• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

NBD: Sire Z3

fourstringbliss

fourstringbliss

Supporting Member
Oct 5, 2003
12,442
6,016
56
Puyallup, WA
#1
NBD:

PXL_20260623_000111944 small.jpg


Out of the box the action was super high, but I wouldn't expect some guitar tech at Sweetwater to set it up my way - that's my job. After installing TI flats, adjusting the truss rod for adequate relief, lowering the saddles for low action, and setting the intonation this thing plays great! I was nervous because my first Sire was a used M7 that I couldn't get set up correctly without nasty fret buzz regardless of what I did. This ones a keeper! 8.7 lbs, which is a really nice weight! I've heard unhappy things about the tuners but these are fine, which means I won't be replacing any of the hardware.

It's purpler than I expected but that's okay. Compared to their burgundy mist it's not purply at all, though:

1782185907524.png


Now to save up for the mods I want to do:

Screenshot_20260621-202330.webp
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Bassinthemudd, tindrum, scrubhelmet and 25 others
#3
That's a sharp looking bass and I'll bet it sounds great too. I'm surprised it was delivered with such a poor setup.

What is the name of that finish? In most photos I've seen it looks like a pearl pink, or something.

I have a Sire M5, which is pretty nice. I've been thinking about a Z7, but wish it had a multi-lam neck.
 
#6
Bob Coldwell said:
That's a sharp looking bass and I'll bet it sounds great too. I'm surprised it was delivered with such a poor setup.

What is the name of that finish? In most photos I've seen it looks like a pearl pink, or something.

I have a Sire M5, which is pretty nice. I've been thinking about a Z7, but wish it had a multi-lam neck.
Click to expand...
My P5R came from SW too with a very high set-up. It was also buzzy. Once I switched to LTFs and had it properly set up it played like a dream.

I don't think SW does much to mess with the setup, they pretty much just check a few things and pass it on as it came from the factory. My Ibanez SRs came very well set up from the factory. Sire just doesn't seem to apply the same setup standards to their factory basses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tindrum
#7
Bob Coldwell said:
That's a sharp looking bass and I'll bet it sounds great too. I'm surprised it was delivered with such a poor setup.

What is the name of that finish? In most photos I've seen it looks like a pearl pink, or something.

I have a Sire M5, which is pretty nice. I've been thinking about a Z7, but wish it had a multi-lam neck.
Click to expand...
This is their rose gold, which is a metallic pinky copper color. It was playable out of the box but I like a much lower string height.
 
  • Like
Reactions: scrubhelmet
#8
BassicJazzy said:
My P5R came from SW too with a very high set-up. It was also buzzy. Once I switched to LTFs and had it properly set up it played like a dream.

I don't think SW does much to mess with the setup, they pretty much just check a few things and pass it on as it came from the factory. My Ibanez SRs came very well set up from the factory. Sire just doesn't seem to apply the same setup standards to their factory basses.
Click to expand...
Again, I fully expect to set up every bass I get - new or used - to my liking. I'll always go with SW for new basses because of their pics of the actual bass and usually accurate weights.
 
#9
I just picked up the same bass a couple months ago and put TI flats on it as well! It kills!
Btw; do yourself a favour and remove the pickguard. Much cleaner look. At least give it a try.
Oh, and definitely wire it up for series operation! The MM pickup in series is THICC.

Warning, if you didn’t know already: the electronics are mass-produced with super thin wire and not the most robust of soldering jobs.
If you’re not already planning to replace the preamp, you should start now.
I tried to add a push-pull knob for parallel/series switching, and just in trying to maneuver the plate off and preamp so i could get to thr pots, several connections came undone. I’ve got am EMG setup waiting to go in now.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: mcnach
#10
TrevorOfDoom said:
I just picked up the same bass a couple months ago and put TI flats on it as well! It kills!
Btw; do yourself a favour and remove the pickguard. Much cleaner look. At least give it a try.
Oh, and definitely wire it up for series operation! The MM pickup in series is THICC.

