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

[Anjohl]

That's been my experience as well. I own a MIM 50s Precision from the Classic Series (2009) and an American Performer Mustang (2020), and they're both pretty good instruments. After I tried a Sire U5 last year, I knew I'd need to pick up something from them. The P8 caught my eye (the neck is unbelievable), and it immediately became my favorite instrument.

I know the P8 isn't a "budget" instrument per se, but to try and find a comparable instrument for less than $2000 is really challenging. Even the U5 beats all of my Fender instruments in most regards, especially because of the excellent fretwork.

The necks on the Sires are peerless at 2.5x the price IMHO. So playable!

 

[fourstringbliss]

That's been my experience as well. I own a MIM 50s Precision from the Classic Series (2009) and an American Performer Mustang (2020), and they're both pretty good instruments. After I tried a Sire U5 last year, I knew I'd need to pick up something from them. The P8 caught my eye (the neck is unbelievable), and it immediately became my favorite instrument.

I know the P8 isn't a "budget" instrument per se, but to try and find a comparable instrument for less than $2000 is really challenging. Even the U5 beats all of my Fender instruments in most regards, especially because of the excellent fretwork.

It's the neck that's got it, I think. I want to get a third bass at some point, but I'm sick of fixing fretwork issues from other manufacturers myself. You tell me you've got smooth edges and level frets? I can overlook weird headstocks.

 

[Brandon Shea]

It's the neck that's got it, I think. I want to get a third bass at some point, but I'm sick of fixing fretwork issues from other manufacturers myself. You tell me you've got smooth edges and level frets? I can overlook weird headstocks.

Fretwork on my P8 seems flawless, and the rolled edges that Sire advertises really make a huge difference. The U5s I've tried felt great as well, no issues that I was able to notice in my (brief) time with them. Keep in mind that the U5 is a pretty "cheap" instrument at $534 MSRP, so it's astounding to me that the frets feel nicer than instruments that cost 2-3x more.

If you get an opportunity to try one, you should definitely do it! I wish they had more dealers, but you might get lucky and find a used one in a shop here and there. One popped up at my local shop recently and it was gone within a couple days.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Fretwork on my P8 seems flawless, and the rolled edges that Sire advertises really make a huge difference. The U5s I've tried felt great as well, no issues that I was able to notice in my (brief) time with them. Keep in mind that the U5 is a pretty "cheap" instrument at $534 MSRP, so it's astounding to me that the frets feel nicer than instruments that cost 2-3x more.

If you get an opportunity to try one, you should definitely do it! I wish they had more dealers, but you might get lucky and find a used one in a shop here and there. One popped up at my local shop recently and it was gone within a couple days.

I'll end up going through Sweetwater so I can choose the best looking light one, but I know a few guys who swear by Sire. I'm trying to decide between a Z7 and an M5, but I'll probably go with the M5 (even with the horrific headstock) because it's so different electronically than my other two basses.

 

[SpankBazz]

Sire makes quality instruments at great prices.
Stingrays are way overpriced.
I would like to get the Stingray sound without being price gouged.
This will give me that.
I don't care where they put the tuners.
Sold.

 

[Baker69]

I like the idea of the Z7 with its 2 pickups for the extra tonal variety but a bit worried that by adding a second pickup you somehow lose the characteristics of each individual pickup, eg as on PJ basses where the neck pickup soloed doesn’t quite manage the P tone completely.

 

[Brandon Shea]

I like the idea of the Z7 with its 2 pickups for the extra tonal variety but a bit worried that by adding a second pickup you somehow lose the characteristics of each individual pickup, eg as on PJ basses where the neck pickup soloed doesn’t quite manage the P tone completely.

I've never noticed that phenomenon, at least with any of the PJ basses I've tried or owned. Assuming the P pickup is decent quality, I don't think it matters a whole lot what else is available on the bass. The biggest issue I've noticed with PJ basses is that it can be tough to balance the volume of the pickups individually.

 

[FRoss6788]

I've never noticed that phenomenon, at least with any of the PJ basses I've tried or owned. Assuming the P pickup is decent quality, I don't think it matters a whole lot what else is available on the bass. The biggest issue I've noticed with PJ basses is that it can be tough to balance the volume of the pickups individually.

You haven't noticed that issue with a PJ because the P soled sounds exactly like a P bass. Period.

 

[Les Fret]

You haven't noticed that issue with a PJ because the P soled sounds exactly like a P bass. Period.

