Coming to bass as a long time guitar player, I was really happy to get the Sire P5R. I've always loved Rosewood fingerboards and a simple bass made sense with a great look (natural finish colour). The neck is thick and rounded, but in a way that fills the hand without overwhelming it (I have small hands). The edgeless fingerboard is extremely nice and the instrument comes across as being far more expensive than it is. I tried multiple Squiers and Fenders in the local shop that cost more or even double the price, but comparatively they were very clunky feeling. Incredibly clean fretwork and setup overall, just a slight truss rod turn needed and nothing else done.
For sound, I'm running it through a Fender Rumble 100 combo or recording software. The sound is very full and deep sound, as you would expect from a P-bass and I can hear a lot of difference when you move towards and neck or bridge. I'm learning as a fingerstyle player mostly but having slapped it a little bit, it can do that, but with a lot more punch and less twang.
I keep coming back to the look, as shallow as that seems though, because the roasted maple on the neck is almost as dark as the rosewood fingerboard so that in my hand it looks like I'm holding a two tone piece of chocolate. I'm also completely sold on the front of the headstock where the roasted maple is lacquered for an even darker shine, that makes the silver writing really pop. Truly one of the nicest looking instruments I can recall seeing, especially up close and to get this for 488 euros is a steal.
My only slight negative is that the bass head is slightly heavy as the instrument tends to sit fairly horizontally in my hand. I have a wider leather strap and it's perfectly good to play, but I have heard people change the tuners for lightweight ones and say it improves this. Personally, for the relatively simple bass lines I tend to play, this is minor negative.
