Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String - Overview and Best Prices

Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String Review
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  • From Sire's 2019 V series
  • Marcus Miller Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 4 strings
  • 34"'' scale
  • 7.25" Fretboard Radius
  • North American Alder / Swamp Ash body
  • Hard Maple(Gloss Finish) neck
  • Hard Maple Edgeless (Rolled Fretboard Edges) fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Marcus Vintage-J Revolution (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Marcus Vintage-J Revolution (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 4 tone Dome knobs
  • Marcus Miller Vintage-S bridge
  • Bass C-Shape Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Vintage frets
  • Premium Open-Gear tuners
  • Side-By-Side Comparison
Show Specs
Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String Specifications
Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String
General
Brand: Sire
Year: 2019
Configuration: SS
Strings: 4
Made in: Indonesia
Series: V
Colors: White, Sunburst, Black, Red
Left-Handed Version: Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body
Body Material: North American Alder / Swamp Ash
Bridge: Marcus Miller Vintage-S
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On
Tuners: Premium Open-Gear
Fretboard: Hard Maple Edgeless (Rolled Fretboard Edges)
Neck Material: Hard Maple(Gloss Finish)
Decoration: Black Block
Scale Size: 34"
Shape: Bass C-Shape
Frets: 22 Vintage
Fretboard Radius: 7.25"
Nut: Bone
Nut Width: 38mm (1.496'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Marcus Vintage-J Revolution (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Marcus Vintage-J Revolution (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 0
Knobs: Dome
Volume Controls: 2
Tone Controls: 4
Hardware
Strap Lock: No
Hardware Color: Chrome

Our Scores and Tone Evaluation

Playability 72
Sound 85
Build quality 67
Value for money 80
Overall Score 75
Tone Evaluation
  • Heavy Metal
  • Hard Rock
  • Jazz
  • Blues
  • Funk
  • Country
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Active/Passive Preamp
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Price Overview

Its average competitor's price is $550, which means that the Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String costs around 18% more than the competition. It might be due to it having additional features, but know that you can find cheaper similar alternatives. This takes into account all instruments of the same category in our database with 4 strings and Fixed bridge that are made in Indonesia.

User Reviews & Feedback

Not all instruments are created equally. That's why it's important to have different opinions. Here's what our users who have played this instrument say. If you've played it before, help others by voting below!

Weight

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Tuning stability

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Neck access to high frets

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Neck profile shape

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Fret edges

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Pickups noise

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Pickups power

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Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the neck profile, scale size, fretboard radius, and nut width, we can conclude that the Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String's construction is balanced for most hand sizes.

Nevertheless, this comes down in the end to personal preference. Make sure you test this bass—or another one with similar characteristics—before buying.

Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String meets 2 out of our 6 criteria items for beginner friendliness, which means that it's not recommended for complete beginners. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players to get used to.

New Player Friendliness

Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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Playability

Scale Length

Scale length is the distance the strings will span between the bridge and the nut. It can tell you a lot about the overall playability and tone of the instrument. A longer scale length means longer distance between frets, brighter tone and more string tension—which means lower action, but more difficult bending of the strings.

Here's the Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String's 34" scale length compared to other common sizes:

Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String Scale Length Comparison
Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String's scale length (at the top) compared to other popular sizes

This is considered a long scale bass, and it's the most popular choice for several reasons. Even though it might be more difficult to play than short scale basses due to their increased string tension, their punchier low-end results in a clear and defined bass tone that can cut through in a mix, making them well-suited for genres like rock, metal, and funk.

Neck Profile

Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String Neck Profile
Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String's neck profile

The neck profile tells you the thickness (neck depth) and shape in cross section. Every difference will completely change the feeling and comfortability of the neck. This is a highly subjective thing, but most players indeed prefer certain types of necks (like Cs and Ds) because they feel nice in most hands.

It has a C type neck. C-shaped necks like this have been the most popular for the last years. The reason is that they feel good in most hands. It's generally a thin neck that doesn't get in your way when playing fast, but that also has enough mass to give your hands a comfortable grip for chords if they aren't too big.

