I agree, given the huge amount of Z3’s they’ll be selling it’s a shame they didn’t have a bespoke pickup manufactured for them. It’s the same for the Z7’s neck pickup, why fit an under-powered pickup on there just because they already produce/source a Jazz style pickup? Jazz pickups are inherently low output so trying to let it match up with a high-powered MM style humbucker was never going to work. I wonder when they realised this error? Didn’t Mr Miller sign these off???
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NBD: Sire Z7-5
- Thread starter GreyBeard
- Start date
Well, it's only an error if the expection is to use the neck PU sometimes as only PU or matching the MM's volume.
In my limited understanding, it's may have been more developed as an switchable "add-on" to the dominant humbucker, as the MM PU is the central element. Of course, I may be wrong about Sire's original design goals, and apparently they have learnt from users's feedback.
The fact that they are now fitting the next run of Z7’s with a (presumably) more powerful large pole dia pickup signals that they have either listened to users/reviewers comments or have realised themselves that the neck pickup they have used to date was unsuitable.
Waiting eagerly to fit this on my Sire Z7-5 Lefty! It’s a replacement neck pickup which Sire should be fitting on the next deliveries of Z7’s. It has the large diameter pole pieces to match the MM bridge pickup, hopefully it will be a lot more powerful than the stock Jazz style pickup supplied on these basses.
Unfortunately it’s a “right handed” pickup (the lettering is on the RH side instead of the LH side) but I can overlook this if it works and sounds how I hope it will.
Should be receiving it in the mail sometime this week.
Unfortunately it’s a “right handed” pickup (the lettering is on the RH side instead of the LH side) but I can overlook this if it works and sounds how I hope it will.
Should be receiving it in the mail sometime this week.
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Will do, hopefully it will arrive tomorrow or Wednesday.
AFAIK all of the Z7’s will be supplied with this pickup not just the blue sparkle one.
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Are you saying this is the very pickup that Sire will be putting in the next generation of Z basses?
Yes, as far as I am aware this will be fitted on all Z7’s on 3rd quarter deliveries and onwards.
I haven’t seen anything from Sire that confirms this yet, the only one I’ve seen was fitted on the blue sparkle model at NAMM 2025 earlier this year. I don’t know what else the next gen Z7’s may have, I think there may be more color options?
Well the pickup has arrived for my Z7-5, hoping to get the chance to install it this evening!
I’m not sure how powerful this pickup is going to be as it is only measuring at 5.5 ohms, hopefully those large diameter pole pieces will have an impact?
I can’t see Sire upgrading the neck pickup purely for cosmetic reasons as they must be aware of the issues owners of the Z7’s have been getting with the current stock neck pickup.
I’m not sure how powerful this pickup is going to be as it is only measuring at 5.5 ohms, hopefully those large diameter pole pieces will have an impact?
I can’t see Sire upgrading the neck pickup purely for cosmetic reasons as they must be aware of the issues owners of the Z7’s have been getting with the current stock neck pickup.
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The larger pole pieces will blend much nicer visually with the bridge pickup but for some reason they flipped the side for the Sire markings and that is just not OK 
The larger pole pieces will blend much nicer visually with the bridge pickup but for some reason they flipped the side for the Sire markings and that is just not OK
I think it’s probably because it is for a right handed Z7 and not a left handed model like mine, but unfortunately it’s the only one I was able to obtain.
If you look at a photo of the right handed Z7’s you’ll see what I mean.
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As someone who has a low to mid level amount of OCD your comment makes me feel MUCH better about things
Here’s a photo of my Z7-5 with the new upgraded pickup which I fitted tonight.
Yes it definitely looks better with the matching pole pieces. It looks now like it has been designed with the bass and not a mis-match.
A good alternative would have been for them to have fitted the Z7’s with 2 x MM style pickups like on some of the EBMM models. Perhaps this style will come on a future Sire Z bass?
No, it’s just the angle of the camera, they do all line up. See original photo on this posting.
With both pickups set at the same height they are pretty much equal now in volume, perhaps the new upgrade neck pickup needs to be fractionally higher but it is definitely louder than the stock pickup, the actual pickup is only measuring 5.5 ohms but those large diameter poles make a difference.
The stock pickup to me sounds a bit more vintage as the new upgraded pickup seems to be louder, clearer but more ‘modern’ sounding if that makes sense, although I did however fit a brand new set of EB Slinky’s at the same time as the upgrade so it’s bound to sound a bit brighter initially.
If you hard pan the pickup selection knob both ways the pickups seem to be of equal volume, however at the centre detente I can’t help feeling that the MM pickup is still oh so slightly more prominent? It might be just my ears though.
I’m happy so far with the upgrade, I will find out more after our show tomorrow night. Very happy that the neck pickup now looks like it was designed for this bass and not a mis-match!
