"Sirerays" listed on Andertons (and probably other places)

[uk_lefty]

  On 27/01/2024 at 13:05, Chienmortbb said:

To be honest I feel the opposite, The 'Ray looks all wrong and the elongated top horn on the Sire will place the bass in a more playable position, and help with the balance. In my opinion the Stingray pickup is in an unusable position. However, if you consider the bass a percussion instrument, you may well disagree.

 

I am going as I might have outstayed my welcome here..

Expand  

Not outstayed your welcome at all! I love Stingrays, but appreciate not everyone does, and it doesn't suit every setting which is why I have other basses. 

[Cato]

I was interested in these as a cheapish possibility to try out a  Stingray style bass but those controls and the J pickup are a deal breaker for me 

 

I only use my V7 fretless in passive because I'm not keen on the preamp, there's just too much going on for me personally to quickly dial in a tone and start playing.

 

The Sireray looks like it would give me the same issue.

 

 

[neepheid]

  On 27/01/2024 at 15:10, Cato said:

I was interested in these as a cheapish possibility to try out a  Stingray style bass but those controls and the J pickup are a deal breaker for me 

 

I only use my V7 fretless in passive because I'm not keen on the preamp, there's just too much going on for me personally to quickly dial in a tone and start playing.

 

The Sireray looks like it would give me the same issue.

 

 

Expand  

 

Only the Z7 has that.  Get a Z3?  Cheaper, and no pesky J pickup to distract - less knobs too!

Edited January 27, 2024 by neepheid

[Cato]

  On 27/01/2024 at 15:23, neepheid said:

 

Only the Z7 has that.  Get a Z3?  Cheaper, and no pesky J pickup to distract - less knobs too!

Expand  

 

Cheers for the heads up.

[NancyJohnson]

I watched the Anderton video where they were on the Sire stand and to be honest the only thing I got a bit moist over was the matte black Larry Carlton L3, I've already enquired whether (if I bought one) they could get me a tortoiseshell scratchplate (which Sire do on the goldtop version.  £349.00.  It's perfect.

 

[TRBboy]

  On 25/01/2024 at 19:53, uk_lefty said:

Me too. I really wanted to like these, my number 1 bass is a stingray, but I think there is something just not quite right. The Horn is too long, body too wide, pickguard too short and narrow, and that jazz pickup?!?!  Also, no lefties listed which is odd for Sire. The 24 fret jazz however is really drawing me in.

Expand  

I think the horn is the same length, or maybe fractionally longer. It looks longer because the bottom horn is MUCH shorter 😵‍💫

[TRBboy]

  On 27/01/2024 at 15:42, NancyJohnson said:

I watched the Anderton video where they were on the Sire stand and to be honest the only thing I got a bit moist over was the matte black Larry Carlton L3, I've already enquired whether (if I bought one) they could get me a tortoiseshell scratchplate (which Sire do on the goldtop version.  £349.00.  It's perfect.

 

Expand  

Sweet baby jesus and the orphans! That seems to have caused me some trouser problems 😍😍😍🔥🔥🔥

[horrorshowbass]

I love the jazz pickup having never got on with a single H. Horses courses

[neepheid]

Side note - Andertons have dropped the price of their stock of Sire D5s from £529 to £399.  If you want some tasty '54 P-esque action, I heartily recommend them, mine's great.

[uk_lefty]

  On 27/01/2024 at 17:01, horrorshowbass said:

I love the jazz pickup having never got on with a single H. Horses courses

Expand  

I'm sure it sounds good but to me it just looks odd the way Sire have changed the pickguard and body shape.

[BassApprentice]

Not the best picture, but I think the body shape of the SireRay isn't as jarring in real pictures. Not as convinced by the single cut.....

[T-Bay]

I have a Sire Larry Carlton LP type 6 string. The quality is superb for the money and it plays very nicely indeed. 

[sammybee]

Sorry as a Stingray player, I find these just look plain wrong. It's a no from me

[neepheid]

  On 28/01/2024 at 19:32, sammybee said:

Sorry as a Stingray player, I find these just look plain wrong. It's a no from me

Expand  

 

To be fair, I don't think they're aimed at you.  I'd imagine any official Stingray aficionados will give these a wide berth. They're for chancers like me who are interested in the idea and vague spirit of a 'Ray but are in no way interested in paying the price of USA models or the top end SBMM offerings (of which I've already opined about how ridiculous I find their pricing).

[TRBboy]

  On 28/01/2024 at 18:26, BassApprentice said:

Not the best picture, but I think the body shape of the SireRay isn't as jarring in real pictures. Not as convinced by the single cut.....

