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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 .
#18,101
biguglyman said:
Hey fellow Sire people. I bought a Sire P5R about two months ago. It has become my favorite bass in a stable that includes Carvin, G&L and Fender. NBD! (WARNING: Tom Petty content...) So far it has met or exceeded all my expectations. After two months of regular playing I have found one minor issue. The tuning machines seem a little vague and while it stays in tune fine, getting it there is a bit more of a chore than my other basses. If some of you experienced Sire owners could recommend a drop-in replacement tuner set that would make an improvement, I would appreciate it.
Click to expand...
What do you mean by vague? If loose, I believe you can correct that using a hex key (allen wrench) on the end of the tuning key to tighten it.
 
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#18,106
LoveThatBass said:
Did you read this on the capacitor or did you measure it with a cap meter? Reason I ask is because my P7 I got a few weeks ago measured .050uf.The P7 did not have any writing that I could see so I had to measure it to find out. I just got a V5 passive and not sure yet what the value is as I literally just received the bass 40 minutes ago.
Click to expand...
ok, Verified by value on the cap on my V5. 473 so it is indeed .047uf. I recommend anyone with a V3P, V5, etc check under the pickup and insure the ground wire for the shielding in the pickup cavity is not hanging on by a couple strands of wire like mine was. All else looks very good. Guess they didn't figure anyone would look at anything but the control cavity which was top notch.
 
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#18,107
OldShark said:
Yes, AFAIK the P7/P8/P10 have the same necks like the according V series models V7/V8/V10. Only P5/P5R and the D5 have wider necks.
Click to expand...
Well after a year off from picking up my Gibson SG Standard Guitar I pulled it out to play. Talking about narrow neck and strings too close after mainly playing bass. That was not a pleasant experience. Guess I will have to spend some time on it LOL
 
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#18,108
Basslie said:
Hi everyone…
I (finally) got my Sire v5, five string. Beautiful bass, feels like a quality build, and surprisingly, despite being passive, much louder than my active Ibanez bass.

I do have a question for you all: as you can see from the third photo, the strings aren't centered between the bridge pickups pole pieces. It appears that the routing in the body for the pickup is shifted like 3/16" towards the treble side. Never had a guitar with this issue. I don't hear any volume difference, but I haven't measured the levels. I've heard people say different things regarding off spacing of pickups, from: "it's intentional by the manufacture" to "it's within the magnetic field's range" to "it not good and will affect tone and volume levels". I don't think it's intentional by the manufacturer because every pic I see has the strings lined up, including most (but not all) I've scrolled through on this forum. Do you think I should just live with it or is it enough to warrant swapping it with with a more aligned one? Visually, it is annoying.

I don't think changing the string spacing on the saddles or adjusting the neck will fix it, because either of those would put it out of center on the neck pickup (which itself isn't exactly centered, but is much better than bridge pickup). If you follow a vertical line from either side of the bridge up to the edges of the bridge pickup, you'll see how it's shifted towards the treble side.

Anyways, as for my "stable": I've got an upright bass, an Ibanez mikro which usually has piccolo strings, a Yamaha acoustic guitar, an Ibanez sr755, and now the Sire V5. I'm waiting to get a P5R, and then will probably sell the Ibanez. Also, various other things: Yamaha keyboard, various percussion and drum machines, and dj turntables and mixer. I play a little bit of all styles depending on who I'm playing with. Started playing bass around 2001.

thanks.
Click to expand...


The issue is does the bass' pickup bother you enough to exchange it? After you check the setup, especially the pickup heights, you can check how does the bass sound to you with a test. Record the bass with different settings, wait a few days, then have someone else label the tracks & play them back to you (or use shuffle playback if you can see the recently played tracks). Make a quick note of your reactions on a piece of paper.

You may still decide to return the bass for aesthetic reasons, but you'll have a better idea of whether the pickup's placement sounds significantly different to you.
 
#18,109
DrummerwStrings said:
The issue is does the bass' pickup bother you enough to exchange it? After you check the setup, especially the pickup heights, you can check how does the bass sound to you with a test. Record the bass with different settings, wait a few days, then have someone else label the tracks & play them back to you (or use shuffle playback if you can see the recently played tracks). Make a quick note of your reactions on a piece of paper.

You may still decide to return the bass for aesthetic reasons, but you'll have a better idea of whether the pickup's placement sounds significantly different to you.
Click to expand...

