Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM vs Fender Ultra II

    Does anyone have any experience with the Sire S7 guitar?

    I'm considering to buy the Sire but they fly off the shelves and are out of stock Sire S7's sounds great in youtube reviews and so do the Ultra II's. I'm also considering the Fender as it would be my first American made guitar. The specs are near identical but the Sire is half the price (if you added a TSA case) and has stainless steel frets!

    Even if you buy new pickups for the Sire you still have about +$800 left over from the Fender. But I really want a premium guitar. Such a dilemma...

    Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM New Gen $849 US Fender American Ultra II $2349 US
    Number of Strings66
    Left-/Right-handedRight-handedRight-handed
    Body TypeSolidbody - Flame Maple veneer topSolidbody
    Body ShapeS styleS style
    Body MaterialNorth American AlderSelect Alder
    ColorSee Through Red with Aluminum and Plastic pickguard (ships with both)Sinister Red with Aluminum pickguard
    Neck MaterialHard MapleQuartersawn Maple
    Neck ShapeC - rolled edgesModern D - rolled edges
    Neck JointCarved scoop heelCarved scoop heel
    Radius9.5"-14" Compound10" - 14" Compound
    Fingerboard InlayAbalone and Luminlay side dots Back and Luminlay side dots
    Number of Frets2222
    Fret TypeMedium JumboMedium Jumbo
    Fret MaterialStainless SteelNickel
    Scale Length25.5"25.5"
    Nut Width1.653"1.685"
    Nut MaterialGraphTech Tusq XLGraphTech Tusq
    Bridge/TailpieceSire Modern 2-post TremoloAmerican Ultra Synchronized 2-post Tremolo
    TunersSire Premium LockingFender Locking
    Neck PickupSire Single-coil AlnicoFender Ultra II Noiseless Hot Strat Single-coil
    Middle PickupSire Single-coil AlnicoFender Ultra II Noiseless Hot Strat Single-coil
    Bridge PickupSire Humbucker AlnicoFender Haymaker Humbucker
    Controls1 x volume, 1 x tone (push-push coil-split)1 x volume (S-1 switch coil-split), 2 x tone
    Switching5-way blade pickup switch5-way blade pickup switch

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.

    Have you had both of them in your hands?

    Based on price S7.
    Based on the neck shape - you'll have to say.
    Based on my eyes: Ultra II.

    My personal preference overall: Ultra II. I never regret to buy expensive but good guitar.

    Drawback: when you'll buy Ultra II. you'll have the instrument where you can hardly improve anyghing and the rest will be in you hands :)

    Quote from Radek01

    Have you had both of them in your hands?

    Based on price S7.
    Based on the neck shape - you'll have to say.
    Based on my eyes: Ultra II.

    My personal preference overall: Ultra II. I never regret to buy expensive but good guitar.

    Drawback: when you'll buy Ultra II. you'll have the instrument where you can hardly improve anyghing and the rest will be in you hands :)

    I have other C shape and D shape necks and adapt pretty easily between the both of them. I played the Ultra II at Guitar Center and love it. Why Fender does not put on stainless steel frets is beyond me. Fender never seems to make a "correct" guitar. I guess I am trying to find an excuse not to pay so much for another guitar. But either one of those will fill the last gap I want to satisfy, tonality wise. The Ultra II is a beautiful guitar. I would prefer the S7 to be metallic paint instead of the flame top.

    And I am dying to have one with anodized pickguard because I get tired of rubbing Static-Cling sheets on my plastic ones.

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.

    Quote from BayouTexan

    I played the Ultra II at Guitar Center and love it.

    That's the answer. Do you have money for it? Yes = buy it. As simply as that.

    Quote from BayouTexan

    Why Fender does not put on stainless steel frets is beyond me.

    You can let them changed later when you really dislike it. My experience is - even it doesn't seem perfect for you know - you'll simply enjoy it and this won't be an issue for you.

    When you buy a cheaper one you'll be still tempted to think about the Fender. That's my experience, valid for me. I never regret to buy an expensive instrument.

    Quote from Radek01

    That's the answer. Do you have money for it? Yes = buy it. As simply as that.

    You can let them changed later when you really dislike it. My experience is - even it doesn't seem perfect for you know - you'll simply enjoy it and this won't be an issue for you.