Expand  

Looks better in the flesh by the look of it. Quite digging the black sparkle Z3.... 😍👌

[Jolltax]

I think this is quite exciting, I tried a Sterling Sub Stingray 4 HH recently in a shop and was not impressed with the build quality, was priced locally at £469.99. As an owner of a Sire M2 I am a fan of their stuff and feel like these might make a better budget option, especially with the extra jazz pickup.  Originally thought they weren't for me, even though I love the sound, but I picked up a 90's Stingray with a very slim neck last year whilst visiting someones house and really liked it and it completely changed my mind. Which StingRays have the jazzy neck vs chunky?  I dunno .....

Regarding the Sire Z7, a little disappointed the neck is not slimmer, although i understand this is entirely personal preference, if they bring out a version with a neck like the one on my M2 (38mm) and once we confirm it can do a good impression of a Stingray growl, I will deffo get one

 

This clip suggests it sounds pretty good!

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2024 by Jolltax
Added the YT clip

[Killerfridge]

  On 29/01/2024 at 10:19, Jolltax said:

I think this is quite exciting, I tried a Sterling Sub Stingray 4 HH recently in a shop and was not impressed with the build quality, was priced locally at £469.99. As an owner of a Sire M2 I am a fan of their stuff and feel like these might make a better budget option, especially with the extra jazz pickup.  Originally thought they weren't for me, even though I love the sound, but I picked up a 90's Stingray with a very slim neck last year whilst visiting someones house and really liked it and it completely changed my mind. Which StingRays have the jazzy neck vs chunky?  I dunno .....

Regarding the Sire Z7, a little disappointed the neck is not slimmer, although i understand this is entirely personal preference, if they bring out a version with a neck like the one on my M2 (38mm) and once we confirm it can do a good impression of a Stingray growl, I will deffo get one

 

This clip suggests it sounds pretty good!

 

 

 

Expand  

OK, that sounds the part (or at least close enough) and doesn't look as "obese" in the hand.

 

Really like the sound of the single cut too:

 

 

[horrorshowbass]

  On 29/01/2024 at 10:19, Jolltax said:

I think this is quite exciting, I tried a Sterling Sub Stingray 4 HH recently in a shop and was not impressed with the build quality, was priced locally at £469.99. As an owner of a Sire M2 I am a fan of their stuff and feel like these might make a better budget option, especially with the extra jazz pickup.  Originally thought they weren't for me, even though I love the sound, but I picked up a 90's Stingray with a very slim neck last year whilst visiting someones house and really liked it and it completely changed my mind. Which StingRays have the jazzy neck vs chunky?  I dunno .....

Regarding the Sire Z7, a little disappointed the neck is not slimmer, although i understand this is entirely personal preference, if they bring out a version with a neck like the one on my M2 (38mm) and once we confirm it can do a good impression of a Stingray growl, I will deffo get one

 

This clip suggests it sounds pretty good!

 

 

 

Expand  

Thats pretty cool in the flesh even with the obese neck 😆 

[Brian18242]

Any ideas what the string spacing is on the 5?

[Little Dragon]

If they do the Z7 in the black sparkle I may not be able to help myself.

[neepheid]

  On 25/01/2024 at 19:53, uk_lefty said:

Me too. I really wanted to like these, my number 1 bass is a stingray, but I think there is something just not quite right. The Horn is too long, body too wide, pickguard too short and narrow, and that jazz pickup?!?!  Also, no lefties listed which is odd for Sire. The 24 fret jazz however is really drawing me in.

Expand  

 

Lefties now appeared at Andertons.

[Rollin Thunder]

Ther’re good, like the look of the sparkle black 4 string. 

[Baloney Balderdash]

  On 25/01/2024 at 18:08, SurroundedByManatees said:

Looks like an obese Stingray. 

 

I don't think I'll be tempted to get one. 

Expand  

I prefer the body shape of these to the real deal, I even quite like it.

 

I do however agree with the people who pointed out that 42mm nut width is too wide, and that the headstock looks weird, ugly even.

 

I would have preferred a 38mm nut and a 2+2 headstock.

 

I know the real Stingrays got 3+1 headstocks, but even though I never liked that configuration either they at least do look better. Also I fail to see the point with copying that detail.

 

Sure the idea is to have a Stingray sounding budget bass alternative on the market, rather than a fake Stingray lookalike, cause if the latter is the case then they failed miserably on other points. 

 

Edited February 3, 2024 by Baloney Balderdash

[SurroundedByManatees]

For a Stingray sound-alike on a budget, the Ibanez ATK has always been a good option. Would still like a 5-er if it crosses my path.

[horrorshowbass]

  On 28/01/2024 at 19:50, neepheid said:

 

To be fair, I don't think they're aimed at you.  I'd imagine any official Stingray aficionados will give these a wide berth. They're for chancers like me who are interested in the idea and vague spirit of a 'Ray but are in no way interested in paying the price of USA models or the top end SBMM offerings (of which I've already opined about how ridiculous I find their pricing).

Expand  

Right there with ya buddy 😆