Squier VM Jazz V vs. Sire Marcus Miller V7 5?

[bopeuph]

The Squier is much more inexpensive, yet is still praised as a great bass.

What's the comparison between both, if you've been lucky enough to get your hands on each?

 

[eldoryder]

The major difference I can see is body wood and the active preamp. So far, the vast majority of the reviews I have read on the Sire have been very positive. The Squiers have been knocking it out of the park for the last 3-5 years in quality control and value for the dollar, so the bottom line really comes down to whether you are a passive or a active pre-amp fan. I love the idea of an ash-bodied Jazz for the Sire price point, but I'm so much happier with the passive pickups of the Squier.

I have to admit that I'm intrigued by the Sire, and may yet pre-order one. Distribution is direct from the factory, and the first batch have all been sold out, due to great buzz and demand. You may end up having to wait a few months to get one.

You might want to consider pulling the trigger on the Squier now, and snagging a Sire somewhere down the road.

 

[bopeuph]

You might want to consider pulling the trigger on the Squier now, and snagging a Sire somewhere down the road.

That's actually a good idea. I've been thinking too, that maybe waiting on an instrument with such high demand might actually work against me in this time; maybe the price will go up, or, like the Fender Duck Dunn, it never ends up getting the numbers to meet the demand.

I've also thought that the only real difference between the two meant that installing active pickups would put the Squier in the same league.

Either way, I don't intend to work a lot with any five string; it's only going to be there when I'm playing a gig that requires one. I really love my Geddy Lee, and I have a new '57 RI P-Bass with another Geddy Lee neck in the shop. I have both of those as my main working basses, and the others as an "as needed" backup line. That's why I'm not going with higher grade basses.

 

[bholder]

The major difference I can see is body wood and the active preamp. So far, the vast majority of the reviews I have read on the Sire have been very positive. The Squiers have been knocking it out of the park for the last 3-5 years in quality control and value for the dollar, so the bottom line really comes down to whether you are a passive or a active pre-amp fan. I love the idea of an ash-bodied Jazz for the Sire price point, but I'm so much happier with the passive pickups of the Squier.

I have to admit that I'm intrigued by the Sire, and may yet pre-order one. Distribution is direct from the factory, and the first batch have all been sold out, due to great buzz and demand. You may end up having to wait a few months to get one.

You might want to consider pulling the trigger on the Squier now, and snagging a Sire somewhere down the road.

Sires are shipping from Thomann.de with no wait, and very attractive prices (way less than Sire US) due to the currency exchange rates. Even with $30 shipping and the possibility of an additional customs fee, they're currently quite a deal (for US buyers at least).

 

[Low Class]

I've owned several Squiers the past few years and now have 2 Sire basses. The Sire quality overall is MUCH better than the Squier.

 

[bopeuph]

I've owned several Squiers the past few years and now have 2 Sire basses. The Sire quality overall is MUCH better than the Squier.

Thanks. This is great information.

 

[ranat]

Hello guys, a couple of days ago my Sire V7 4 WB came with the gig bag. The gig bag has at least $50 value here. Not bad at all. I tried my new Sire V7 4 White Blonde, overall the value of its bass might be over the price it has. The only bad thing was that the 2nd day I played it & I moved the blend knob to one pick up clockwise, it happened to be dead/ silent/ no sound at all. It happened twice and I had my bass tech changed the cables connected to the pick up inside. He said that it's not done neatly. The cable is somehow a bit fragile. Now hopefully it's not dead anymore. Still wait and see for that. I informed this to Mickey Cho and he told me to send it back to the factory. Btw it's not bad at all for the bass, but the gain power/ thickness of the sound still couldn't surpass my Carvin SB 5000, speaking of that both are using 2 batteries/ 18 volts. Overall sound I still love my SB 5000. But Sire is great for a back up bass.

 

[Gorn]

The Squier jazzes are hit or miss. It's always a good idea to play before you buy, but especially with these. I've played some in stores that blew me away and some that were firewood.

Never played the Sire but I'm only hearing good things.

 

[ErnieD]

I took delivery of a refurbed VMJV, natural, last Wed; gigged it last Friday. I was really impressed with all the different tones in this bass with slight turn of any 3 knobs. At gig I ran it thru my Eden WT pre/Zoom OD-slightly/EBS MultiComp. Using GB 12.2 set flat w/Ampeg 212AV cab. Entire rig fit real nice with this variety band, country-blues-r&b-funk. The comp really gave me a nice thumpyness and of course the Eden pre sounds huge. This bass just sat in so nice with the style of music this band does. The slim neck played real fast and smooth. The band really liked the sound of my rig this nite. I'm just a hired sit in now and then with them; they hired me for this Friday again.

I was real close to ordering a Sire but been reading so much about the VM Jazz, I had to try one now. I left my Valenti #25 in its gig bag and played the Squire all 4 sets. Used Valenti with same rig, no pedals, at outdoor gig next day. I had a great time playing the VM J, I'll use it again for more gigs soon. Read nothing but good things on the Sire, at these prices, get one of each. I might.
And I know I was taking a chance buying this bass unseen but I trusted sellers descript and besides bridge pup being just slightly askew the bass came setup nice and it just sounds so darn good, I'm really impressed. May get one with a rosewood board next.

 

[ranat]

Here's a bit of how my Sire V7 4 sounds. Sorry for messing up

 

[ranat]

Here is the passive mode for the backing bass & melody bass. Sorry again for the so so audio quality.