Good idea. Also, recording it can help me get some measurable numbers to what I'm hearing. I just had my first practice with it in a smaller group/ band setting. So far, sounds good. I did pay to have Sweetwater do a setup before shipping (this is beyond their typical check), and I feel they did it perfectly. They strung it with DR Fat-beams. I'm a visual artist by profession so things not being centered does annoy me from a looks point of view. But, as far as I can tell sound it's still good by ear from amp and headphone…maybe the stainless steel strings are throwing me off? My sales guy told me their guitar tech said the bridge offset is "within tolerances". Btw…the neck on this Sire is amazing…somehow I can stretch further to reach more notes with my fretting hand, despite it being the same scale length as my Ibanez….must be the rolled edges.
 
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#18,110
Basslie said:
Good idea. Also, recording it can help me get some measurable numbers to what I'm hearing. I just had my first practice with it in a smaller group/ band setting. So far, sounds good. I did pay to have Sweetwater do a setup before shipping (this is beyond their typical check), and I feel they did it perfectly. They strung it with DR Fat-beams. I'm a visual artist by profession so things not being centered does annoy me from a looks point of view. But, as far as I can tell sound it's still good by ear from amp and headphone…maybe the stainless steel strings are throwing me off? My sales guy told me their guitar tech said the bridge offset is "within tolerances". Btw…the neck on this Sire is amazing…somehow I can stretch further to reach more notes with my fretting hand, despite it being the same scale length as my Ibanez….must be the rolled edges.
Click to expand...
Fat Beams are Stainless??
 
#18,111
LoveThatBass said:
Fat Beams are Stainless??
Click to expand...
https://www.drstrings.com/fat-beam-bass

yes, stainless steel wrap over a stainless steel round core. I usually use nickels, but went with something different on this…Since the fat beams were developed with Marcus Miller's input, thought I'd try them in a Marcus Miller Sire bass. I like them, but I feel like I'd prefer a little more tension…when these go dead, I'll try Lo-Riders .
 
#18,115
biguglyman said:
Not really loose, just not consistent from tuner to tuner. Sometimes it seems like it goes right from a little flat to a little sharp without hitting it right in between.
Click to expand...
That would be an irratation. I believe Grover makes a tuner that should be the same footprint. I believe they are 22:1 ratio which is decent and same ratio to the stock tuners. A friend uses these and said they are good tuners. However not on a Sire.

Grover Vintage Bass Tuners 142C4 4 In line set - Chrome | eBay

Also Gotoh GB528's are light weight 26:1 ratio tuners but will leave the top screw holes in the wood showing as they only use bottom screws and a screw on bushing on top. I have these on a bass and they are nice tuners.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwi06tGEn47-AhV4j4kEHVqdBi0QFnoECCwQAQ&url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/295073483030?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&usg=AOvVaw29XQ4LRriD332S67UIHDaQ
 
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#18,116
biguglyman said:
Not really loose, just not consistent from tuner to tuner. Sometimes it seems like it goes right from a little flat to a little sharp without hitting it right in between.
Click to expand...

What you are describing could be caused by the string snagging on the nut. I would try a little graphite in the nut slots before replacing the tuners. Worth a try before splashing out on new tuners.
 
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#18,118
Long time lurker here. Last week I took a chance on a 5 string V7 in lake placid blue and I'm quite impressed. The neck and fret work, especially, seem more like what one would expect on a much higher end instrument. I imagine it's only a matter of time before I add another Sire to my collection. I do need a fretless, after all.

My only tiny gripe is the control knobs. I'm not a fan of the plastic. But I see a few mentions of this here and there in other threads, so I figure I'll be upgrading them sooner rather than later.

My next practice is Friday, and I'm super pumped to debut this in a full setting. Cheers, everyone.

(I'll try to share pics another time.)
 
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#18,119
LoveThatBass said:
Has anyone put this bridge on their Sire Bass. I have a new P7
Any opinions welcome. I am aware new holes are needed

NEW Gotoh 404BO-4 4-String Bass Bridge MULTI TONAL Brass Saddles - CHROMEView attachment 5006964
Click to expand...
I put that bridge my V7 5 string Yes I did have to drill new holes. I had to fill the holes for the string through.. I was not using that anyway. Some of the mounting screws were pretty close to the edge of those holes.It's a nice bridge.
 

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