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Why would you choose a Fender over a Sire?
- Thread starter squeally dan
- Start date
You can't compare men who spent their own money on the bass of their choice to someone sponsored with freebies and mods to suit.
I like passive instruments, can't really deal with Fenderish shapes that are not actually Fenders (I will always see them as copies, as much as they can be as good or better) and never liking too much the kind of music played by bass players that usually represent Sire I feel like nothing really calls me when I see them. I also like chunky necks and laquer finishes.. there's no way out.
Wood matters IME.
I've done my share of upgrading & tinkering with budget instruments, getting the hardware & electronics all nice & solid, only to find there's still something missing when I'm out on the gig. Something better pickups can't completely fix.
That's not to say Fender necessarily uses only the very finest of the finest of tone woods. (My favorite J neck is actually from Allparts and I usually go to Warmoth for bodies.)
But I really don't like my odds when the list price seems too good to be true. I've been there, done that too many times, already.
YMMV.
I've done my share of upgrading & tinkering with budget instruments, getting the hardware & electronics all nice & solid, only to find there's still something missing when I'm out on the gig. Something better pickups can't completely fix.
That's not to say Fender necessarily uses only the very finest of the finest of tone woods. (My favorite J neck is actually from Allparts and I usually go to Warmoth for bodies.)
But I really don't like my odds when the list price seems too good to be true. I've been there, done that too many times, already.
YMMV.
Because people often knee-jerk buy out of peer pressure or because 'that's what everybody plays'. It's like Harley: People buy them to be 'different' while riding a Harley just like every other Harley. Makes me nuts how people split the finest of hairs about this Fender or that Fender, and outside of some supposed difference pegged to the MSRP, in a lot of cases, it's the same damn bass.
It's hard for me to see a 4x improvement in build, sound, and performance between a top line USA Precision and a CV Squire Precision, just don't see it, and I understand the economics of where each is made. Others certainly will . . . . And then, guys will get on here and rave about some vintage 60's Fender bass and would not dare update even one pickguard screw, and then rail that I must have the most expensive modern version to cure everything they wouldn't dare change on the OG example. Where did I leave the Tylenol . . . .
Fender makes some nice Fenders, but there are lots of other choices, which often to me are far more compelling.
It's hard for me to see a 4x improvement in build, sound, and performance between a top line USA Precision and a CV Squire Precision, just don't see it, and I understand the economics of where each is made. Others certainly will . . . . And then, guys will get on here and rave about some vintage 60's Fender bass and would not dare update even one pickguard screw, and then rail that I must have the most expensive modern version to cure everything they wouldn't dare change on the OG example. Where did I leave the Tylenol . . . .
Fender makes some nice Fenders, but there are lots of other choices, which often to me are far more compelling.
"I would choose a Fender over a Sire because I don't like preamps".
This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Does Sire make any P basses without a preamps?
This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Does Sire make any P basses without a preamps?
I've tried more than a few Sire basses out in stores & haven't been impressed with the fit / finish or balance on any of them. But if they work for YOU, that's all that should matter!
Chadhargis nailed it for me. I pretty much know what I'm getting with a Fender. The only way for me to try a Sire is to buy one. I strongly considered a Sire P, and definitely see the attraction, but went with the Fender. Also agree with others that the headstock turns me off, although it's not a deal breaker.
The headstock of a Sire looks like a foot. It's absolutely hideous. The basses are nice but I have two FSOs and that's two more than I need.
Fender parts are everywhere. Fender buyers and sellers everywhere.
I like the Fender headstock design much better. I know- its superficial......
Hey get off my lawn! haha..My VM P bass is light, punchy, super playable and just perfect.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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I know. They added Marcus "Sire" Miller with his signature Fender though.
IMHO, Honestly the premise of basing your decision on buying or not buying a Sire is it's a copy in today's market isn't relevant at all. Leo hasn't been with Fender since the early 60's.
Schecter, Sadowsky, Lakland, Sandberg, Cort, Elrick etc. etc. all make copies of Leo's basses. Sure they may not be targeting the same price point but in many cases they are and quite frankly are better by a long shot.
Sire is a quality instrument has it had some QC issues sure but Fender damn sure does & needs to improve it's own QC based on my recent purchases of Squire & Charvel Basses and several Fenders I've tried out.
It boils down to your price point and what you like. Buying something because some pro plays a certain instrument might get you when you 1st start playing but after awhile people switch brands like socks these days. Simply, Play what you like and enjoy and you'll be happy.
Schecter, Sadowsky, Lakland, Sandberg, Cort, Elrick etc. etc. all make copies of Leo's basses. Sure they may not be targeting the same price point but in many cases they are and quite frankly are better by a long shot.
Sire is a quality instrument has it had some QC issues sure but Fender damn sure does & needs to improve it's own QC based on my recent purchases of Squire & Charvel Basses and several Fenders I've tried out.
It boils down to your price point and what you like. Buying something because some pro plays a certain instrument might get you when you 1st start playing but after awhile people switch brands like socks these days. Simply, Play what you like and enjoy and you'll be happy.
