Backup Bass - Keep or Upgrade (Sidegrade?)

Gear
1

I got a Sire V3P (passive) jazz bass when I started playing.

I’ve since purchased an Ibanez SR1600 that I love. It covers my Jazz bass ground. So I basically never play the Sire.

I strung the Sire up with Ernie Ball Nickel Flats and I really dislike like them. They’re super tinny and harsh.

Debating whether to keep this Sire or sell it on. I could take off the nickel strings and get some nicer flats - Labella or Rotosound. Give myself more reason to keep and use this bass.

Or I could sell it and probably get $200 - $250 that I could put towards another bass. I would eventually like a P-Bass with flats in my collection and something Stingray or double humbucker.

2

I have never owned a Sire, but I hear absolutely nothing but raging goodness about them. Were it me, I’d replace the strings on the Sire that you hate with strings that you love, and then also get a p-bass. Then you’ve got all your bases covered with a P, a J, and a humbucker-based bass.

5 Likes
3

My Ibanez is also J-style and can do everything the Sire can, but better. So it would be two J-basses.

So it’s really how much I want a jazz with flats, vs. getting a P-bass with flats.

Local MGR also has an Epiphone Jack Cassady semi-hollow. That could do really nicely filling the role of a P with flats…

4

I would play the Jack Casady first - the big body takes some getting used to.

Personally, I would resist GAS and get a P. Nothing Ps like a P.

2 Likes
5

If I were you, I’d forego the Jack Casady for a Sire P5r. The P5r has an incredible vintage P tone, a Roasted Maple neck and a really great build.

If you can, try one out and possibly trade in your V3 for it. Or just keep your V3 and try some new strings and/or tuning on it.

2 Likes
6

No Sire dealers anywhere nearby. Music Go Round just happened to have the V3 in when I was looking.

Sire P5 really seems like the right animal to me.

General consensus seems to be reinforcing my notion that I probably most want to sell/trade the Sire V3 for a P-bass.

2 Likes
7

Specifically, go for a P5r. The “r” stands for retro, vintage tone pup. :wink:

1 Like
8

Cool. I thought “R” was for “rosewood”.

9

Nope, retro

Correction: The r stands for rosewood, but this model also includes a Marcus Miller Fat Tone pup for more bottom end and vintage tone.

This is just an idea: a mint, open box P5r. It’s a steal of a deal, IMO.

https://www.sweetwater.com/used/listings/241231-used-sire-marcus-miller-p5r-4-string-bass-guitar-natural?mrkgcl=28&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=92700080518145343&lid=92700080518145343&ds_s_kwgid=58700008750995430&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000041860162&dsproductgroupid=2187553398656&product_id=GX-241231&prodctry=ZZ&prodlang=en&channel=online&device=m&network=g&adpos=largenumber&locationid=1016367&creative=706697184393&targetid=pla-2187553398656&campaignid=21493289649&awsearchcpc=1&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_RQYlAjkLsx39as6hAKUTRHQi4V&gclid=CjwKCAiAmrS7BhBJEiwAei59izhplp_P3rXETe9UEqICT3JiaHeA9SACDKZa2RJKikoV4JorTa6FnRoC08cQAvD_BwE

1 Like
10

I think it stands for Rosewood after checking the site. It doesn’t mention “retro”

the P5 also has a vintage pup

1 Like
11

I always thought that the r stands for Roasted maple neck.

I’d keep that V3p. It’s a great bass to learn to make adjustments and maintenance even have some fun modding it.

2 Likes
12

P5 (and V5) also have roasted maple necks. The fretboards however…

13

Pretty sure this is it.

I’ve got a 2nd Gen P5R in burst that I’m thinking of parting with. Currently has LaBella DTB strings.

2 Likes
14

That’s exactly what I’d put on it immediately. I might be interested in that…

2 Likes
15

My bad. I stand corrected on the “r” in the P5r name. It does stand for Rosewood.

I recently saw a review where the r was referred to as retro. :man_shrugging:

Regardless, the P5R also features a Marcus Miller Fat Tone pup, which delivers more bottom end and a vintage tone. The P5 has a more modern tone.

3 Likes
16

In any case, the P5R will knock your socks off

17

I eventually want to add a P-bass and a Stingray-type to my collection. Question is which first. I think P-bass with flats will probably cover more tonal ground that my Jazz can’t, but ray or L-2000 would be much better suited to the music my band is playing.

Although local MGR has a G&L L-2000 and a Reverend Raymond in stock that I intend to go test out. The Reverend sure is pretty, and my band is playing more songs that would sound good on a ray.

image
image1280×960 50.3 KB

6 Likes
18

I would much rather have that Reverend than a MusicMan! What a cool shape.

1 Like
19

If it was me I would keep the sire as a backup and change the strings. my reasoning would be one active(Ibanez), one passive. save on 9 volts and the sire would always be ready plug in and go. maybe try some tape wounds or semi flats ( do they still make those lol) but good luck

2 Likes
20

The Ibanez is active/passive. I can bypass the active circuit with the flip of a switch. So that’s not as much of an issue.

1 Like