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A lot of great reviews, and overall positive sentiment around the Sire guitars, not much in the way of negatives when trawling through the youtube comments, seem to be pretty well regarded. But I think I remember reading some comments about these having the single coils overly bright because of 500k pots, and/or the treble bleed circuit.
Just wondering what people felt of these electronics, are they fairly solid - as in fine to just solder in new pickups, rather than upgrading them or modifying the wiring.
https://www.reddit.com/r/guitars/comments/roye1a/sire_larry_carlton_s7_gut_shot/
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Comments
It's a double-wafer switch so there's obviously something complex going on with the wiring, probably involving splitting the humbucker, but I'm not clever enough to tell just by looking at it.
There are two resistors, which may be compensating for the 250k/500k thing, but again I'm not sure.
Fron what I've seen, that's only the 335-style one - based on Larry Carlton's Gibson original. The other models are more conventional I believe.
But if that's being done as stock from the factory, that's pretty darn good- I agree with you, the parts look pretty decent, and having the resistors stock is pretty good indeed- plenty of far more expensive guitars just plumb (plum? not sure apparently I've never had to write that before!) don't bother.
EDIT: In response to @MentalSharps : I don't see any treble bleed there. You could add one if you like- it won't make it brighter at full volume, will just maintain highs when you roll the volume down.
What I do see (and hopefully @ICBM will contradict me if I'm incorrect!), and which is very cool- I think they're using two different tone caps for the tone pot, presumably for the humbucker and single coil. I'm guessing that's why they need the super switch.
Although- I don't think they're compensating for the different tone pot value. Another thing you can do is just put the two different tone caps on a push-push (I've done that on a few guitars, when I thought they suited it and when I could be bothered!).
But certainly, as stock guitar wiring- especially on a fairly cheap guitar- pretty much top marks. Decent parts (I'm not sure who "Jin-Sung" are, but they look like decent, full-sized parts), and some very interesting wiring tricks that a lot of the more expensive manufacturers don't bother with.
The four pole superswitch devotes one pole to selecting the bridge and neck pickups. (Switch positions 1, 2, 4 and 5.) A second pole to selecting the centre pickup. (Switch positions 2, 3 and 4.) The third pole automates the humbucker coil split when the bridge and centre pickups are selected. The fourth pole is part of the tone control circuit, engaging different capacitor values, as appropriate.
I really want to try one of these... But the gloss fretboard kinda puts me off, which is a bit silly!
The S7 is currently on sale for £399 at Andertons, so I could grab a set of boutique pickups and it still comes in a little cheaper than a Fender player MIM which is the other option.
Thanks for confirming that and all the info guys. Sounds pretty good, I don't think I'd bother with a new wiring harness for this then.
I tried to research Jin Sung pots and didn't much specifics, although apparently they are used on PRS S2 and MIM Fenders. It did take me down an interesting rabbit hole of looking at the Korean version of the Sire website which has some additional info not on any of the other regional sites or included in any of the Sire related videos by YouTubers. Seems to confirm the info in the first Anderton's video that Sire do indeed own their own factory, and a few other interesting tidbits.
The part about cutting out the middle men to keep the margins low is interesting also. I asked a retailer if they could select me a well bookmatched top, since they were trying to offer me a goodwill gesture for a big customer service problem, but they said they couldn't open the boxes. I wonder if that's related to the deal Sire have with retailers, not to do any QC check but just send the guitars on, maybe for lower margin? Or is that just standard large guitar retailer / "box shifter" practice.
Company Story
To talk about the beginning of the SIRE guitar, we have to go back 16 years.
SIRE was the name of our band when we were young. Joe playing the drums, June playing the guitar,
And it was a band of dreamers who played three people like me, the bass player, Kyle.
Joe and June are still in charge of the SIRE guitar with me.
Our story is more like a novel than a novel.
From now on, I will tell you that novel-like story.
First Guitar Shop
When we were in a band called SIRE, we were students, so we didn't have much money.
A good instrument was too expensive to afford, so I had a hard time finding an EMG pickup and made a few guitars.
Relying on books, I made my own guitar all night long. It was a band playing on their own instruments.
I started making guitars in earnest when musicians around me bought the instruments I made experimentally.
In May 1998, following the advice of a senior, I set up a company in my basement warehouse and started selling guitars only online.
After that, time passed and we became Korea's No. 1 guitar company after 10 years of founding, and we were full of confidence.
At the time, we had nothing to be rough about. So it was very easy to decide.
"There are no more rivals in Korea, so let's go to the global market now!!!"
But the walls of the world market were too high. Distributors in the United States, Europe and Japan
Regarding price and quality, they called Amazing, but they offered really ridiculous conditions. Even now
When I think back on that time, I get very angry. "The instrument is great, but you can't start trading..."
Their reason was this.
"No one wants to buy a brand that originated in Korea."
"There is no chance of winning unless a world-famous musician participates as an Ender."
Life Lessons
Until then, I naively thought that good quality at a good price would work anywhere in the world.
That was a really stupid idea. At that time, I was really mad, and from then on, there was something about the way musical instruments were distributed.
I started thinking differently. So we felt the urge to get revenge on those big retailers for disappointing us.
But thankfully this case is, looking back now, the experience at that time was not in the form of enjoying most of the benefits of major distributors in the musical instrument industry.
It gave me the opportunity to develop the concept of wanting to create a brand that benefits ordinary performers.
At that time, three things were firmly decided in my heart.
1. Let's create a brand that benefits ordinary players!!
2. Let's establish a new brand guitar company in America!!
3. Let's find a world-class performer who understands what I mean!!
After that decision, we established SIRE Guitar in the United States, and established a special guitar factory that was in the world only for SIRE.
