Sire fretless basses which one do you prefer?

Sire fretless basses which one do you prefer?

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    22
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harmaes

Jun 22, 2017
31
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4,531
#1
Interested in a Sire 4-string fretless and was targeting the V9. Delivery has been postponed to October here in the EU so I was curious which fretless you guys prefer?
V7, V7 vintage or M7?
 
#2
I have a V7 fretless and M7 fretless, love them both dearly, but if I could keep only one, it would be the M7. More flexible, lighter, and easier to wear and play. Hope that helps.
 
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#3
bholder said:
I have a V7 fretless and M7 fretless, love them both dearly, but if I could keep only one, it would be the M7. More flexible, lighter, and easier to wear and play. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have an M7 5-string fretted version and find it very versatile as well. Do you play 4 or 5-string versions?
I was thinking that the V9 with the swamp ash and ebony fretboard would be cool sounding as well. ;) Maybe an M7 4-string could be a good choice.

Cheers!
 
#5
harmaes said:
Thanks for sharing your experience. I have an M7 5-string fretted version and find it very versatile as well. Do you play 4 or 5-string versions?
I was thinking that the V9 with the swamp ash and ebony fretboard would be cool sounding as well. ;) Maybe an M7 4-string could be a good choice.

Cheers!
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My M3 is a 4 of course, but the M7 and V7s are all 5ers. The V9 looks sweet too, but I don't need any more Js. The P7 on the other hand... drool
 
#6
harmaes said:
Does the M7 come with Chromes flats?
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I think so. Though the hang tag on the tuner said "D'Addario XLs" - there's no such thing as XL flats, so they must be Chromes? I had planned on switching them over to Ken Smith Compressors (my favorite fretless strings), but I decided I liked the flats and left them on.
 
#8
bholder said:
I think so. Though the hang tag on the tuner said "D'Addario XLs" - there's no such thing as XL flats, so they must be Chromes? I had planned on switching them over to Ken Smith Compressors (my favorite fretless strings), but I decided I liked the flats and left them on.
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Aren't they dark sounding? With the preamp you can fix that though. ;)
 
#14
harmaes said:
How do you like the maple fretboard on the V7 fretless BTW!
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I like it a lot, though having the M7 fretless with the rosewood, I have to say I think the hard poly fingerboard finish makes them both quite bright. I do have the Ken Smith Compressors on the V7, so with the maple board and that hard finish, it's got lots of "zing" in its "mwah". Very bright, I actually turn the tone knob down a bit which I usually don't.
 
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#17
bholder said:
I like it a lot, though having the M7 fretless with the rosewood, I have to say I think the hard poly fingerboard finish makes them both quite bright. I do have the Ken Smith Compressors on the V7, so with the maple board and that hard finish, it's got lots of "zing" in its "mwah". Very bright, I actually turn the tone knob down a bit which I usually don't.
Click to expand...

So the M7 is also bright? I'm currently playing a Squire VM jazz fretless and want to get a better fretless. I'm also considering the Portamento but I read different opinions about that bass. Another option is the cheaper Gary Willis signature but that has a basswood body which I don't really like as a tonewood.
 
#18
harmaes said:
So the M7 is also bright? I'm currently playing a Squire VM jazz fretless and want to get a better fretless. I'm also considering the Portamento but I read different opinions about that bass. Another option is the cheaper Gary Willis signature but that has a basswood body which I don't really like as a tonewood.
Click to expand...
Well, I do have the flats on the M7 still, so I wouldn't say it sounds too bright, but it's the strings not the board. The board surface is very hard, I'm sure rounds would be very bright on it. I will try the Ken Smith Compressors on it soon and see which sounds I like better - they should be a compromise, some of the brightness of rounds without the finger zing and board wear.
 
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#19
bholder said:
Well, I do have the flats on the M7 still, so I wouldn't say it sounds too bright, but it's the strings not the board. The board surface is very hard, I'm sure rounds would be very bright on it. I will try the Ken Smith Compressors on it soon and see which sounds I like better - they should be a compromise, some of the brightness of rounds without the finger zing and board wear.
Click to expand...

The swamp ash also contributes to the brighter sound. Are all fretless fingerboards coated or are there also ones without? Afaikt the Portamento has no coating?
 
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