NBD: Sire Z7-5

[eli]

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!

I would hazard that the Z7 is designed and built basically to sound like a Stingray, whether it's slapped or not. If you like the Stingray sound (at least on the bridge pickup), then you would probably like the Z7 bridge pickup sound. I myself have a fretless Z7-5, and I do have a couple of fretted Ray35s, but can't really make a comparison due to the fretlessness (!) of my Z7.

"Real" Ernie Ball MusicMan Stingrays (plus Ray3Xs) have Alnico pickups, while the cheaper Sterlings have ceramic. The Z7 also uses ceramic, and there is some difference, though not huge to my ear; I'm sure you can find debate on that topic on some Stingray thread on this website.

 

[Baker69]

I would hazard that the Z7 is designed and built basically to sound like a Stingray, whether it's slapped or not. If you like the Stingray sound (at least on the bridge pickup), then you would probably like the Z7 bridge pickup sound. I myself have a fretless Z7-5, and I do have a couple of fretted Ray35s, but can't really make a comparison due to the fretlessness (!) of my Z7.

"Real" Ernie Ball MusicMan Stingrays (plus Ray3Xs) have Alnico pickups, while the cheaper Sterlings have ceramic. The Z7 also uses ceramic, and there is some difference, though not huge to my ear; I'm sure you can find debate on that topic on some Stingray thread on this website.

I read that the Z3 has a ceramic pickup (Sire Standard MM pickup) and alnico on the Z7 (Sire Premium MM pickup) and the Sire USA web site would confirm this and with the Z7 being the “top of the range” model this would make sense.

 

[eli]

I read that the Z3 has a ceramic pickup (Sire Standard MM pickup) and alnico on the Z7 (Sire Premium MM pickup) and the Sire USA web site would confirm this and with the Z7 being the “top of the range” model this would make sense.

Even cooler! I like my Z7 even better now! I stand corrected!

 

[Baker69]

Even cooler! I like my Z7 even better now! I stand corrected!

I played my Sterling SUB Ray 5 tonight, I swapped out the stock pup on this bass for a Nordstrand MM 5.2 and it also has a John East MM 3 Band EQ preamp so it sounds awesome. I’m hoping my Z7-5 will give me a similar sort of sound, if so I will probably be reverting it back to stock specs and sell the bass and its upgrade components. Little chance of using the Nordstrand on the Z7 as I have the OLP version which only has 16.25mm pole spacing and the John East only has 3 knobs plus an output socket.

 

[mcnach]

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!

Not sure what gave you the impression that they were built for slap. They do have very nice slap tones... but only if that's what you want. Rest assured it's a very versatile bass.
I use a Z7-5 in a UB40 tribute band, not exactly a lot of slap in that one It sounds great.

 

[Baker69]

Not sure what gave you the impression that they were built for slap. They do have very nice slap tones... but only if that's what you want. Rest assured it's a very versatile bass.
I use a Z7-5 in a UB40 tribute band, not exactly a lot of slap in that one It sounds great.

One guy has done quite a detailed review on Sweetwater which highlights the issue plus you only have to look at the videos on YouTube of guys playing them. It seems like a lot of guys just like to hike up the treble on them and yes most seem to want to slap them.

Yes as you say I can use the eq to wind back the harshness. I wanted the Z7 over the Z3 because of the Jazz style neck pickup to hopefully give more tone options, but am reading that the neck pickup is a bit weak compared with the MM style bridge pup. I might swap this out if it’s an issue, I think the larger pole pickups won’t be supplied on Z7’s until the 3rd quarter of the year deliveries.

 

[Baker69]

Having just viewed lowendlobster’s recent YouTube review on the sire Z7 I am totally confused now. It wasn’t quite the glowing report that I’d been hoping for, the culprit being that jazz bass style neck pickup. Basically it isn’t suited for the bass as the MM style bridge pickup totally owns it, and simply favouring the neck pickup more with the blend control doesn’t resolve the issue as the pickup apparently needs some bass adding to warm it up but the MM pickup doesn’t need anything adding and adding more bass you are adding it to both pickups.

I think later in the year Sire will bring out V2 of the Z7 with a better matched pickup (the larger poled one as seen at NAMM), possibly also with a lengthened bottom horn on the body. In the meantime what do I do about the Z7 I have on order? Do I carry on or cancel the order and hang on until Sire release a V2? One of the main selling points to me was the fact that it had the jazz neck pickup but now I don’t think it’s going to cut the mustard.

