NBD: Sire Z7-5

[Baker69]

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.

But the knobs on Stingrays are chrome, and as my posting said why are they chrome on the Z3’s but not on the Z7’s?

The black one’s on the Z7 are Sire’s stock knobs as used on most of their other active basses. To offer chrome on the Z7 they would either need to design and manufacture new metal chromed knobs (or buy generic one’s like my Harley Benton’s) and would push up the price.

 

[eli]

But the knobs on Stingrays are chrome, and as my posting said why are they chrome on the Z3’s but not on the Z7’s?

The black one’s on the Z7 are Sire’s stock knobs as used on most of their other active basses. To offer chrome on the Z7 they would either need to design and manufacture new metal chromed knobs (or buy generic one’s like my Harley Benton’s) and would push up the price.

Aside from the D5, I don't think any Sire basses come with chrome knobs. Guessing they wanted to differentiate the Z3 and Z7, and I think the black flat-tops are generally seen as the upgrade.

 

[Baker69]

Aside from the D5, I don't think any Sire basses come with chrome knobs. Guessing they wanted to differentiate the Z3 and Z7, and I think the black flat-tops are generally seen as the upgrade.

I think the aluminium black knobs were an upgrade from the cheap black plasticky ones they used to fit.

 

[Baker69]

Has anyone seen the videos of Sire basses from NAMM 2025 on YouTube and what they call the 2nd Gen Z7? It has a different neck pickup with large dia pole pieces to match the bridge pickup. Cool new colours too!

I’m wondering whether my new Z7 (due mid April) will have this new neck pickup? It might address the lower volume output issue they’ve had?

 

[Baker69]

Received an updated delivery on my Z7-5 today, it has moved out from mid April to 31st May. Disappointed but not surprised.,

 

[GreyBeard]

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)

The heavy tuners while doing their job well cause neck dive. Today I replaced them with the Hipshot import ultralites. You have to shim the bushings as they are a bit smaller than the holes. Gorilla tape does the trick. Now the neck dive is gone and the overall balance is great.

 

[GreyBeard]

Do the Z3s have the passive tone control with an active preamp or is that feature only on the Z5?

I believe the Z3 has a 3 band active EQ without the sweepable mid

 

[GreyBeard]

Surprised to read that you are happy with the tuners as according to Lobster’s Z3 video review stating that they are “awful”? I have a Sire P7 and I’m quite happy with the stock tuners, I’m assuming they’ve used the same type on the Z3’s and Z7’s. I’ve just ordered a Z7 in natural finish so it will be interesting to see if the tuners are any different. I find my P7 5’er to be quite heavy, I hope the Z7-5 is a bit lighter, if not I may consider fitting GOTOH GB528 tuners as Lobster recommends.

I’m hoping the neck pickup is a bit more usable than you suggest as I’m working on my Z7-5 as being sort of a Swiss Army knife bass. I don’t really fancy swapping the pickup out at such an early stage but I will do if I think necessary. It will be interesting to see if anyone does this and what pickup is substituted. With regards to pickup volume the neck pickup volume seems fine on the demo’s I’ve seen, perhaps you will need to favour the neck pickup slightly to gain extra volume rather than having both pickups at the detente?

I think Sire ship their basses with D’Addario strings but they don’t seem to be as good as say a brand new set of D’Addario’s for some reason, I always use EB Slinky’s on my P7 and they seem to suit.

As you may have already read, I got tired of the heavy tuners and replaced them with hipshot ultralites. Big improvement

 

[Argali]

What I like and don't like so far.
Likes:
finish (color), neck profile, balance, tuners (smooth working), bridge (allows for setting real low), Overall design, No big volume difference between active and passive preamp settings.
Don't like:
Neck pup sounds thin and can't be adjusted up and down It is noiseless and usable, Crappy strings. I haven't decided on what strings I want to use on this bass but, it certainly won't be the ones that came on it.

There’s a growing pool of players reporting that the neck pickup is awful. Curious why Sire designed the bass that way.

 

[OldShark]

I believe the Z3 has a 3 band active EQ without the sweepable mid

AFAIK, the Z3 does not have a passive tone control.

 

[BPotyk]

There’s a growing pool of players reporting that the neck pickup is awful. Curious why Sire designed the bass that way.

