Damn Lob, it's CRAZY how much the prices have gone up. That said, it's STILL one of the BEST values on the market. SIRE is the ONLY brand I trust to be like old USA made Peavey stuff ; it's consistently great and blows the competition away. In an age where $2999 is the price of a new bass these days, SIRE gives us a sane alternative.
Thanks to your suggestion I bought this one last year; I really love it. :) My favorite tone is Neck pickup 70% with parallel and Bridge pickup 30% with single mode, together with 90% tone control in passive mode.
This model is available in our shop in France!! BIG THANKS to Sire, Marcus Miller and IMS DISTRIBUTION beautiful instrument and sound amazing for the price!
Thanks for the re-view. I saw a M7, from Sweetwater, marked down for a minor chip of the finish at the top of the headstock. After a siple ask I got it for less (when tax added) than the price of the M5. Just got t today. A great bass. This is my second Sire. The other being a V7 G2 jazz bass. Great tone but weighs a ton.
Got my replacement sire Gen2, M2-5, trns blue/maple past Saturday. I returned the first one that had real bad, sharp, fret sprout. Then the D string tuner broke next day while I was just tuning it up. But for the low price and really nice tone while i had it, told online store, Pitbull Audio, to send me another one ti try. This second M2-5 is in way better shape. Im happy now. Also own P7-5, alder & fretless Gen2 V7-5. Looking for a V3-5 or V5-5 now.
@@ernieD I have the M2 4-str. Very happy with it, but as beginner in bass I don't have much experience with basses in general. Used to have an indonesian Squire before, relieved I got rid of it. Regarding P7-P5Q Which one is heavier? And between these two, which one whould you suggest as P-bass?
About 2 months ago, Sire had ONE instrument left to sell on their website- an alder M7 in sunburst. I'm looking at it right now, sitting next to me! I LOVE IT. I recently went through the site and there was still not a single guitar or bass available. I guess I'll have to wait it out for an S7 and L7, but I'm definitely adding more Sires to my collection.
I love the sound!! However, my issue with all those EQ controls is a lot of the time when I have a bass with a ton of EQ control on the bass itself, I don't really fiddle with them all that much. I feel like they almost go to waste in my hands lol. Great vid!!
I wish I could give this video more than one thumbs up just on your playing alone. I really enjoy your style and would love to hear your band's recordings! Oh and the M5 is killer too.
Great bass. :-) If these are off the shelf and you can work them into your gig setup, then if one dies on you while you're on the road you can just get another one. There's actually quite a bit of value in that...
This is a excellent Bass. One thing I wish they did( Sire) is a Maple Board option on the M5 and M7. They only offer the maple board on the M2. But Anywho great Bass
Mine came in and there were two nicks in the neck and the fret ends had sprouted terribly. I sent it back and am waiting for a replacement. But the little I had it, I absolutely agree with your full assessment on this bass. Loved it.
Alright. I think you convinced me. I was looking for an all round bass that i could take on my bass learning journey and this looks like it checks most of the boxes that i want. Unfortunately as a lefty in europe i can only get the m7 but hey i can afford the small upcharge. Thanks for the great review
HEY LOBSTER...GOT ONE ON 11-24-22 $569.. GREAT DEAL M7 ALDER 4-STRING BROWN BURST... FLAME TOP SWEET...THANKS FOR YOUR VIDEO INFORMATION.... GUITAR CENTER OVERLAND PARK KANSAS
Would love to see a review of an rarely mentioned bass, the Yamaha TRB 1004J/1005J/1006J. I personally have a TRB 1006J in Aquarium Blue (rare color way) (2004). Ive been flirting with Sire M series for some time but haven’t pulled the trigger. Thanks for the review.
Great revisit of this bass. $714 sounds reasonable for this bass. Not that this bass is directly competing with MIM Fenders because the shape, pickups and target user are different, but is it a great alternative to the standard P or J bass for those wanting something different and a tad easier on the wallet. Sire's do seem to be very good. Any pre-release thoughts on the new Squier 40th anniversary basses that will go for $599?
Great review, Lobster! What are your thoughts on being able to approximate a Stingray tone on this? Any pickup configuration and EQ setting that will cover it, in a pinch?
Great question! Eh not really here. I think it does a solid P and J sound, and the humbuckers sound great. However I don't think there's necessarily much in the way of Stingray tones here.