I agree. But there are some videos on YT saying that the same Musicman Stingray with two pickups sounds slightly different with the bridge pickup soloed then the same bass with one pickup.

 

[Marc DLarosa]

I agree. But there are some videos on YT saying that the same Musicman Stingray with two pickups sounds slightly different with the bridge pickup soloed then the same bass with one pickup.

Slightly. I mean... WHO REALY CARES? If your bass is a little off, and it matters that much... then... wear a wig/get a nose job/toupe'/eat better/SHEESH!!! The drunk dancers who come see you aren't gonna notice the peg. The one's who do, spend TOO MUCH TIME ON TALKBASS, and... probably don't pay the measly 35 bucks a year subscription. But, only hang around to ask repetitive questions, and TROLL...

 

[Baker69]

You haven't noticed that issue with a PJ because the P soled sounds exactly like a P bass. Period.

There are threads here on TB which would argue the opposite. Apparently it is something to do with how the pickups are wired together which means the P pickup soloed does NOT sound exactly the same as a P Bass.

 

[FRoss6788]

There are threads here on TB which would argue the opposite. Apparently it is something to do with how the pickups are wired together which means the P pickup soloed does NOT sound exactly the same as a P Bass.

I'm well aware.

If the P pickup is in the standard location on the PJ, when soloed it sounds like a P.

I have both a P and a PJ, the P soloed on the PJ sounds like a P. I don't need to hook it up to some kind of scope to try and convince me otherwise.

Now in the case of, say, my Guild Pilots that have a reverse P in their PJ arrangement, then no, that pickup soloed does not have the typical P bass tone.

 

[80jazz]

I agree. But there are some videos on YT saying that the same Musicman Stingray with two pickups sounds slightly different with the bridge pickup soloed then the same bass with one pickup.

I haven't touched a Z7 (they look intriguing) but I would a difference in sound on this bass would be pickup location rather than the existence of the pickup in the bass.

I am also not a big fan of the single H sound on Stingrays, so I wouldn't be after that anyway.

 

[FRoss6788]

I agree. But there are some videos on YT saying that the same Musicman Stingray with two pickups sounds slightly different with the bridge pickup soloed then the same bass with one pickup.

I don't buy that either.

The HH Bongo has the bridge pickup closer to the bridge than the H, but on the Stingray HH, it's in the same place.

 

[Baker69]

I haven't touched a Z7 (they look intriguing) but I would a difference in sound on this bass would be pickup location rather than the existence of the pickup in the bass.

I am also not a big fan of the single H sound on Stingrays, so I wouldn't be after that anyway.

I think the MM pickup placement is the same on the Z7 as the Z3 variant. A Stingray 5 is my go to sound which is why I am interested, but I also like a P bass sound so a neck pickup option is a bonus for me.

I also like the natural gloss finish with the roasted neck.

 

[fourstringbliss]

I'm with the thinking that outside of a recording situation nobody would notice the difference in tone between a soloed MM on a single MM bass and the soloed MM on an MM/J, let alone whether someone is playing a P or a J or a PJ.

I'm personally impressed that they chose to put a split J in the neck position, so there's no extra buzz when paired with the MM.

 

[80jazz]

A split J? Somehow I missed this and this makes my GAS worse.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

I think people tend to over think things IMHO.
Honestly folks seem to want to dislike something new or different as if it's going make what they have less than or bad I just don't get it Honestly.

I have a 4 HH & 5H Stingray Specials. Both in classic Stingray mode so to speak, sounds the same to my ears. I want a Z7 5 string in hopes of being able to get Stingray, Jazz, or P bass tones oe similar enough to make me smile. Also less likely to come up missing. I've been wanting a Sire V5 5 24 for a while. Maybe this would give me the best of both worlds?

 

[fourstringbliss]

A split J? Somehow I missed this and this makes my GAS worse.

 

[fourstringbliss]

I think people tend to over think things IMHO.
Honestly folks seem to want to dislike something new or different as if it's going make what they have less than or bad I just don't get it Honestly.

I have a 4 HH & 5H Stingray Specials. Both in classic Stingray mode so to speak, sounds the same to my ears. I want a Z7 5 string in hopes of being able to get Stingray, Jazz, or P bass tones oe similar enough to make me smile. Also less likely to come up missing. I've been wanting a Sire V5 5 24 for a while. Maybe this would give me the best of both worlds?

I'm definitely getting one, and I'm going to try and restrain the modding urge as best as I can. I would love to see these with a splittable MM to get hum-free J tones, but that would mean changing pickups and installing a switch (and I'm not sure where the switch would go).