It does, yes, but in situations where you want to go from full bridge tone to full neck tone, it would be nice to have the outputs somewhere near balanced.
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NBD: Sire Z7-5
- Thread starter GreyBeard
- Start date
Based on that video, I suspect he prefers single pickup Stingray type basses rather than having a second pickup (this doesn't mean I think he's wrong about that pickup being underpowered, for I have not tried one).
The Z7 is tempting, but if a pickup is underpowered surely it can be raised? I'd be surprised if it can't.
I realize they are now, but how are the B strings on these? I'd like one, but right now would likely tune it down a whole step.
He says in his video review that he deffo wants to get a Z7 despite the weak neck pickup, but that the Z3 makes more sense financially if you just want the MM type sound anyway. I don’t know how the bridge pickups sound between the 2 models as well, the Z3 has a ceramic pickup and Alnico in the Z7? It’s hard to get a true interpretation of how the Z7 sounds as for some reason everyone wants to turn the treble right up and slap the hell out of them which doesn’t reflect how most players play or have their tone settings.
Yes, raising the neck pickup is an option but my preference on P and J pickups however is to have them fairly low to get the best tone out of them. If it means coughing up another 100 for a better pickup I’d be up for that but I may wait until some guys have already tried this to get their reactions. Nordstrand have been suggested but a Delano might be ok as they do have the large diameter pole pieces to match the bridge pickup.
Given that I don't slap (thumb technique with that isn't so good), I agree wholeheartedly with this.
It's wild if the bridge pickups between the models are different. Perhaps since one has 2 pickups?
Question - AFAIK the Sire Z3 has a ceramic pickup which has been referred to as their MM ‘Standard’ and the Z7 has an Alnico pickup which they call their MM ‘Premium’?
From what I’ve heard on YouTube video reviews (and discounting the Z7’s neck pickup) the Z3 does sound different to the Z7 but if anything the Z3 sounds a bit deeper and more MM-like, am I correct? I expected the Z7 with its Alnico pickup to have more of this characteristic. Does anyone own both basses or has played both and can confirm the above is true.
In addition can anyone advise whether both basses are wired in Parallel? I think they are but I thought I saw somewhere that the Z7 is Series and Z7 parallel (or vice-versa).
I have a Z7-5 on order but am wondering whether to change my order to the Z3-5? I love the roasted maple neck on the Z7 and the J neck pickup but I do like what I’m hearing on the Z3. It could be of course just the tone settings that have been selected on those videos?
From what I’ve heard on YouTube video reviews (and discounting the Z7’s neck pickup) the Z3 does sound different to the Z7 but if anything the Z3 sounds a bit deeper and more MM-like, am I correct? I expected the Z7 with its Alnico pickup to have more of this characteristic. Does anyone own both basses or has played both and can confirm the above is true.
In addition can anyone advise whether both basses are wired in Parallel? I think they are but I thought I saw somewhere that the Z7 is Series and Z7 parallel (or vice-versa).
I have a Z7-5 on order but am wondering whether to change my order to the Z3-5? I love the roasted maple neck on the Z7 and the J neck pickup but I do like what I’m hearing on the Z3. It could be of course just the tone settings that have been selected on those videos?
Sorry @Baker69 I probably bought the bass you wanted 
I bought the in-stock lefty Z7-5 in Natural from Sweetwater a few months ago. And yes, the roasted maple neck is phenomenal.
Regarding the quiet neck pickup... it definitely is significantly quieter than the bridge, leaving the EQ the same. But give it a slight boost to bass and mids and you're back even with the humbucker, and it's a nice phat sound. I'd pretty much call it "good enough" for a p-bass type sound. It's fat and thick and warm and provides a fantastic contrast to the punchy, bright humbucker, although it doesn't quite have that p-bass "meat" if you know what I mean.
If you need to switch between sounds really quickly it's not ideal, but as long as you have a few seconds between songs it's no big deal, and twiddling a few knobs is faster & easier than switching basses.
