Had a Sire V7 version 1 along side owning a fender precision special, standard Jazz and an original Nate Mendal Pbass (wish I still had that one!) Gradually sold everything off as I was almost exclusively playing the Sire because it was so playable and versatile. Eventually replaced the Sire with a USA Fender Elite Jazz 5 string as a supposed upgrade. It was very nice but I never really jelled with it. Took delivery of a brand new Sire V5 4 string from Andertons a couple of weeks ago In exactly this colour way. Flipping awesome bass! Quality is at the very least on a par with any of the Fenders I’ve owned if not better! The range of tone from these pickups and the tone control pot is huge to the point that I really don’t miss the preamp. Back to basics. The neck is super comfortable and playable with silky satin finish on the back. The weight is great with this new Sire which was my only issue with my first V7. But then the Fender elite was heavier still. And at the price point, it really is a no brainer. If you really have to have the Fender name on your headstock then go spend your money but if you want equal quality, look and sound at a sensible price there’s only one choice to make. Great video guys 👍🏻
For me there's no comparison, at least among instruments made in the past few years. Fender has way too many quality control issues and you are paying for that headstock more than anything else. I finally gave Sire a chance with a P8 and it blew me away. When you factor in the price difference between the V5 and the Fender Player, Sire is the clear winner - a better instrument at a lower price!
Sire’s arent “better” basses. They are pretty much the same thing. You can say the sire is a better value and id 100% agree, its cheaper and just as good, but making a blanket statement that is just better really isnt true. There isnt anything particularly better about a sire. Quality control varies greatly. Ive seen some sire reviews where something was wrong, and some fender player reviews where the bass came perfect, and vice versa. Thats the case with basically all production basses. Theres a chance something may not be perfect. These are not wal’s or alembics. I dont think there is a such thing as a wal that isnt perfect. They are all hand made and VERY expensive.
@trenken i totally disagree, the differences in this price range Is huge, Fender player bass aren't good basses, or at least the price Is totally inappropriate, you pay the brand. Sire in terms of Price/quality Is the best in that price range no doubt at all, Fender player have cheaper woods
@@UgoTannico im a bassist for 35 years. Woods dont make any difference. You have money to spend and want to show it off, sure, get a walnut bass if you like. Sound wise, doesnt mean crap. Player jazz basses are perfectly fine. Ive owned them and american jazz’s. Its all the same crap outside of some pretty minor bells and whistles that you dont notice if you dont have them. There is nothing technically better about a sire from ANY fender jazz. The only thing ill give sire over a fender is you can get an active sire for a bit cheaper than an active fender player. If you dont care about active, and a lot of people dont like active basses, then the passive player is a 100% serviceable bass. I was looking at some active gen 7 sires yesterday. About $700. Some cost more than that. Closer to the fender player plus basses. And sires do use very cheap hardware. Crappy screws and stuff like that. They HAD to cut corners somewhere to sell an active bass to people who couldnt normally afford any sort of decent bass.
I have both and have to disagree. I love my Fenders as I have three but I like the sire truss rod adjustment at the heel better and the rolled fret edges compared to MIM Fenders are night and day. I’ve never had a MIM with fret edges that felt like a Sire or didn’t need some type of dressing. My MIJ Fender has perfect fret edges and is super comfortable to play. I know it’s all opinion but any new Fenders I acquire will be MIJ. The QC is top notch compared to what I’ve found with my Squires and MIMs. I only have one Sire and the only thing I may do is a pup swap for some extra output and tone. Mind you this could be done at the amp as well but I like some Dimarzio
@@UgoTannicoI had a sire and the preamp gave out two months after having it. So there’s definitely issues. I agree with dude up there, they’re definitely not better but you get a good value. I have a player jazz that came perfect.
I'm with both of you, playing a 5-string J (active, with rounds) and a 4-string P (with flats). None of them is a Fender. And here, I'd go for the Sire as well, I think it has the far better price/performance ratio. Next time you're reviewing 5-strings, please also show us the low b string. Other than that, nice demo! And great to see you back!
the curved fretboard edge of the Sire gives a lot of comfort that even if you don't like the tone that much, you'll still go for it because how smooth it is to play.
Great to have you back guys! Great comparison, follow up with the P-basses perhaps? Fender Player Precision vs Sire P5 would be the next obvious thing 🤩
Have the p5r and it is a superb p-bass. If you are into a 60s p, that is the way, nice dark /chimong tones. if 50s maple board style is your favorite, then you should really vompare
Thanks or the videos, you guys always put out good content. For the last 10 years I’ve been mainly 5 string Basses, wanting to add a 4 string back into the mix I got a v3p and was amazed at how nice they are to play so I sent it back and upgraded to the v5p. Can’t wait to get my hands on it, two more days.
@@stinkende_shiba-x1o No of course not. But i would suggest that Lee is an actual beast on the bass, and that this guy listens to CC through his eyes rather than his ears... In other words, a simp, also slightly sexist in itself...
