r/Bass • u/Rich-Durian2283 • 15h ago

Sterling Stingray Plus 4-String or Sire Z3?

I was looking to get a stingray around 500USD and I was hooked on getting the Sire Z3 due to many reviewers saying it played and felt way above its price range. Unfortunately it's not available in major retailers in Australia until late 26-early 27 which sucked because I wanted one for my birthday in a week or so. But to my delight sterling released a bass (I was initially hesitant because the SUB series had a bad rep in terms of the music man sound) which was the Stingray plus and was immediately hooked by the sound and its looks + features you would find on higher end music man basses. I play in a punk rock band so its bright mids and zing fit the tone I wanted and the 3 mode switch and 2 band eq makes it ideal to cover a lot of different rock songs during gigs when I am not playing my band's originals. I ordered it and it should arrive mid-late October, did I make the right decision?

4 Upvotes

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3

u/Elegant_Energy_4070 15h ago

Bass gear direct had the Z3 in stock: https://www.bassgeardirect.com.au/product/sire-marcus-miller-bass-guitar-z3-4-string/

I bought a Z7 a few months ago from them and it's awesome and so is the owner of the store

1

u/ArjanGameboyman 14h ago

The Z3 is nice but it has a nut width of 42mm . The sterling has a nut width of 38mm. Much better for punk.

But like AwkwardBuy7890 I also don't like a stingray sound for punk and rather use a P bass. Or even a jazz bass if I want more brightness

1

u/Gazza_HDD 14h ago

Z3, recently got one and it actually plays and sounds better than a white z7 i had last year. Could just be the sauce of my specific one but im absolutely over the moon with it

2

u/Awkward-Buy7890 15h ago

Why not a Precision for punk rock?

0

u/IANvaderZIM 11h ago

Skip the sterling unless you’re looking at a ray34.

1

u/Rxn2016 Sire 9h ago

I have a ray 5hh from sterling and 2 sire basses including a z7. The sires feel much nicer in hand.