Is the Sire Larry Carlton T3 Worth It? - Why You Should Buy a T7 Instead...
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2024
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I got an opportunity to gig this Sire Larry Carlton T3 that Sire sent me last year. With a price tag of £299, I can't think of anything much better, BUT I think the T7 is a better option - here's why.
Local lad @jamesdaviesguitar has been gigging his Sire T7 recently, go check out some of his playing!
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/ johnnathancordy get my backing tracks here
www.buymeacoff... - if you like what I do and
only if you wanted, you could buy me a coffee!
Just a post of appreciation that you work hard to post a new video so frequently. I usually watch them after work on the sofa and it calms me down after a stressful day. Always learning something new.
Got to attend Larry Carlton's workshop in July when he was playing at our Watertown jazz festival here in Tennessee and I mentioned your name and told him in the future to recommend you for sire guitars and he had high praise for you and said that you were a great guitarist! Anyways cheers and I hope the rest of your week goes well friend! 🔥🤜🤛🎸🎸🎸🎸
Just like we all have been telling John!
@@neal_laugman Absolutely! John is a huge inspiration! ⭐
Excellent !! by the great Larry Carlton himself !!
I have seen him several times since 1998 in concert in Paris-France, and it is always a pleasure and impressive to hear him play.
Holy crap! That's awesome.. And I am not surprised in the LEAST that Larry said that. John is a well rounded, constantly improving beast of a player, and probably the most humble SOB for someone with that much applied talent that I have ever had the pleasure of chatting with.
@@christopherjbutler Yes he was so humble and nice and he also Signed my sire s7! 🎸
I've tested the T7 few days ago. I was astonished by the quality of this intrument! Comfortable, really great sound, a real TELE sound. Even if I really don't like the headstock, I think it's my next purchase
And I've tested the T3 yesterday, and effectively, it's a bad piece of gear. I didn't like it at all. The pickups sound bad, like an 100 $ guitar
Would you consider doing a video on which TrueFire classes helped you the most to get to who you are today?
You have a great, unique style on guitar. I’d love to know the building blocks to help me get there.
Great Playing. Makes such a massive difference to hear someone who can really play when making a decision on how a particular guitar can sound in great hands. Thank you!
So shreddy! Love that you gigged this to try it out. Fair play JNC
I've got the T7 and absolutely love the neck and fretwork. I'm a Tele guy in general and have a couple of US made ones. The T7 is equal and in some ways surpasses the US Teles. I should note that I love trems and humbuckers, to the T7 ticked all the boxes for me. The surprise was the neck - fantastic.
My Vintage Reissue V2 Series Tele had a microphonic bridge pickup (Magnetic - Wilkinson).
I changed the pickup springs for rubber tubing and it solved the problem.
It's a common issue.
Even with some Fenders.
I bought a T7 this week. Love the neck although I'm feeling a little resistance around 15th fret and a little string choke when bending F on second up a tone, possible high fret(s). And a little less smooth on some frets. I didn't expect it to be 100% spot on. I'm getting my guitar repair man to look at it next week, he will sort out any problems. Although out of the box it's very good, I'm uber fussy. In comparison with my Squier CVC 2013 the neck is completely different in a good way... fatter. (I upgraded Squier to Axes R Us H/B and S/c (bridge)... both a lot louder). The pickups on T7 are bright but the tone taper is good, the output is low but none of this is bad. I thought the neck p/up was good for Strat like rhythm a la Nile Rodgers/funk and the bridge wasn't as honky as my squier but sounded great with my Fulltone FD2. T7 a winner at £399 and it's a keeper, I'm going to use it on album sessions I've been booked in on. Thanks for the videos.
I bought the T3, a bit on the heavy side but sounds and looks great. The pickups sound good as is, can be swapped but it's not immediately necessary. The instrument feels and plays like a more expensive one.
How heavy is your guitar? I saw one at 9 lbs and I walked away from it because I think that's too heavy for a T style guitar. Lol For a Les Paul, 9 pounds is pretty normal.
I have the blonde t3. Can confirm that the bridge is microphonic with gain.
