Sire U5 vs Sandberg Lionel (short scale shootout)

[trigg015]

Long shot probably, but did anyone here ever compare the Sire Marcus Miller U5 (with neck pickup only) to a Sandberg Lionel P bass?

I'm really digging the looks of those Sandberg and they're mostly highly recommended, but in case of sound and playability my Sire U5 (with La Bella flatwounds) is already very good.. would it be worth upgrading? Or would a 34" Fender P bass make more sense next to a Sire U5

Unfortunately I don't have any option to try out a Sandberg Lionel myself. Because I'm a lefty it's even harder to try basses since there is very few left handed stock if any.

 

[trigg015]

Attached the beautiful Sandberg I'm referring to

 

[trigg015]

I ordered the custom Sandberg mentioned above.

Now I have to wait 12 months!!

 

[Mbouds]

Long shot probably, but did anyone here ever compare the Sire Marcus Miller U5 (with neck pickup only) to a Sandberg Lionel P bass?

I'm really digging the looks of those Sandberg and they're mostly highly recommended, but in case of sound and playability my Sire U5 (with La Bella flatwounds) is already very good.. would it be worth upgrading? Or would a 34" Fender P bass make more sense next to a Sire U5

Unfortunately I don't have any option to try out a Sandberg Lionel myself. Because I'm a lefty it's even harder to try basses since there is very few left handed stock if any.

This is a great question. I am debating the Sire U5 and the Lionel, myself. Did you play the Lionel and what do you think? I play an AP Mustang, but wish it had body contours .

 

[trigg015]

This is a great question. I am debating the Sire U5 and the Lionel, myself. Did you play the Lionel and what do you think? I play an AP Mustang, but wish it had body contours .

I played a right handed Lionel in a shop, but it was modded with humbuckers and because I'm a lefty I had to play it upside down. Nevertheless.. it looked great, fast neck, beautiful looking wood and finish.

Still I'm not sure if I needed to order this Lionel bass, because the Sire is treating me very well atm.. but it will still be about a year for my Sandberg to arrive. I will possibly string one with rounds and the other with flats.

 

[Mojofunky]

Any update on this? How do you like the Sandberg compared to the Sire? I have a long scale Sandberg TT and it’s one of my favorites, but I have always wanted to try a Sire both in long and short scale. I’m lefty too, so it’s likely I can play either before I purchase. I have read tons of Sire reviews, but some others say they have had negative experiences (comfort, unleveled frets, sharp frets).

 

[iagtrplyr]

Any update on this? How do you like the Sandberg compared to the Sire? I have a long scale Sandberg TT and it’s one of my favorites, but I have always wanted to try a Sire both in long and short scale. I’m lefty too, so it’s likely I can play either before I purchase. I have read tons of Sire reviews, but some others say they have had negative experiences (comfort, unleveled frets, sharp frets).

Every bass is unique to itself but I picked up a U5, and I’m a lefty too, and it was nothing like what you mentioned. I’ve owned some nice Fenders and the neck on the Sire is the best I’ve every played. Frets perfect, body not as comfy as a Jazz, but not uncomfortable, and the tone of a fine Precision when using the neck pup.

I’m just thankful that Sire offers us lefties a short scale bass, unlike Fender who told me there’s not enough of us out there to create a reverse Mustang.

I have no experience with the Sandberg but I’m a happy owner of the U5 and recommend it to any of the southpaws out there!

 

[Mojofunky]

Every bass is unique to itself but I picked up a U5, and I’m a lefty too, and it was nothing like what you mentioned. I’ve owned some nice Fenders and the neck on the Sire is the best I’ve every played. Frets perfect, body not as comfy as a Jazz, but not uncomfortable, and the tone of a fine Precision when using the neck pup.

I’m just thankful that Sire offers us lefties a short scale bass, unlike Fender who told me there’s not enough of us out there to create a reverse Mustang.

I have no experience with the Sandberg but I’m a happy owner of the U5 and recommend it to any of the southpaws out there!

View attachment 5122278 View attachment 5122278

That’s a sweet looking bass. That’s exactly the combo I like. Can any comment on how the quality is? I have read comparable to Fender Japan stuff. Part of me hopes not because it will open up a big can of worms for me. There’s at least three Sires I am looking at the moment P5, U5 and a V7 and maybe a V8. Sire definitely shows love to us lefties.

 

[Gramski]

Perhaps one of the considerations with a cheaper instrument is that there can be a less thorough quality control check. And potentially to a lower standard. The knobs on my U5 are very plasticky and if I wanted to be pedantic they don't sit absolutely perfectly. The neck, the frets and finish on my U5 though are great. And I love it. It is a dream to play and it's my lack of ability rather than the bass that holds me back.

In the UK the Lionel's I've seen are 3x to 4x the price of my U5. The price difference of a hand made instrument in Germany versus a more mass produced item in Asia.

Hopefully you can find somewhere that has a solid returns policy and you should be covered for the relatively small price of postage. Look, feel etc. and even quality are personal and subjective, as is tone.

 

[vindibona1]

I'm not familiar with the Lionel, but I have a Sandberg Ken Taylor (see avatar) that is a dream. Interestingly, I have a Yamaha TRBX 605 which has very similar physical specs to my Sandberg. It is a very good instrument. But the Sandberg just flat out feels better, not even considering the sound. But I paid almost 6x for the Sandberg that I paid for the Yamaha. I *think* a Plek job would possibly bring the Yamaha up to the great feel and playability of the Sandberg. But I'm not sure the Yamaha could do what the Sandberg does sonically. I didn't know what a really good bass felt like until I held it in my hand. At that point the cost didn't matter.

 

[bakageta]

Perhaps one of the considerations with a cheaper instrument is that there can be a less thorough quality control check. And potentially to a lower standard. The knobs on my U5 are very plasticky and if I wanted to be pedantic they don't sit absolutely perfectly. The neck, the frets and finish on my U5 though are great. And I love it. It is a dream to play and it's my lack of ability rather than the bass that holds me back.

I think mediocre to bad QC is Sire's worst problem. My V5 plays like a dream now, but there's definitely visual issues that I wouldn't have let go on a more expensive instrument, and the E string nut slot was cut so poorly that there's absolutely no way any person ever looked at it and said "yeah that's fine." Properly cutting the slot and a good setup was all that it needed to play amazing, but I have no doubts that the same QC has missed obvious issues with fret work or similar on random other instruments. I'd have zero qualms about ordering a Sire from a retailer with a decent return policy, but I'm not sure I'd be up for ordering direct from the manufacturer and dealing with them if there are problems.