BaggyMan

Been using this chopped carbon wrap on scratchplates.. the one on my z7 fits well enough to not need screws..really pleased with look without the screws. Swapped out the neck pickup for a slightly punchier big poled version. Better volume balance and a more cohesive look.

On the way to a gig...'did i leave the gas on? was there something in the oven???....oh shiiiii..."

I have seen models across the range with horrendously dark necks and board where you really couldnt see the fret markers. I hard a P5 that was close to being too dark. .I think you are right the sugars/sap crystalise inconsistently across the timbers used some do are ok, some go dark..

I took a sneaky pick at the pre amp. It has an adjustment pot. Suspect a tweak will help. And then I notice thats been said on other post ...sigh Welcome to overlabouring a point (or pot) post club

Did a full gig this weekend with the Z7 and overall very happy with it. The neck dive issue wasnt really there so not going to bother with Ultralites or whatever anytime soon. General weight of the bass is good so happy there, Sounds wise i like the neck pickup as a blend option to round off the 'stingray' (there i said it) tone and drop in some bottom end. The neck pickup is quieter than the Mman bucker and i 'may' think about swapping that out in the future for a more powerful/stacked and noiseless alternative. The steel fret aren't any great difference to the standard old school one's but i supect they will last longer. Rolled edge on the board is just plain lovely. Comparing it with previous V7's and V3 i found it say better in the mix for the sort of music i play, so i doubt this will be on ebay (or here..) in the near future. She's a keeper.

One QC issue: The action as delivered was way off too high. Not really an issue until i tried to adjust the D string saddle. The allen key/wrench spin in the hole. Luckily i have a bunch of old scrap bridges and harvested two allen screws off an old Ibanez bridge which were a straight swap. Worth checking yours folks...

yep my bad ally knobs!

And finally, it be here. Not quite the over the top fab grain of one i have seen on the owners page (pic shown for reference ...omg thats perdy) My new ride has landed safely without the QC issue of some poor souls here. First impressions Neck Dive: a little but not on the strap Heavy?: No 9lbs and a bit. Lower horn embarassment?: Yeah a bit noticeable, access is a lot better for the dusty end but looks better in the flesh Controls: I quite like the knobs, a bit sadowsky like and definately better quality than the really cheap plastic ones one my v3, v7 etc. But still plastic (even on the sadowsky metrolines they are aluminium) Neck: Rolled edge is great, no fret sprout Pickups: Mman pickup is very articulate and quiet. Single coil on the neck position has 60Hz noise at high treble settings (Nordstrand drop in perhaps). Took a peek under the controls plate, spareate pre to the controls, getting a parallel/series switch will be a squeeze so probably wont attempt. Four wire Mman pickup though so technically possible. Looks like wired in series. Am I happy with my purchase: ?. Yes, first impressions are good, pre amp seems a bit tighter voiced than the v7 (maybe thats just my looks like a stingray so must sound like one eyes..), hardware looks ok. Just for a laugh a laid a musicman scratchplate over the pickup etc. Looks like the Mman is about a cm further forwards towards the neck. Edge of the plate overlaps the control panel. De-condoming the scratchplate the drills holes are tidy as is the routing, so it can be 'topless' without looking crap. I so want to add the musicman style lugs to the bridge....i have some...it may happen Anyway check this.. Mine's a more modest

Gah! Andertons had my delivery on 'Next Day' and that was to deliver...yesterday. If its parcel farce i'll be very grumpy. Soooooooo damn close. Still...Christmas soon.

Good luck with your focus on that....

Good point i'll do a back to back comparison when the Sire arrives.

I have owned a few Sires over the years (early adopter in fact had one of the first batch of thomann swamp ash V7's series 1, 11lb of pure boat achor though..) In some ways i personalise them as time goes by based on playability , bridges and sometime pickups or knobs etc. If neck dive is an issue, machine heads is an easy fix (had a V3 with that) Have seen a few more extreme mods (Mman at the bridge on a V7 for example.) but digging holes in a bass is a risky venture. All in all if done well a mod can ehance the playing experience (v3 cheap machines being a big one). With the Z7 i am hoping not to have to deal with neck dive. Back to back comparison with the Nordy might be fun. My original V7 series 1 had a Nordstrand pickup upgrade and that took the bass to a whole new level, shame i just couldnt handle the weight of the beast.

Me to 'shipped' notification came today...

Ok,folks, even though i am thoroughly pumped for the arrival ...whenever that is, of my Z7 i potentially may well add two mods (not anytime yet...) but both reversable but stay with me... 1. parallel series/single switching on the humbucker Could well open an interesting option tonally. Depend if its a 4 wires or 2 wires pickup. 2. I have a spare neck position nordstrand big blade pickup. Hmmm might try a comparison Modding is a divisive thing for some (leave it as stock they know what they are doing etc etc) but I have found that many Mman at the bridge basses in the past have a plumped for a series..or paralell option. but i find the Lakland 55-02 i have, has series/parallel single switching and is very handy.

Already gone to 'available within 3-5 days'. Interesting that the model i have ordered is £70 cheaper but not available for 3 months... Looks like if i get it within the next three months i am paying a £70 surcharge for the privilege...

ditto.. "is now expected to our warehouse around 12/09/2024." sigh...not sire it appears.

Luckily this isnt a situation of me waiting by the front door consoling myself by playing my premium Glary, so i am relaxed...a bit...for now. I suspect perhaps Thoman's assessment of likely stock availablility is more realistic than Andertons. Maybe its a move to secure more pre sales or just over-optimism. Either way i assume i'll have it when it's available and its not laying around in a warehouse somewhere. A while back i was interested in a G & L jazz bass (after being on the hunt for a nice jazz, and watching 'riot' by Ritchie Kotzen if you haven't seen it take a look) same thing then Late april became ealry august in the end. I cancelled the order and went for another J-type. If it gets to Christmas and still 'in the system' i may be pissed off by then...

As Andertons and thomann are the big players in Europe and buy by the container load I suspect it's a supply chain issue, or customs etc. The latest date i have is 'from the 3rd'. If I see it this week I will be amazed. No hurry but tweaks the ol impatient muscles a bit

I have owned a couple of the RDGR series basses. Very good basses

I have owned a number of sires and a number of Musicman products (Stingrays, Ray34, USA subs olp, SUB 4 and 5's, sterling (the model)) The Z7 comes up and i like what i am seeing. Its a potentially best of both worlds buy, but in these days of few and far opportunities to try i'll watch the review and go for the even more musicman like Z3 or the Z7 and just buy one 'blind' (return policy applies here btw..). It will be intersting how it sits soundwise next to my Lakland 55-02 (same pickup layout..) I like the rolled edge necks on the Sires anyway and their general good build quality/QC. So, I have decided on the Z7 and its due this week. It will be interesting to see how having the Sire classic pre amp pre amp will suit the vibe. But from the demo's thus far i am confident of it being good for the bass. I like the extra fret access but have to admit it took a little getting used to visually. At this price i think its going to be a great buy and yeah i know Sire residual prices aren't great but the ray3x prices are moving north of a grand these days so at £650 its worth the try i reckon. I have gone for the Ash/roast maple combo 5 string i'll let you know how its goes..(image courtesy of Andertons from whom i am buying it)

Now disposed of