Привет? Я его заменил на Dimarzio super distortion!☝️
If you’re selling, I’m buying! 13:45
I bought the t3 not because of the price but because of the satin neck and rosewood fretboard. I don't regret my choice one second. Absolutely amazing guitar 🎸👌
Just put locked tuners (if needed), a change of pups and there you get a awesome guitar i think...
I Would love a T3... It kills me the fact of the Mahogany body and Rosewood fretboard... I like "darker" sound.
@@samuelnerick this is what I did. T3, added locking tuners and Dimarzio pickups, big fan of it now.
Curious your thoughts on something like the Squier Classic Vibe vs. the T3
nice vid, I like your take. a warning for headphone users before blasting us in to the live performance at 7:13 would've been nice.
A critical factor regarding string tension is the string length from the saddles to the tuners. A reverse headstock with inline tuners should produce the most balanced tension across the strings. With that configuration, the bass strings won't be as floppy, and the trebles should feel more slinky.
Maybe I don’t understand physics. To produce a low E, the string must be at a set level of tension/length from saddle to nut. Adding or subtracting length before the saddle or after the nut is going to have no affect on the string tension. Am I missing something?
@@Newnodrogbob There is an important difference between the "Scale Length," which relates to tuning the string up to pitch, and the "String Length" which determines the tension of the string in combination with the String Gauge. It's easiest to visualize this by looking at a Harp or Grand Piano. The lowest pitch strings have the longest lengths and largest diameters. In combination, they make it so the string can be brought up to a pitch and tension that produces the best tone at that pitch. The Bridge and Saddle set the overall Scale Length of the Speaking/Sounding length, which relates how far apart the frets are.
@@picksalot1 ok, but in a harp or piano, the entire length of string is vibrating. Making the bass strings longer and thicker to get a desired tension, pitch and tone makes sense.
If the string gauge is fixed, and the length of the vibrating portion of the string is fixed, the required tension would also be fixed. Adding extra string length that is not vibrating doesn’t change the equation.
For example, applying more wraps around the tuner post doesn’t change the amount of tension on the string…does it? I may have to set up an experiment to test this with a torque wrench…
Edit: if the total length of the string matters, why would that start at the saddles? Why wouldn’t the length of string between the saddles and the tailpiece make a difference as well?
@@Newnodrogbob Actually, on a Grand Piano, there is a length called "Speaking Voice" which is the length equivalent to the distance from the saddles to the Nut on the guitar. There is also something called the "Duplex Octave" which is the equivalent of the distance from the Nut to the tuners on the guitar. The Nut on a guitar is similar to fretting a note on the fretboard, as is the Saddle. The tension of the string is determined from both ends where the string is actually fixed - The Tuners (unless you have a locking Nut), and the wherever the ball-ends of the strings are (usually close to the Saddles) or the length can be much longer, like string-through the body or on guitars that use a trapeze or stop-bar tail piece. I should have been clearer about that.
@@picksalot1 yes, the tension is determined at both ends of the string. However, if the vibrating length and string size are fixed, the required tension to get to pitch is fixed as well. A 24” length of E string isn’t going to vibrate the same frequency at different tensions just because there is more string that isn’t vibrating.
Всем привет! Только что заказал S 3 T на распродаже за 250$!☝️ Так же заказал в мост Dimarzio super Distortion T и локовые тюнеры Gotoh 381 ! Вся покупка обошлась 400$!☝️
3:19 - this sounds P&W-era Vai. Lovely stuff. 👏🏻
Bravo. good playing and with a good sound of the T7
Nice playing John!
Interesting video. I went for an S7 instead of an S3 for the same reason. I wanted a budget guitar I could just hang on a wall and not worry about the kids grabbing it and messing around with it, so ordered an S3, but when I realised that the pickups were ceramic, I thought I may need to swap them which would mean I end up paying as much as an S7. I changed the order to an S7, and was really pleasantly surprised to see how good it was. It felt much more “expensive” and sounds great too. Not quite the same sparkle as my Fenders, but at a quarter of the price, who can complain? Brilliant guitar for the money! Better than a high-end Squier for sure.
If I was building a parts caster I would pickup a used S7 or T7. You would wind up with a much higher quality guitar than if start with a very cheap guitar. That said I’m not change anything on my S7 except maybe a top quality switch and pots. Pickups are great.
