Marcus Miller Teams with Sire Guitars for New Signature Basses

Marcus Miller with Sire M3 Signature Bass

Marcus Miller has a new line of signature instruments with Sire Guitars. The series is based on two models – the J-bass inspired V7 and the modern-styled M3 – and aims to create quality instruments at low prices. Miller describes how the series comes about in this interview video:

Available in four or five-string versions, the V7 is available with either a Swamp Ash body and maple fingerboard or an alder body and rosewood fingerboard. Both iterations have classic block pearloid inlays. The bass is fitted a pair of Marcus Super Jazz pickups that are built with Alnico 5 magnets and US-made heavy formvar coil. Its preamp system is also designed in part with Miller. The Marucs Heritage-3 active/passive preamp features a 3-band EQ with a sweepable mid-range between 200Hz and 1kHz.

“It was really important that it had a sweepable mid-range, because I think that’s something that really can help bass players,” Miller explains. “A lot of the young guys don’t know how to use it, so eventually I’ll make a video to show them how to use it.”

Other features include Sire Premium open gear tuners, a Marcus Miller Sire Bridge, and either a tortoise or ivory pearl 3-ply pickguard. It comes in white, black, natural, and burst finishes.

The M3 is built for with a mahogany body matched with a Canadian hard maple neck and rosewood fretboard. It has a pair of Marcus Blue Hum humbuckers that the company says produce “strong output with punchy and tight-mid tone.” Sire also matches the pickups to the Marucs Heritage-3 preamp. Hardware includes a PPS Tusk Black nut, a Marcus Big Mass string-thru-body bridge, and Sire basic diecasting tuners.

The Marcus Miller by Sire Guitars V7 and M3 are available for preorder. A limited number of Marcus Miller hand-signed V7’s will be given to the first customers and will come with a gig bag. The four-string V7 will carry street prices of $399 for the alder body and $499 for the ash body, while the five-string will carry street prices of $499 for the alder body and $599 for the ash body. The M3 will go for $299.

Marcus Miller by Sire M3 & V7 Signature Bass Photos:

Marcus Miller by Sire V7 Signature Bass Specs:

Body:Swamp Ash, North American Alder
Shape:New Marcus Miller Jazz Type
Neck:1-Piece Hard Maple
Neck Profile:“C”-Shape
Scale:34″
Fingerboard:Maple (Swamp Ash Body), Rosewood (Alder Body)
Fingerboard Radius:7.25″
Frets:20
Fret Size:Medium Small
Binding:1 Ply Ivory
Inlay:White Pearloid Block
Pickups:Marcus Super Jazz
Electronics:Marucs Heritage-3
Controls:Volume/Tone (Dual Pot), Blend, Treble, Middle/Mid-Frequency (Dual Pot), Bass, Mini-Toggle (active/passive)
Knobs:Jazz Type Black Plastic
Bridge:Marcus Big Mass
Tuners:Premium Open-Gear
Hardware Finish:Chrome
Pickguard:Ivory Pearl (Swamp Ash Body), Tortoise (Alder Body)

Marcus Miller by Sire M3 Signature Bass Specs:

Body:Mahogany with Flame Maple Veneer
Color:Transparent Black, See-through Red, Brown
Neck:Hard Maple
Neck Profile:“C”-Shape
Scale:34″
Fingerboard:Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius:12″
Frets:24
Fret Size:Medium
Inlay:White Pearl Dot
Pickups:Marcus Blue Humbuckers
Electronics:Marucs Heritage-3
Controls:Volume/Tone (Dual Pot), Blend, Treble, Middle/Mid-Frequency (Dual Pot), Bass, Mini-Toggle (active/passive)
Knobs:Modern Black Plastic
Bridge:Marcus Big Mass Bridge (String-thru-Body)
Tuners:Basic Diecasting Gear
Hardware Finish:Chrome

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Share your thoughts

  1. Kyle Cannella

    I thought he had an exclusive deal with fender

    • Rich

      He did, but all relationships come to and end when the love is gone… :)

    • Rich

      He also ended his relationship with DR and is now with Dunlop… its all about where the money is these days. When you are where Marcus is you can hand pick who you want to be with…

  2. Petey

    Wow! To see Marcus go to a new line of basses, I’m kinda’ shocked. But not surprised. Marcus has been playing his trusty ’77 jazz bass for so long I guess he’s ready for a change. Nothing wrong with that. I wish him the best on his new venture. From what I heard on YouTube, those basses sounded like Marcus but more focus and tight sounding. Can’t wait to hear them on a recording.?

    • Freetrademan

      I wouldn’t expect to hear them on a Marcus Miller album. He will continue to play his trusty Fender. As he explained in the interview, these instruments are for beginners. I’m sure nothing in his deal says he has to actually USE them professionally.

      • MM was playing one at NAMM a couple of times. I heard him at the Markbass booth and, shocker, he sounded just like he always does, even on a Sire. I believe on a thread somewhere that MM will be playing one of the regular production models.

  3. Louis

    Hey if the money is enough…..who wouldn’t sell themselves!