@@LowEndLobster Fair enough. I see a double humbucker bass with a bunch of knobs and switches (plus the added visual element of exposed pole pieces) and I think - surely we could get in the ballpark? Thanks for setting me straight.
Hi Lobster, really enjoy your videos nice detailed reviews and some good laughs! I just ordered a M7 from Sweetwater based on your reviews on the M5, I'm sure it's just as good as the M5, I couldnt pass it up because the M7 was only 85.00 dollar difference and its flame top as opposed to the Ash of the M5, I'm excited because I've never owned a modern type bass in natural wood, it will compliment my Fender Japan 70s Pbass and my Fender 60s Roadworn jazz very nice, I'm diving into new territory with the active preamp and all that but I think I'll adjust just fine, hell maybe I wont even go back to my Fenders who knows! Appreciate you and your knowledge.. Thank you! Kukulkan61
great review as usual! Nice hearing this is one Sire that does not need modding. I sold my V7 Sire-too many knobs and I like the 5 way switch on my Stingray but the M5 looks like switching tones is more predictable. Sires are seriously backordered. I wonder if you can actually buy a M5
Hi man!!!! Thanks for the great review, as always! My birthday is approaching and I think I've found what to give me ... :D :D :D Honestly, what do you think of the Harley Benton HBZ-2005 Deluxe Series (also HBZ-2005FL NT fretless)? It would be nice to have your in-depth review, or a comparison ;) thank you!
Very nice versatility. Makes me wonder what could be done with the Schecter Apocalypse by adding an active preamp to the existing passive setup. For Science! Eh?
I wish Schecter and Reverend would sell their pickups...I think you can get a few Schecter parts which suddenly seems funny considering that when they started they were quite literally only parts lol but I've looked and there's not much out there.
Ah! That's my old peavey cirrus 5. I did a couple videos on that. To the left of that is Wally, my Rickenbacker 4003S, and then left and up of that is my MTD 535-24
Because the door versions kept breaking or falling apart so they went for a simple fix of that problem! I hope the ones coming out with battery doors are improved? To me the fixed door is not a major problem if the 2 x 9V batts last a long time?
@@robjones7725 yes, I do remember they were poor quality. Mine broke, and sire sent me an entire new battery compartment to install, and it has held up ever cents.
I played a v7 and really liked it. Looked into more sire basses; mostly V’s. Now you have me thinking in a different direction. Is it the “best” sire or can you say, “the M5 my most liked sire?” Thanks
Hi, nice review ,if only the 5 strings was below 3.5kg I would have bought one. Do you think the ehb can sound similar with some eq ing ? Have you try the new ibanez ehb 1006ms with the T1 pickups? Would like to know how it sounds A review would be nice. Thank you.
Thanks Tony! The EHB doesn't have the pickup switching options and the bartolini's sound quite a bit darker than these Sire pickups. I have not tried the new T1 pickups but I am hoping to in the future :)
Stay tuned, next friday is a tone shootout between my M5 and the Kingston Super 5. A bit of an apples to oranges, I do not have an M7 Ash 5 string, which would be the perfect counterpart
For that kind of versatility 714 bucks seems like a sweet deal. Of course 5something would be sweeter…Oh well I guess it’s a waste of a good crisis if prices didn’t go up 😒 All in all it’s a good deal if you can get one…
Rhetorically, why can't they put a nice bridge in every bass. Or,at least make replacement bridges available. Ugh. That M5does sound pretty great though...
Damn Lob, it's CRAZY how much the prices have gone up. That said, it's STILL one of the BEST values on the market. SIRE is the ONLY brand I trust to be like old USA made Peavey stuff ; it's consistently great and blows the competition away. In an age where $2999 is the price of a new bass these days, SIRE gives us a sane alternative.
Great comment! Thank you Michael!
The tonal variations are mind blowing!... SOUNDS FANTASTIC!
Can really tell when you like a bass you shred like a beast
That is a nice sounding bass and I agree with you, it needs no mods.
Thanks to your suggestion I bought this one last year; I really love it. :) My favorite tone is Neck pickup 70% with parallel and Bridge pickup 30% with single mode, together with 90% tone control in passive mode.
