Sire P5-4 vs Fender Player II Precision

[Michael Russ]

I've played fender basses most of my playing life, aside from my jack casady. Bought my first Sire P5 about a month ago. Here's my thoughts compared to a lifetime of playing fender...

1. The frets on the sire were smoother than any fender I've had below $1500.

2. The pickups are great. A little brighter than fender pickups, but it's a marcus miller bass.... EQ can sort that out quickly.

3. The tuners are where I feel sire loses. Fender tuners stay in the better, so I'll end up switching those out.

4. Cost vs quality.... I see fenders brand new for 1000 get sold for 500. I see sire get bought at 750 get sold for... 500. But there is the name brand to consider when selling i guess. I never buy a bass considering I'll sell it, even though I have with too many. They've always sold though so I guess if that's your goal....

All in all what matters most i think is what FEELS best to your hands and SOUNDS best to your ears. Everything else is semantics.

 

[Major Seven]

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

I think Sire frets feel nicer.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I think Sire frets feel nicer.

Yes, unless you get the USA-made Fenders, the Sires have advantage of better frets and rolled fretboard edges.