This is interesting... Sire MM Bass???

[factory presets]

NOOOOOO!!!
There are three levels of 5 string Stingray, the expensive once, the affordable Ray 35 and the very budget Sterling, and they're all narrow! We've been pleading for a wide spacing 'Ray for years!

I'll admit it's a bit tight. But I value the Stingray B string sound enough to put the work in.

I guess I'll have to see if I can make one myself. Dremel, here I come. Have mercy on my Attitude 5.

MM and a mudbucker. Things that make you go hmmnn.

 

[BassLife77]

I bugged them for years to make a Stingray type bass and they finally did it. The pickups sound great. I wonder if they went with alnico instead of ceramic

 

[mstraus]

I Talked to customer service at Sire, and they confirmed the saddle string spacing on the 5 string is 18mm. I may have to pull the trigger on one of these...

 

[FRoss6788]

That’s what I’ve been looking for. EBMM tends to be pretty protective of their IP and litigious to enforce it. I’m very interested in how this is going to play out.

BTW, if the 5 string has 18mm spacing, I’m all over it!

It does.

 

[factory presets]

I'd like to pull the trigger after playing one. But pre-orders are already sold out here. Guess I'll just have to take my chances with the lawyers.

Edit: Most of the business end of the sound has got to be long out of copyright. Humbuckers, large pole pieces, the sweet spot, and even 4 + 1 headstock (sorry 4 bangers) can all be seen on many production basses. Expect litigation would look a lot like Apple vs MS, back in the day. Might even act as acknowledgement that Sire nailed the important bits.

 

[FRoss6788]

Guess I'll just have to take my chances with the lawyers.

What does that mean?

 

[FenrirofOld]

What does that mean?

I think some are worried Sire will get a cease and desist letter before production can go too long.

 

[factory presets]

I think some are worried Sire will get a cease and desist letter before production can go too long.

That's what I took them to be saying. See my edit for my take on those chances

 

[FRoss6788]

I believe the patent would be shape and 3+1 tuners, not just tuners.

 

[factory presets]

I believe the patent would be shape and 3+1 tuners, not just tuners.

Makes sense what you say. But if they lost that argument, it would have no bearing on my purchase potential. There's a copy of the headstock patent back up the thread a bit. But I'm no one to take legal advice from. Dang. I still finish a sentence with a preposition.

 

[FRoss6788]

 

[Calebmundy]

I put in a pre order. I told myself I wouldn’t buy any more low-to-mid-priced basses, but I’ve never had a MM style anything, and I’ve been wanting a pink bass forever.

 

[IotaNet]

It does.

How do you know? (Not being a jerk … just curious how/where you found out.)

 

[FRoss6788]

How do you know? (Not being a jerk … just curious how/where you found out.)

This thread, post #183.

Sire customer service is the source.

 

[Felix1776]

When these were first announced, I thought they were fugly. For reasons unknown, they've grown on me to the point of being "passable." That white Z7 5'er is calling to me. I've had stingray gas for years. I very briefly owned a SBMM Ray 35 that was a really solid bass but I sold it because I didn't like the color (natural). I've been jonesing for a real EBMM SR5, but even the used prices are just out of reach now. The black/roasted maple Ray 35 I've been eyeing for years...just never could pull the trigger for various reasons. Now that color option seems to be discontinued. All that said, the Z7 might fill that stingray gap in my bass arsenal and at a price I can stomach. I'm an admitted Sire fan boy after buying a P5 5'er last year. They are just so much bass for the money.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

When these were first announced, I thought they were fugly. For reasons unknown, they've grown on me to the point of being "passable." That white Z7 5'er is calling to me. I've had stingray gas for years. I very briefly owned a SBMM Ray 35 that was a really solid bass but I sold it because I didn't like the color (natural). I've been jonesing for a real EBMM SR5, but even the used prices are just out of reach now. The black/roasted maple Ray 35 I've been eyeing for years...just never could pull the trigger for various reasons. Now that color option seems to be discontinued. All that said, the Z7 might fill that stingray gap in my bass arsenal and at a price I can stomach. I'm an admitted Sire fan boy after buying a P5 5'er last year. They are just so much bass for the money.

I own 2 Stingray Special's 4HH and 5H and still want a Z7 5 in natural, I love Roasted maple necks. It will serve the purpose of having a Stingray style bass I can take anywhere.

 

[Les Fret]

I own 2 Stingray Special's 4HH and 5H and still want a Z7 5 in natural, I love Roasted maple necks. It will serve the purpose of having a Stingray style bass I can take anywhere.

Good excuse to buy a bass!

 

[Maxi Funkl]

Good excuse to buy a bass!

An I don't have a HS

 

[Les Fret]

An I don't have a HS

I never like HS combinations. Mostly the humbucker is much louder and has a different character which makes switching between pickups less smooth and practical. I had to test a HS Stingray for a bass magazine once that had that 'problem'. But it is inherent to the HS combination.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

I never like HS combinations. Mostly the humbucker is much louder and has a different character which makes switching between pickups less smooth and practical. I had to test a HS Stingray for a bass magazine once that had that 'problem'. But it is inherent to the HS combination.

good to know