What up, I have been deployed for a while and am glad to see you doing your reviews. Best bass guitar review channel on RUclips. Woot!
This model is available in our shop in France!!
BIG THANKS to Sire, Marcus Miller and IMS DISTRIBUTION
beautiful instrument and sound amazing for the price!
Thanks for the re-view. I saw a M7, from Sweetwater, marked down for a minor chip of the finish at the top of the headstock. After a siple ask I got it for less (when tax added) than the price of the M5. Just got t today. A great bass. This is my second Sire. The other being a V7 G2 jazz bass. Great tone but weighs a ton.
Your reviews of this bass convinced me I had to have one. Still waiting patiently. Maybe 1st week of March. Looks like this will be the new #1.
Same Rodney. I ordered my M7 this past October and first they said it will come in January. I called them last week and they said march as well
Just buy one. I gurantee.
Did you get one? I just did..a vintage v7. They're unbelievably good
The single coil tone is sooooo good!
Agreed!
A wide variety of tones makes this a bargain. And it looks great and you play it well. Thanks again Lobster.
Great! A "Sire M2 revisited" would be great, although I am not sure it can be done after the M5. Excellent work as always!
Got my replacement sire Gen2, M2-5, trns blue/maple past Saturday. I returned the first one that had real bad, sharp, fret sprout. Then the D string tuner broke next day while I was just tuning it up.
But for the low price and really nice tone while i had it, told online store, Pitbull Audio, to send me another one ti try.
This second M2-5 is in way better shape. Im happy now.
Also own P7-5, alder & fretless Gen2 V7-5.
Looking for a V3-5 or V5-5 now.
@@ernieD I have the M2 4-str. Very happy with it, but as beginner in bass I don't have much experience with basses in general. Used to have an indonesian Squire before, relieved I got rid of it. Regarding P7-P5Q Which one is heavier? And between these two, which one whould you suggest as P-bass?
About 2 months ago, Sire had ONE instrument left to sell on their website- an alder M7 in sunburst. I'm looking at it right now, sitting next to me! I LOVE IT. I recently went through the site and there was still not a single guitar or bass available. I guess I'll have to wait it out for an S7 and L7, but I'm definitely adding more Sires to my collection.
Thanks for sharing! Awesome! Enjoy your M7, they're stellar basses. They are hard to come by but IMO are worth the wait!
The best looking M7….and considerably cheaper too !
I love the sound!! However, my issue with all those EQ controls is a lot of the time when I have a bass with a ton of EQ control on the bass itself, I don't really fiddle with them all that much. I feel like they almost go to waste in my hands lol. Great vid!!
Lobster it looks like you’re having too much fun with that one, great job, and tone. You’ve convinced me to go for this Sire bass 👍
Great bass for the money! I paid only $550 for mine. The bridge is pretty much a copy of what you find on a Fodera. Which is a good thing!
I wish I could give this video more than one thumbs up just on your playing alone. I really enjoy your style and would love to hear your band's recordings! Oh and the M5 is killer too.
Great bass. :-)
If these are off the shelf and you can work them into your gig setup, then if one dies on you while you're on the road you can just get another one.
There's actually quite a bit of value in that...
Indeed! I love that about all my sires. I love my modded V7 Vintage, but I know that I can just get another one if something bad happened to it.
I ended up getting an M7 5 string in the natural finish, and I can’t wait for it to come in! I happened to buy the last one in stock too haha, cheers!
As usual, a great review and thanks you for that ! Can you compare the M5 against Yamaha TRBX 500 or 600 series ?
This is a excellent Bass. One thing I wish they did( Sire) is a Maple Board option on the M5 and M7. They only offer the maple board on the M2. But Anywho great Bass
Thanks, Lobster, great review, as always! Do these extra magnets in pickups affect the sustain?
Mine came in and there were two nicks in the neck and the fret ends had sprouted terribly. I sent it back and am waiting for a replacement. But the little I had it, I absolutely agree with your full assessment on this bass. Loved it.
What causes fret sprout?
I have an M5. Its a great bass. If you went for an equivalent bass you would have to spend at least a £1000 more than the price.
Thanks for that review, I recently bought the five strings one and sounds amazing.
Alright. I think you convinced me. I was looking for an all round bass that i could take on my bass learning journey and this looks like it checks most of the boxes that i want. Unfortunately as a lefty in europe i can only get the m7 but hey i can afford the small upcharge.