I bought the in-stock lefty Z7-5 in Natural from Sweetwater a few months ago. And yes, the roasted maple neck is phenomenal.Regarding the quiet neck pickup... it definitely is significantly quieter than the bridge, leaving the EQ the same. But give it a slight boost to bass and mids and you're back even with the humbucker, and it's a nice phat sound. I'd pretty much call it "good enough" for a p-bass type sound. It's fat and thick and warm and provides a fantastic contrast to the punchy, bright humbucker, although it doesn't quite have that p-bass "meat" if you know what I mean.
If you need to switch between sounds really quickly it's not ideal, but as long as you have a few seconds between songs it's no big deal, and twiddling a few knobs is faster & easier than switching basses.
Sorry @Baker69 I probably bought the bass you wanted
Regarding the quiet neck pickup... it definitely is significantly quieter than the bridge, leaving the EQ the same. But give it a slight boost to bass and mids and you're back even with the humbucker, and it's a nice phat sound. I'd pretty much call it "good enough" for a p-bass type sound. It's fat and thick and warm and provides a fantastic contrast to the punchy, bright humbucker, although it doesn't quite have that p-bass "meat" if you know what I mean.
If you need to switch between sounds really quickly it's not ideal, but as long as you have a few seconds between songs it's no big deal, and twiddling a few knobs is faster & easier than switching basses.
No, I’m in the UK so definitely not Sweetwater. I’m going through Anderton’s and the Z7-5 is Pre-Order only, they don’t carry a stock of this model.
Sounds great from how you describe. I wouldn’t tone change mid song so I think I’ll be ok.
Yes, on my Sire P7 the split neck pickup still doesn’t match an actual P Bass pickup!
You can play with the pickup heights if you MUST have a more balanced sound, but I didn't on mine as I really like how the J pickup sounds on its own. I tend to use it with both pickups on, balance knob at the centre detent. Sometimes a bit towards the MM, sometimes a bit towards the J. That gives me a nice range between the more aggressive and mids rich MM, and the deeper J.
I really like mine, I haven't used anything else since I bought mine in November and it's already more than paid for itself. Frankly, it's a bargain. Light weight, superb neck, good hardware (tuners are really smooth, in particular), great sound...
The tuners work smoothly and hold tune. Yes they are heavy but I didn't notice any neck dive with my big old strap. It has a StingRay-ish tone when soloing the bridge pup. Using both pups tames down some of the aggressive mid-range. Soloing the neck pup does nothing for me as it just sounds like a cheap pickup. (jmho)
Yes, I’ve seen the tuners on the Z7 reported as being be quite good but they are different to those used on the Z3 which Lobster recommends as needing upgrading.
The MM type sound doesn’t work on all types of songs/music, I need the neck pickup to at least blend in some Fender’esque type of tones. Sire call the both pickups on the Z7 as ‘Premium’ (‘Standard’ on the Z3) so it’s hard to believe why they’ve put such a weak and bland pickup in there? Is this same pickup used on any other Sire bass models?
Pretty sure both the Z7 neck pickup and the P7 bridge pickup (both J-style) are silent, so they must both be dual coil. Wonder if they are the same pickup?
Idle musings with no data to back up...
The Z7 comes with stainless steel frets right? Honestly between that and the extra controls the extra price sounds like it could be worth it. Can always either not use/remove the neck pickup or do a pickup swap if you don't like it.
This is pretty much how I would use it. I like MM/J (MM-type basses don't sound good in my hands unless they are fretless) but this low volume talk on the neck pickup is concerning as a potential buyer only because I see that pickup as being a major flavor enhancer.
I wish I knew of a store nearby where I could test one. I may end up winging it anyway. There's also a part of me that is bummed that the colors aren't as plentiful (I am guessing that the Z3 will probably sell better though).
Still a bit confused as to why Sire put chrome knobs on the Z3 but the black aluminium knobs on the Z7 which they market as being their ‘premium’ model with stainless steel frets, better tuners, mid-sweep control etc.
I have a set of chrome knobs ready to install on my Z7-5 when it arrives as fitted on my P7-5 but I will try the black aluminium knobs out first. Visually though I think the chrome knobs look better?
I have a set of chrome knobs ready to install on my Z7-5 when it arrives as fitted on my P7-5 but I will try the black aluminium knobs out first. Visually though I think the chrome knobs look better?
I think chrome suits the Fender-style basses (V and P models) best.
That said, I'm leaving the black flat-tops on my new Z7-5. Just seems right.
