Ander87

Attempted delivery for mine yesterday, biting my nails waiting for it tomorrow - just as I have an NBD loading too, what a Monday comes…!

love it, and I’ve had it, but prices can just be criminal and for that money I’d rather buy a pedal 😅 but yes, top game purchase if you want a top game PSU. I’ve got a Harley Benton and it’s working great though.

Lee just bought a current doublet from me - always a pleasure to deal with Lee, super good comms fast payment and a reliable lovely fella! Ander.

Don bought my Broadcast pedal and he was a pleasure to deal with - quick payment, good communications, just great all around - would most defo recommend and deal with Agar. Enjoy the pedal buddy!

Thank you @Jonesy! I agree, and think I’d very likely get a mint pickguard or anodised gold for the P5 if I do end up with it… the V5R is spot on as is though… we shall see!

Thank you @lee650 ! Very impressed with this Sire. Reckon I'll end up getting the matching P5, and leave them stock until I feel like a change of pickups just before going into the studio next year. I do have to say that this appreciation for cheaper basses has been made possible only by the wonderful Capo pedal, man, that thing is like engaging the talent button I know I need hahaha it just turns any bass into a powerhouse - add that to a well-finished bass, a broad-dispersing cab and you're ready to go! Ander.

Right...! So, bass is here. First, the bad: awfully setup, I have to say, the action at fret 12 must've been more than 5mm high, I genuinely don't think I've ever played a bass with the action so high in my life. The neck was relatively straight and the saddles etc are okay. I could lower the action so much that even the strings were touching the pickups. This in the picture is my index: Asides from that.... I genuinely can't complain! It is very nicely finished - the paint in the truss rod hole is well painted, no issues with the binding even if I was expecting some. Forgivably, some of the frets on the treble side at around fret 12-15 do scratch a bit on the joint with the fretboard, but this is £399 and they call it the dusty end for a reason. Weight wise, 4.15kg, so, very manageable - I would like it down to 4kg but hey, it's not a la carte menu nor a custom - very manageable and good balance. I've read I could save a good 200gr with Gotoh tuners but so far I like how these ones move/behave. Sound, yes, it is a thicker sounding jazz - @thisisswanbon was VERY right- it has very good body on the lower end and that nasal treble side that we like on a jazz bass. I was assuming I'd have to run to change pickups but this is definitely not necessary, I may do at some point out of genuine boredom more than any actual issue. No hum whatsoever with either pickups, of course none when both are on. One thing I like is that turning both pickups on keeps pretty much the same bottom as isolating the neck pickup - and no volume loss. I really like this since I come back from Precision pickups or jazzes where I almost always play with the neck pickup. The roasted maple has a lovely satin finish, not as nice as the gunstock/oil of my Stingray Special but also consider this bass is 6 times cheaper aye? Frankly, if my Stingray neck finish is 10/10, this would be a solid 8.5-9/10, much as it hurts to admit. The rolling of the frets is spot on where it matters except those two frets around 12-14 on the treble side I mentioned. I have touched the truss rod and saddles to where the bass is much more playable, and I normally do my own setups but seeing how extreme this was I will probably take it to a professional to setup for some £25-30 I guess - something to note in the budget. Will probably take the chance to restring on Stainless Steel daddarios and through the body. Now, the big question, seeing as I have a 'good years' Fender Precision MiM in Lake Placid Blue (2010). How do they compare? Similar sound quality - but the Sire has top game finishes that I would expect in Schecters of double the price to name a brand. I'd say finishing wise it's very in the 1k£ range, but I don't think I'd compare it to American made - just a bloody good Korean finish (LTD 1000 series, Schecter high end, PRS SE Signatures... that sort of vibe). Considering I've had about 25 basses and this is my cheapest, I would gladly believe this is in the £800-1000 range by features and feel - add branded pickups and I'd be ready to assume this is £1200s in today's money as a signature model or similar. Now, I do love the Fender but I know Sire makes the P5 in Mild Green, same as this V5R, for a silly £379 with roasted maple.... Will I give in to a trio in this seafoam green vibes??

well... It's here! will update shortly with some pictures

Oh gotcha!! Nice, I’m sure it’ll treat you right! Ander.

This one is the one I got…! the cable im holding is the supply lead.

Came here to say this - only con is they don't have a thick kettle lead, all else is perfect and dead quiet. Ander.

Alex just bought a strap from me - easy to deal with, quick payment and an all round lovely fella. Would most def recommend! Ander.

Oh, nice to hear Lee! I was tempted but I need to see a pickguard somehow, guess I'm deep in the FSO universe for the last couple years at least... And plus I wanted to get a bass I would want to gig and not sure if the shortscale proportions could threw me off...! I don't think they have this colour for maple but they've got a gorgeous champagne gold that I was very tempted by - I would've completely bought this would it not be because I already have a maple board on my Precision...: Best, Ander.

Whoa this is gonna be stunning! pretty cool, especially as we use to see shell pink in the Fender Flea sig, nice to do Precision for a change. The decal will make it more yours yet too I've had experience with those mutes (in previous pages) and love the mojo of them, actually I may just install it again on my current Precision MiM - they also work better, I think, than adding and removing foam etc and can graduate the intensity of muting too. Agree on the sentiment of the case, they're great to look at and the wow factor but not practical outside bumpy road trips to studio and storage... Looking forwards to seeing it my dude! Ander.

ooooh tell us, what did you ordered? I had to wait a couple months for mine…! Ander.

Haha by all means, cheers buddy - that jazz sharper edge is what I’m looking for and I’ve got tons of bass on the EQ if need be, will let the jazz be a jazz of course!

Aha, thank you! Yes, I got the 4 string version too so I’m hoping that will be light enough for gigs etc. interesting on the pickups, I do love a fat type of pickups due to my precision bass background and the genre, so that’ll help massively - good to hear the ‘Fat J Revolution’ pickups the V5R comes with aren’t just marketing but a hint at the character 😂 Completely agree some Fender can be mental heavy and tbh 9.5lbs/4.3kg is not a demand for a super light bass anyways… I asked Thomann if they could weigh it but no charm. … if it’s bloody heavy I can order another one to have my pick and then return the boat anchor if any of them is haha Thanks again! Ander.

Gah!!! I love it, this is seriously so sexy!! I hadn’t seen any around here on that colour/spec for the V5R. what’s the weight like? Have you felt any need to change the pickups? I’m thinking it could become my main gigging bass, the stingray special is likely too precious to expose to crowds in a punk rock gig sometimes… my only real concern is the weight, I hope it kicks under 9.5lbs. Ander.

but you’re blessed with that solid playing my man! I was REALLY considering the sonic blue V3 but roasted maple won me over in the end. Un saludo 😉!