Sire have built a reputation of produce high-quality instruments which are suitable for both the beginner & professional alike. Sire have created many different models of basses, & by using this guide, we can help you choose the one that is perfect for your needs.
The Ultimate Guide to Sire Basses
Who Are Sire?
Sire have developed a reputation as one of the most popular & widely adopted bass manufacturers in the industry. Through a collaboration with bass legend Marcus Miller, the brand have created an extensive range of highly-playable instruments which deliver optimum levels of performance and premium features, while still providing excellent value-for-money.
From their own factory, Sire produce bass guitars which rival their pricier, American-made counterparts. With every bass made in thier own premisis, they are able to quality control to a high level.
Sire's take on the classic "P" & "J" basses still reference the classic body shapes of traditional guitars, while their unique M series basses are more modern and ergonomic. The U series is Sire's first steps into the world of short scale basses too! Last, but not least, Sire have created extended range, fretless, left-handed basses to make sure they have the perfect choice for every playing style and genre - keep reading to find out more.
The Sire Bass Range
The Sire bass range features different body shapes, inspired by some of the most timeless designs in music history.
Sire Z Series Basses
Specifically designed for bass players seeking a more modern, groovier humbucker sound from their instrument, Sire’s new Marcus Miller Z3 and Z7 bass guitars certainly don’t disappoint in that respect. The new Sire Z-shape body, with a rounded forearm contour was directly inspired by the classic bass guitars of the 70s.
- The new Marcus Miller Z3 bass guitars are crafted from Mahogany, with a Hard Maple neck, come with a signature Heritage-3 (no mid-frequency) premap and are available in 4- or 5-string and fretless versions in four different colourways.
- The new Marcus Miller Z7 bass guitars come with a Sire Premium J-MM pickup configuration and signature Heritage-3 (with middle frequency) preamp, and are available in 4- or 5-string and fretless versions in five different colourways.
Sire F Series Basses
The Marcus Miller F10 is the all-new, high-end addition to Sire’s bass guitar range that is blessed with a superior build quality and premium hardware and electronics throughout. With a body crafted out of Swamp Ash with a solid Poplar Burl top, and a hard Maple/Mahogany five-piece neck that runs through it, these are fine-looking guitars.
- The Marcus Miller F10 range of bass guitars come with signature Pure-H Revolution pickups, consisting of two advanced humbuckers for a frighteningly powerful bass sound, and are available in 5- or 6-string and fretless versions.
Sire GB Series Basses
The new Sire Marcus Miller GB5 bass guitar is designed for an acoustic sound and its main purpose is to reproduce the rich resonance and upright bass tones from chambered bodies. For anyone looking to play smooth jazz or wishing to pursue unplugged bass music, then the GB5 is an excellent choice.
Installed in all Sire Marcus Miller GB5 bass models is a Piezo pickup, situated under the saddle, and a 3-band EQ (for Treble, Middle and Bass) and phase switch to tailor the sound to suit any performance. Available in 4- or 5-string and fretless versions in two different colourways.
Sire P Series Basses
Based on the design of some of the more iconic bass guitars, the Sire Marcus Miller P Series basses are among their most popular. Expect a warm mid-range thanks to the pickup and wood pairings, with improved sustain thanks to the specially designed bridges specified by Marcus Miller himself. Marcus Miller has overseen the design of all of the Sire basses and the results have been phenomenal, as these incredibly affordable basses often outperform their more expensive Mexican and American-made counterparts.
- Sire P5 Series Basses - Taking inspiration from vintage precision-style instruments, Sire's P5 model has plenty of classic character.
- Sire P7 Series Basses - Sire P7 basses are built with North American Alder and come equpied with Sires Super-PJ Revolution pickup set.
- Sire P8 Series Basses - The P8 is a kitted-out model from Sire's P Series.
- Sire P10 Series Basses - The P10 is Sire's top-of-the range P Series model.
Sire V Series Basses
They've got the same versatility that you’d expect from a J-Bass, and thanks to the woods chosen by bass legend Marcus Miller, you can guarantee that it is a perfect bass for slap, fingerstyle or pick bass techniques. These basses also have active EQ controls on-board that’ll allow you to go from Jazz to Hard Rock effortlessly. A personal favourite of Marcus Miller, the V Series is perfect for slap, fingerstyle or pick bass techniques.
Sire has released two additions to its Marcus Miller V series of bass guitars. Previously discontinued due to a global shortage of Swamp Ash in 2021, the Sire Marcus Miller V7 bass guitar is back as a reissue, and the V10 is a lip-smackingly beautiful all-new instrument loaded with signature electronics and hardware.