I have been playing the guitar for 53 years and I am 62 years old or young. Somehow, even from vinyl, I was always attracted to the sound of the bass guitar. Chris Squire for example or Stanley Clarke but never decide to buy a bass guitar. Now I'm planning to buy an acoustic bass to change my "style" a bit. Lately I've been playing lap steel and I really like it, but the bass is a new challenge.❤
Can you guys please demo the b string on the 5 strings exclusively please? They were noodling around up high the whole freaking time. That's the reason for the demo, to hear what the instrument sounds like. ESPECIALLY the b string.
Ah, at last! Good to see you back with this nice comparison! I have a somewhat similar pair, a Sire V3 5 string (with the full electronics thingy) and a Squier Affinity 5 string JB; not quite comparable, but, amazingly enough, the Affinity isn't bad at all. It's got a really good B-string, sounds generally well and plays comfortable so far. And it's much lighter than the V3, who sports a whopping 4,8 Kilos... even sitting down you feel it. Of course that one is way better sounding and more versatile, but still... What do you think? (Oh, I just have to mention my Hohner The Jack 5 string, which is more or a less a Jazz Bass, only headless; does it count?) 😄🖖👍
Great video, as always! As an almost pick-only player I would love to see a bit of pick playing in your bass demos / reviews. That would really help me to get an better idea if the bass potentially suits me or not :)
I keep reading and seeing videos about Fender QC issues, yet none of the four MIM Fender Guitars and Basses that I have purchased during the past three years have any QC issues or defects whatsoever. Perfect fretwork, low action, tight fit and perfect finish. Every single one of mine has been perfect. . YMMV, but I'll stick with what has so far worked for me.
I have a fretless v5 i added a lustihand nfp filter to, it's lovely. Stick some LaBella tapewounds on them, even on the fretted one, you won't regret it!
Bro Lee gets a GREAT tone out of that Fender,,& I have the same Ampeg in gray ,,LOOKS & SOUNDS GREAT,,, haven't played a Site yet but cici makes sound great,,,thank you both 🎸🤠
I like the roasted neck for feeling but I don’t like the roasted board… looks somehow strange not like a shining maple board and not like a nice dark rosewood or ebony board. Therefor I have a P5R and a ebony V7. That ebony board feels great. Btw as always I prefere the 60s spacing of the fender….but this sire are great basses!
It's 60's vs 70's pickup spacing. Two completely different sounds! Fender does not produce a 5-string bass with 70's spacing. The only model was Fender Marcus Miller V.
@@billyellow4849 thank you for agreeing with my thought that a more affordable instrument can be as good as if not better than an expensive compatible imstrument
For the value its not at even close roasted maple neck and board, rolled fingerboard. bone nut, and top notch QC for 400 dollars LESS!? sire keeps knocking it out of the park
I see something new with Lee's hairline? Is it only me? Good player he surely is. Would love to see some Cort, Yamaha and Ibanez basses anytime soon. Rocco Palladino sounds freaking awesome with his Yamaha and pedals when playing with Yussef Dayes.
Alot of these style of Bass are neck heavy , these look neck heavy to me , you need to touch on this guys it's so important especially if these are aimed at the beginner player .
I'm Sire all day. Better finish & tone. I own an American Fender and a MIM Fender and a couple of Sires (v7 and P8) and the Sires are generally better.
Every Fender bass I have needed a neck adjustment and set up. The 2 Sires I have needed just needed action set, necks were perfect. I do like the Sires, they are a very good value. Here’s the big difference … their resale or trade in value is not great, I took a bath on the Sire. My advice is play one, if you like it buy it cause you not going to get anywhere near an American Fender for the price. If money is not a consideration stick with American Fender!
I dont know if this a controversial opinion but it really bugs me when players try to make a snare drum sound by hitting the strings against the pole pieces of the pickup. It just sounds unpleasant! Do people only do this when theres no drummer present?
I prefer the Sire in every way except for the weight. Those things are consistently boat anchors at 10-11+lbs. Until they source some lighter weight woods it has to be a no for me.
My p5r 4string seems to be quite in line with my vintera 50s p bass. Maybe the latter being a tad lighter. My v7 5string is a bit on the heavy side (especially against my Sandberg 5strings) but is very good to manage with the neoprene strap I use all the time
super comparaison mais je pense qu'il faudrait faire un montage pour entendre les deux basses dans chaque réglage les deux micro puis micro manche plus micro chevalet car la, c'est plus difficile de comparer le son de chaque réglage, il passe après l'autre c'est plus difficile de comparer on oublie facilement le son de la précédente
Neck and fretboard are both roasted. The neck is unfinished and feels amazing, the fretboard and front of the headstock have a lacquer over the roasted maple.
Sire sound is way better, fatter yet more natural. Fender one had some kind of a mechanic metalic kinda sound to it on the neck pick up, which the Sire did not have.
Price isn't everything and Sire doesn't make anything BETTER, just nothing comparable in quality for entry and lower mid tier price points. That said the Fender electronics sounded more subtle and articulate although the Sire sounded good as well and had a bit more bite in the bridge due to the modern pickup spacing. Everything Sire makes gets labeled "best bang for the buck", but the same guys buying SIRE for that reason probably aren't buying buying an RE20 to put in front of their SVT either. That said I did get to play a red p5 a few times now and it's a clear winner at the 459. price range. To be honest with myself...I would buy a Sire over anything Mexican made, and an American over anything Sire.
