Introduction
The phrase Stratocaster-style guitar carries notable weight in today’s music scene, and that’s precisely what we’re exploring with the Sire Larry Carlton S7 Ash top. This double-cutaway beauty features the versatile HSS pickup setup, a vibrato bridge, and a scale length of 25.5 inches. Is it an S-type? An ST-type? The lines are increasingly blurred.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate Sire, a South Korean brand that gained recognition through its collaboration with jazz icon Marcus Miller. Instead of following the trend of high-priced signature models, Sire opted for affordability, offering instruments packed with features typically found in professional-grade guitars.
In 2020, Sire teamed up with the legendary session guitarist Larry Carlton to replicate this triumphant formula. Carlton, known for his work with artists like Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, and Michael Jackson, lends his name to a range of S-style, T-style, 335-style, and LP-type guitars. the mission remains the same: to provide high-quality instruments at prices accessible to most musicians.
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Examining the specifications of the S7 Ash Top, it’s astounding that it remains under the $1,000 threshold. The body is crafted from alder, topped with solid Swamp Ash, and features a roasted maple neck and fretboard with a compound radius of 9.5-14 inches, along with 22 medium jumbo stainless steel frets.
A Graph Tech TUSQ nut is installed beneath a set of staggered locking tuners, eliminating the need for a string tree, while Sire’s proprietary 2-point tremolo bridge secures the guitar at the other end. The sire LC Super HSS pickup set is complemented by a push-push knob that splits the humbucker, along with a single volume and tone knob and a 5-way selector switch.
Specifications
- Launch price: $869 | £739 | €749
- manufactured in: Indonesia
- Type: Six-string electric guitar
- Body: Alder with solid Swamp Ash top
- Neck: Roasted maple / C shape
- Fingerboard: Roasted maple with rolled edges
- Scale length: 25.5 inches, 647.7mm
- Nut width: Graphtech Tusq XL / 42mm
- Frets: 22, medium jumbo, stainless steel
- Hardware: Sire premium locking tuners, Sire modern 2-post tremolo bridge
- String spacing at bridge: 54.3mm
- Electronics: Sire LC super HSS pickup set, volume, tone, 5-way lever switch
- Weight: 8.15 lbs, 3.7 kg
- Options: Non-ash top available for $769
- Left-handed options: No
- Finishes: Natural (as reviewed), Amber Burst
- Cases: Not included
- Contact: Sire
Quality of Construction
Build Quality Rating: ★★★★½
Upon unboxing the Sire S7 Ash Top, I was reminded of my personal aversion to natural finishes on electric guitars, which frequently enough evoke memories of a grandmother’s kitchen table. however, the swamp ash top’s appearance on the Sire website doesn’t do it justice. in natural light, the wood’s color and grain exhibit a depth that surpasses the overly polished look of product photography, and it gradually won me over during my testing.
The back of the body features a cherry-red stain, revealing the alder grain beneath and showcasing a three-piece body construction. The contrast between the dark back and the lighter Swamp Ash top creates a striking visual appeal.
The body features a forearm carve and a belly cut for enhanced comfort during play. While there’s no sculpted neck heel, the lower horn is slightly contoured on the back. However, I find that this doesn’t significantly improve playability, as my hand tends to reach over the front of the guitar when accessing the upper frets.
The fretwork is impressively executed, surpassing many Indonesian-made guitars I’ve encountered recently, and even outshining some Mexican-made models.
The ‘Edgeless’ fingerboard ends are smoothly rounded, with no sharp edges to be found. The fret tangs are neatly finished, ensuring a seamless transition along the fretboard edge.
Playability
Playability Rating: ★★★★★
Feels incredibly modern and fast as I navigate through my favorite riffs and licks.
When I sat down to play the Sire S7 without an amplifier, I was immediately struck by its playability. Although it features a ‘C’ neck profile, it feels distinctly modern and fast, allowing me to effortlessly glide through my favorite riffs. The neck is versatile, and the compound radius enhances playability across the fretboard.
Bending notes and playing against the medium jumbo frets is satisfying, though a full jumbo fret might push it into true shred guitar territory. As it stands, it feels more suited for classic rock styles rather then extreme guitar gymnastics, which I appreciate. It’s still comfortable enough for rapid legato, and I encountered no dead spots or scratchiness along the neck.
While attempting power chords with alternating strikes on the two high strings, I noticed the high E string occasionally popped out of the nut slot when I played aggressively. This issue arose only on the upstroke and could indicate a nut that’s been cut too shallow, compounded by the absence of string trees.
