Don't Buy a Strat Until You Try This Guitar...

This guitar is better in EVERY single way....well except what it says on the headstock :)
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[DAVES]

So many guitar reviewers / channels demonstrate by playing insane shredding solos etc, that it's difficult for beginners to really get a feeling for how the guitar would be for THEM. DB demonstrates in a much simpler way that makes it much more useful, for what I would guess is a very high proportion of viewers. Keep it up.

[vimfuego]

Guitar reviews are getting better, this is one of them, sensible playing rather than 5- notes a second. Bravo

[rhllnm]

Fender is now owned by Servco Pacific, an international car dealership and venture capital fund with "ownership of the iconic lifestyle brand Fender Musical Instruments." My next guitar is a Sire. I don't need a lifestyle brand.

[Turboy]

The Sire fret ends feature buried tangs that will never suffer from fret tang sprout. A very nice touch. It's like treating an unbound fingerboard as if it had binding as far as the fret work goes. That takes significant extra labor. I know, because I do it.

[vanceanderson]

Not gonna lie. In more than one DBG video, I've noticed how you continuously move the guitar in/out of frame in just the right ways to get great angles and reflective lighting on the instrument. Really helps the viewer.

[hmaakawlni]

I bought mine a year ago for an equivalent of $500 US (yes, brand new), regular finished of course. I am pretty much blown away by the quality, and as for those who asked, it does come with full size 500k pots and super switch. The only downside to me is that it only has one Tone control, I like a separate tone control for bridge pick up. Other than that there just isn't anything to complain.

[tsc]

Darrell sometimes I just watch your videos because they are FIRST CLASS. it’s very satisfying to watch a fantastic presenter, educator, guitarist. Thank you!

[keithniday]

I had been looking for an HSS Strat style guitar for awhile. Unfortunately, none of the guitar shops in my area had these in stock, so I was unable to really play one. I ultimately went with a G&L Legacy Tribute. No locking tuners, but it comes with a bone nut, coil split and passive treble and bass tone controls. It sounds and plays fantastic. Listed for $600 and I got it for $515. Bottom line, you don't need to pay a lot to get a lot these days. This really is the golden age of cheap guitars.

[calbrockocat]

Sire has hit the ball out of the park with the Larry Carlton line. Next will be their even more high end line. Great to see. Another fun and eye opening demo.

[TheRycooder]

You NEVER FAIL to DELIVER....You are BY FAR the best Youtube channel on equipment and just to listen to you play, DAMN LOVE your channel. Merry Christmas Darrell.

[billsmith]

Im 43, been playing guitar since the 9th grade, and almost as long, been playing the piano/organ. Having the need to throw everything away last summer 2021, I find myself starting all over. I got my 2 digital pianos now (love variety), Casio Privia 870 and Yamaha DGX-670, just bought an electric acoustic, and the last piece of hardware I was looking for: GOOD but CHEAP'ish, quality guitar and you sold me on this! Just found your channel yesterday and I am glad I did! Thank you for your reviews and can't wait to "binge" your vids. Thanks again from NW Ohio!

[patrickhale]

Sire has been putting out some really good quality instruments. Everyone should definitely take note....they are worth the money. They also as you so perfectly pointed out they're dominating the specs compared to instuments in they're range. Great video 🤘🤘🤘

[michael_caz_nyc]

Fender is living on it's Reputation. I like Fender ( own 2 of their Amps & love-em ) but once I got my Suhr-Strat . . . I had No-use for my Vintage Fender Stratocaster = Sold it. The Suhr is on another stratosphere. The Sire looks fantastic. Gorgeous guitar. Great bang-for-the-buck. Happy Holidays from NYC

[davidp]

I'm enjoying the Sire series youre doing. I like them all so far, the tones on this one sound really good to me

[TJEvans]

