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Sire Bass Club!

What color/wood combination do you own?

  • Bright Metallic Red/ Ash

    Votes: 17 1.6%

  • Bright Metallic Red/ Alder

    Votes: 33 3.2%

  • Natural/ Ash

    Votes: 173 16.7%

  • Sunburst/ Ash

    Votes: 104 10.0%

  • Sunburst/ Alder

    Votes: 165 15.9%

  • White/ Ash

    Votes: 86 8.3%

  • White/ Alder

    Votes: 122 11.7%

  • Black/ Alder

    Votes: 104 10.0%

  • M3

    Votes: 28 2.7%

  • M7

    Votes: 85 8.2%

  • I'm a heretic - I don't own one yet, but I'll see the light soon enough!

    Votes: 243 23.4%
  • Total voters
    1,039
  • Poll closed .
#17,861
I'm interested in an M5 or M7 four string instrument, but only if I can fit a Hipshot bass extender. I've found various posts about people replacing the stock Sire tuners on V series instruments (including the video that @LowEndLobster did) , but can't seem to find any about the M series.

Can anyone say which Hipshot tuner model best fits the M5 or M7? (Of course a drop-in fit would be great, but failing that I don't mind if the screw holes don't line up as long as the post is the right diameter.)
 
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#17,862
nnnnnn said:
I'm interested in an M5 or M7 four string instrument, but only if I can fit a Hipshot bass extender. I've found various posts about people replacing the stock Sire tuners on V series instruments (including the video that @LowEndLobster did) , but can't seem to find any about the M series.

Can anyone say which Hipshot tuner model best fits the M5 or M7? (Of course a drop-in fit would be great, but failing that I don't mind if the screw holes don't line up as long as the post is the right diameter.)
Click to expand...

Heyo! 3/8" Ultralite (usa or licensed) tuners should do the trick and they should be a direct replacement with no drilling. Good idea for a video!
 
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#17,866
Rod Tension said:
Am looking forward to your video on the Gotoh tuner swap, is that still in the queue?
Click to expand...

Yup! I did the swap on my P5 4 string with no video just to test fitment. Will do a video on my P5 5 string as that will have a very significant impact on the balance and weight. I am picking er up from getting PLEK'd (I've had my P10, V7, P5-4, and now P5-5 PLEK'd... AMAZING results) probably tomorrow and gonna try and get that video out sometime in early March :)
 
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#17,870
I have a V7 vintage 2nd gen 5 string bass. I have a pickup distance question.
With the highest fret depressed I have around 2.5 mm distance on both pickups on the G string. On the B string it's 2mm on the front and 3mm on the bridge. But because of the neck radius and the flat pole pieces, the distance on the middle strings is 4mm on the E and the D and 5 mm on the A string. I don't hear a big drop in volume on the center stings, but I'm wondering why the company did not raise the middle pole pieces. Is it because the preamp makes up the difference? I always thought the distance from the string to the pickup was critical in getting the best sound.
 
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#17,873
TheBass said:
why all the rant about the Sire stock tuners and so many need to replace them ? Do I miss something ? My V10 5 has no neck dive at all, the tuners are running smoothly
Click to expand...
Doesn't the V10 have better hardware (including tuners) than the cheaper models?

In any case, different people have different perception of and tolerance for neck dive: I almost always play standing up using a strap, and I find that that helps a bass to balance well in comparison with playing in a sitting position with the bass resting on my leg.

I don't have a Sire instrument (yet), but I asked about tuners a few posts above not because I think Sire tuners are bad, but because I would want to fit a Hipshot Extender (D-tuner).
 
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#17,875
gimmeagig said:
I have a V7 vintage 2nd gen 5 string bass. I have a pickup distance question.
With the highest fret depressed I have around 2.5 mm distance on both pickups on the G string. On the B string it's 2mm on the front and 3mm on the bridge. But because of the neck radius and the flat pole pieces, the distance on the middle strings is 4mm on the E and the D and 5 mm on the A string. I don't hear a big drop in volume on the center stings, but I'm wondering why the company did not raise the middle pole pieces. Is it because the preamp makes up the difference? I always thought the distance from the string to the pickup was critical in getting the best sound.
Click to expand...

