A Sire might have ruined my birthday

[Rayman]

So I’m reaching a landmark year this year, and I decided to treat myself to a new bass? Well of course I did! 
 

I have an amount of money, and my budget could stretch to something nice, to mark the occasion. I’ve been window shopping for a couple of weeks, probably for a 5 string….. possibly another Gibson Thunderbird, maybe Sandberg, Musicman, Shuker …. there’s a bunch of stuff in my watch lists….

 

But there’s a fly in the ointment 

 

A f*****g Sire V7 5 string, that I can’t put down. It does everything, it can sound like anything, it plays beautifully…… I got it for peanuts, and quite frankly I cannot fault it in any way.

 

It’s ruined everything! Now I can’t justify buying anything else, because I can’t believe that anything else is going to be that much better?!? 
 

😠

[Beedster]

Sounds like you need some boutique all-tube amplification, that'll get the costs back up again 👍 

[ProjeKtWEREWOLF]

To be fair, my V5 (a 24 fret version in mint green, with copper coloured pick guard) has pushed all my other basses into their cases too. I never even liked the jazz bass sound until I first played one; I'm normally a 5 string Ibanez guy. 

Edited February 14 by ProjeKtWEREWOLF
I spelled 'mint' as 'mont'. That was *ridiculous*

[Owen]

We live in a golden age of lutherie. And I am not talking about the top end. 

[casapete]

I’m in a similar situation, only mine is a Sire U5 short scale.

Used it in rehearsals last night with our blues 3 piece outfit and both of the

other guys commented on how well it sits in the band. 
 

Slightly OT, does anyone know who to contact regarding Sire spares?
May need another tone knob for mine. Cheers. 

[Beedster]

  On 14/02/2025 at 13:39, Owen said:

We live in a golden age of lutherie. And I am not talking about the top end. 

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Yep, bet this is a pretty decent alternative to some very expensive instruments, I'm almost tempted......

 

https://www.andertons.co.uk/sire-f10-fretless-6-string-natural-satin/

[Beedster]

[Beedster]

....although those look a lot like frets to me?

[Mottlefeeder]

  On 14/02/2025 at 13:54, Beedster said:

....although those look a lot like frets to me?

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Anderton's write up does say that the fretted version is shown 'for illustrative purposes'

David

[Hellzero]

  On 14/02/2025 at 13:53, Beedster said:

 

Yep, bet this is a pretty decent alternative to some very expensive instruments, I'm almost tempted......

 

https://www.andertons.co.uk/sire-f10-fretless-6-string-natural-satin/

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Wot, you ruined my day too, Chris, a fretless version of the sixer F10! 😍 

 

 

Edited February 14 by Hellzero
Photo added

[Terry M.]

  On 14/02/2025 at 12:36, Rayman said:

So I’m reaching a landmark year this year, and I decided to treat myself to a new bass? Well of course I did! 
 

I have an amount of money, and my budget could stretch to something nice, to mark the occasion. I’ve been window shopping for a couple of weeks, probably for a 5 string….. possibly another Gibson Thunderbird, maybe Sandberg, Musicman, Shuker …. there’s a bunch of stuff in my watch lists….

 

But there’s a fly in the ointment 

 

A f*****g Sire V7 5 string, that I can’t put down. It does everything, it can sound like anything, it plays beautifully…… I got it for peanuts, and quite frankly I cannot fault it in any way.

 

It’s ruined everything! Now I can’t justify buying anything else, because I can’t believe that anything else is going to be that much better?!? 
 

😠

Expand  

Went to a gig once and the bassist was rocking a Sire. He told me afterwards he's never buying another expensive bass again. In fact he said he's sold all his "high end" stuff. And believe me this guy could PLAY!!!

[TheGreek]

F10 is well respected...

Some good reviews on YouTube 

[Rayman]

  On 14/02/2025 at 20:22, Terry M. said:

Went to a gig once and the bassist was rocking a Sire. He told me afterwards he's never buying another expensive bass again. In fact he said he's sold all his "high end" stuff. And believe me this guy could PLAY!!!

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Absolutely don’t doubt it at all. I can’t believe that a (used) £1500 Sandberg for example, is going to be so incredibly better than this V7. I’m sure it would be better…. but is it worth the expense? I’m thinking not right now.

[Beedster]

I think Sire are perhaps where Fender were 60-70 years ago, producing instruments that do the job at a price that reflects that fact and nothing more. So much of the perceptual bollocks in bass guitar design/engineering/technology is being demonstrated as little more than placebo by these guys

[Norris]

My P7-5 (version 2?) is lovely and comfortable. Great pre-amp. Looks fabulous in black & tort too imho.

 

It's been my workhorse for a couple of years. More expensive basses stay at home

[neepheid]

Do you think I have any desire to purchase an EBMM Stingray when I have a Sire Z7?

 

[Hellzero]

  On 15/02/2025 at 08:48, neepheid said:

Do you think I have any desire to purchase an EBMM Stingray when I have a Sire Z7?

 

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Yes, to nail that Stingray tone, when it's close to impossible with a Z7, it all depends on the tone you're after.

[neepheid]

  On 15/02/2025 at 08:51, Hellzero said:

Yes, to nail that Stingray tone, when it's close to impossible with a Z7, it all depends on the tone you're after.

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It was a rhetorical question. Look at the context of the thread...

[Hellzero]

  On 15/02/2025 at 08:53, neepheid said:

 

It was a rhetorical question. Look at the context of the thread...

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You got a rhetorical answer.

[neepheid]

  On 15/02/2025 at 08:54, Hellzero said:

You got a rhetorical answer.

Expand  

 

I got a butt hurt Stingray fanboi answer...

 

[Hellzero]

  On 15/02/2025 at 08:55, neepheid said:

 

I got a butt hurt Stingray fanboi answer...

 

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Nope, the answer of someone who took the time to compare both with the real McCoy trying to nail the sound they were supposed to reach. 😉

[Hellzero]

And also knowing the electronical signal path, which makes it close to impossible for the Z7 to reach that Stingray tone as it is highly linked to the pickup and preamp configuration.

 

And for your information, I'm a Jazz Bass guy. 😉

[neepheid]

  On 15/02/2025 at 08:57, Hellzero said:

Nope, the answer of someone who took the time to compare both with the real McCoy trying to nail the sound they were supposed to reach. 😉

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Good for you - and thanks for taking the banter in the spirit of humour with which it was intended.

 

Where I'm coming from - I don't chase tones, I've got this ill-defined, nebulous range of what "good" sounds like to me and if a bass tickles my ears in that range then it is deemed "good". Beyond that, it's aesthetics.  Now I have a bass with one of those types of pickup and that kind of vibe and I'm done, because variety is the spice of life.

Edited February 15 by neepheid

[neepheid]

Also, I think the lower horn of a Stingray looks goofy - can't unsee it now.

[Terry M.]

  On 15/02/2025 at 09:03, neepheid said:

 

 

Where I'm coming from - I don't chase tones, I've got this ill-defined, nebulous range of what "good" sounds like to me and if a bass tickles my ears in that range then it is deemed "good"

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This makes so much sense to me. A bass either sounds good to the user or it doesn't. Does it really matter if it doesn't sound EXACTLY like bass X or Y if it pleases the ear?