Fat Bass Tone
The 5 string Sadowsky MetroExpress Basses typically weigh around 9lbs.
While string spacing matters as the size of the bridge changes, the difference in weight is roughly 5 ounces on a 4 string Hipshot A Style Bass Bridge.
The Sire V7 basses (and possibly other 5 string basses from Sire) use a mounting pattern that is the same as Fender has used on some Squire 5 strings.
Here is what the screw mounting pattern looks like modeled on a Hipshot Kickass Mounting Style 2:

The above measurements that are highlighted pink correspond to the center to center measurements from one screw hole to the adjacent screw hole.
.606" = 15.4mm
.706" = 17.9mm
Hipshot's Kickass Bridge with Mounting Pattern 2 is a great choice for retrofitting on a Sire V7 Bass. The bridge has moveable saddles to dial in string spacing. It is a high mass bridge that is also= attractive. It does not support string through body mounting.
T stands for Treble, B stands for Bass.
They do not have to be put as Bartolini originally assigns (T for Bridge, and B for Neck). Bartolini has wound the T pickup to have slightly more output to compensate for less string movement in the Bridge position.
Each pickup is also compensated slightly for its position, so the T is a little less trebly, and the B is a little less bass-y. You can swap them to have a more pronounced difference between the two positions.
The Sterling Stingray 5 String typically takes the OLP shape. This is the long shape WITH screw ears. The spacing matters here. If there is a big chunk of space on the ends, then it is likely 15.5mm spacing.
Check the dimensions on your bass to be sure.
This diagram (from Nordstrand Audio) shows the dimensions for this pickup
9.5” - This suits most Fender J’s except for the vintage and Flea models.
The Sire V7 basses take a size that is commonly known as the Fender American Standard 5 String size.
The pickups are roughly:
Bridge Pickup ~4.12” (~104.6mm)
Neck Pickup ~4.00” (101.5mm)
As always, check your bass. Manufacturers change dimensions on occasion.
String spacing measured at the pickup location location on the body is:
Bridge is 18mm (if measuring from the B to E = 72mm)
Neck is 17mm (if measuring from the B to E = 68mm)
*Note, this is not string spacing measured at the bridge, it is the string spacing measured at the pickup.
Both the stock pickups and Bartolini's MM pickups use a black/green/red/white 4 conductor cable.
Just swap the red for the black wires to wire a Bartolini pickup into the Sterling Stingray system.
There is a slight 3-4 dB lift in the lows (fundamental range) and highs (presence/sizzle range). Most players really enjoy this small contouring in their tone.
Background: The larger size has been somewhat standardized (Aguilar, Nordstrand…) for quite awhile. It is actually the hole size that has been in jazz bass plates going back many years. The hole sizes in basses are not consistent and in a couple sizes, as the bass manufacturers buy whatever inexpensive pots that they can get cheap unfortunately. Many imports use the small ones, but US manufacturers usually use the larger size.
At any rate, it is fairly common to need to enlarge the holes to get pots to retrofit.
These two couple videos use two different techniques that show how to enlarge potentiometer holes:
https://youtu.be/I3AhFfragdY?t=41
https://youtu.be/bKNAkTWC4xA
The only preamp we sell that has the smaller 7mm potentiometer shaft is from Delano.
Nope, the Fender N3 Bass Pickups are a passive pickup, and there should be no compatibility issues.
There are 3 bass preamps that are very well suited Jazz Bass® Deluxe basses:
J Retro Deluxe - https://fatbasstone.com/products/john-east-j-retro-deluxe-bass-preamp-for-jazz-bass-deluxe?variant=40267212685475
Sadowsky - https://fatbasstone.com/products/sadowsky-onboard-bass-preamp?variant=43932940402927
All include knobs and plate…and are meant to be reasonably easy installation.
The big difference between these is all in the bands.
J Retro Deluxe is a three band with a variable mid range and passive tone - but, in passive mode you can select only bridge or bridge/neck at equal.
Volume/Blend Stack -- Treble/Bass Stack -- Mid/Frequency Stack -- Passive Tone -- Active/Passive Switch -- Pickup Switch
Sadowsky is a two band with boost only on the treble and bass, but also has a passive tone.
Master Volume - Balance -- Vintage Tone Control (Push-Pull) -- Treble/Bass Stack
Lusithand is a four band that has mid separate mid controls for lo and hi mids.
