NBD: Sire Z7-5

[Baker69]

The gig went well with the Z7-5, huge noticeable difference in the usability of the neck pickup. Nice Jazz bass tone and a very nice blended pickup tone of the 2 pickups. What I did notice is that only a slight deviation from the centre detente in either direction and you seem to quickly lose the blend and it goes heavily into either neck or bridge pickup tone territory. Whether this is normal I don’t know?

Anyway, very happy with the pickup and I would recommend changing the stock neck pickup, if not to the Sire one to another alternative such as the Delano one.

 

[mcnach]

The gig went well with the Z7-5, huge noticeable difference in the usability of the neck pickup. Nice Jazz bass tone and a very nice blended pickup tone of the 2 pickups. What I did notice is that only a slight deviation from the centre detente in either direction and you seem to quickly lose the blend and it goes heavily into either neck or bridge pickup tone territory. Whether this is normal I don’t know?

Anyway, very happy with the pickup and I would recommend changing the stock neck pickup, if not to the Sire one to another alternative such as the Delano one.

Nice! It looks good too.

Do you still have the original neck pickup, and if so, would you be able to post a picture of its underside? It'll save me taking mine out to check.

Why do I ask?
Well, I was going to install a John East preamp I've got. It has the same functions, pretty much, but it has a trimpot for each pickup so you can balance them nicely... but the thing is too big for the control cavity on the Z7. The problem is the pots are mounted directly on various circuit boards, and that doesn't give you a lot of room to manoeuvre. So that's not taking me anywhere.

At this point I'm considering a pickup replacement, but I do like its sound. I'm wondering whether putting some small neodymium magnets below the polepieces could increase the output a bit, before trying to replace it. I haven't taken mine out yet to look, I was wondering if there's direct access to the poles from below or they've sealed it in epoxy or something.

I contacted Sire about getting one of the new pickups but they said they do not do that directly, and that I should contact the dealer I bought my bass from. A bit disappointing as in my opinion they made a mistake by putting these two pickups together without a way to match outputs, but that's life. I got the Z7 from Andertons as well, so I'll get in touch and cross my fingers... but if putting some magnets under the pickup gives me a bit more output without changing the tone too much, I'd do that.

 

[Baker69]

Nice! It looks good too.

Do you still have the original neck pickup, and if so, would you be able to post a picture of its underside? It'll save me taking mine out to check.

Why do I ask?
Well, I was going to install a John East preamp I've got. It has the same functions, pretty much, but it has a trimpot for each pickup so you can balance them nicely... but the thing is too big for the control cavity on the Z7. The problem is the pots are mounted directly on various circuit boards, and that doesn't give you a lot of room to manoeuvre. So that's not taking me anywhere.

At this point I'm considering a pickup replacement, but I do like its sound. I'm wondering whether putting some small neodymium magnets below the polepieces could increase the output a bit, before trying to replace it. I haven't taken mine out yet to look, I was wondering if there's direct access to the poles from below or they've sealed it in epoxy or something.

I contacted Sire about getting one of the new pickups but they said they do not do that directly, and that I should contact the dealer I bought my bass from. A bit disappointing as in my opinion they made a mistake by putting these two pickups together without a way to match outputs, but that's life. I got the Z7 from Andertons as well, so I'll get in touch and cross my fingers... but if putting some magnets under the pickup gives me a bit more output without changing the tone too much, I'd do that.

Here’s a photo of the underside of the stock neck pickup, I hope it’s of use to you.

I would try Anderton’s as it was my understanding that they may have had a few extra of the upgraded pickup arrive with mine.

Underneath the pickup is a neoprene or similar material foam pad which is to help adjust the height of the pickup, this may need to be cut down slightly if you are to fit magnets on the bottom of the pickup. A bit of the foam is still visible on the photo, the foam was glued on.

Yes I liked the tone as well on the stock pickup it’s a shame it is so underpowered.

In hindsight it took quite a few weeks to get the upgraded pickup for mine and was all set for getting a Delano one, which I have a feeling could be a better pickup than the Sire upgrade one.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[mcnach]

Here’s a photo of the underside of the stock neck pickup, I hope it’s of use to you.

