Marcus Miller V7 Alder-5 BUR 2nd Gen

General:
I did a lot of research before buying this bass. I knew I wanted something traditional looking that still packed a huge punch. The only real option within my budget was a Sire (and some Sterling and a Squier). With all of the appointments of a bass way beyond it's price, I decided to buy it and perhaps return or exchange it if it wasn't what I was expecting.

Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- It is cheap in price but not in quality. The woods used in this bass are top notch. I'm not a tone wood person but boy is the fretboard pretty.
- Amazing action. It has such a low, comfortable action. Everything is playable on it.
- Smooth Neck. The neck is like butter to play, it is ridiculously comfortable to play.
- THAT PREAMP. OH BOY. The 18v preamp is mindblowing. If you need a bass that packs a punch, look no further. It is the best sounding bass I have ever heard, genuinely.

Cons:
Upon unboxing this beast of an instrument, I did notice a couple things different from the listing.
- Ernie Ball strings came on it, not the D'Addario listed. I prefer EB anyways so I don't care.
- Barrel-style Saddles instead of the Block Saddles on the listing. I prefer Blocks so was bitterly disappointed when I saw the barrel saddle. They're great quality so it's okay however I would have definitely preferred Blocks.

I truly recommend you pick one of these up if you're reading this. If not, make sure you try one at your nearest Sire vendor to understand why I have given it 5 Stars on every category.

After six months of ownership, it's time to share my thoughts on this bass. Let's dive into the pros first:

- The sparkly pink finish is absolutely eye-catching, making it a perfect fit for my 80's cover band.
- Surprisingly, despite the unconventional color choice, it delivers an impressive metal tone.
- The abundance of EQ controls offers plenty of room for customization, provided you're familiar with their functions.
- Playing feels smooth and comfortable, thanks to the rounded neck.
- Changing batteries is a breeze, thanks to the hassle-free system.

For a beginner seeking an upgrade without breaking the bank on a Fender jazz F.E., this bass is a solid choice. It not only plays and sounds great (in my opinion), but it also outshines a Squier by a significant margin. However, the complex knob layout may be a stumbling block for novices, with five knobs, including two stacked ones, potentially overwhelming for someone just starting out.

Now, let's address the cons:

Over six months of use in a professional setting, the bass's quality has left me somewhat disappointed. Here's what I've encountered:

- An issue with the active side of the bass led to no output. A makeshift fix involving cardboard resolved it, but this shouldn't have been a problem in the first place. The lack of a wooden battery cover, as noted in the V7 CHANGE SPECIFICATION TABLE, may be a contributing factor.
- The output jack was alarmingly loose from the outset, causing constant disruptions. I've since replaced it, but this was a clear manufacturing oversight.
- The stacked volume/tone knob occasionally acts erratically, especially at full volume, making live performances a nerve-wracking experience. This points to a faulty A250k Dual Potentiometer in my bass.
- The PCB inside the bass is encased in epoxy, making any potential future repairs or replacements a daunting task.

Considering these issues, I'm contemplating whether to invest in a Sadowsky Pre-amp or convert it to a passive bass, given that I rarely use the EQ features.

While it's understandable that not every component can be of top-notch quality, the extent of these faults leaves much to be desired. It's worth noting that my 160 euro Harley Benton PBass has proven to be more reliable.

In conclusion, unless the unique aesthetic of this bass perfectly complements your musical project, I would have hesitated to keep it for this long. For those planning to use it in a professional setting, I strongly recommend upgrading the internal electronics right off the bat to avoid any potential performance hiccups.

Great instrument, very high quality, setup well, attention to detail. Downsides - EQ is not that intuitive to me, everything works well but takes some time to learn where the controls are and what they do. Would like to be able to change the bridge but this is not straightforward. Would prefer a high mass bridge not just the saddles. Would prefer nicer looking and lighter tuners but again not easily swapped. Otherwise a great looking and playing machine. I would happily pay another £100-200 for better bridge, tuners and control knobs. They are not bad components, just I'd like nicer ones to fit with all of the other high end appointments like the rolled fretboard edges.