Sire P5-4 vs Fender Player II Precision

[J_Valentin]

Good afternoon!

I’m looking to buy a Precision bass that’s comfortable to play and well built. I’m currently between two models: the Sire P5-4 and the Fender Player II Precision.

Ignoring the price difference, would you say the Sire is actually a better bass than the Fender, or not?

As for the sound, I’ll probably end up swapping the pickups for EMGs anyway, so that’s not a major factor (unless you think it should be).

Thanks!!

 

[ra0ulduke]

This question can't be answered definitively. Test both basses and choose the one you like better. If you're going to replace the pickups anyway, it doesn't really matter.

 

[aero58]

Why do you want to change the pickups already? Do you have (or had) EMG pickups and that’s your preference? Have you played both basses? If so, which one felt better? And before changing pickups, I’d recommend experimenting with different strings first.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Since you will have same pickup for either Bass: if possible try both and focus on which feels best and is most playable

Fender trolls aside both are built fairly well in their price range

And no Sire is not better built when comparing good representations of each

I haven't played either but would expect Fender to be slightly better

Many may scoff at this but I do have Roger Sadowsky agreeing with me

But I always consider what a Electric Bass sounds like Acoustically

If all things fairly equal then looks preference should be considered

 

[Gervais Cote]

On the long term, the Fender will keep its value, the Sire won’t.

In my area, many fellows are trying to sell their Sire basses without success and they get stuck with it.

Seeing that, I would be willing to pay the market price for a used Fender but only half of it for a Sire.

 

[J_Valentin]

Why do you want to change the pickups already? Do you have (or had) EMG pickups and that’s your preference? Have you played both basses? If so, which one felt better? And before changing pickups, I’d recommend experimenting with different strings first.

I've tried the Fender pickups and they don't really suit my style (indie rock). I think I would end up swapping them for EMGs, which give you a thick, characterful bass sound, perfect for rock.

 

[UntitledProject]

I have both at the rehearsal space I use. I reach for the sire because the neck feels better to me. But that's just me and how I feel about it. Other than feel, they are pretty much a p bass like most any other.

 

[ra0ulduke]

I've tried the Fender pickups and they don't really suit my style (indie rock). I think I would end up swapping them for EMGs, which give you a thick, characterful bass sound, perfect for rock.

There's probably no bass that's been used more frequently in indie genres than a Fender Precision Bass.

To claim that these pickups aren't suitable for that is, at best, absurd.

 

[J_Valentin]

There's probably no bass that's been used more frequently in indie genres than a Fender Precision Bass.

To claim that these pickups aren't suitable for that is, at best, absurd.

I have a Lakland and the low‑end seems much better to me than on the Fender Player II models. The Fender I tried was lacking bass, but it’s possible it was because of the strings or that it wasn’t properly set up. If I were to buy it over the Sire, I’d test it more thoroughly.

 

[skier 913]

Having your hands on an instrument will tell you if its the right fit for you.
The sound of an instrument can always be manipulated, but not how it feels.

 

[BassicJazzy]

If you have already made up your mind that the Fender P'ups won't give you the sound you want, I can tell you the Sire p'ups are no better, but the Fender will be easier to mod. So get the Fender.

The other differences will be mainly in the feel of the neck. IMO that's a lot more important than how the p'ups sound. You can use a good pre plus strings to change that to your liking, but you cannot change the way the neck plays, or whether it fits you.

Build quality will be comparable between the two.

 

[J_Valentin]

If you have already made up your mind that the Fender P'ups won't give you the sound you want, I can tell you the Sire p'ups are no better, but the Fender will be easier to mod. So get the Fender.

The other differences will be mainly in the feel of the neck. IMO that's a lot more important than how the p'ups sound. You can use a good pre plus strings to change that to your liking, but you cannot change the way the neck plays, or whether it fits you.

Build quality will be comparable between the two.

Thanks! If the build quality of the Sire and the neck are comparable to—or even better than—Fender’s, then maybe it’s worth getting the Sire and spending the price difference on a good set of pickups. Why do you say the Fender is easier to modify?

 

[FRoss6788]

Why do you say the Fender is easier to modify?

Like Harley Davidson there's a HUGE aftermarket of parts and electronics designed to fit a Fender bass (J or P), including necks and hardware. Not so with Sire.

 

[toastw]

Which EMG pickups? Both of those basses are passive, no? I know the Sire P5-4 is passive. Would you have to carve out a battery box if you flipped in EMGs?

 

[UntitledProject]

Like Harley Davidson there's a HUGE aftermarket of parts and electronics designed to fit a Fender bass (J or P), including necks and hardware. Not so with Sire.

Fender sized precision pickups are a direct drop in the sire p5.

 

[J_Valentin]

Which EMG pickups? Both of those basses are passive, no? I know the Sire P5-4 is passive. Would you have to carve out a battery box if you flipped in EMGs?

I’d go with the EMG Geezer Butler PHZ Black pickups, which are passive. So they can be installed directly in a passive bass

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Get the Fender

 

[CoughSyrup]

Aftermarket parts and used value aside, the biggest difference will come down to the neck. They are different enough that you will prefer one more than the other. Try them both to figure out which.

 

[FRoss6788]

Fender sized precision pickups are a direct drop in the sire p5.

Understood, no other Fender parts are......

 

[Artman]

I think the neck should be a deciding factor here. Doesn't the Sire have a J-Bass width neck on it?