New acoustic/electric from Sire

[Dave W]

Sire Announces GB Series Acoustic/Electric Basses

[Alanko]

I've owned two Sire basses. Fretwork was brilliant on both, as was the electronics (pickups being a bit tame). The headstocks were very heavy on both, due to the dollar store tuners.

[Dave W]

My older son bought a Sire last year as an emergency backup to his Sadowsky. He likes it.

[Alanko]

I wouldn't be too surprised if the Sire basses and import Sadowsky Metro Express basses are coming from the same factories.


My second Sire bass was a P5R. A basic P Bass copy. The one weird thing was the roasted maple neck. It was dark brown, like it had been hit with walnut wood stain. Far darker than any torrified maple I've seen elsewhere. Even the budget brands like Harley Benton are using this supposedly roasted maple, but it is suspiciously dark.

[Chris P.]

A lot is made by Cort.

Of course Warwick makes almost all Sadowsky's now, except for a handfull yearly from Roger himself. I think Sadowsky's are made in the Chinese Warwick factory, which is their own, if I'm right.

[morrow]

I've read that Cort and Samick are the largest guitar manufacturers on the planet , but I'd think that it's probably a Chinese company today.

[gearHed289]

Samick makes or made a lot of Ibanez stuff according to my friend who owned a mom and pop store for decades. I've got one of their mini P basses and an acoustic guitar. Fine stuff for the money, that's for sure.

[Dave W]

I've read that Cort and Samick are the largest guitar manufacturers on the planet , but I'd think that it's probably a Chinese company today.

Cort and Samick both own their own factories in China. They produce far more there than in Korea.

[morrow]

And have Indonesian factories as well. They were having union problems for a while in Korea and simply moved production at one point. The Korean built instruments tend to be higher end these days.
And are well made.