And we met Uncle Marcus and we were delighted that we were all thinking the same thing, and we prepared for the launch of the SIRE guitar in earnest.
However, Uncle Marcus was so picky that we had to prepare for two more years, and now we are finally ready to start "Sire Revolution".
Oh! Marcus Miller!
Marcus Miller was completely different! From the beginning of the thought, he was really different from ordinary people.
I had a dimensional idea. That's why I love and respect him.
I say to everyone, "Let's bring the benefits of the musical instrument industry back to the average player."
When I did, others treated me like a dreamer. But Uncle Marcus really
listened to me.
"Oh my god!!! Marcus joins my thoughts!"
We got along like a decalcomanie, and despite my poor guarantee, he
rather than I participated in this SIRE REVOLUTION with more affection. More than i thought possible.
He offers a low price and constantly insists that the benefits go to ordinary musicians.
He even got me into trouble by insisting...
Tuning the sound also took nearly two years. He was a true perfectionist.
"I wish the middle would be a little more fat", "lower range sharper"
After all, he really pursued perfection over perfection. From choosing the grade of wood to the
By the time of the test, he had been more crazy about this project than us, despite his busy schedule.
It seemed.
To define him in one word, he is a Justice guy. The best players in the ranks
Yes. I really respect him!
Sire Revolution
CEO Kyle
My name is Kyle. The CEO of SIRE Guitar and a dreamer who dreams of "Sire Revolution"!
Height: 181cm / Weight: 66Kg
Face: Actually, he's not as handsome as the flower the artist drew.
Character: An adolescent boy who still enjoys daydreaming and quietly walks to pursue his dream somewhere.
Occupation: Of course a revolutionary. It's a bit embarrassing because it looks grandiose, but I'm trying to push ahead with "Sire Revolution".
Sire Revolution
The word "Sire Revolution" is a bit grandiose, even in my opinion. It's like an old-fashioned word
I hesitated a bit, but decided to use it because it was the most appropriate word. Please understand even if it is a little uncomfortable.
What is "Sire Revolution"?
It is to share the benefits of the technology of the musical instrument industry developed through automation and large-scale with ordinary players.
It is not right that large distribution companies or large guitar brands take the benefits of the advanced musical instrument industry.
Returning to normal players. This is "Sire Revolution".
The world's first interactive way to create even product planning and price structure with ordinary players
To create a brand of communication structure instruments. This is "Sire Revolution".
Professional Quality at Affordable Prices
To summarize the specific benefits you will get from "Sire Revolution" in one sentence:
"Professional quality at a crazy price" is. Anyone can easily find out by looking at the price, specifications, and quality of SIRE products.
This is truly a revolution. Wouldn't it be like a revolution if you could buy a quality bass guitar for $400-500 that you have to pay for over $1500?
It was also a bass guitar released under his name after two years of research with Marcus Miller, a world-class bass player.
It's not just the bass. Now you can buy a complete all-solid acoustic guitar that should cost over $1000 for $300.
A - We have our own state-of-the-art factory.
It is a state-of-the-art factory that has achieved large-scale and automation
produces. In fact, you may be proud of your own guitars, but guitars from different brands are made in that same factory.
You should be aware that there may be. In particular, in the case of major brands, most of the products in the mid-range price range are similar.
OEM other factories produce their products. However, SIRE manufactures all its products exclusively at SIRE Factory. We are in mass production
We have many years of know-how. With SIRE's unique experience and our own special production technology, the best quality in the same price range.
We can produce guitars.
B - We do not produce many kinds of musical instruments.
This is to maximize production efficiency.
C - We tune and produce major parts such as pickups, electronic parts, and hardware in-house.
We do not pay royalties to any pickup or electronics companies.
D - Minimize advertising.
We don't pay big bucks for magazines or websites or famous musicians. Over time, naturally, with the help of the Sire family,
I believe it will be known worldwide. We don't even put up booths at the world's top three musical instrument shows. All these promotional expenses are
Because it's going back to the price of the instrument to you.
E - The distribution stage is minimized.
We cut costs by minimizing the steps of distribution. For example, in the US and China, SIRE makes it and supplies it to you right away.
Normal distribution stage: EM Factory [Margin] - Major brand [Margin] - Distributor [Margin] - Musical Instrument Store [Margin] - You
Our Distribution Stage: SIRE - You
Our partners in Europe and Japan are grateful companies that agreed to SIRE's low margin policy. That's why you can get SIRE products at current prices.
I think I've read every single discussion on all the major forums, and seen almost every YouTube video and read the comments at this stage! I tend to research deeply before purchasing and definitely don't want to overpay on something that could just be a Harley Benton with a smart "word of mouth" Andertons / influencer campaign.
At the same time, don't want to overpay for a Fender MIM + luthier work to get a high quality instrument for an affordable price which seems to be the best bang for buck otherwise, or overpay for a PRS SE Silver Sky if a better / equivalent option exists.
From what I can tell so far, it does actually seem like Sire are successfully moving the price point of what constitutes a "mid-range" guitar down a few hundred quid to the top end of "affordable guitar". Maybe I don't know enough about guitars yet but it does seem to me that when you dig, many of the similar priced guitars are manufactured by the same companies and just different rebrandings and slight feature variations.
EDIT: the two resistors are actually only for the volume, not volume and tone - see later comment.
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/89942/caspercaster#latest
That's an interesting point about the resistors- I just assumed the resistors were for the single coils. If it is for the tone pot value as well, that's very cool- I honestly don't know, I've managed to avoid needing a superswitch- apart from the one which came stock in my Ibanez- so far!
That's a good call about the tone caps too, as you said, if you put them in series that would probably work as you said.