I spent a lot of time researching bass guitars in this price range, watching videos and reading reviews, and eventually decided on the Sire Marcus Miller V3. When it arrived, I was impressed by its design. The bass looks great and feels very comfortable to hold. Upon playing it for the first time with my Boss GT-1B pedal and headphones, the sound was exactly what I expected—clear and solid. It’s easy to get a good tone out of it, and the bass feels comfortable to play.
The neck is well-designed and comfortable in my hands, making it easy to play for long periods. One thing I did notice, however, is that the knobs feel a bit cheap, as they are made of plastic. Given the price, this is understandable, but I plan on replacing them with higher-quality ones. I also read that the tuning machines are of lower quality, and after using the bass, I agree with that assessment. It’s something I’ll look into replacing in the future, though it doesn’t affect the overall playability much.
Overall, for a budget bass, the Marcus Miller V3 offers a great combination of design, sound, and playability. It’s a solid choice for anyone looking for a good bass at this price point. I’m now considering purchasing the 5-string version, the Marcus Miller V5 Alder-5 NT, as it seems like the best option in this price range.