Thin necks like this make it easier to move your hand across the neck and it helps when playing fast solos, especially if you like to leave your thumb free while playing high on the fretboard. However, thinner necks are also weaker and will need adjustment more often than a thicker neck.

Fretboard Radius

When it comes to fingerboard radius, personal preference will dictate which one is better for you. However, most people seem to agree that a more curved (lower) radius will make it easier to play chords while a less curved (higher) radius is better for soloing and bending.

The Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String has a 7.25" fingerboard radius.

Here's an image comparing this fretboard radius to other popular choices:

Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String Fretboard Radius Comparison with Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul
Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String's fretboard radius compared to others

This type of radius is considered vintage because it's a lot shorter than what is used in modern guitars. It'll make chords easy to play without muting the strings because the curve will give more space for your fingers, and it adapts more naturally to your hand. However, this comes at a disadvantage. Bending the strings will be more difficult because you will have to adapt your bends to the curve. Also, you won't be able to set the action of the strings low because your strings will ''fret out'' and get muted when bending due to the curve making the string hit the other frets.

Compound radius fingerboards give the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, the Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String has the same radius across the board.

Playability compared to main competitors

34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.496'' Nut Width
7.25'' Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.535'' Nut Width
14'' Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.535'' Nut Width
14'' Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.496'' Nut Width
16'' Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.496'' Nut Width
16'' Fretboard Radius

Nut Width

Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String Nut Width
Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String Nut Width

The Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String has a nut width of 38mm (1.496''). This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 4-string bass. This is what most players find as a balanced width for both playing chords and single notes across different strings. If you have an "average" hand size, or you're not sure what nut width you'd like, this is a safe bet.

Frets

The Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String has 22 frets. Even though 24 frets has become really popular, there's still a good reason to get fewer frets; the pickup at the neck position will be further away from the bridge. This makes the neck pickup achieve a warmer tone. You might want this if you're playing Jazz or similar genres.

However, if you don't care about the warmer neck pickup, more frets will always be better. It's always nice to have the option to play higher notes if you want to.

It comes with nickel silver frets, so they won't last as long as stainless steel frets. If you use your instrument a lot, you might need to replace the frets after a few years. But this is unlikely as most people change instruments before this happens.

Fret Size

Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String Fret Size Comparison
Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String's fret size (in orange) compared to other popular sizes

Finally, let's talk about fret size. Some people prefer tall frets because it's easier to press the strings and perform bends since there's less friction against the fretboard. On the other hand, some people like shorter frets because they like to touch the fretboard when playing, or because they got heavy hands and tend to press too much on the string and alter the of the note pitch accidently.

The Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String's frets are Vintage size. This is one of the shortest fret sizes you can find. Most modern guitar players prefer taller frets because it's easier to bend and press down the strings. However, some people love the feeling of a small fret that lets them feel the fretboard while playing. We recommend newbies choose a taller size for an easier experience.

Playability Score

Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 72

Tone

Wood will have little influence in the final tone of an electric guitar or bass. Instead, the hardware, especially the pickups, will be the most important thing to look at. Bur first, let's see the quality of the wood.

Wood

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder Body
Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple Neck, Fretboard

Alder Body: This is a lightweight type of wood that was popularized by Fender. According to them, it's a wood that offers a balanced tone but that favors the upper midrange slightly.

Maple Neck and Fretboard: This is one of the most popular types of wood used in all kinds of guitars. It's heavy, strong and compact, which makes it great for necks. However, it's also used for fretboards, bodies and tops due to its light color, resistance and beautiful patterns. When it comes to tone, it highlights the mid and high frequencies.

Pickups

This bass comes with pickups from one of the top brands: Marcus. So you can expect well built pickups with great sound that shouldn't need an upgrade anytime soon.

These are passive pickups, so you can expect a rounder sound and a moderade level of output.