I just received my S7 Vintage yesterday. I'm loving playing it, but that may be just because it's a new thing for me. Observations I've made after playing for about 3 hours. The neck DOES feel good....that being said, I do believe that the feel is actually overhyped. Not just by Darrell, but every youtube reviewer gushes over the neck, with the rolled edges, the fret ends dressed perfectly, what have you. Now, for context, I build parts-casters, pretty regularly. When purchasing necks, it's always a crapshoot, just like when you buy budget guitars. Sometimes, they're good, sometimes they need a bit more work. I've bought necks that feel similar to this S7 neck. I've rolled my own edges, dressed fret ends, etc. So I feel I'm pretty qualified to be able to compare necks. That being said, I haven't had the ability to compare THIS neck, with the necks found on Fender comparable guitars....after all, this is the most expensive guitar I've ever purchased. One thing that I don't recall anyone mentioning in their reviews, is not only are the tuners locking, but they are also staggered, which was a nice surprise. I mean, similar tuners from Hipshot, could cost over $100 themselves.

I'm not sure if I like the pickups. I wanted the vintage because I already have enough HB equipped guitars, and getting another would be redundant. I think I just have to fiddle with pickup height, tone controls, string gauges, compression, etc, to find a sound that fits for me. They seem a bit to top end heavy, very bright. Could just be that the strings are new, I don't know. I play through a DSM Humboldt Simplifier. I've tried this on all 3 amp settings. The Fender setting just doesn't have the output to get a great full sound. the Vox setting REALLY makes this guitar chime. I think I've settled on the marshal setting, but I have to be careful with the gain, as a very small tweak can get out of control fast. But the highs dominate the tone. (I play at church, direct to FOH, no physical amp at all, not even at home, practice how you play, right?)

The bone nut seems perfect. The bridge is VERY high quality for a vintage trem bridge. Height adjustments are a cinch, with none of the grub screws locking the wrench in place, or stripping in any way (I'm sure you've experienced this) The trem springs seem pretty ridged . The claw is nearly halfway in the cavity, and the trem is not "loose" in any way. if I screw it in further, it will take some force to use the trem, and there are only 2 springs installed. I'll probably swap in some softer springs. I got the white guitar with the tortoise pickguard, and was a little surprised to find that the back cavity cover is black...not a big deal, but it just doesn't fit the scheme.

Another little thing that I hadn't noticed on these reviews....the jack is on the side of the guitar. It's a little thing, but for me, it looks so much better than that football jack right there on the front...I know, petty. But I like it on the side.

All in all, I'll be playing this thing pretty regularly, getting it set up just how I like it, taking out all of my gauges, to get the perfect setup. I'm sure I'll love this guitar. It's fun to play, and to tweak. I may think about doing some wiring mods, maybe add a blend control to get the bridge and neck sound. I'm definitely not going to md this as much as I've done all my other budget guitars. But honestly, this doesn't need as much as they do, since most of it is already done.

[Enju]

This type of info, we need this out in the open for guitarists everywhere, gotta go back to quality over quantity for our instruments! And as you've shown, that Sire definitely put everything into quality and didn't even bother upping that price to match bigger companies

[PulseAM]

Here we go. The Yamaha Pacifica is the same price as the Sire, I think would get that only because I love my Revstar so much.

[kobrien]

I miss throwing the guitar on the roof and falling into the snow😂😂 classic. Great comparison video. Obviously no contest. Damn it, I don't really NEED another guitar but, Damn it!!😋

[kawwabonga]

I was thinking about getting my first strat, and Fender Player series was kind of a main candidate -- I've been craving for capri orange start for a few years. But holy moly Sire is amazing, it just puts Fender to shame. I tried Sire bass some time ago and it was all great in terms of quality and sound, except significant neck dive that was a show stopper for me personally. But it's great to see them releasing such a great guitars as well!

[lvrxplt]

For the Fender tremolo, Fender sells a steel spring that goes in the hole before the bar, then tighten the bar to the tension you want it at and you can make it stay wherever you want it to.