    • Jack

      I highly doubt anyone is going to be offering more than Fender can.

      • Mojo Box

        Actually, from what I have heard , Fender doesn’t offer such great deals for endorsements. Talking to a MAJOR player who dropped Jackson after Fender bought them, they “offered him the same deal as Clapton” which didn’t amount to much….

  4. These look nice and at a very reasonable price. I hope we get those where I live soon enough, I’d love to get my hands on a V7 5 string.

  5. Does the world really need another Fender Jazz clone? It’s cool it has active electronics, but nothing else really stands out. I rather have a Carvin JB, at least it has 22 frets and you get some cool wood combos and have a laminated neck. The M3 is much more interesting instrument.

    • SneakyPete

      Carvin cannot compete at the SIRE price point. $399-499.

      Whether SIRE’s quality is an improvement over Squier’s and lower-end Fender’s at the same price point remains to be seen, though.

      • Agreed, those price points are great! It does concern me though that I watched a 5 minute video and he didn’t play it once!

      • Rich

        The difference is you can build a Carvin these days to your specific liking…

      • I was lucky to get a pre-release one (V7, natural swamp ash, 4 string) at NAMM, and it’s pretty incredible for the price point. I was surprised at how nice the neck felt right away. And when I finally had a chance to plug it in at home, the electronics did not disappoint (which, when you look at a pricetag like this, usually results in sub-par electronics). Not here. I’ll gig this thing stock in a heartbeat.

  6. reverberma

    its a shame ! made his life with fender/sadowsky preamps now that …. his music is going down as his basses …

    • MICAHEL GRAY

      No , he is a Business man also, he should change with the times. Those basses are more reasonably priced and you can get the same sound . I’m not really big on Fender basses any way . Many other choices . MG

  7. mat

    so i guess no left handed models or did i miss anything in the Review?

    • TombedOrchestra

      There are left handed and fretless basses available now (maybe not when this article was written?). The bass player on my worship team just got one of these. He’s super happy with it. It sounds fantastic with our band. The workmanship beautiful. Tone control options get you anything you want. Finish is beautiful. Looks like a great bass for a great price.

  8. Bjorn

    Am I the only one that finds the M3 has borrowed his looks from Traben? That said I would love to play one and read some reviews. At that price the bass is really a steal if it’s the same quality as people give the V7. Thomann sells them for €349.

    • Kevin H

      I PLAY BASS PROFESSIONALLY, AND HAVE NOW FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AND I’ve TRIED OR OWNED EVERY HIGH END BASS WORTH MENTIONING. AND OF COURSE EVERY FENDER, MUSIC-MAN, AND YES, SQUIRE TOO. I OWN BOTH AN M3 4-STRING AND A V7 5-STRING.FIRSTLY, THESE ARE NOT BEGINNER BASSES, ALTHOUGH EVEN A NOVICE CAN AFFORD ONE OF THESE BABIES., THESE ARE READY FOR MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, OR A HIGH SCHOOL BAND SHOW. THEY ARE KILLER BASSES, BOTH IN PLAYABILITY,SOUND QUALITY AND CONTRUCTION AS WELL. THEY ARE NOT JUST GREAT FOR THE PRICE POINT, THEY ARE GREAT PERIOD, AND ARE WORTH 5 TIMES THE $299 I PAID FOR MY M3.THEY ACTUALLY SUCCEEDED WHERE ALL BASS COMPANIES BEFORE HAVE FAILED. A TOP-OF-THE-LINE PRO BASS AT A MEXICAN BUILT SQUIRE PRICE. THESE ARE GREAT TIMES WE’RE LIVING IN PEOPLE! BELIEVE THE HYPE. ITS ALL TRUE

  9. Charles

    The price is right and the basses are awesome, they easily play and sound as good if not better than most basses 3x its price. I also saw him play this bass at NAMM and spoke with him briefly..Ill tell you this, when this bass hits the market all these comments will be a MUTE point just watch and see I play all highend basses..currently Pedulla and have had Ken Smith, MTD and a host of others…..these basses are SUPER SWEET

  10. Bassman7

    Trevor, I just recently sold a modified Squier Active Jazz V with a Bassmods Preamp and Sadowsky Noiselss Pickups and that bass was a killer. Now i have the M3 and I can honestly say the construction quality, feel, tonal options and appearance is above the Squire and its already been said at this price point both the M3 and V7 are reall game changers.

    • Trevor Blair

      Thanks Bassman7, I appreciate the reply.
      I have ordered two ash bodied four strings
      On the strength of the forum and your recommendation. :-)

  11. Doc.Hoc.

    I sure wish I knew about this before buying the bass I purchased last December.

  12. were can I get a sire bass from I live in Raleigh north carolina

  13. John Eland

    Don’t think fender have anything to worry about as his signature model with them is very good professional bass, I have a one off Marcus Miller bass, a passive one that fender made some mods to and it sounds out off this world and been offered mega bucks for it but I think these new basses could prove to be very popular.

  14. Doc.Hoc.

    Yes with no mark up = no profit.
    Money , so they say is the root of all evil toooday.