- Sire V3 Series Basses - Delivers a deep, rich low end and vibrant mid-range.
- Sire V5 Series Basses - The V5 24 Fret is a modified, modern take on Sire's flagship V Series model.
- Sire V7 Series Basses - Its versatility makes it a great option for an array of different techniques, genres and playing styles.
- Sire V7 Vintage Series Basses - The V7 Vintage has either an alder body that adds darker tones and warmth, or a swamp ash body which is known for its brightness.
- Sire V8 Series Basses - Sporting a familiar J-Bass body shape, the V8 has a Swamp Ash body, roasted Maple neck and an Edgeless Hard Rock Maple fingerboard.
- Sire V10 Series Basses - The V10 is Sire's top-of-the range V Series model.
Sire U Series Basses
If you're a beginner searching high and low for your first bass, or an experienced player looking for the next great addition to your arsenal, a short-scale bass can be an equally perfect option. Their simple ease of use makes them instantly accessible for newcomers and professionals alike. The Sire Marcus Miller U5 is a high-performance passive bass guitar featuring a timeless offset body with a distinctly modern aesthetic. It's shorter 30" inch scale makes everything feel a little more compact and incredibly comfortable to play. The shorter scale length also reduces string tension so the notes fall effortlessly under your fingers.
Tonally, the U5 has an excellent range, which is a credit to Sire given that short-scale basses are not typically known for this. The Jazz and Precision-style pickups can be blended for a host of tones from dark and punchy, to bright and dynamic.
In addition to the U5, Sire also have the U7 which features similar specifications and colours to the U5 but with a full 34" scale length with a slimmed lightweight body.
Sire Fretless Basses
Fretless basses are usually seen to be a specialist instrument. Sire & Marcus Miller set out to shatter these preconceptions with their incredible range of fretless basses. With plenty of body shape, colour and configuration options to choose from, Sire Marcus Miller fretless basses are among some of the most affordable and diverse on the market today!
As with much of the Sire Marcus Miller range, you can get a very ‘woody’ response from these basses when tweaking the volume and tone controls. Find that perfect balance of warmth and brightness or dial the tone control down to get the perfect jazzy upright bass tone!
Sire M Series Basses
Sire M Series bass guitars come armed with humbucking pickups and in-depth EQ controls that’ll allow you tackle genres as diverse as slap and funk and even heavy metal.
Sire D Series Basses
Boasting an elegant vintage look, with heaps of old-school charm! With a timeless P-shaped body and solid construction, the D Series pumps out classic low-end tones courtesy of a single, middle-mounted 'Marcus Vintage D-Bass' single-coil pickup.
Other noteworthy appointments include a North American Alder body, a rock-solid roasted Maple neck with a comfortable C-shaped profile and rolled-edge fingerboard edges for maximum comfort and playability.
Sire Heritage-3 Preamp
One of the standout features of the Sire bass range is the powerful and versatile Heritage-3 preamp. The easiest way to understand how these controls work is to split them into two separate sections:
- Part one (in passive mode) has stacked Master Volume and Tone controls with a separate pickup blend. This set up is just like that of standard a Fender bass.
- Part two (in active mode) is your traditional 3-band EQ. The controls for Treble, Mid (stacked with a mid-frequency selector) and Bass all have the capacity to cut/boost frequencies for powerful tone shaping possibilities.
Sire Heritage-3 M7 Preamp
The M5 and M7 models also feature the Heritage-3 preamp with extra controls for pickup splitting options. There are two small toggle switches, one for each pickup, that allow you to set how the pickups are wired:
- Series – Produces a louder, punchier sound, with more prominent mid and low frequencies.
- Parallel – Produces a lower output than in series, but with a slightly brighter sound.
- Single Coil – Has a thinner but strong, articulate sound.
We hope this guide has helped you find out more about Sire, and possibly helped you choose what Sire bass is the right one for you.
Who is Marcus Miller?
Marcus Miller is a living legend, with a music career starting in 1975. Nominated for countless Grammy awards, Marcus has delivered world famous bass to hit records from the likes of Miles Davis, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers just to name a few! With an impressive technical, yet soulful style, Marcus is widely regarded as one of the most influential players to ever pick up a bass.
It really was a no-brainer for Sire to pair up with Marcus. With Sire providing engineering expertise, & Marcus collaborating deep knowledge and experience, this partnership has made the brand absolutely thrive, creating basses that suit the needs and demands of not only Marcus himself, but the most discerning modern day players too. Just like Marcus said, "to put my name on, it had to be perfect".
Read about Marcus Miller here in our Blog.
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