OK, what’s happening?
Fretless fearlessness…
1 Like
Uhm…OK, I guess.
1 Like
Let’s make an exception and go off-topic! 
I gather that you like fretless? Do you notice that playing a fretless bass has positive effects on precision of fingering a fretted bass too? Any other effects?
For you, an exception would be to stay on topic. 
4 Likes
Back to the topic: The Sire V3 doesn’t require a change of pickups to achieve a Jazz bass growl. It’s built in. You just have to experiment with the preamp settings and plucking attack.
2 Likes
Yes, it’s pretty cool. Not as cool as my Dingwall, or the Ibanez, but cool, none the less 
I’m actually not sure. It is certainly a greater challenge to play something like Ready To Go, or the Nirvana song, Lithium on it. I can also play Daddy Cool and you have to be pretty precise or it sounds awful. Does this translate to a fretted bass? I don’t know as you have a fair ‘landing zone’ on a fretted. I’ve also been exploring the classic fretless slides, although I don’t think I’ve mastered that properly yet. In doing them, you really have to think about timing, for example, starting the slide on the ‘and’ of 4, to hit the root on the one. Or the ‘a’ (16ths) if you want a very short slide.
It’s also fun playing with the tone. Obviously, the strings are flats, so they will never be as bright as rounds, but it does a mean deeeep bass, and I’ve also played proto-punk on it (The Stooges). I’m not really a fan of the Sire preamp, I think it’s too complicated - both the Dingwall and Ibanez ones are better. But overall, I think it’s a great addition to the collection.
1 Like
Hello Cleveland !!
I’m very happy to have got some serious comment and some participation here on my first topic. So thank to all of you . I think that may be my strings need to be changing indeed. Also I’ve notice that being affected by the GEAR syndrom it’s been a while that I have not been playing just direct to an amp. I’ve been playing a lot with multi effects lately. So that must have biased my taste and recognition of what the Sire V3 is capable of. This morning I’ve worked arpeggios with just the bass and my little amp ( a 30 w Marshall BB) and starting" playing" again with the Sire preamp. I’ve noticed some changes ^^ Thank to all of you for your participation. What a great community !
4 Likes
I’d say ask mr meeseeks……
1 Like
That tone in those videos is coming primarily from the right hand work. Look at the way they’re playing. In the first, she’s picking with her finger and thumb, probably getting her nails into it. In the second, he’s using a pick.
Your right hand is going to have a larger effect on your tone than your pickups are. Pickups matter, but picking matters more. That’s why Geddy Lee sounds like Geddy Lee regardless of if he’s playing a Fender Jazz or a Rickenbacker.
Try playing with a pick. Experiment with different plucking techniques. Try different methods of attacking the strings and see what happens.
Edit: What strings are on there and when was the last time you changed them? Strings will also have a greater effect on tone than the pickups. If your stings are older, they will have become muted and lack the high end needed to “growl”.
3 Likes
my strings haven’t been changed since March. My sire had a pre amp problem and had to go back to support. They changed the preamp and put a “new generation preamp” as they didn’t have the original one at that time. Not sure what a new generation preamp is on a V3 ? Anyway didn’t changed strings since then. I play about 30/mns to 1 hour per day (sometimes I don’t play at all on weekdays), more on weekends. I have some Ernie Ball strings. I do have a spare set at home, may be I’ll change them.
1 Like
Sire V basses use the great Heritage-3 preamp. Rest assured your preamp is totally good.
Also, definitely change your strings. The brightness and zing of new rounds can add a lot to your bass’s tone.
Playing them regularly will reduce the strings’ brightness over time, so be mindful of that and enjoy hearing how they sound throughout their tonal and responsiveness life cycle. Each stage can be rewarding.
2 Likes
Depending on the strings some should still retain the brightness. Does your V3 has passive/active switch? if yes, is it on active? Did you check the bettery? If you turn the knobs and nothing’s happening it could be these 2 issues, dead battery or in passive mode.
3 Likes
it’s active . I play alternatly active or passive. Haven’t changed the battery since june. When I first had the bass, last november (ie 2023) the batteries last like 2 or 3 weeks. That is why I give it back to after sell support. I tougth that the batteries drained way too fast. They said everything was fine but offered me to change the preamp to new generation one. Don’t know what’s a new generation heritage preamp is. is that a thing ? how many heritage pre amp generation are they out there? Anyway since then, didn’t have to change the batteries so I do think something was wrong indeed.
2 Likes
continuously playing?
Unless you leave the bass plugged in the battery on the active system should lass anywhere between 300-350 hours. It’s important to unplug the jack after every session.
Can you post the video of what’s happening? this would help a lot.
1 Like
I don’t leave the jack connected after playing, I’ve always unplugged it.
Not sur what you mean by posting a video ? So you give me an opinion about the sound ? I’ll change the strings first. Also I’m so damn shy I wouldn’t dare filmed me playing and post it ^^
2 Likes
No! not a performance if you are still gun-shy. You were saying that your preamp has some issues so I’m trying to pinpoint the problem.
1 Like
It had some issues, It has been changed in March. It doesn’t show issue now (well, to my limited knowledge) everything looks like it’s working fine. Sorry for the misunderstanding
2 Likes
I played 2 different V3s a couple weeks ago and both were able to generate the tones you’re looking for. I played primarily through an Ampeg rb110 but also a Fender Rumble 100 and a Mark Bass amp.
I have high confidence that some research into how the pre-amp works and a review of @JoshFossgreen ’s video on tone might be helpful.
2 Likes
Ohh yes, thank you, I remember having seen that one. i tougth it was very good indeed. Thanx for the reminder
1 Like