Any advice guys??? Has anyone else viewed lobsters review yet?

 

[eli]

I haven't quite gotten my fretless Z7 neck pickup sorted as I need to get more foam under it to raise it closer to the strings. Once I do that, I plan to monkey with the pickup heights (neck as high as it'll go, bridge lowered to balance). If that doesn't bring some satisfaction, I may swap out the neck pickup for something hotter.

 

[Baker69]

I haven't quite gotten my fretless Z7 neck pickup sorted as I need to get more foam under it to raise it closer to the strings. Once I do that, I plan to monkey with the pickup heights (neck as high as it'll go, bridge lowered to balance). If that doesn't bring some satisfaction, I may swap out the neck pickup for something hotter.

By all accounts Sire in an attempt to remedy the situation mid production flow have been using both single and double coil neck pickups on the Z7 so they are very obviously aware of the issue.

Raising the neck pickup may or may not help, lobster says that on the test Z7 model received from Sire that the neck pickup had already been raised and bridge pickup lowered but it still didn’t resolve the pickup mismatch.

For now it looks like owners of the “V1” Z7 will have to either put up with it as it is or do a pickup upgrade themselves. In my opinion the jazz pickup they’ve used is “not fit for purpose”, had it been a motor vehicle they may have had a product recall for a free pickup replacement! Lobster referred in the video to EMG providing a custom pickup for experimentation to see if it can be resolved with just a pickup swap.

If the large pole pickup Sire showed on the Blue Sparkle Z7 at NAMM 2025 is successful I wonder if they will make it available to the public to buy as an after sales item?

 

[Baker69]

I heard from Anderton’s today that my Z7-5 now arriving 13th June will NOT have the upgraded large pole pickup, and these will be on the next production batch of Z7’s manufactured from June onwards.

I’ve asked them if they can possibly put off delivery of my bass until the next batch of basses with the upgraded pickup.

 

[BPotyk]

Just catching up with thread. I ended up picking up a Z7 fiver fretless. Was not a fan of the neck pickup or the pre for that matter. I ended up replacing the pickups with a set of Aguilar's. Then replaced the pre with an Audere Pro Z (18v). Big time difference in a good way to my ears. Also shielded the cavity with copper tape. Have got some noisy florescent lights in my practice room.
Still have the strings it came with on, I think they are Chromes. Have another bass with La Bella's that I prefer the feel of more.
All in all happy with the mods I made. Only limitation with the Audere is that no true passive mode, pre is always on.

 

[Baker69]

I heard from Anderton's today that my Z7-5 now arriving 13th June will NOT have the upgraded large pole pickup, and these will be on the next production batch of Z7's manufactured from June onwards.

I've asked them if they can possibly put off delivery of my bass until the next batch of basses with the upgraded pickup.

Just received a revised notification from Anderton's stating that the upcoming delivery of Sire Z7 basses WILL be fitted with the new upgraded neck pickups!

 

[Baker69]

I think Sire should make the new upgraded pickup on the Z7’s available for general sale, perhaps even do an ‘exchange’ deal for disgruntled owners of Z7’s that have the original weak pickup?

 

[OldShark]

I think Sire should make the new upgraded pickup on the Z7’s available for general sale, perhaps even do an ‘exchange’ deal for disgruntled owners of Z7’s that have the original weak pickup?

Hm, does anyone has ever had the chance to hear the new neck PU? Or is it just hoping for the best?

(I'm not aware that Sire has ever offered improved components as exchange to owners of the previous models.)

 

[Baker69]

Hm, does anyone has ever had the chance to hear the new neck PU? Or is it just hoping for the best?

(I'm not aware that Sire has ever offered improved components as exchange to owners of the previous models.)

No, but it would be a nice gesture from Sire on this occasion as the Z7 was IMHO supplied with a totally unsuitable pickup? Would Marcus Miller have been involved in the Z7’s design & specification and signed it off??? I assume he must have tried out the Z3 and Z7 models before they went into production? Why was the issue never flagged up?

 

[mcnach]

I've been playing a Z7-5 for a while now. I have to say that the neck pickup has grown on me. Yes, it's quieter than the bridge MM one, but it actually sounds pretty good. I almost never play it on its own, but the other day I decided to give it a go with a reggae band... and it's quite nice. I have toyed with the idea of replacing it but nah, it's staying. It would have been better if it were similar in volume, but... I can live with it, it's good.

