A Sire might have ruined my birthday

[Terry M.]

1 hour ago, Hellzero said:

Yes, to nail that Stingray tone, when it's close to impossible with a Z7, it all depends on the tone you're after.

I tried a Z3 in Andertons that sounded like a Stingray (to me). I'm wondering if the humbucker on the Z7 is in the exact same location as the Z3. Personally I wasn't taken with the neck pickup on the Z7.

Edited February 15 by Terry M.

[neepheid]

6 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

I tried a Z3 in Andertons that sounded like a Stingray (to me). I'm wondering if the humbucker on the Z7 is in the exact same location as the Z3. Personally I wasn't taken with the neck pickup on the Z7.

 

I was hedging my bets - I'm not traditionally a fan of bridge pickup sound.  Also at the time the Z7 was the only way to get a dark fretboard.

[Terry M.]

10 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

I was hedging my bets - I'm not traditionally a fan of bridge pickup sound.  Also at the time the Z7 was the only way to get a dark fretboard.

Got you. I'm a bridge pickup fan I guess. The Z7 in natural was very pretty though I thought. 

[neepheid]

7 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

Got you. I'm a bridge pickup fan I guess. The Z7 in natural was very pretty though I thought. 

 

Given the choice of ebony or maple (even roasted maple) it'd be ebony every day of the week and twice on Sundays for me.  So that narrowed it down to white or burgundy (mist).  Toyed with the idea of the white before deciding to go loud (colour-wise) or go home...

[martthebass]

2 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

Good for you - and thanks for taking the banter in the spirit of humour with which it was intended.

 

Where I'm coming from - I don't chase tones, I've got this ill-defined, nebulous range of what "good" sounds like to me and if a bass tickles my ears in that range then it is deemed "good". Beyond that, it's aesthetics.  Now I have a bass with one of those types of pickup and that kind of vibe and I'm done, because variety is the spice of life.

Nail. Head. Hit.

Some basses are Jack of all trades (masters of none), some are close on one trick ponies. Select the bass for the gig/song and all that.

[Obrienp]

21 hours ago, casapete said:

I’m in a similar situation, only mine is a Sire U5 short scale.

Used it in rehearsals last night with our blues 3 piece outfit and both of the

other guys commented on how well it sits in the band. 
 

Slightly OT, does anyone know who to contact regarding Sire spares?
May need another tone knob for mine. Cheers. 

I’m with you on that. I have the fretless version. The neck is just so well finished and comfortable for a relatively cheap bass. No hum either, which is good for mass produced stuff. I can understand the OP’s “problem”.
 

WRT the knob; they look a bit parts bin to me. No luck on fleaBay, or NorthWest Guitars?

[casapete]

48 minutes ago, Obrienp said:

WRT the knob; they look a bit parts bin to me. No luck on fleaBay, or NorthWest Guitars?

Thanks , will check them out.

I always try to use parts from the manufacturer where possible, but agree your suggestions 

may be the best solution. Cheers. 

[ezbass]

22 minutes ago, casapete said:

Thanks , will check them out.

I always try to use parts from the manufacturer where possible, but agree your suggestions 

may be the best solution. Cheers. 

I’ve found Sire to be very helpful and responsive, so that’d be my first port of call for a replacement. If you can’t acquire a replacement from them or the other suggested sources, CPC Farnell might be worth trying. I bought my replacement knobs from them for my Maruszczyks to give them a bit of a Sadowsky vibe.

Edited February 15 by ezbass

[ProjeKtWEREWOLF]

I like the look of several of the NAMM Sire previews. I might pick up a Z3 this year. I like the look, and don't care if it sounds like a Stingray tbh. 

 

I'm pretty shallow lol. 

Edited February 15 by ProjeKtWEREWOLF

[Terry M.]

19 minutes ago, ProjeKtWEREWOLF said:

 

 

I'm pretty shallow lol. 

I don't think that's shallow at all. With modern technology it's pretty difficult (not impossible though) to mess up the production of electric basses so you have every right to pick one just based on looks. I really liked the white Z3 5 string I tried in Andertons but that example was quite heavy if truth be told.

Edited February 15 by Terry M.

