Sire Marcus Miller V7 vs. Yamaha BB735A-DCS 5-String

P

Paul Cuff

Commercial User
Dec 18, 2016
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#1
Hello all,

I am in a good situation to upgrade my current 5-string situation. I have the opportunity to buy a friends good used Marcus Miller V7 5-string, or an excellent condition Yamaha BB735. I have a player Fender 5 string, but I am not finding enough character with the instrument. I see a lot of Marcus Millers around, and I like the versatility of the BB735 in terms of the active/passive switch (also Smashing Pumpkins bassist uses the BB734 exclusively). Please let me know if I am missing something in terms of the features, and what you guys think is the best value. I'm looking for something touring grade, with character, and a lot of options/or easily customizable.
  • The Marcus Miller is $500 ( I may be able to go $450 ) plus a $87 much-needed setup + strings (no case)
  • The Yamaha is on reverb and is going for $699 (comes with a case, and probably a setup too)
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#2
There's a Sire V3 near me for $250. Tempted, but Marcus' name plastered on it is a turn off. I LOVE my BB5N. The stock pickups are fantastic. Yamaha is my pick.
 
#6
I've sorta' been there. I've owned 3x5 string BBs (a 425X and two 615s). I also owned a Sire V3 5er (having played many V7s, after trying a V3 I never thought of getting a V7 or higher). In none of them I found the character I wanted. I ended up with a MarkBass GV5 for character in the first place. The skinny neck is a bonus (not that the V3's or the BBs' were thick, but the MarkBass' is definitely a sharper C profile I prefer). It just breathes '70s Jazz in every note, and is also much more responsive, takes much less digging in to really bark. I got mine for 450€ used, in new condition and including original (real cool, but cumbersome) gig bag.

Note aside: I've grown out of love with PJ. The D and G strings sound nasal with both pickups on (what you get with 2 pickups too close together). Reverse P on the other hand is OK for me, high strings sound more Jazz Bass and nasality doesn't show that much on the low strings, plus you gain some extra articulation with the P pickup soloed.

I don't think it's too fair to compare a PJ to a Jazz. You might need to make up your mind first on the PJ vs. Jazz issue. If you want Jazz, I'd take a MarkBass GV over any Sire, that'd be the summary of all my chatter.
 
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#7
Having owned and gigged A BB734A for a couple of years, I say Yamaha all day. QC was on point, sound was versatile, and it was just a great bass - period. Never had a chance to play a Sire, though I really want to, so there's that. But the Yamahas are, IMO, some of the best basses around at that price point.
 
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#8
andruca said:
I've sorta' been there. I've owned 3x5 string BBs (a 425X and two 615s). I also owned a Sire V3 5er (having played many V7s, after trying a V3 I never thought of getting a V7 or higher). In none of them I found the character I wanted. I ended up with a MarkBass GV5 for character in the first place. The skinny neck is a bonus (not that the V3's or the BBs' were thick, but the MarkBass' is definitely a sharper C profile I prefer). It just breathes '70s Jazz in every note, and is also much more responsive, takes much less digging in to really bark. I got mine for 450€ used, in new condition and including original (real cool, but cumbersome) gig bag.
Click to expand...
I've been on the fence about the GV5 but I think today is the day I order it. The sale and 10% back at GC makes this a killer deal.
 
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#11
andruca said:
I've sorta' been there. I've owned 3x5 string BBs (a 425X and two 615s). I also owned a Sire V3 5er (having played many V7s, after trying a V3 I never thought of getting a V7 or higher). In none of them I found the character I wanted. I ended up with a MarkBass GV5 for character in the first place. The skinny neck is a bonus (not that the V3's or the BBs' were thick, but the MarkBass' is definitely a sharper C profile I prefer). It just breathes '70s Jazz in every note, and is also much more responsive, takes much less digging in to really bark. I got mine for 450€ used, in new condition and including original (real cool, but cumbersome) gig bag.

Note aside: I've grown out of love with PJ. The D and G strings sound nasal with both pickups on (what you get with 2 pickups too close together). Reverse P on the other hand is OK for me, high strings sound more Jazz Bass and nasality doesn't show that much on the low strings, plus you gain some extra articulation with the P pickup soloed.

I don't think it's too fair to compare a PJ to a Jazz. You might need to make up your mind first on the PJ vs. Jazz issue. If you want Jazz, I'd take a MarkBass GV over any Sire, that'd be the summary of all my chatter.
Click to expand...
I agree with you about reverse PJ’s sounding closer to Jazz Basses. I much prefer them to conventional PJ’s.
 
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#13
(Negative responses coming my way)
1st, your fender player 5 is probably a passive p bass 5 string. “Lack of character” is being nice. More like lack of clean sound. Any active 5 string bass will sound better. What I don’t like about Yamaha basses, (mine included) is that the frets are not jumbo frets.
 
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