like you're good at saving up, right? Wouldn't be too long before you built up a stash, again.