 

[Woodchuck]

I've owned several Squiers the past few years and now have 2 Sire basses. The Sire quality overall is MUCH better than the Squier.

Yeah, for real! Get the Sire!

 

[churchbass3]

Sounds great man. Yes I've had several squier 4 & 5 string basses. I would rate the squier 5 out 10 some days 3 or 4 out of 10. But the Sire V7 alder 5 string sounds better everyday I play. A rate started at 8 out of 10 due the adjusting of the bridge and the strings were too bright. But now I would easily rate my Sire V7 10 out of 10. Best bass every. It will make it through the wear in tear of traveling. But of course it is the "Game Changer and bass of the year 2015". I wish I had got the Sire collection before I purchase a few other basses last year, I could have saved estimate $1500. Sire great job and thanks Marcus Miller.

 

[churchbass3]

Do anyone have any input on the Sire Marcus Miller M7 & M3 bass.

 

[churchbass3]

Fender 4 string are expensive. I need a 5 string and a great preamp collection with active / passive choice at the Sire price range and sound quality. Can Fender do that? Not at this moment.

 

[jlepre]

I'm playing a gig that requires one.

I would like to hear what particular gig REQUIRES a 5 string bass? I'm not questioning that 5 string could be nice to have on a few songs, but I play nothing but 5ers for the past 20 years, and would never say that I need a 4 string for a particular situation.

 

[Chinchano]

The major difference I can see is body wood and the active preamp. So far, the vast majority of the reviews I have read on the Sire have been very positive. The Squiers have been knocking it out of the park for the last 3-5 years in quality control and value for the dollar, so the bottom line really comes down to whether you are a passive or a active pre-amp fan. I love the idea of an ash-bodied Jazz for the Sire price point, but I'm so much happier with the passive pickups of the Squier.

I have to admit that I'm intrigued by the Sire, and may yet pre-order one. Distribution is direct from the factory, and the first batch have all been sold out, due to great buzz and demand. You may end up having to wait a few months to get one.

You might want to consider pulling the trigger on the Squier now, and snagging a Sire somewhere down the road.

Yep..the wait between ordering and delivery of a SIRE tends to be at least a month.

 

[BassKraz]

That's actually a good idea. I've been thinking too, that maybe waiting on an instrument with such high demand might actually work against me in this time; maybe the price will go up, or, like the Fender Duck Dunn, it never ends up getting the numbers to meet the demand.

I've also thought that the only real difference between the two meant that installing active pickups would put the Squier in the same league.

Either way, I don't intend to work a lot with any five string; it's only going to be there when I'm playing a gig that requires one. I really love my Geddy Lee, and I have a new '57 RI P-Bass with another Geddy Lee neck in the shop. I have both of those as my main working basses, and the others as an "as needed" backup line. That's why I'm not going with higher grade basses.

You wouldn't be disappointed even if you have a little wait on that Sire. They're a incredible bang for the buck. I happen to have a Fender Geddy Lee, Lakland DJ4, Squier VM 5 string, and a Squier Classic Vibe fiesta red precision and let me tell you the Sire V7 is right there neck and neck with even my more expensive instruments in every way.
No buyers remorse here at all. It also won't be my only Sire
I'm waiting for them to bring the 75 reissue which was a limited run ( back to production which should be June 2016.
The second I notice I can order it, I'll be immediately pulling the trigger
The objective was to build a quality bass where new players could get a fantastic instrument that's financially within reach so they wouldn't get discouraged with a hard to play mediocre instrument that sounded so so.
But lo and behold it was such great attention to detail quality from materials (natural bone nut) pearled block inlays, bound neck) to the electronics, tone, playability, and everything in between it got huge attention by seasoned players as well as pros---in fact, maybe more so than the "target market" young people. LOL
They simply "hit the ground running" on this one. Truly---I'm surprised the price hasn't gone up yet.
Marcus hit the nail on the head getting behind this one! IMHO

 

[pappabass]

The Squier jazzes are hit or miss. It's always a good idea to play before you buy, but especially with these. I've played some in stores that blew me away and some that were firewood.

Never played the Sire but I'm only hearing good things.

Yep, I picked up a couple Squier basses that not worth the strings, then I picked up a really nice Squier jaguar VM at a pawn shop, fit & finish was great, solid bass boost sound, it rode home with me...

 

[bopeuph]

I would like to hear what particular gig REQUIRES a 5 string bass? I'm not questioning that 5 string could be nice to have on a few songs, but I play nothing but 5ers for the past 20 years, and would never say that I need a 4 string for a particular situation.

Particularly some Broadway shows, specifically Wicked, have a range that requires notes lower than E. I can drop tune, sure, but I hate having to refigure the string. I don't remember the passages in Wicked that need the 5er, but you don't do the Broadway shows without the required equipment...and I get called for a lot of the official US tour musical theatre stuff.

A bandleader of a band I play with asked me to bring in the 5 string for one of the tunes. He really wanted that low B for it.

You wouldn't be disappointed even if you have a little wait on that Sire. They're a incredible bang for the buck. I happen to have a Fender Geddy Lee, Lakland DJ4, Squier VM 5 string, and a Squier Classic Vibe fiesta red precision and let me tell you the Sire V7 is right there neck and neck with even my more expensive instruments in every way.

Oh, I've had the Sire for over a year now, and don't regret it a single bit. It doesn't get the attention my Fenders do, but it's absolutely ready to go when I need that fifth string. I've since also picked up a Squier VM Fretless Jazz, and like someone said before, it took some shopping around to find one with decent quality. But it's a pleasant purchase, too.