The T3 sounds great. It should serve as a good backup guitar
Good review. One thing I don’t understand is why they use a different bridge on the T7 than the T3. I prefer the T3 style bridge but I guess easy enough to swap out.
I had to take a T7 back to Andertons last week. I loved the look and feel. Pickups sounded sweet. The frets were some of the grainiest I have ever played. You could hear the strings grinding against the fret when bending. The e and B string both buzzed like a sitar in their slot, and the barrel saddles were all uneven, and I couldn't get them situated properly, so the string spacing was a bit wonky. Out of 3 sire purchases, I've only kept the H7V. I had to return a faulty bass as well. Maybe unlucky but it seems their only downfall is QC. That may be a product of their rapid success.
I wonder whether certain Bulk Retailers negotiate their deals based on lower QC limits ?
Like you I've had to return a Sire guitar, an H7.
I have a very nice V7 4-string bass and a nice A3 acoustic.
Is it just the luck of the draw or is there something else going on I wonder ?
@KozmykJ what was up with the H7. Yeah I think you're right. If you look at the reviews for instance the tobacco burst (which I returned) had a lot of qc complaints but the blonde one had all rave reviews. Some bad batches it seems. They probably get a deal based on the duds?
All those issues you mentioned would’ve been easily solved. A quick fret polish and corrected intonation. Then the sitaring issue would have likely been solved by cleaning out and filing out any potential issues in the nut slot. Or just simply installing a string tree. All very cheap, quick, and easy things to do. Sire’s are by far and away better than Squiers, and even a lot of Fenders. But Fender’s inconsistent QC in recent years is a whole other story. They’re worse than Gibson these days. Especially the American built guitars.
@JonWickens they're all yours mate... 🙄
Found this video helpful. I currently have a Fender made in Mexico Telecaster and was thinking about the T3 as a fun alternative. I had not previously seen any specs on the T3 regarding the ceramic pickups on the Sire website. I would definitely prefer alnico pickups overall, but I didn't dislike the sound of the T3 pickups.
Just finding out about the Sire brand but liking what I'm seeing. The H7V and T7 are on my short list but in left hand. Need to beat the bushes in the States. Sweetwater has been emailed.
Certainly an acceptable guitar for up to an intermediate level, but I'd like your thoughts on a T7.
czcams.com/video/zBVh0QiUdMY/video.htmlsi=BrXRVKWQVHNoeaht
I would buy a sire T7 tomorrow as a beater but I cant deal with Abalone in any way shape or form hate it so they basically killed the guitar for me with that. I feel similar about pearloid pickguards but the hatred isnt as extreme. Anyway great videos John watching you a lot recently. I bought that blue tokai tst95 then found your amazing videos on that....im so happy with that guitar it just feels so right
There are very few examples of it being used to good effect. It normally us looks really gaudy.
just*
Surprised you’re recommending the T7 as I’m sure you went the other way with the S7 recommending the S3 . Only played an L 7 which sounded great but found the rolled edges almost slippy ! Great video as always, Cheers
I have an L7, it also had crunchy frets. Don’t think it’s a price tier issue, but perhaps a moisture issue during transport? The pickups are really nice stock, though.
I thought that Tele bridge pickups (with "ashtray") were _supposed_ to be (slightly) microphonic?
They are, but the higher the output the more microphonic. He mentioned those were higher output.
That intro….so smooth… 😊
i've been wanting to try one but they aren't in stores. i rolled the dice with a couple harley bentons. been lucky so far. buying online is risky.
Was about to buy one of these next Friday over a Chapman ml3 traditional that I have been offered for £300. As soon as I heard the bridge pup squeal I was like hell no!!
judging by the sandpaper sounds coming through, I would guess the hard bends are the frets needing to be polished? and is the nut lubricated?
Never played the T3, But I have the S3 and it’s a great guitar!
Oh, and great playing as usual.
I feel that The Tele has more tension because the strings make a 90 degree turn and go to the back of the body. And that microphonic business is a deal breaker for me.
