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Sire gen1 vs gen 2

gimmeagig

gimmeagig

Feb 25, 2004
2,891
1,198
Coeur D'Alene,Idaho
#1
Hey guys,
I didn't like the Sires so much until they came out with the Vintage model which has the 70s pickup location.I wasn't aware that there is a Gen 2 until yesterday and here is a video by the great Anthony Vitti from Berklee that explains it.
I used to think that if I got another bass it would have to be an Xotic 5 but now I'm leaning towards the Sire
 
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#3
gimmeagig said:
Hey guys,
I didn't like the Sires so much until they came out with the Vintage model which has the 70s pickup location.I wasn't aware that there is a Gen 2 until yesterday and here is a video by the great Anthony Vitti from Berklee that explains it.
I used to think that if I got another bass it would have to be an Xotic 5 but now I'm leaning towards the Sire
Click to expand...


Very informative video and exactly my take on the differences between my own Sire VV7 gen1 and gen2. Love the gen1 but the gen2 is even better. I own a Xotic XJ and like the Sire just as much. In fact the Sire is gen1 is my "go to" bass so I'm hoping the gen2 will take over that job. Haven't gigged it yet.
 
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#6
BasEd said:
Very informative video and exactly my take on the differences between my own Sire VV7 gen1 and gen2. Love the gen1 but the gen2 is even better. I own a Xotic XJ and like the Sire just as much. In fact the Sire is gen1 is my "go to" bass so I'm hoping the gen2 will take over that job. Haven't gigged it yet.
Click to expand...
Wow, You have an Xotic and your go to bass is a Sire? They must really be something. To me the Xotics seem like the holy grail for J Basses. I do have a souped up 74 Jazz which I love. That is why I haven't pulled the trigger on a Xotic or a Sire yet but maybe one of these days.....
 
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#7
gimmeagig said:
Wow, You have an Xotic and your go to bass is a Sire? They must really be something. To me the Xotics seem like the holy grail for J Basses. I do have a souped up 74 Jazz which I love. That is why I haven't pulled the trigger on a Xotic or a Sire yet but maybe one of these days.....
Click to expand...

Yes I'm amazed too! But I suppose it's what feels good to you regardless of the name on the headstock.
 
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#11
gimmeagig said:
I would replace them any way if I bought one of those basses. I cant deal with the 50 cycle hum.
Click to expand...

I had a Sadowsky Metro RV4 with the stock hum cancelling pickups (can't remember who makes them) but replaced them with Nordstrand NJ4 single coils (not hum cancelling) and much preferred the NJ4. The 50Hz cycle is not a problem for me as I always use both pickups equally. You hear a slight hum if you prefer one pickup over the other on my Sire VV7 Gen 1. Oddly enough I don't get this on the Gen 2 so I'm wondering if these are noise cancelling! I normally prefer the extra clarity you get from non-cancelling single coils.
 
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#18
Xotic has a system where they use single coils with a dummy coil. I am not an electronics expert so I don't really know how that works and neither does my local bass repair guy. I wish there was some type of schematic on how to install a system like that.
On most of my basses I use EMGs I just love the. I also have a Moon Bass and a Atelier Z and EMG does not make a pickup that would just drop in for these so Nordie split coils are my second choice.
If I bought a Sire I would put in EMGs and a BTS EQ. Too many knobs on the bass would just confuse me.I don't need to mess with variable and sweepable mids.Or passive tone knobs that you can use to take out the treble you put in with the preamp EQ, The other thing I would do is put in a Hipshot brass quick release bridge.
Every bass I have I have to fiddle with first before I really like it. Maybe that's why all my basses sound the same:)
 
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#19
I don't often use the mid sweep but it's good for cutting 500/600Hz a touch for slap. I like the tone control as it takes the edge off without affecting just the high frequency like with the treble knob. My Xotic has tone and mid knobs but not sweepable. 400/800 are switch selectable. The treble has a 6K/12K switch. Once again I don't mess much with mids but do boost bass and treble a bit. My fav tone is definitely coming from the Sire VV7 gen 2 at the moment but it would be hard to part with the Xotic.
 
#20
What tone are you going for? I like the Marcus Miller/ John Pena tone. Which is how I first found out about the Xotic basses. So if you are going for that and you like the Sire better than the Xotic then I might have to consider putting in an order one of these days :) I have 7 great basses it would be hard to justify but just one more might not hurt....
 

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