Preamp

The preamp is an electronic circuit that serves as an intermediary between the bass's pickups and the amplifier. Its primary function is to boost and shape the bass's raw signal before it reaches the amplifier. This allows for greater control over the bass's tone, volume, and other sound characteristics. Preamps often include tone controls, equalization settings, and sometimes even onboard effects, enabling bassists to tailor their sound to their preferences and the musical context.

This bass has a Active/Passive preamp. This means it combines both passive and active electronics in one instrument. This versatile setup allows the player to switch between passive and active modes, providing a wide range of tonal options. In passive mode, the bass relies on traditional passive pickups and tone controls for a warm and organic sound. In active mode, the onboard preamp circuit is engaged, offering enhanced EQ shaping capabilities and sometimes a signal boost. This flexibility caters to a broader spectrum of musical styles and playing preferences, as it allows the bassist to switch between the classic, vintage tone of passive operation and the more versatile and finely tuned active mode, all within the same instrument.

The Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String's configuration is SS. This is the classic Telecaster configuration and it's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

More with the same pickups

22 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Marcus Vintage-J Revolution Bridge Pickup
Marcus Vintage-J Revolution Neck Pickup
22 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Marcus Vintage-J Revolution Bridge Pickup
Marcus Vintage-J Revolution Neck Pickup
22 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Marcus Vintage-J Revolution Bridge Pickup
Marcus Vintage-J Revolution Neck Pickup
22 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Marcus Vintage-J Revolution Bridge Pickup
Marcus Vintage-J Revolution Neck Pickup
22 Frets
Fixed Bridge
Marcus Vintage-J Revolution Bridge Pickup
Marcus Vintage-J Revolution Neck Pickup

Versatility

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with more options for coil split or coil tapping. This makes it less versatile than some competitors.

What music genre is it good for?

As a 4 strings, Solid Body bass with SS configuration and Passive pickups, we'd recommend it for genres like Jazz or similar. However, you can use almost any bass for any genre. This is just the typical type of music for this particular one.

Sound Score

Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 93
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 85

Build Quality

Country of Origin

Knowing where the instrument is produced is a good way to know how well it's built. Some manufacturing countries are known for having higher quality standards. For example, most expensive instruments are made in the US or Japan, but there are some exceptionally great countries—like South Korea—that are building a good reputation.

The Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String is made in Indonesia. Many people prefer the quality of an Indonesian guitar over a Chinese. Respectable brands like Epiphone, Ibanez and Schecter are building in this country because of the great quality and lower price. Some people like to compare them to the ones built in Japan during the 80s, when Japanese guitar makers made a name for themselves.

Bridge

Marcus Miller Vintage-S: The advantage of fixed bridges is that they don't require any kind of set-up. This makes it extremely easy when changing strings because you don't need to adjust anything besides tuning the guitar. Also, the fact that the bridge is directly attached to the body will help to increase sustain. The disadvantage is the lack of versatility since you can't create the same vibrato effects as with tremolo bridges.

Nut Material

Another important thing to analyze is the nut material, as it's one of the most important aspects that can affect the sound and playability of your bass. A well-cut nut will make sure it stays in tune and will make it more comfortable to play.

In this case, the Sire Marcus Miller V7 Vintage 2nd Generation Alder 4-String has a Bone nut. This material is one of the highest quality you can get. It provides excellent sustain and tune stability if cut well. The only disadvantage is that it's an organic material, so it's not consistent. Two different bone nuts, even if made from the same bone, will probably sound slightly different. However, bear in mind that this is only relevant when playing open strings.

Neck Joint

The neck joint is the part where the neck of the bass meets the body. There are three main techniques to attach both parts together: Set-In, Bolt-On and Neck-Through. The latter two provide different advantages, although neck-throughs are the most expensive.

This bass has a Bolt-On neck joint. Even though this type of neck was looked down upon for a long time, nowadays bolt-on necks are well built and provide just as much sustain as any other join method. First of all, it's cheap to make because it consists of simply 4 bolts that attach the neck to the body. And you can travel with the guitar more easily, swap out the neck if you damage it, or upgrade to a more comfortable neck later on.

Build Quality Score

Quality of materials 56
Features 75
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 67