5 String Sire Z String Spacing

[IotaNet]

I know this has been asked before but I need a definitive answer from an owner. What is the string spacing on the 5 String Sire Z basses?

Originally it was to be 18 mm but I was told that it changed when they went into final production.

Anyone have the correct answer?

Thanks!

 

[Basslie]

pretty sure it's 17.5mm. Feels a little tighter than my 18mm sires, but i actually have come to like it. My 18mm nordy mute is noticeably a little stiffer going on it, again suggesting 17.5mm. Also.,, before I purchased I asked the same question and was told 17.5.

 

[Basslie]

pretty sure it's 17.5mm. Feels a little tighter than my 18mm sires, but i actually have come to like it. My 18mm nordy mute is noticeably a little stiffer going on, again suggesting 17.5mm. Also.,, before I purchased I asked the same question and was told 17.5.

 

[mcnach]

Z7 is 17.5mm
Z3 I'm not sure, it looks narrower, like 16 or 16.5.

 

[Basslie]

It's definitely not 16 or 16.5…, that's Ibanez spacing which I can't stand, which is why I sold my Ibanez after it being my main instrument for years. The z3 5 is 17.5. Before buying my z3 I asked another TBer who had one to measure his and he came up with 17.5. There is also a thread on (I think) basschat about this, and the OP emailed Sire directly and got 17.5 as the reply. It's just a little bit more narrow than 18, as my nordy mute for 18 spacing still slides in it with no intonation changes, just a little more tension putting in and off. I think anything in the 16-16.5 range would definitely give me a hard time with the mute. I have a digital caliper at work, I should borrow for a day and bring it home and measure the Z3's string spacing and the pickup dimensions too since I'm curious as to whether it matches Norsdtands MM5.2 pickup.

 

[mcnach]

It's definitely not 16 or 16.5…, that's Ibanez spacing which I can't stand, which is why I sold my Ibanez after it being my main instrument for years. The z3 5 is 17.5. Before buying my z3 I asked another TBer who had one to measure his and he came up with 17.5. There is also a thread on (I think) basschat about this, and the OP emailed Sire directly and got 17.5 as the reply. It's just a little bit more narrow than 18, as my nordy mute for 18 spacing still slides in it with no intonation changes, just a little more tension putting in and off. I think anything in the 16-16.5 range would definitely give me a hard time with the mute. I have a digital caliper at work, I should borrow for a day and bring it home and measure the Z3's string spacing and the pickup dimensions too since I'm curious as to whether it matches Norsdtands MM5.2 pickup.

Just to be clear: You have a Z3-5 and measured it at 17.5mm (70mm from the middle of the G to the middle the B)?

I've been trying to find someone who one to tell me for ages! All I got was hearsay but no first hand info. In pictures the relative spacing between polepieces looked narrower to me, similar to a lot of cheaper 'clones' and I also hate that... I've been tempted to get a Z3-5 but that uncertainty always held me back. It looks like I may get a Z3-5 after all to complement my Z7-5 using flats...

 

[mcnach]

It's definitely not 16 or 16.5…, that's Ibanez spacing which I can't stand, which is why I sold my Ibanez after it being my main instrument for years. The z3 5 is 17.5. Before buying my z3 I asked another TBer who had one to measure his and he came up with 17.5. There is also a thread on (I think) basschat about this, and the OP emailed Sire directly and got 17.5 as the reply. It's just a little bit more narrow than 18, as my nordy mute for 18 spacing still slides in it with no intonation changes, just a little more tension putting in and off. I think anything in the 16-16.5 range would definitely give me a hard time with the mute. I have a digital caliper at work, I should borrow for a day and bring it home and measure the Z3's string spacing and the pickup dimensions too since I'm curious as to whether it matches Norsdtands MM5.2 pickup.

Just measure centre B saddle groove to centre G and divide by 4, less error that way and even a measuring tape would suffice:

64mm = 16mm spacing
66 = 16.5
70 = 17.5
72 = 18
etc

 

[mcnach]

This is why I was wondering... But looking at the position of the strings over the polepieces it seems that the poles are closer together but retaining the bridge spacing... Agh, I guess I'll end up buying one now

 

[Basslie]

Alright… to finally put this to rest: I measured, and got 7cm from middle of B to middle of G= 70mm = 17.5mm spacing … the one thing Sire excels at is copying… and they copied the SR 5 on the spacing.

 

[mcnach]

Alright… to finally put this to rest: I measured, and got 7cm from middle of B to middle of G= 70mm = 17.5mm spacing … the one thing Sire excels at is copying… and they copied the SR 5 on the spacing.

You're costing me money now!

Black sparkle Z3 incoming...

(Thank you for checking! )