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—which begs the question of how far it can evolve, now that it’s been established. This short-scale variant may be the answer to that question, with a 30” scale that guarantees a rather different feel to that of its grown-up sibling. Get your thumbs ready—we’re going in...