5 string conundrum

[beanydc]

Looking at getting a 5 string. Stuck on these 2. Both roughly same price. 

 

Squire contemporary 5 string jazz or the Sire Marcus Miller V3P5

 

Anyone owned or played both. Pros - Cons? 

 

Thanks in advance

 

Squire - https://www.thomann.co.uk/fender_sq_cont_j_bass_gunmetal_v.htm

 

 

Sire - https://www.thomann.co.uk/marcus_miller_v3p_5_bks.htm

[joel406]

Very subjective. If I "had" to choose one.

 

Squire.

 

Better neck.

[chris_b]

Choose one and if you don't like it send it back and get the other one.

[dclaassen]

I think the neck feel of a 5 is even more critical, and unique to each kind of bass. You really have to play them to know for sure. I echo chris b's advice, though....

[lemmywinks]

Better neck is subjective, I much prefer the profile of a Sire 5er to a Squier. The B string is usually extremely good on Sires as well so a point over the Squiers there IMO, plus the pre on the Squier Contemporary is pretty much junk.

 

Comparison here:

 

 

 

 

For that sort of money I'd be looking at a used Gen2 V7 (or V5 if you don't need the preamp) as they have better hardware, I think the V3 still use the low end tuners.

[jd56hawk]

Are the Contemporary Active basses still having issues with the active electronics?

[beanydc]

 

On 01/11/2024 at 10:20, lemmywinks said:

Better neck is subjective, I much prefer the profile of a Sire 5er to a Squier. The B string is usually extremely good on Sires as well so a point over the Squiers there IMO, plus the pre on the Squier Contemporary is pretty much junk.

 

Comparison here:

 

 

 

 

For that sort of money I'd be looking at a used Gen2 V7 (or V5 if you don't need the preamp) as they have better hardware, I think the V3 still use the low end tuners.

 

 

Yeah I've been eyeing up a p7 aswell. Look really good. 

 

Seen a few people say the squire necks aren't as nice as the sites. 

 

Thanks

[asingardenof]

On 01/11/2024 at 10:20, lemmywinks said:

For that sort of money I'd be looking at a used Gen2 V7 (or V5 if you don't need the preamp) as they have better hardware, I think the V3 still use the low end tuners.

I wouldn't bank on that, the tuners on the V7 are still pretty cheap, and the bridge is a hand-me-up from the V3.

[lemmywinks]

On 02/11/2024 at 22:37, asingardenof said:

I wouldn't bank on that, the tuners on the V7 are still pretty cheap, and the bridge is a hand-me-up from the V3.

 

Them being cheap (you can get a 5 string set from NW Guitars for around £30) isn't a factor as they are of decent quality and do their job a lot better than the bottom of the barrel machine heads on the V3. I currently have a set of the Grover clones found on Gen2 V7 basses (they were taken off a Sire funnily enough) on my Aria backup bass and the difference is noticeable, they hold their tuning during a rehearsal and feel much more solid.

Edited Monday at 09:27 by lemmywinks

[dclaassen]

I think the most important decision you have to make is about neck width and string spacing. I like full access to the neck, and feel that a lot of wider spacings don't work with me above the 12th fret. On the other hand, narrower spacings tend to lead to challenges with muting, slapping (not that I would know), etc. 

 

But...if it doesn't feel comfy in the shop, don't assume you will get used to it later. You probably won't.