WINNER Sire V2 U5

Marcus Miller’s Sire J-Bass model has been widely admired since its launch for its practical playability and no-nonsense price point. It doesn’t seek to refine the J envelope or stray away from the 60-year-old template, and it doesn’t break the bank either. This short-scale bass guarantees a rather different feel to that of its grown-up sibling, too. It’s built in Indonesia, enabling its relatively low pricetag, but that doesn’t mean it plays like a cheap bass. On the contrary: its alder body features a flamed maple top and binding that give it a tangibly lustrous feel under the fingers. The tobacco sunburst finish, or Sire’s take on that design at least, is enhanced by the tiger stripes across the body, making it both cosmetically and economically a category winner.