Thanks for the great review
HEY LOBSTER...GOT ONE ON
11-24-22 $569.. GREAT DEAL M7 ALDER 4-STRING BROWN BURST... FLAME TOP SWEET...THANKS FOR YOUR VIDEO INFORMATION....
GUITAR CENTER OVERLAND PARK KANSAS
Would love to see a review of an rarely mentioned bass, the Yamaha TRB 1004J/1005J/1006J. I personally have a TRB 1006J in Aquarium Blue (rare color way) (2004). Ive been flirting with Sire M series for some time but haven’t pulled the trigger. Thanks for the review.
Have you seen the new Squier releases? That new contemporary active P bass looks pretty cool.
I have! I think the Anniversary models are a silly money grab, but the Contemporary Active P looks very interesting as a mod platform.
Great revisit of this bass. $714 sounds reasonable for this bass. Not that this bass is directly competing with MIM Fenders because the shape, pickups and target user are different, but is it a great alternative to the standard P or J bass for those wanting something different and a tad easier on the wallet. Sire's do seem to be very good.
Any pre-release thoughts on the new Squier 40th anniversary basses that will go for $599?
Dang I was just about to go with v5 or v7 (just to have that active thing at hand) but now........... and it's my bday in Feb 😃
:) It's my bday in Feb too! Happy almost birthday!
@@LowEndLobster when? I'll raise a glass of great Czech beer to you!
I just really want one, but a 5 string. I have a V3, but I NEED the M5
They must have modified them a bit. I just ordered a new one here about a week ago and it now has the trap door battery compartment.
Great review, Lobster! What are your thoughts on being able to approximate a Stingray tone on this? Any pickup configuration and EQ setting that will cover it, in a pinch?
Great question! Eh not really here. I think it does a solid P and J sound, and the humbuckers sound great. However I don't think there's necessarily much in the way of Stingray tones here.
@@LowEndLobster Fair enough. I see a double humbucker bass with a bunch of knobs and switches (plus the added visual element of exposed pole pieces) and I think - surely we could get in the ballpark? Thanks for setting me straight.
Hi Lobster, really enjoy your videos nice detailed reviews and some good laughs! I just ordered a M7 from Sweetwater based on your reviews on the M5, I'm sure it's just as good as the M5, I couldnt pass it up because the M7 was only 85.00 dollar difference and its flame top as opposed to the Ash of the M5, I'm excited because I've never owned a modern type bass in natural wood, it will compliment my Fender Japan 70s Pbass and my Fender 60s Roadworn jazz very nice, I'm diving into new territory with the active preamp and all that but I think I'll adjust just fine, hell maybe I wont even go back to my Fenders who knows! Appreciate you and your knowledge..
Thank you!
Kukulkan61
great review as usual! Nice hearing this is one Sire that does not need modding. I sold my V7 Sire-too many knobs and I like the 5 way switch on my Stingray but the M5 looks like switching tones is more predictable. Sires are seriously backordered. I wonder if you can actually buy a M5
How would you compare it to Cort B4 Element?
What is the most favorite bass you own?
Is that Beat Buddy you used at the end?? If so, what beat was it?? As always a great review. Going to check one out Friday. Thank You Sir.
Best vfm period
Sounds fantastic! I really wonder how this compares to a Warwick RB Crovette $$
Awesome video and usefull as always. Thanks.
Hi man!!!! Thanks for the great review, as always! My birthday is approaching and I think I've found what to give me ... :D :D :D Honestly, what do you think of the Harley Benton HBZ-2005 Deluxe Series (also HBZ-2005FL NT fretless)? It would be nice to have your in-depth review, or a comparison ;) thank you!
Hey Pepe! Happy early birthday! I'll definitely snag that on my next Harley Benton Haul. I've been eyeing that neckthru model
@@LowEndLobster Thank you!!!!
Great! You are really awesome! I'm curious about your review! Thanks again
That does sound good! What's the weight? looks a bit heavy for a 4 stringer
It's under 8 lbs, like is very light
Great bass! Great value. 👍
Is this a better bass than the V8 or P8? I assume this can be used by any tonal style? I would like a good all rounder.
