Sire Bass Club!

[PhinDog]

Modified my V5R with Gotoh GB528 Tuners and 404BO-4 Bridge in X-Nickel finish (I wish there was a control plate to match!). I also swapped out the stock electronics for EMG JAVX pickups in ivory. These things sound MEAN and very different from stock. I'll have a full mod video showing how to align the bridge (it came out great!) and will have a sound comparison with stock. What a fun instrument this is!

Hey @LowEndLobster Could you tell me the tuner hole diameter on the V series Sires? I've read 3/8" somewhere but not sure.

Thanks!

 

[CoughSyrup]

Thanks. My V9 is perfectly balanced, seated or standing. First I was thinking of replacing the tuners for some Gotoh GB528's. But I don't really need them. I had the 5 string first, but that one was way too heavy at 4.5kg. This one is perfect at 3.6kg. Sound is fantastic, can do anything I want with it, very versatile. I hardly touch my German Sadowsky Will Lee anymore. Next saturday we play at a small festival in the Netherlands. First gig with this bass. We, heavy symphonic progrock band Generate, will play only original songs for about 1 hour. Here is a link to one of our older songs played at another festival.

My local GC had a used V9 fiver that was probably under 8.5 pounds and the neck was amazing. I kept waffling back and forth because I don't really care for figured wood tops in general but it was damn nice feeling. I made up mind to get it and went back and it was gone, but someone got a great bass.

 

[LowEndLobster]

Hey @LowEndLobster Could you tell me the tuner hole diameter on the V series Sires? I've read 3/8" somewhere but not sure.

Thanks!

1/2"

Gotoh GB528 is a direct drop in

 

[PhinDog]

1/2"

Gotoh GB528 is a direct drop in

Thanks! Would the 1/2" USA hipshot work as well if I wanted to drill the mounting holes? I'd rather not use the painter's tape if possible.

 

[LowEndLobster]

Thanks! Would the 1/2" USA hipshot work as well if I wanted to drill the mounting holes? I'd rather not use the painter's tape if possible.

I'm not sure. I know Hipshot sells little adapters that should do the trick for the imports

 

[PhinDog]

I'm not sure. I know Hipshot sells little adapters that should do the trick for the imports

Thanks, I'll look for some Gotohs. No drilling is king over a few grams of weight.

Last Q, are the Gotohs reversible if can only find treble-side tuners?

 

[Rod Barchetta]

Thanks! Would the 1/2" USA hipshot work as well if I wanted to drill the mounting holes? I'd rather not use the painter's tape if possible.

When I ordered my Hipshot tuners, they were on back order. They threw in the 18mm adapters required since I had to wait. Fit my P7 perfectly.

 

[Jon Draffan]

Modified my V5R with Gotoh GB528 Tuners and 404BO-4 Bridge in X-Nickel finish (I wish there was a control plate to match!). I also swapped out the stock electronics for EMG JAVX pickups in ivory. These things sound MEAN and very different from stock. I'll have a full mod video showing how to align the bridge (it came out great!) and will have a sound comparison with stock. What a fun instrument this is!

Gorgeous

 

[lug]

Thanks, I'll look for some Gotohs. No drilling is king over a few grams of weight.

Last Q, are the Gotohs reversible if can only find treble-side tuners?

Not sure if reversible or not but you can order the config you need. As an example, look under "configuration" here..
[This invalid link has been removed]

I did read one customer review that knocked them for not including instructions for reversing but seems to indicate that he did it.

 

[five7]

I bought these.
GOTOH GB528 Res-o-lite Bass Tuning Machines Tuners - 4L x 1R - Nickel | eBay

 

[Auer]

I thought the current machine heads are pretty good on the Sire's?

I have a V5 and a M7, they seem ok on both.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[LowEndLobster]

I thought the current machine heads are pretty good on the Sire's?

I have a V5 and a M7, they seem ok on both.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Yeah they're fine, lighter tuners improve the balance though. Stock tuners work great and hold tune without issue. Stock tuners on the V3 were poop on the ones I've tried, but V5 and above have all been solid from a construction perspective. You do save a significant amount of weight with the Gotohs though. Around 1/3-1/2 lb depending on how many strings you have. I think the turning action on the Gotohs feels really good too.

 

[MB_Ramone]

Great time to buy a metric allen key set

Of course!!
I contacted Sire and they told me that the truss rod wrench is a 4mm.

But, instead, which wrench do I need for the bridge saddles, to adjust them in height?

 

[erdyland]

Modified my V5R with Gotoh GB528 Tuners and 404BO-4 Bridge in X-Nickel finish (I wish there was a control plate to match!). I also swapped out the stock electronics for EMG JAVX pickups in ivory. These things sound MEAN and very different from stock. I'll have a full mod video showing how to align the bridge (it came out great!) and will have a sound comparison with stock. What a fun instrument this is!

Can you say anything about albridge vs gotoh bridge? Maybe i consider modding my v5 next year..

 

[MB_Ramone]

My P7-4 TS

 

[LowEndLobster]

Can you say anything about albridge vs gotoh bridge? Maybe i consider modding my v5 next year..

The Albridge is a direct replacement while the Gotoh requires all new holes. The only advantage to the Gotoh is the quick release, but most folks string thru the body anyhow. I think both look great.

The one big advantage the Gotoh has id availability. You can get em anywhere while many of you have had to wait for an albridge due to backorders and high demand relative to supply.

 

[Rod Barchetta]

Of course!!
I contacted Sire and they told me that the truss rod wrench is a 4mm.

But, instead, which wrench do I need for the bridge saddles, to adjust them in height?

I just took out my combined set to find out, it's 1.5 mm.

 

[Auer]

I bought a Lekato WS-50 5.8 GHz wireless system for $60.

Great mod for my Sire's

 

[Jon Draffan]

Thanks. My V9 is perfectly balanced, seated or standing. First I was thinking of replacing the tuners for some Gotoh GB528's. But I don't really need them. I had the 5 string first, but that one was way too heavy at 4.5kg. This one is perfect at 3.6kg. Sound is fantastic, can do anything I want with it, very versatile. I hardly touch my German Sadowsky Will Lee anymore. Next saturday we play at a small festival in the Netherlands. First gig with this bass. We, heavy symphonic progrock band Generate, will play only original songs for about 1 hour. Here is a link to one of our older songs played at another festival.
[/QUOT

Modified my V5R with Gotoh GB528 Tuners and 404BO-4 Bridge in X-Nickel finish (I wish there was a control plate to match!). I also swapped out the stock electronics for EMG JAVX pickups in ivory. These things sound MEAN and very different from stock. I'll have a full mod video showing how to align the bridge (it came out great!) and will have a sound comparison with stock. What a fun instrument this is!

I love my V5 too! This is what happened to mine. I had EMG JVXs in there but replaced them for Guitar Fetish's "Kwikplug" system. Finally another company offering the ease of an EMG install, but with passive. I am shocked at how good these pickups sound… SHOCKED. Plus, both pickups, the wiring harness, and the control plate cost me just over $100 with shipping! @LowEndLobster I would love to see a review of their P pickup, I feel like the 'gospel' should be shared.
Bass Sized

BTW, does the V7 have the same neck profile as the V5?

 

[PhinDog]

I bought these.
GOTOH GB528 Res-o-lite Bass Tuning Machines Tuners - 4L x 1R - Nickel | eBay

Thanks! Did the nickel match with the bridge and control plate?