Lakland 55-01 or Sire V7 5 string

[Murph_Orpheus]

I can't decide between these two! I know they're not the most similar in tone but I'm torn between which one to get. I've wanted a 55-01 for a year or two now and I finally have enough money to buy one but in the last few months I've been reading reviews of Sires and watching loads of videos and they sound amazing(and cheaper too!). Has anyone got any comparisons between the two? Damn G.A.S!

[PlungerModerno]

Aren't the Lakland 5er's 35" scale? The Sire's are all 34" scale according to the sire website.

Also most of the Sire offerings feature a pair of single coil pickups - 55-01's come with soapbars if I'm not mistaken, probably dual coils.

[Raslee]

I've had both. Preferred the Lakland for feel and the quality of the build etc but the Sire has much more tonal variation, and cheaper too.
That said I found the Yamaha TRB2 that I've recently sold to be the best all round 5 string, awesome tone, great low B and the build oozes quality.

[Bigwan]

I think the Lakland edges it for comfort - the Lakland neck is awesome. The Sire wins in every other department for me. I've owned 3 Lakland 5 strings, 55-64, 55-02 dlx, 55-01 NTMB and I'd take the Sire over any of them.

[dave_bass5]

I too have owned both (still got the Sire) and agree with the others. The Lakland neck radius is a lot flatter and for me more comfortable to play. Not by a lot, but if i had to choose one neck it would be the Lakland. The tone of the V7 is a lot more versatile IME.
When i had my 55-01 i put a NTMB in it and still felt it lacked character. It was never a bad tone, just left me wanting. I think its the type of pup, maybe it just wasn't for me.

The 55-01 is quite a bit lighter as well.

[ezbass]

I haven't tried the Sire but I did have a 55-02 and I found the preamp a bit, meh. OK, but not really inspiring. A great work horse to be sure, but it didn't excite me (although my drummer loved it) and thus it was moved on. This seems to echo what others have said previously, so it rather depends on what's important to you, super smooth playing neck (mine was very nice, albeit a tad wide for my hands around the 7th position) or tonal variation. Beyond that, how much does the saving of cash mean to you from a practical POV (not just that it's cheaper, for cheaper's sake). Whatever the result, proof in the form of pics will be required, of course

Edited April 30, 2016 by ezbass

[dave_bass5]

Of course if you dont like jazz basses it's a no brainier lol.
I've seen secondhand 5501 's go for less than the cost of a new V7 so it's not an easy choice.

[chris_b]

I don't know the Sire, but a Lakland is a very good bass. If the sound isn't to your liking then replace the pickups and electrics.

The thing you can't mod is the feel of an instrument.