[mcnach]

6 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Nope, the answer of someone who took the time to compare both with the real McCoy trying to nail the sound they were supposed to reach. 😉

 

Yet, others manage 🤔😂

[mcnach]

4 hours ago, Terry M. said:

I tried a Z3 in Andertons that sounded like a Stingray (to me). I'm wondering if the humbucker on the Z7 is in the exact same location as the Z3. Personally I wasn't taken with the neck pickup on the Z7.

 

Yes, same position and same as a Stingray. The preamp is very different but the "Stingray sound" is most definitely there (as if there were one sound... but hopefully you'll get what I mean). Maybe oscilloscope fiends would argue, but I won't 😉

 

 

[ezbass]

1 hour ago, mcnach said:

Yes, same position and same as a Stingray. The preamp is very different but the "Stingray sound" is most definitely there...

The shorty 'Ray manages to sound like a "Ray and that's passive. Pickup position is where it's at and the basis of electric bass tone IMO.

Edited February 15 by ezbass

[TrevorR]

On 15/02/2025 at 09:05, neepheid said:

Also, I think the lower horn of a Stingray looks goofy - can't unsee it now.

Ssssshhhhhh, guys! Nobody show him a picture of a Bongo… 😬🤫

[oldslapper]

I had no idea of the range of models Sire produce. 
Went to a musical last night and the pit guy was playing a Sire. 
Seem to cover all basses…. and v well regarded. 

[la bam]

I can't recommend sire enough. 

 

I've had:

 

x2 V7 v2s. 

x1 P7

x1 P5

X1 Z3

 

All outstanding. Work's of art and fabulous sounds. 

 

Its almost embarrassing what these sell for, especially second hand. Fantastic instruments. 

[Rayman]

I’ve literally been searching all online resources for a new (used) bass, in and around my budget, and there’s literally nothing that tempts me. The Sire ticks all the boxes already. I think I’ll save my money until something irresistible comes along. 

[HeadlessBassist]

On 14/02/2025 at 12:36, Rayman said:

So I’m reaching a landmark year this year, and I decided to treat myself to a new bass? Well of course I did! 
 

I have an amount of money, and my budget could stretch to something nice, to mark the occasion. I’ve been window shopping for a couple of weeks, probably for a 5 string….. possibly another Gibson Thunderbird, maybe Sandberg, Musicman, Shuker …. there’s a bunch of stuff in my watch lists….

 

But there’s a fly in the ointment 

 

A f*****g Sire V7 5 string, that I can’t put down. It does everything, it can sound like anything, it plays beautifully…… I got it for peanuts, and quite frankly I cannot fault it in any way.

 

It’s ruined everything! Now I can’t justify buying anything else, because I can’t believe that anything else is going to be that much better?!? 
 

😠

 

Sire have a habit of doing that to your brain and sense of values.

 

I've had a few Sires, and of course, they usually end up being trade-in fodder for more expensive instruments, but they are good. My most recent one was one of the 2nd Gen Ash V7's and as a backup bass to my American Original Jazz, it was easily as good, if a little punchier with the preamp.

 

I think you sometimes have to end up taking money out of the equation and just accept that a good bass is a good bass, no matter how much it does or doesn't cost.

[Terry M.]

3 minutes ago, HeadlessBassist said:

 

 

I think you sometimes have to end up taking money out of the equation and just accept that a good bass is a good bass, no matter how much it does or doesn't cost.

This. Also take place of manufacture out of the equation when a good bass is a good bass.

[HeadlessBassist]

1 minute ago, Terry M. said:

This. Also take place of manufacture out of the equation when a good bass is a good bass.

 

Agreed, Terry.

[Rayman]

Absolutely right.

 

Just to back that up, and bear in mind, there are multiple other more expensive basses gathering dust here, the other bass that is currently rocking my world, is a Hohner Professional JJ bass. It’s absolutely fantastic too, and my current go to 4 string. Fantastic build quality, Cort factory in Korea , early 90s I think.

 

What can I tell you?

 

The Sire was £70 from a woman who needed the money.

The Hohner was £50 from the bay. Both needed work, both are now absolutely bang on. 
 

Both of them kick the rear end of basses that cost an awful lot more.

[Terry M.]

15 minutes ago, Rayman said:

 Cort factory in Korea

Those who know,know 😉

[ezbass]

18 minutes ago, Rayman said:

Cort factory in Korea

 

1 minute ago, Terry M. said:

Those who know, know 😉

True that.