The Sire Z3 is a highly anticipated release, finally bringing a Music Man-style bass to the Sire lineup. With a sleek design, affordable price point, and impressive features, this bass doesn’t disappoint. Let’s break it down!
Build and Playability:
The Z3 boasts a Mahogany body in a RoseGold finish, paired with an eggshell tort pick guard. It’s well-balanced at 9 lbs, and the satin-finished, C-shaped hard maple neck with Sire's signature rolled fingerboard makes for smooth, comfortable playability. Right out of the box, the setup is almost flawless, needing only minimal adjustments. The attention to detail, including no sharp fret edges, adds to its impressive build quality.
Specs & Hardware:
With a nut width of 42mm and 18mm string spacing, the bass offers a familiar feel. The top-load or string thru bridge is simple but effective, and though the tuners are a bit heavy, they can be easily upgraded to eliminate neck dive (or a padded strap). Overall, it’s a solid setup.
Electronics & Tone:
The Z3 shines with its combination of a passive Marcus Miller Ceramic bridge pickup and the Marcus Heritage 3 active preamp. The inclusion of a trim pot to adjust the preamp gain and a well-designed battery box for easy access add convenience.
The passive tone is rich and full, but switching to active mode delivers a noticeable boost in volume and tonal flexibility. The EQ controls, particularly the bass boost, can create a powerful low-end, perfect for those seeking deep, resonant tones (or speaker blown tones).
Overall Verdict:
For $449, the Sire Z3 offers incredible value, with its excellent build, versatile electronics, and tone that can compete with much pricier instruments.. The minor drawback are the heavy tuners (that’s easily fixable) and lack of EQ shaping. I just wish the trim pot was a dedicated pot to adjust the bass frequency only and not the entire preamp… Overall, the Z3 is a bass well worth the wait, earning a solid 5/5 rating.
Feel free to watch the FULL review and hear what everyone is raving about the Z3!
Q: How does it compare to a Sterling Ray 24/34?
A: I’d like a fair comparison (9v Sterling preamp vs 18v Sire preamp) but they are both a league of their own. Achieving the same concept but with a bit more tonal flexibility from Sire
Q: Is this the bass we’ve been waiting for?
A: Absolutely! Sometimes, the best things take their time to arrive. The Sire Z3 proves that a little patience can lead to greatness
Build and Playability:
The Z3 boasts a Mahogany body in a RoseGold finish, paired with an eggshell tort pick guard. It’s well-balanced at 9 lbs, and the satin-finished, C-shaped hard maple neck with Sire's signature rolled fingerboard makes for smooth, comfortable playability. Right out of the box, the setup is almost flawless, needing only minimal adjustments. The attention to detail, including no sharp fret edges, adds to its impressive build quality.
Specs & Hardware:
With a nut width of 42mm and 18mm string spacing, the bass offers a familiar feel. The top-load or string thru bridge is simple but effective, and though the tuners are a bit heavy, they can be easily upgraded to eliminate neck dive (or a padded strap). Overall, it’s a solid setup.
Electronics & Tone:
The Z3 shines with its combination of a passive Marcus Miller Ceramic bridge pickup and the Marcus Heritage 3 active preamp. The inclusion of a trim pot to adjust the preamp gain and a well-designed battery box for easy access add convenience.
The passive tone is rich and full, but switching to active mode delivers a noticeable boost in volume and tonal flexibility. The EQ controls, particularly the bass boost, can create a powerful low-end, perfect for those seeking deep, resonant tones (or speaker blown tones).
Overall Verdict:
For $449, the Sire Z3 offers incredible value, with its excellent build, versatile electronics, and tone that can compete with much pricier instruments.. The minor drawback are the heavy tuners (that’s easily fixable) and lack of EQ shaping. I just wish the trim pot was a dedicated pot to adjust the bass frequency only and not the entire preamp… Overall, the Z3 is a bass well worth the wait, earning a solid 5/5 rating.
Feel free to watch the FULL review and hear what everyone is raving about the Z3!
Q: How does it compare to a Sterling Ray 24/34?
A: I’d like a fair comparison (9v Sterling preamp vs 18v Sire preamp) but they are both a league of their own. Achieving the same concept but with a bit more tonal flexibility from Sire
Q: Is this the bass we’ve been waiting for?
A: Absolutely! Sometimes, the best things take their time to arrive. The Sire Z3 proves that a little patience can lead to greatness
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