I would try Anderton’s as it was my understanding that they may have had a few extra of the upgraded pickup arrive with mine.

Underneath the pickup is a neoprene or similar material foam pad which is to help adjust the height of the pickup, this may need to be cut down slightly if you are to fit magnets on the bottom of the pickup.

Yes I liked the tone as well on the stock pickup it’s a shame it is so underpowered.

In hindsight it took quite a few weeks to get the upgraded pickup for mine and was all set for getting a Delano one, which I have a feeling could be a better pickup than the Sire upgrade one.

Let us know how you get on.
View attachment 7320703

Thank you!
It looks like with a bit of persuasion I could indeed attach some magnets there. I think I will try that even if I end up replacing it, just to see what some extra magnets do to the sound.

I've sent Andertons a message earlier, fingers crossed they can help. It would be great if they had some in stock already! I've been using the Z3-5 almost exclusively since I got it, but I'm starting to play dep with another band that plays only covers, and the Z7-5 might be a better choice for that if I can use the neck pickup on its own without having to mess around.

I'm not a fan of big-pole Delano pickups. Of course, I have not tried all of their pickups, but over the years any bass I got with Delano pickups ended up getting replaced (P and MM style, didn't try a J) , so I'm not keen to buy one just to see.

Off to get some magnets... I'll report back.

 

[Baker69]

Thank you!
It looks like with a bit of persuasion I could indeed attach some magnets there. I think I will try that even if I end up replacing it, just to see what some extra magnets do to the sound.

I've sent Andertons a message earlier, fingers crossed they can help. It would be great if they had some in stock already! I've been using the Z3-5 almost exclusively since I got it, but I'm starting to play dep with another band that plays only covers, and the Z7-5 might be a better choice for that if I can use the neck pickup on its own without having to mess around.

I'm not a fan of big-pole Delano pickups. Of course, I have not tried all of their pickups, but over the years any bass I got with Delano pickups ended up getting replaced (P and MM style, didn't try a J) , so I'm not keen to buy one just to see.

Off to get some magnets... I'll report back.

Yes it’s worth giving Anderton’s a try.

Regarding the large pole Delano pickups, I had them on my Sandberg JM4. I must say (at the time) I hardly used the neck pickup I didn’t like it that much (on that bass anyway) and I used to have the pickups balanced just favouring the large MM shaped bridge pickup, it was definitely not a MM sounding pickup. I hardly used the neck pickup soloed ever, perhaps I just didn’t like that sound at the time?

The Z7 is a very versatile bass especially with a usable neck pickup, I think it’s well worth you pursuing sone type of pickup modification or upgrade.

 

[mcnach]

Well... now I have all the options

The little neodymium discs arrived yesterday, so I can try and see what effect they have... and Andertons will be getting one of the newer neck pickups for me.

I'll try the magnets first, probably this weekend, and the new pickup when it arrives. I have to think what would be the most useful way to record this to document the effect.

I think while I'm at it, I will add another capacitor in parallel to the existing passive tone, as it doesn't seem to get quite as dark as I'd like.

 

[Baker69]

Well... now I have all the options

The little neodymium discs arrived yesterday, so I can try and see what effect they have... and Andertons will be getting one of the newer neck pickups for me.

I'll try the magnets first, probably this weekend, and the new pickup when it arrives. I have to think what would be the most useful way to record this to document the effect.

I think while I'm at it, I will add another capacitor in parallel to the existing passive tone, as it doesn't seem to get quite as dark as I'd like.

Yeah, I did the tone cap mod on my P7, it does affect the active tone as well though? It wasn’t in parallel though, I replaced the existing tone cap.

 

[mcnach]

Yeah, I did the tone cap mod on my P7, it does affect the active tone as well though? It wasn’t in parallel though, I replaced the existing tone cap.

It's the same thing. I don't have capacitors of a higher value, but I have a few of the same value that's installed so I'll add one of them. Capacitance is additive when the capacitors are in parallel, that's all.