What strings are you using? In my limited understanding, typical sets have A and D strings with a somewhat thicker diameter than "mathematically expected" to fit with the higher distance on the A and D magnets. (I'm relating to the difference between "regular" and "balanced tension" sets like those by D'addario, say EXL 165 with 45-65-85-105 vs. EXL 170BT with 45-60-80-107)...

I own a V7 Vintage 4 string, and the distance between strings and PU poles is also higher on the middle strings but their volume is fine, even in passive mode, so it does not depend on the preamp (and it should not either...).
 
Last edited:
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#17,876
OldShark said:
What strings are you using? In my limited understanding, typical sets have A and D strings with a somewhat thicker diameter than "mathematically expected" to fit with the higher distance on the A and D magnets. (I'm relating to the difference between "regular" and "balanced tension" sets like those by D'addario, say EXL 165 with 45-65-85-105 vs. EXL 170BT with 45-60-80-107)...

I own a V7 Vintage 4 string, and the distance between strings and PU poles is also higher on the middle strings but their volume is fine, even in passive mode, so it does not depend on the preamp (and it should not either...).
Click to expand...
I'm using 125,105,85, 65.45 D'Addario Pro Steels. I have not owned this V7 for very long, I'm still getting used to it. I wish the fretboard wasn't quite as curved. When I bend notes ( I also play guitar and sometimes I just can't help myself) then the strings choke out because of the radius.
But because of that radius there is a 6mm gap on the A string. That seems like a lot (too much) to me. G and B stings are at 2mm clearance. So there is nothing I can do about that.
 
#17,877
gimmeagig said:
I'm using 125,105,85, 65.45 D'Addario Pro Steels. I have not owned this V7 for very long, I'm still getting used to it. I wish the fretboard wasn't quite as curved. When I bend notes ( I also play guitar and sometimes I just can't help myself) then the strings choke out because of the radius.
But because of that radius there is a 6mm gap on the A string. That seems like a lot (too much) to me. G and B stings are at 2mm clearance. So there is nothing I can do about that.
Click to expand...

Yes, the V7 Vintage has the small 7.25'' radius, part of the vintage, methinks. (And on my 4 string, that works well for me.)
As to the string/pole distance: As you say, all strings are equally loud, so that wouldn't be an issue in my book, and I would recommend to continue to use such "regular" sets and not use balanced tension sets with thinner middle strings.
 
#17,878
TheBass said:
Can I have a problem please: why all the rant about the Sire stock tuners and so many need to replace them ? Do I miss something ? My V10 5 has no neck dive at all, the tuners are running smoothly like on my Stingrays and Sterlings and keep their tuning precisely. What should I look for to feel the need to replace them ?
Click to expand...

I've only got an M2. The tuners were stiff and grindy. I think the shafts on at least two of them were loose. They spoiled an otherwise great instrument. It shouldn't have left the factory like that and I thought it was probably a one off until at least one other person on here said much the same thing about their M2 tuners. I suspect every other model has better tuners. Weight wasn't an issue for me, just quality. I put lightweight Gotohs on because they were only a little more expensive from Thomann than regular ones.
 
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#17,880
bpc said:
I've only got an M2. The tuners were stiff and grindy. I think the shafts on at least two of them were loose. They spoiled an otherwise great instrument. It shouldn't have left the factory like that and I thought it was probably a one off until at least one other person on here said much the same thing about their M2 tuners. I suspect every other model has better tuners. Weight wasn't an issue for me, just quality. I put lightweight Gotohs on because they were only a little more expensive from Thomann than regular ones.
Click to expand...

I recently picked up a gen 1 v7 and the tuners are real bad. One is grindy and two are loose. Other than that, it's a fantastic instrument. I've got replacements on the way. For how excellent it is, it is definitely worth the hassle of changing them out. That preamp is out of this world considering the price of the bass.
 
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