Volume - Blend - Treble/Bass Stack - Lo Mid/Hi Mid Stack - Contour Switch - Passive 3 Way Tone Switch - Active/Passive Switch
Additionally - The J Retro Deluxe has a built in contour that gives a little lift to the bass and treble. The Lusithand also has contouring, but it is something that can be turned on or off via a switch.
The bushing size refers to the largest diameter part of the potentiometer that inserts through the mounting hole. This is the part of the shaft where nuts and washers are attached.
The sizes for Bartolini's Potentiometers are as follows:
Volume PushPull - 7mm
Blend Pot - 8mm
Treb 8mm
Mid - 3/8”
Bass - 8mm
Check out 2 Band Bartolini Bass Preamps
Check out 3 Band Bartolini Bass Preamps
Yes, all John East bass preamps are sold with knobs included.
Concentric pots have a upper shaft diameter or 6mm and a lower shaft diameter of 8mm.
The single pots (non-concentric) have a shaft diameter or 6mm.
Yes, this is possible. You can even bypass the blend pot completely.
There are 3 wires at the blend potentiometer: 2 white and a black on the solderless connecter.
Often the tuners that come stock on OEM basses are of poor quality, so thankfully, several tuners companies, including Hipshot and Gotoh have made replacement tuners for various bass models. Additionally, Hipshot has Bass Xtenders to do drop tuning.
Bass manufacturers change their supply sources periodically, so it is worth your time to check sizing.
The non Xtender diagram of the standard tuning machines similar naming code can be used to check for screw alignment. For Example: a diagram for an HB1 Tuning Manchine can be used to check screw hole patterns if you are considering getting a BT1 Xtender.
Here is a list of some known retrofit sizes for various basses.
Fender Squire Vintage and Vintage Modified Squire - HB1 or HB7 Tuners, BT1 or BT7 Xtender
Fender Precision Bass®, Made In Japan - HB1 Tuners, BT1 Xtender or HB7 Tuners, BT7 Xtender (may require modification)
Fender Reissue Jazz Bass® 1962 - HB2 Tuners, BT2 Xtender
Fender Reissue Jazz Bass® 1975, Made in USA - HB2 Tuners, BT2 Xtender
Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass® - HB2 Tuners, BT2 Xtender
Fender Jazz Bass® , Made in Mexico - HB1 or HB7 Tuners, BT1 or BT7 Xtender
Fender Precision Elite Bass 1982 - HB4 Tuners, BT4 Xtender
Fender Highway One® models- HB7 Tuners, BT7 Xtender
Fender USA Made Basses- HB1, HB2 or HB7 Tuners, BT1, BT2 or BT7 Xtender
G&L Basses - HB1 Tuners, BT1 Xtender
Lakland Darrel Jones - Hipshot Ultralight with 3/8" String post, HE6C Xtender
Lakland USA models- Hipshot Ultralight with 3/8" String post, HE6C Xtender
Lakland Skyline models - Hipshot Ultralight with 1/2" String post, HE6C Xtender
MusicMan Stingray- HB1 Tuners, BT1 Xtender
MusicMan Sterling - HB1 Tuners, BT1 Xtender
OLP Basses - HB1 Tuners, BT1 Xtender (note that their quality controlled varied at times, and some holes were slightly off)
Schaller BM Tuner Replacement- HB1 Tuners, BT1 Xtender
Schaller BMF Tuner Replacement (CBS era Fender® basses manufactured between 1967 and 1982) - HB2 Tuners, BT2 Xtender
Warwick (most models) - GB7 Xtender
Hipshot Sizing: Hipshot HB1, Hipshot HB2, Hipshot HB3, Hipshot HB7, Hipshot HB10, Hipshot USA Ultralight 1/2", Hipshot USA Ultralight 3/8"
Unfortunately, no. Unlike certain tuners from Hipshot, the Badass Tuners are not reversable to create a 3 x 1 headstock tuner configuration.
Some Sire basses have a tuning machines that have the same mounting holes as a Grover 142 Series Tuner.
Distance between top two screws is 23.5mm (center of screw to center of screw)
Distance between lower two screws is 177mm (center of screw to center of screw)
Hipshot does not make a replacement for this. However, the HB7 is the nearest fit from Hipshot. The clover key and ferrule will match but new mounting holes will need to be drilled. This is not too difficult and involves making a clean drill hole sized for a hardwood plug (Maple is a good choice), and then redrilling for new holes to fit the HB7 tuner.