The tremolo system is set to ‘decked’, meaning it rests against the body, allowing for downward pitch only. This configuration enhances stability, preventing any forward lean during string bends and ensuring reliable tuning. You can adjust it to float since it’s a two-point design.
In this decked setup, it performs admirably, maintaining stability even under heavy use. I can pitch it down by two to two-and-a-half tones without losing tuning integrity, thanks to the locking tuners.
One aspect I noticed while playing is that the push-push tone knob is positioned a bit farther from my picking hand than I would prefer. While the push-push design is more ergonomic for live performances, its placement-spaced apart from the volume knob-requires reaching over the tremolo arm, which can occasionally hinder quick adjustments.
Sound Quality
Sound Quality Rating: ★★★★½
When I plugged the Sire S7 into my pedalboard and routed it through the clean channel of my Orange Rocker 32 tube amp, the first thing that struck me was the humbucker’s volume, which is noticeably louder than the other pickup positions. Transitioning from softly picked arpeggios to power chords resulted in a significant volume jump due to the midrange boost, prompting some players to adjust their playing style or pickup height accordingly.
Switching through the pickup positions while keeping the clean channel engaged,along with a touch of spring reverb and a hint of tape delay,I found the guitar produced all the classic S-type honk and spank tones one would expect. It excelled with my favorite Spaghetti western-inspired licks, and adding some tremolo was the icing on the cake.
The neck single coil pickup is notably impressive. It delivers warmth and roundness without ever feeling dull, and I found myself lost in playing for a good twenty minutes during my testing. With generous reverb and delay, it’s perfect for those spacious licks reminiscent of Explosions in the Sky, and chords sound rich and articulate.
The split humbucker sound was my least favorite of the bunch.
The split humbucker sound was my least favorite aspect. there’s a slight harshness in the high end, which I managed to tame by rolling back the treble knob. If you’re using a particularly bright amp, you might find this position a bit overwhelming, but adjusting the tone knob can definitely help mitigate that. With five standard pickup selector positions (where position two combines the split humbucker and middle pickup regardless of the push-push switch setting), you have a total of six pickup options for a wide range of sounds.
It’s not just effective for clean tones. when I added my Joyo Tauren Klon clone into a Victory Amps V1 Sheriff overdrive pedal, I achieved some fantastic, gritty rock tones reminiscent of PAF pickups. It can handle chugging as well, not quite reaching djent levels, but cranking up the gain yields some solid modern hardcore tones, making it suitable for progressive metal fretboard explorations.
Final Thoughts
As we navigate a world increasingly influenced by technology, players are beginning to realize that premium prices aren’t always necessary when searching for a new guitar.
While brand loyalty will always exist,the Sire Larry Carlton S7 serves as a testament that if you’re open to alternatives,you can find exceptional value for your hard-earned money.
The most compelling aspect of the Larry Carlton S7 was its irresistible allure, making me want to pick it up constantly.
The most compelling aspect of the Larry Carlton S7 was its irresistible allure, making me want to pick it up constantly.Throughout the week, it remained a staple on my $7 D’Addario guitar neck rest, and I found myself reaching for it repeatedly-whether testing pedals, an audio interface, recording demos, or bringing it to band rehearsals.
The fretwork is notably impressive, far exceeding that of guitars priced closer to $1,000. Aside from the minor issue with the high-E nut slot, I found little to criticize. The availability of a non-solid wood top for under $800 makes the S7 a true dark horse, and for working musicians seeking playability and tone without breaking the bank, few guitars can compete with this one.
Guitar world Verdict: After testing numerous guitars over the years, from budget-friendly options to high-end models, I firmly believe the Sire Larry Carlton S7 Ash Top stands out as one of the best value-for-money instruments available today. Its build quality is exceptional, it plays beautifully, and unlike many guitars in this price range, the electronics perform reliably. While it has a few minor quirks, it plays and sounds like an instrument worth twice its price.
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|
Test |
Results |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Build Quality |
Exceptionally well-crafted and visually appealing. |
★★★★½ |
|
Playability |
Incredibly playable, versatile across various styles. |
★★★★★ |
|
Sound Quality |
Highly versatile pickup configuration that exceeds expectations for the price. |
★★★★½ |
|
Overall |
One of the best value-for-money guitars I’ve encountered. |
★★★★½ |