Very nice versatility. Makes me wonder what could be done with the Schecter Apocalypse by adding an active preamp to the existing passive setup. For Science! Eh?
This is why we're friends... That and our beards are permanently interlinked through the bond of bass brotherhood
@@LowEndLobster yes! But sometimes when I see Bebe with 4 legs and I look at my kitty with only 3, it makes me feel a bit inferior 🤣
My kitty’s preamp is cut by 25% on the low end 😻
LMAO ahahahaha well played sir. Give the little tripod a pet for me
I wish Schecter and Reverend would sell their pickups...I think you can get a few Schecter parts which suddenly seems funny considering that when they started they were quite literally only parts lol but I've looked and there's not much out there.
Awesome review Lobster. Keep up the good work. How long have you been playing bass? Cheers.
Thank you! I've been playing for about 20 years
@@LowEndLobster 1 down, 19 to go! Be safe and God bless you.
@@emmanuelacosta4286 keep it up man!! Before you know it you’ll be at the 5 yr mark then you start to lose track of time lol
I'm interested in finding the video on the bass behind the sire's headstock. The dark natural wood neck through
Ah! That's my old peavey cirrus 5. I did a couple videos on that. To the left of that is Wally, my Rickenbacker 4003S, and then left and up of that is my MTD 535-24
@@LowEndLobster awesome! Thanks for the response! I had a peavey grind 5, the cirrus' little brother and loved it
Good looking good sounds nice and clear enjoy it
My early series Sires had battery doors. WHY hey went away from that I do not know.
Because the door versions kept breaking or falling apart so they went for a simple fix of that problem! I hope the ones coming out with battery doors are improved? To me the fixed door is not a major problem if the 2 x 9V batts last a long time?
@@robjones7725 yes, I do remember they were poor quality. Mine broke, and sire sent me an entire new battery compartment to install, and it has held up ever cents.
I played a v7 and really liked it. Looked into more sire basses; mostly V’s. Now you have me thinking in a different direction. Is it the “best” sire or can you say, “the M5 my most liked sire?” Thanks
The M5 that I recently purchased has sharp fret ends. Is this normal for the M5?
Are the single coils hum cancelling where the blend control is centered?
Indeed they are!
In Single Coil mode, how close the the Jbass sound can I get? Thank you
Hi, nice review ,if only the 5 strings was below 3.5kg I would have bought one.
Do you think the ehb can sound similar with some eq ing ?
Have you try the new ibanez ehb 1006ms with the T1 pickups?
Would like to know how it sounds
A review would be nice. Thank you.
Thanks Tony! The EHB doesn't have the pickup switching options and the bartolini's sound quite a bit darker than these Sire pickups. I have not tried the new T1 pickups but I am hoping to in the future :)
Could we see the difference between the m5 and the m7. Also can we have a visuel on how tricky it is to change the battery. Anyway great video
As for the difference of M5 and M7... I think the tones are just identical, more or less the same.
what about changing the tone capcitor?
Haven't done the mod on this.
Just ordered the 5 string version. Watched your review and couldn't take it any more. Now.......w...a...i....t........*
LOVIN’ it LOBSTER 🦞 👍
M7 or M5... or Kingstom super 5?
Stay tuned, next friday is a tone shootout between my M5 and the Kingston Super 5. A bit of an apples to oranges, I do not have an M7 Ash 5 string, which would be the perfect counterpart
For that kind of versatility 714 bucks seems like a sweet deal. Of course 5something would be sweeter…Oh well I guess it’s a waste of a good crisis if prices didn’t go up 😒
All in all it’s a good deal if you can get one…
Rhetorically, why can't they put a nice bridge in every bass. Or,at least make replacement bridges available. Ugh. That M5does sound pretty great though...
What bass would you recommend at the $500 price point
I recommend this :)
One thing that bugs me is when brands have bass model lines with "5" in the name for 4 string basses lol.
I love the Sires but they are rare as hens teeth right now.
It looks a lot like a Ibanez, I wonder how they compare
Wooooooo
No slap? :(
How did I miss slap! It's ok, next Friday you will see this bass again in a tone shootout with plenty of slap :)
@@LowEndLobster When I started playing bass I'd hate slap only reviews and now It's all I want to hear hahaha a good slaper is my kind of bass lml
The price is too steep for the level of quality now in my honest opinion