Sire Marcus Miller Z3-4 Skyburst Sparkle

A Seventies-Inspired Look Revisited in the Sire Range

With the Z3-4, Sire draws inspiration from iconic 1970s silhouettes and adapts them to current needs: easier access to the treble thanks to a pronounced cutaway, a boldly designed pickguard, and construction built to withstand rehearsals, stage, and studio use. The result maintains a strong vintage identity while offering modern playability and reassuring stability for everyday use.

Who Is It For and What Styles?

Versatile and intuitive, the Sire Z3-4 is aimed at beginner to intermediate bassists looking for a serious 4-string, as well as experienced musicians seeking a simple, effective, and reliable active bass. Its MM-type humbucker and 3-band EQ make it particularly comfortable in funk and slap styles, while effortlessly covering pop, rock, R&B, and fusion. Switching to passive mode allows for a more direct tone, ideal for "roots" lines and more organic grooves.

The Sound

The MM-type humbucker (dual coil) emphasizes firm lows, consistent low-mids, and a clear attack: perfect for remaining audible in a dense mix without unnecessary harshness. In active mode, the Marcus Heritage-3 preamp (Treble, Middle, Bass) allows quick shaping of brightness, bite, and depth depending on your technique (fingerstyle, pick, slap). The mahogany body adds warmth and sustain, while the rosewood fingerboard provides a smooth feel under the fingers and a rounder high-end spectrum. The 34" / 864 mm scale length helps maintain tight lows, and the 12" / 305 mm radius contributes to consistent, comfortable, and precise playability.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

For this bass with a 34" / 864 mm long scale, prioritize a 4-string long scale string set (gauge 40-100 for more flexibility, or 45-105 for more tension). An electric bass strap is also recommended to improve comfort when playing standing and to secure long sessions.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	H	Body	Mahogany
Left handed	No	Bridge / tailpiece	Fixed
Strings	Steel	Electronics	Active
Nbr of strings	4	Color	Gradient
Fingerboard	Rosewood	Finishing	Glossy
Nbrs of frets	22	Hardware	Chromed

Wood	mahogany	Bridge	Sire Standard MM Bridge
Shape	Sire "Z-Bass", rounded profile with pronounced cutaway	Tuners	Standard Open-Gear
Pickguard	black 3-ply	Knobs	metal dome-shaped potentiometer knobs
Body finish	"Skyburst Sparkle"	Hardware finish	chrome
Neck	maple, C profile	Pickup	Sire Standard MM (MM-type humbucker)
Joint	four-screw steel plate (bolt-on)	Preamp	Marcus Heritage-3 (no mid frequency selection)
Scale length	34" / 864 mm	Controls	Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass
Radius	12" / 305 mm	Switch	active/passive
Frets	22, Medium 2.7 mm / 0.106"	Number of strings	4
Inlays	white dots	String gauge	45-105
Nut	bone 42 mm / 1.65"