Hi John, have you tried the T7 with humbuckers? I know you’re normally more single coils but wondered as it’s one I’ve been looking at recently
I would lower the pickups, that would make them less bassy and sort out that microphonics a lot. I have tried T7 and T3 few times and I cannot justify over 150 euros of price difference just for roasted neck, and few questionable features. Locking tuners - not needed for telecaster, most stable tuning guitar of all, just put strings on it properly, vintage bridge - it is pretty but much harder to intonate completely, too much rolled edges on fretboard for my taste, better pickups but not much to my ears - yes more top end but not so much more clarity and ones on T3 sound pretty nice when lowered down a bit. I like neck pickup on T7, but bridge from T3 sounds better, especially on drive.
great review. subscribed :)
I purchased a T7 about eighteen months ago after rave reviews and was really disappointed. I was going to return it for a refund, but, unfortunately other circumstances prevented it. Out of the box it looked really high quality. A great looking and feeling roasted neck and excellent paint. The fretboard was very nicely rounded, but the frets were way too beveled for my liking making it too easy to fall off the edge. I've since discovered many uneven frets, I'm not sure if there's more now than when I purchased it (it's had very little playing). The real fault however is the high E started to sitar. Why it should suddenly do this I don't know. Nothing has happened to it. And yes, I've checked everything. It's spent most of the time on a stand. It's still a great looking guitar but I'm just not in position to get it sorted right now. I'm sure if you get a nice one you'll be happy, unfortunately I didn't and wasn't.
My guess would be a simple truss adjustment....or...file down the nut to properly slant down towards the headstock as it could be buzzing on the leading edge of the nut towards the 1st fret. Had that issue with a baritone I bought. That annoying sitar sound (and sudden buzzing at 1st fret also) is often due to temp/humidity changes that just need a 1/4 -1/5 turn on the truss to create a bit more relief/curvature on the neck.
Some people made that sitar sound disappear with a string tree… a little bit more tension on the “sitar” string…
Yes, I did think of that, but if I put pressure on the string after the nut, it's still the same. I need to get some nut files.
Have a luthier set it up properly. Should be fine.
Thanks to all who replied. I will get it set up by a pro. I was just a bit disappointed with how it was out of the box compared to the reviews I saw.
Sire T7 vs Schecter Nick Johnston Tele? Which one would you prefer? No sponsor partiality please. 😜
Thanks for the video. Which one do you perefer S3 or T3? or Fujigen illiad series :)
I mean if you’re giving away a t3 I’d take it. 😂 haven’t owned a tele in my life.
They're really fun, you should try them out.
did you keep the guitar?
I really like everything about the Larry Carlton Sire series, everything but their pickups.
Good job thats the easiest thing to change then
If I had a T3, I believe I would be putting a set of Bootstrap Pickups in em Extra Crispy tele set, or perhaps the Palo Duros. Hand made in the USA for like 50 bucks a set.. Right price point, and they sound great from the videos I have been able to find.
Mmmmm…most are recommending the T3 so I got it. It badly needs string trees. Once installed, it’s the best.
The t3 is way much better than the t7!
I want the guitar.
I offer a pretty please.
its like ive arrived in Nerd tech corner...lol... great playing... but modern guitarists like yourself with high ability.. are utterly spoilt with sooooo much gear on offer... where the 50's, 60's , 70's ....the great players could just scrape together 1 guitar and rinse the life out of it.... today theres too much analysis.... great playing by the way....
JET JT-300 could rival this at 100€ less and with roasted maple.
Take the frickin hang tag off when you play it! You lot all do it.
He was probably thinking of returning it.
Gig segment is way too loud.
I despise truefire ads
Comment.
The T3 is intonatable to a higher degree though. For me that’s everything.
Go for a original guitar 🎸
So the take-away here is...the pickups in the T3 basically suck, and you'll want to swap 'em out. And for the cost of doing that, you might as well just buy the T7, cuz those Alnicos...you're gonna want to keep those in the guitar. What rubbish. I know many Tele players, and I can't think of any who haven't replaced the pickups, regardless of the guitar's cost. Not because the stockers were bad necessarily...but because they simply didn't get the player where they wanted to go. Half the fun of owning a Tele (or any guitar for that matter) is experimenting...searching for the right combination that works. This review is just an upsell for the more expensive model. And folks who don't know better will take the bait.
Go to an actual music store, try them out for yourself, and buy what you like.
Your backing tracks are so unobtrusive. So many of your peers use these overly bright tracks with terrible sounding drums that just overshadow the guitar playing.