Pretty much. Sounds ok with both pickups or bridge alone but neck alone is just mhew?
Since I can't leave anything I have alone my new pickups came in today for the Z7. Gonna pop some aggies in and see how it sounds.

 

[Baker69]

There’s a growing pool of players reporting that the neck pickup is awful. Curious why Sire designed the bass that way.

I think they just utilised their standard Jazz type pickup for the neck position on the Z7 however the MM type humbucker is so powerful (not on just this bass but all stingray type basses) that it just overpowers the J pickup. I’m assuming the later 2025 Z7 models will be supplied with the large pole type neck pickups which hopefully will even things up a bit. I don’t know when this will be, I haven’t seen anything official yet about this?

 

[KPJ]

There’s a growing pool of players reporting that the neck pickup is awful. Curious why Sire designed the bass that way.

Maybe a bad batch? The J pickup on my Z7 is fine.

 

[Argali]

Maybe a bad batch? The J pickup on my Z7 is fine.

It’s not a dealbreaker for me - I like changing the pickups on most of my basses.

 

[BPotyk]

So update.
Installed a set of Aguilar AG-5MJ-HC. World of difference especially the neck pickup. Also replaced the foam underneath both pickups.
Since I can't leave well enough alone I'm also swapping out the pre for an Audere Pro Z. It should be here this week. I had a classic in a 55-2 I used have and was very found of the Audere. I will have to drill two holes in the switch plate for the Z switch and the battery indicator, but not a big deal.
This is my first set of Aguilar pickups and gotta say that I'm liking them.
It wasn't so much the original factory pickup was bad just to me it really had no voice. Just kinda there. With the Aggie I found myself at practice yesterday digging the neck pickup by its self.

​

 

[BPotyk]

As you may have already read, I got tired of the heavy tuners and replaced them with hipshot ultralites. Big improvement

Good Morning,
If you have a photo of your tuner install could you please forward a shot to me. Wouldn't mind getting rid of the little bit of neck dive.
Thx
B

 

[eli]

So update.
Installed a set of Aguilar AG-5MJ-HC. World of difference especially the neck pickup. Also replaced the foam underneath both pickups.
Since I can't leave well enough alone I'm also swapping out the pre for an Audere Pro Z. It should be here this week. I had a classic in a 55-2 I used have and was very found of the Audere. I will have to drill two holes in the switch plate for the Z switch and the battery indicator, but not a big deal.
This is my first set of Aguilar pickups and gotta say that I'm liking them.
It wasn't so much the original factory pickup was bad just to me it really had no voice. Just kinda there. With the Aggie I found myself at practice yesterday digging the neck pickup by its self.

​

Is that Aguilar neck pickup hum-canceling, or just single-coil?

 

[BPotyk]

Is that Aguilar neck pickup hum-canceling, or just single-coil?

The 5J-HC is hum canceling.

 

[Baker69]

I’ve just been reading a couple of user reviews on the Z7 and from what I’m gathering it could be implied that the Z7 is basically a bass designed and built primarily for slapping? Although I’m a big fan of the Stingray (SR5) sound I do not slap at all so is this bass really going to work for me? Delivery is still 3 months away on mine and I can’t try one out anywhere in the meantime as if anyone does have one in stock it’s not going to be a left handed model as no-one in the U.K. has any in stock and they are Pre-Order only.

I know I can return the bass (to Anderton’s) if I’m not happy with it (and keep all the labels etc on the bass) under their return policy, but if I knew the Z7 is not going to be for me I can look at a more suitable bass. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[PizzaBall]

I owned one of the first runs of the V7 back in the day. Sounded great but was a little heavy etc and other gear caught my eye so I sold it after a few years. Have had another Sire come and go and haven’t had any desire to own another until these popped up. Definitely on the radar for the future. Keep us posted on how this one performs!

I still am in possession of a 1st gen v7 vintage with the now discontinued pearl block inlays & pearloid pickguard. Great bass, but it's got some serious weight to it. Also the one battery latch broke, but the painters tape I use to keep it shut gives it character.

I remember ordering it from Sire's website back in like... late 2016. Took forever to arrive lol. But came with a really nice gig bag actually.