Warning, if you didn’t know already: the electronics are mass-produced with super thin wire and not the most robust of soldering jobs.
If you’re not already planning to replace the preamp, you should start now.
I tried to add a push-pull knob for parallel/series switching, and just in trying to maneuver the plate off and preamp so i could get to thr pots, several connections came undone. I’ve got am EMG setup waiting to go in now.
Click to expand...
Seems to be the weak link in the chain for Sire. They cheaped out on the electronics. Decent p'ups but then went with cheap pots and crappy soldering jobs. To compare brands, Ibanez uses clip-in connections, modular pots with mini-boards, almost no soldering except at the jack. Even though the quality of the Ibanez preamp is meh at least you don't get the connection issues, except at the jack.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TrevorOfDoom
#12
TrevorOfDoom said:
I mean, they gotta cut costs somewhere, right?
If i’d never dicked with the electronics, i’m sure it would’ve worked perfectly for a while before an issue popped up.
I just exacerbated things.
So it goes.
Click to expand...
I agree. I haven't had any issues with my P5R. I've heard of others with issues with the active models, but probably 98% of them are fine. Better to have a solid bass for a good price, you can always upgrade electronics if something goes wrong later.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TrevorOfDoom
#13
TrevorOfDoom said:
I just picked up the same bass a couple months ago and put TI flats on it as well! It kills!
Btw; do yourself a favour and remove the pickguard. Much cleaner look. At least give it a try.
Oh, and definitely wire it up for series operation! The MM pickup in series is THICC.

Warning, if you didn’t know already: the electronics are mass-produced with super thin wire and not the most robust of soldering jobs.
If you’re not already planning to replace the preamp, you should start now.
I tried to add a push-pull knob for parallel/series switching, and just in trying to maneuver the plate off and preamp so i could get to thr pots, several connections came undone. I’ve got am EMG setup waiting to go in now.
Click to expand...
I just put TI's on it as well! Three of my four basses have them.

I'll try without the pickguard but I don't like the holes. I'm eventually going to modd it to look like this:

Screenshot_20260621-202330.webp


With a Delano quad coil and split single. I wasn't planning on replacing the preamp, which functions fine, but maybe that's in the cards as well. I have an EMG BQC in another bass which works well. You're not kidding about all of the wires packed into the tiny control cavity! I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron, though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dabbler, sonojono and TrevorOfDoom
#14
BassicJazzy said:
Seems to be the weak link in the chain for Sire. They cheaped out on the electronics. Decent p'ups but then went with cheap pots and crappy soldering jobs. To compare brands, Ibanez uses clip-in connections, modular pots with mini-boards, almost no soldering except at the jack. Even though the quality of the Ibanez preamp is meh at least you don't get the connection issues, except at the jack.
Click to expand...
Funny but I never liked the sound of any Ibanez preamp I've used and have been quick to change them out. The preamp in this Sire sounds good to my ears. I can boost the treble all the way up without it sounding shrill and the mids frequency seems to be chosen well. A little bass goes a long way, though. I think I'll leave this one alone as long as I can.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassicJazzy and mcnach
#15
fourstringbliss said:
Funny but I never liked the sound of any Ibanez preamp I've used and have been quick to change them out. The preamp in this Sire sounds good to my ears. I can boost the treble all the way up without it sounding shrill and the mids frequency seems to be chosen well. A little bass goes a long way, though. I think I'll leave this one alone as long as I can.
Click to expand...


same feeling here, I liked the Z3's electronics as they are
 
  • Like
Reactions: fourstringbliss
#16
fourstringbliss said:
Funny but I never liked the sound of any Ibanez preamp I've used and have been quick to change them out. The preamp in this Sire sounds good to my ears. I can boost the treble all the way up without it sounding shrill and the mids frequency seems to be chosen well. A little bass goes a long way, though. I think I'll leave this one alone as long as I can.
Click to expand...
Same for me. I don't like the Pre in the Ibanez either, play mine in passive if I have that option. I was just commenting on difference in the way they put the electronics together.

Supposedly, when you get to the Prestige level basses with Ibanez, you get a decent pre. Jury is still out on the Mode series.
 
#17
Bob Coldwell said:
That's a sharp looking bass and I'll bet it sounds great too. I'm surprised it was delivered with such a poor setup.

What is the name of that finish? In most photos I've seen it looks like a pearl pink, or something.

I have a Sire M5, which is pretty nice. I've been thinking about a Z7, but wish it had a multi-lam neck.
Click to expand...
Oops. I guess I meant Z3. Too many models.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back