Aaaaaand, I just got a Z3-5, the blue one. It was the one I originally saw online and made me interested, but I got the Z7-5 in natural because it seemed like the better bass and it had a neck pickup. Early days but... it's got more of a Stingray vibe than the Z7, no question. I had that impression based on listening to youtube videos, so I was not super convinced... but dang, it is quite different in sound. I also like the preamp better. Sure, no frequency control for the mids and no passive tone, but I find it more to my liking (and it still has an active/passive switch). I was a bit concerned about the tuners based on the review by @LowEndLobster and they're not as smooth as those on the Z7, but they seem fine, they're a LOT better than those my Ray35 came with and that bass cost nearly 3x as much. Nice weight (9.2 lbs) despite not being as light as my Z7-5, and just slightly neck-heavy... if I replace the tuners I'll get some ultralites, but not in a hurry.

I just throught I'd throw that in there. They're obviously not hugely different in sound, but they're distinct enough, with the Z3-5 being the one I'd pick if my goal were to get a Stingray sound, it gets there a bit better than the Z7, but both are cool basses.

 

[Baker69]

I've been playing a Z7-5 for a while now. I have to say that the neck pickup has grown on me. Yes, it's quieter than the bridge MM one, but it actually sounds pretty good. I almost never play it on its own, but the other day I decided to give it a go with a reggae band... and it's quite nice. I have toyed with the idea of replacing it but nah, it's staying. It would have been better if it were similar in volume, but... I can live with it, it's good.

Aaaaaand, I just got a Z3-5, the blue one. It was the one I originally saw online and made me interested, but I got the Z7-5 in natural because it seemed like the better bass and it had a neck pickup. Early days but... it's got more of a Stingray vibe than the Z7, no question. I had that impression based on listening to youtube videos, so I was not super convinced... but dang, it is quite different in sound. I also like the preamp better. Sure, no frequency control for the mids and no passive tone, but I find it more to my liking (and it still has an active/passive switch). I was a bit concerned about the tuners based on the review by @LowEndLobster and they're not as smooth as those on the Z7, but they seem fine, they're a LOT better than those my Ray35 came with and that bass cost nearly 3x as much. Nice weight (9.2 lbs) despite not being as light as my Z7-5, and just slightly neck-heavy... if I replace the tuners I'll get some ultralites, but not in a hurry.

I just throught I'd throw that in there. They're obviously not hugely different in sound, but they're distinct enough, with the Z3-5 being the one I'd pick if my goal were to get a Stingray sound, it gets there a bit better than the Z7, but both are cool basses.

I do agree with you that the Z3’s sound slightly different to the Z7’s, I think the difference in sound you’re experiencing is that (regardless of the differences in the preamp etc) the Z3 has a ceramic pickup whereas the Z7’s MM pickup is Alnico. This will convey what you have in your mind as to what year/era of which Stingray you have in your mind.

Also to take into account is that Stingray 5’s for some reason always sounded different to their 4 string counterparts. I’m hoping that my Z7-5 will encapsulate the sound more of a Stingray 5 than a Stingray 4 string.

 

[eli]

Well, I *think* I've got the pickup balance on my Z7-5 figured out with the stock pickups.

Bridge pickup rather radically slanted 1/8" below the G string, and 5/16" below the B string. (A common trick of mine to keep the B and E from booming.)

Neck pickup much flatter, 1/8" below the G string and 5/32" below the B string. String balance seems pretty good on the neck pickup.

Surprisingly, I *really* like the tone with the pickup selector right at the detent!

Will take it to a rehearsal or open mic soon and give a more "real-world" report.

 

[Baker69]

New Z7 5 string arriving today!

Not sure whether it will have the new larger pole neck pickup, the store informed me a few weeks ago that it should have (as advised to them by Sire) but who knows?

I’m a bit apprehensive as to how light or dark the roasted maple neck will be, I do like the darker ones I’ve seen so I’m hoping I won’t be too disappointed if it’s very light in colour.

I will post photos and give my initial thoughts later!

 

[mcnach]

New Z7 5 string arriving today!

Not sure whether it will have the new larger pole neck pickup, the store informed me a few weeks ago that it should have (as advised to them by Sire) but who knows?

I’m a bit apprehensive as to how light or dark the roasted maple neck will be, I do like the darker ones I’ve seen so I’m hoping I won’t be too disappointed if it’s very light in colour.

I will post photos and give my initial thoughts later!

Exciting!