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Sire p5 vs Fender Standard p bass
- Thread starter Denisb32
- Start date
I don't think you can go wrong with either TBH...both are great. If it were me, I'd buy a used Fender, but if you have to buy new I'd lean Sire.
I have a sire p5 and several fender p basses. If I were looking for my first serious bass today, it would be the sire. Great quality and affordability, and the same level of upgradability as any fender. Just have to be okay with the headstock.
Buy the Fender, the genuine article, you won't regret it.
This is not easy to answer quickly. If you want apples to apples comparison, your two choices at that price point are the P5/P5R or the Squire P bass. Between those two choices, the Sire is the better bass, with better neck (roasted Maple), fretboard (Maple/Rosewood vs Pau Ferro), electronics (p'ups and controls) and hardware (bridge and tuners). Plus the P5/P5R allows you to choose through body or through bridge loading of your strings. Any other comparison, looking at used Fender P's, is impossible to compare unless you state specific models and ages. Most of the good ones are going to be above that price point. Quality of the used Fenders may vary widely. There are going to be some really good ones, and some not so good ones.
Going to add one important thing I left off previous post. If you plan on doing a lot of modding or upgrading, the Fenders are the better platform. You can change necks if you decide to make it a fretless, lots of p'ups fit the fender, changing tuners and bridges is pretty easy, etc.
Ok, apparently Fender is now manufacturing some of the lower end P basses in Indonesia, calling them the Standard P bass. These are only slightly more expensive than the Sire P5 models so might be worth looking at. Also GC is having a sale on the Player series P Bass, which gets them down to a couple hundred $ more than the Sire, but a better quality bass with better hardware and much better neck than the Indonesian models. Those would be your best choices, along with the Sire.
I owned both at one point but now I own only my Player I Precision. I loved both basses and each had their pros and cons.
The Sire is extremely well built and durable. The rolled fretboard edges for a "cheaper" model is a really nice touch, something that Fender doesn't reallllllyyy do outside their high end models and the Player IIs.
Ultimately, because primarily how easy it is to access Fender parts in case a part breaks, I kept my Player I. Also it has major sentimental value because it's my first bass in 2019 after a 5 year hiatus.
The Sire is extremely well built and durable. The rolled fretboard edges for a "cheaper" model is a really nice touch, something that Fender doesn't reallllllyyy do outside their high end models and the Player IIs.
Ultimately, because primarily how easy it is to access Fender parts in case a part breaks, I kept my Player I. Also it has major sentimental value because it's my first bass in 2019 after a 5 year hiatus.
The quality of Sire basses is very good, definitely better than Squier instruments, and already quite close to the quality of the Player series.
However, one thing to consider is that the resale value of Squier and Fender basses is (still) significantly higher.
If I were on a tight budget, that would be my deciding factor. If I knew I would never sell the bass, I would choose the Sire. But when comparing the Sire to the Player series, I would definitely choose the Player.
However, one thing to consider is that the resale value of Squier and Fender basses is (still) significantly higher.
If I were on a tight budget, that would be my deciding factor. If I knew I would never sell the bass, I would choose the Sire. But when comparing the Sire to the Player series, I would definitely choose the Player.
I do not think that is really true. Yes, resale on Indonesian-made instruments is lower, but the acquisition price is much lower for same quality point. Let's say you buy a P5R for $550 and sell it for $400, you've lost $150. Now go and buy a Fender Player P for $800 and see what you are going to sell it for, perhaps $550? You get my point? Yeah, percentage wise, you might be right, but not $ value-wise. And you get a better neck with the Sire. If you want an equivalent neck you need the American-made model, which costs 2x as much, or more.
I see pristine American Pro Jazz's mint that cost $2,000 new going for $1,400 on reverb.
These figures are pure speculation and prove nothing. I stand by what I wrote. Ultimately, we're just exchanging opinions here.
BS.
Player series necks are wonderful, and IMHO the excessive roll on the Sire's is meaningless while doing anything other than holding on to the neck muting strings between songs. All they do is shorten the usable width of the frets.
Yes, I misspoke, wrote that in a hurry, meant to say the Player series, made in Mexico. That gives you a two part neck with decent stability and decent fretwork. I think that's a fair trade for the roasted maple neck on the Sire. Thank you for correcting me on that. Regarding the rolled edges, they are comparable to the rolled edges on my '90 Fender Jazz Plus, which was top of their line at the time. I don't find either the Jazz or the Sire P5R to lack "usable width of the frets," but everyone has their own preferences, right?
Isn't that what we do here, exchange opinions, and hypothetical facts? I apologize if mine irritated you. Suffice to say, people are realizing the quality and value of the Indonesian basses, as more and better instruments get into buyers' hands, and they are beginning to hold value better in the aftermarket.
Nothing you wrote irritated me. I had already pointed out that the figures you mentioned were pure speculation and prove nothing. Otherwise, you simply repeated what I had already written. Let's leave it at that. Best regards!
I have a P5 and it was absolutely killer straight of of the box.
I've done extensive modifications on it (see image) I don't think you can buy a better five string P bass than the result without commissioning one yourself from a high end boutique builder.
The raw bones of the bass (i.e. body neck and bridge) are absolutely astonishing.
I'd take the P5 over the Fender Standard all day long.
Just for the neck alone.
In fact, I'd take just the neck from a P5 rather than a whole Fender Standard.
I've done extensive modifications on it (see image) I don't think you can buy a better five string P bass than the result without commissioning one yourself from a high end boutique builder.
The raw bones of the bass (i.e. body neck and bridge) are absolutely astonishing.
I'd take the P5 over the Fender Standard all day long.
Just for the neck alone.
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So, I went with the sire p5. I like it very much, both the looks and the sound. However I think I need to adjust the action, cuz I got a little bit of buzz on E and F notes. Somehow I find the action a bit high in the higher frets. I think a combination of trust rod and bridge adjustment will fix this.
The pickup is slightly angled towards the neck, but I don't think that's a problem
The pickup is slightly angled towards the neck, but I don't think that's a problem
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