Marcus Miller U5 NT MN Short

This bass offers everything I could hope for in a 30” scale bass with a passive PJ pickup configuration: a lightweight body with a killer neck and a gorgeous finish.

Pickups sound great, playability is as good as you might expect from Sire and the setup was pretty good from the box with only minor adjustments necessary as per usual with a mail order instrument.

There’s nothing to criticize here especially within this price range. The electronics are passive but that’s what I tend to prefer. Unfortunately you might have to buy an entirely different model and a shape if you wanted active electronics, but size and weight matter more to me and therefore this really is the optimal bass for me.

I have had M2, M7, Vv7, P7 and a green U5 (because of the colour). I sold the lot and only had a P10 from Sire that I really like. I regretted selling the U5 and bought one again, this time a natural (my P10 is also natural so they are sort of the little and big brother. I have put some La Bella 760F-MUS (Deep Talkin flats) on it as I prefer flats on my short scale basses (I have a Lakeland HB30 with flats as well, this one is on par with the Lakeland apart from the tuners that are better on the Lakeland).

The neck is smooth as butter, not too skinny, not to meaty. It balances well and I like the passive pickups. If you are in the market for a short scale look no further. Light as a feather, good balance and a perfect little bass. LowEndLobster gave it 5 out of 5 claws, and I could not agree more.

I bought this as my -67 fender jazz has become to heavy for an older guy like me and I have been looking for a shorter scale bass for som time.
I have tried the Sire basses and like their tone and quality so when they
released the U5 I just had to get one.
I love the Marcus Miller U5, t has a well defined low end and even tone.
It was nearly 100% set up right out of the box, it just needed intonation.
The wood is beautiful and everything was made with quality in mind, not one thing to complain about. For this money You can't get a better shortscale.

Picked this up for my wife who’s been learning bass for a year or so on a cheap Ibanez Mikro bass (she’s very short), so wanted something that was a step up which would see her through the next stage of her playing. Read a few reviews and the U5 seemed a good option. Bought blind from Thomann.

Sweet Lord, this is a fantastic bass. Not just for the money (which it most certainly in), but a great bass, period. I have played bass for more than 20 years and currently have a pair of Warwick basses. This thing sounds legitimately good and plays phenomenally well. The neck back is satin (great), fretwork is on point and it came set up nicely straight from the factory. It plays and sounds better than some P basses I’ve been trialling recently (Fender player, classic vibe, G&L LB100, Yamaha) and I’ve no hesitation in recommending it if you want a shortscale. I’ve nicked it to play live a couple of times already.

Minor niggles? Not a fan of the bridge pickup being as far back as it is… I know it’s 70s style, it’s just not optimal position for my preference. Sounds fine though. Other niggles? I’d like the pickup covers to have been slightly less square at the edge to rest my thumb. Lastly, belly cutaway would help seated comfort.

Any of these stop me buying again if this was nicked? Heck no. It’s a flipping great bass.