Seems like anywhere you go lately on the web, someone’s talking about Sire Guitars. They’re talking about their value, their playability, their finishes, etc… Naturally, we thought it time for a quick round-up on Sire: Who they are, their guitar models, and why you may want to consider buying a Sire guitar.
What Is Sire?
According to the Oxford Engish dictionary, the term sire is a “form of address for someone of high social status, especially a king.” This, of course, refers to none other than guitarist Larry Carlton. I’m only half kidding here! Carlton, otherwise known as “Mr. 335”, is a monster player, and is involved with the Sire Guitar company. In fact, Carlton’s name adorns the headstocks of Sire’s signature guitar models.
According to the Sire USA website, the idea was to make a line of guitars and basses that reflect the sensibilities of these well known, and excellent players. Specifically, Sire says that they are “making guitars built from their preferences.”
Sire Highlights
Since everyone is talking—and raving—about Sire guitars, let’s discuss some of the features that are driving the hype for Sire guitars.
Premium Materials
Sire guitars have noteworthy materials and specifications. This is particularly impressive when you consider the price point. These include:
Body Woods
♦ Adler, Ash, or Mahogany
Neck Woods
♦ Roasted Maple, Maple, Mahogany
Nut Material
♦ Natural Bone
Fingerboard Treatments
♦ EDGELESS™ Fingerboard Edges and filed frets
Tuners
♦ Many models come with premium locking tuners
Performance
Sire guitars are made with the stage and studio in mind. This means that the pickups and electronics are designed with input from Carlton, who knows what it takes for an instrument to both sound good, and be versatile. In addition, locking tuners and roasted maple necks ensure stable tuning, which are pro features not often found in this price category. In addition, there is no doubt that Carlton’s vast experience as a session player influences his idea of how to voice pickups.
Sire Guitar Models
One of the impressive things about Sire is that they already offer a broad line of guitars. These include guitars, basses, and acoustic guitars. Sire gutiar models are designed in conjunction with Larry Carlton.
Sire H7
The Sire line naturally begins with the H7, which is based on the Gibson ES-335. Larry Carlton has long been known to favor the 335 for his signature tones. If you’re looking for the semi-hollow vibe for everything from rock to blues, the H7 should be one of your first stops.
Sire L7
The L7 is quite clearly an LP competitor. In this price range, the Sire is competing directly with formidable Les Paul offerings from Epiphone. The pickups in the L7 are the Larry Carlton Modern Humbuckers, and trust me when I say you’ll be surprised at the jazzy tones that are on tap with the Sire L7:
Sire S3
Sire’s line wouldn’t be complete without Fender-style guitars, now would it? The S3 is based on the Stratocaster. At this price point, it’s incredible that Sire can offer a comfortable, rolled fingerboard, but they do. Darrell Braun Guitar is raving about the S3, and for good reason. This is a budget guitar, but one that punches waaay above its weight class. And, the Sire Standard ST Humbucker bridge pickup lends a ton of versatility for a Strat-style guitar.
Sire T3
The T3 is of course the Telecaster equivalent. Like the S3, the T3 offers incredible value for the money. Like the S3, the fingerboard edge and frets are rolled, and the comfort this creates for playing is immediate. One of the interesting features of the T3 is the use of Mahogany for the body wood, instead of Alder or Ash. Mahogany Teles, while less popular, offer a great mix of warmth and chime.
Sire S7 & T7
The S7 and T7 models kick the S3 and T3 up a few notches. For the price increase, you get a Roasted Maple Neck, Alder body with Flame Maple veneer, and locking tuners. Sire S7 guitars come with Sire Super-ST Single-coil pickups, with a Sire Super-ST Humbucker in the bridge position. The pickups on the T7 are Sire LC Super-M Zebra Humbuckers, which offer a beefy Strat bridge sound.
Yes Sire!
As you can see, Sire packs serious punch for the price. The guitars under $1000 category is extremely competitive, and Sire clearly knew that they had to roar out of the gate to make a name for themselves. Here’s a recap of what makes Sire guitars so compelling right now:
Necks: The the attention to detail on the neck and frets, as well as the availability of Roasted Maple, really set Sire necks apart. In addition, Sire necks are extremely playable, and some models offer a satin finish, which we think is a great choice. While many of us love the looks of a gloss body, satin-finished necks are gaining popularity due to their lack of stickiness and smooth playability.
Body Wood: The choice of Mahogany for the S3 and T3 models is a sneaky good choice. As a tonewood, Mahogany offers up fullness and warmth, which is welcome on Fender-style guitars. Stepping up the the S3 and S7 gets you an Alder body, but we see this as a nod to tradition rather than an upgrade.
Finish Quality: Sire has put a lot into ensuring that their finishes look great, and you can tell. The flamed maple finishes, though they are veneered, are of high quality. And the fact that Sire offers body and neck binding on many models represents outstanding value.
Where Are Sire Guitars Made?
Sire electric guitars are made in Indonesia. At one time, offshore manufacture had a negative association, but Indonesian manufacturing quality has been so strong lately that the narrative has completely changed. PRS, Fender, and Epiphone are all now making quality guitars in Indonesia. The only caveat is that time will tell if they can maintain the level of quality to which they aspire. Though I have no reason to doubt Sire, this is worth paying attention to.
Conclusion
Sire has clearly done their homework, and understands what it takes to make a splash in the market. Right now, Sire is making outstanding guitars in the mid-priced category. To answer the question of what all the hype is about, it’s because of the features and workmanship that Sire is delivering for the price. The association with a player of Carlton’s caliber helps, but it only goes so far if your product doesn’t deliver. If you are in the market for a 335, Les Paul, Strat, or Tele for under $1000, you’d be wise to audition a Sire model—ASAP!