 

[Baker69]

It's the same thing. I don't have capacitors of a higher value, but I have a few of the same value that's installed so I'll add one of them. Capacitance is additive when the capacitors are in parallel, that's all.

Hope it works ok, the stock pickup sounds nice so it would be great if it does the trick. The new pickup is probably the ideal solution though.

 

[mcnach]

Hope it works ok, the stock pickup sounds nice so it would be great if it does the trick. The new pickup is probably the ideal solution though.

Yeah, at this stage I'm happy just waiting for the new pickup to arrive, cosmetically it also looks nicer (big poles on both pickups) which shouldn't be a big factor but I'm just a little monkey on a rock hurtling across space who likes pretty things

But I'm also very curious about what some additional magnets can do. I have found a lot of comments about increasing the output, but no clear indication as to how much, and whether/how much the pickup's tone was affected. I'm a curious monkey too, I guess

 

[jimb213]

I think while I'm at it, I will add another capacitor in parallel to the existing passive tone, as it doesn't seem to get quite as dark as I'd like.

Oh interesting! Looking forward to your thoughts on the results. I'm not a fan of the tone control on my Z7. Rolled off it sounds really boxy to me so I never use it, I just roll off the active high. I do like the tone control on my V7 Vintage though (in fact I play that bass in passive mode most of the time... it gets a perfect J-bass sound and I rarely need the active preamp)

 

[Baker69]

Yeah, at this stage I'm happy just waiting for the new pickup to arrive, cosmetically it also looks nicer (big poles on both pickups) which shouldn't be a big factor but I'm just a little monkey on a rock hurtling across space who likes pretty things

But I'm also very curious about what some additional magnets can do. I have found a lot of comments about increasing the output, but no clear indication as to how much, and whether/how much the pickup's tone was affected. I'm a curious monkey too, I guess

With the larger pole pieces my Z7 seems more ‘complete’ now if that makes sense, and with the extra volume on the upgraded neck pickup it’s sounding now like how it was meant to.

 

[Baker69]

Has anyone experienced any problems with the bridge saddles on their Z3/Z7? I keep having to re-adjust the string height on the G and D strings, it seems like the screws aren’t holding the saddles securely and the saddles are dropping down slightly on the screws?

I had the same issue with a Fender P Bass some years ago, ended up replacing the saddles.

 

[eli]

Well... now I have all the options

The little neodymium discs arrived yesterday, so I can try and see what effect they have... and Andertons will be getting one of the newer neck pickups for me.

I'll try the magnets first, probably this weekend, and the new pickup when it arrives. I have to think what would be the most useful way to record this to document the effect.

I think while I'm at it, I will add another capacitor in parallel to the existing passive tone, as it doesn't seem to get quite as dark as I'd like.

How did the magnets do? And where did you get them?

 

[eli]

Has anyone yet replaced *only* the neck pickup on the Z7 (especially the 5er)? What did you use, and did it solve the pickup volume balance issue?

 

[OldShark]

According to Lowendlobster's current review of the Z7 with upgraded PU, you might ask the seller (or Sire) for a replacement pickup...

 

[OldShark]

According to Lowendlobster's current review of the Z7 with upgraded PU, you might ask the seller (or Sire) for a replacement pickup...

Please note, Lowendlobster has mentioned in her YT thread here that her statement has been withdrawn: Sire does NOT seem to generally provide replacement pickups, probably except for warranty issues. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask the distributor anyway...

 

[mcnach]

Please note, Lowendlobster has mentioned in her YT thread here that her statement has been withdrawn: Sire does NOT seem to generally provide replacement pickups, probably except for warranty issues. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask the distributor anyway...

You need to go through the dealer/distributor. That's how I got mine.

 

[eli]

At @LowEndLobster 's advice, I went to Sweetwater for a new neck pickup, even though I got my Z7-5 second hand from the 'verb. Took a few weeks but Sweetwater says Sire has shipped my pickup! Once it gets here and I install it, I will give a full report!

 

[jimb213]

New bridge pickup? Not new neck?