    When you buy a cheaper one you'll be still tempted to think about the Fender. That's my experience, valid for me. I never regret to buy an expensive instrument.

    I have the money but if I bought the Sire then I could maybe buy the Stage Mk II also. ^^^^^^

    I really want an American made S-type guitar and (without a Floyd-rose bridge for a change) even though the foreign made ones I have are excellent guitars (Japan, Mexico, Indonesia, and China). I fell in love with the Sinister Red Ultra II as soon as I saw it the first time. Everything felt tight and high quality on the one I held at Guitar Center.

    I've learned to have a much lighter fretting touch so hopefully the cheapo nickel frets will last longer.

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.

    It's really a personal decision. You have two good possibilities. None of them is wrong.

    I forgot to say the important thing - I'm a one guitar player type, the second one is just a stage backup mostly not played. It gives me a reason to buy her and not regret an expensive guitar.

    The best guitar is the guitar you don’t want to put down.

    Edited once, last by Radek01 (June 27, 2026 at 10:08 PM).

    Quote from Finally

    If that Fender is within reach financially I would personally go the extra mile and get an Anderson or Suhr. Otherwise just play them and choose the one that you love. Try to ignore the logo on the Fender.

    What makes them better than the American Fender?

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.

    Quote from Finally

    Just the sound, build quality and playability in every one that I've ever played. The high end custom shop Fender stuff is close.

    Considering that those cost another $2000 -2500 on top of a Fender Ultra II, I cannot justify spending that amount. And we know sound is subjective. I've heard the pickup tones on both the S7 and Ultra II and like them both but the Fender Haymaker pickup has a throaty sound which is what I am after. As for Anderson and Suhr, none of my guitar heroes played them. I've only seen youtube podcasters play them, so I'm not into that hype.

    I'm really a big Charvel fan. They have a US Made one similar to the Ultra II but with the standard uncarved neck heel-joint. When I play my neck-thrus or Dinky with the carved-rounded heel joint, going back to those big square heels becomes a bit of a let-down.

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.

    Quote from BayouTexan

    Considering that those cost another $2000 -2500 on top of a Fender Ultra II, I cannot justify spending that amount. And we know sound is subjective. I've heard the pickup tones on both the S7 and Ultra II and like them both but the Fender Haymaker pickup has a throaty sound which is what I am after. As for Anderson and Suhr, none of my guitar heroes played them. I've only seen youtube podcasters play them, so I'm not into that hype.

    I'm really a big Charvel fan. They have a US Made one similar to the Ultra II but with the standard uncarved neck heel-joint. When I play my neck-thrus or Dinky with the carved-rounded heel joint, going back to those big square heels becomes a bit of a let-down.

    Anderson doesn't pay for celebrity endorsements ever. So they're more likely in the studio where the fans can't see. I've got a 23 year old Anderson that's just as perfect as when I bought it, despite a huge amount of playing. So for me the price is worth it.

    It's just my opinion - I'm not telling you what to do.

    Quote from Finally

    ...

    It's just my opinion - I'm not telling you what to do.

    Oh no, I get it. Those are just what I consider boutique guitars and only for studio use or a single-song gig appearance where you never lose sight of it. If I could have just one guitar do everything I wanted then I might consider those prices. I'm probably getting to the point that after my next purchase I am going to wind up just building my own to get exactly what I want. Being picky is a luxury I enjoy. ;)

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.

    I can't get my head around, how Fender is not putting stainless steel frets at this price range. I understand corporate greed, but hey. I'd sacrifice locking tuners or/and noiseless pickups, just to have stainless steel frets and peace of mind.

    Quote from skoczy

    I can't get my head around, how Fender is not putting stainless steel frets at this price range. I understand corporate greed, but hey. I'd sacrifice locking tuners or/and noiseless pickups, just to have stainless steel frets and peace of mind.

    No arguing from me about that! That is the one stinking flaw on the Ultra II.

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.

    Quote from BayouTexan

    No arguing from me about that! That is the one stinking flaw on the Ultra II.

    If you cash out 3000 USD, the you get those frets in American Ultra Luxe Vintage https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/S…eirloom-lacquer

    To be honest I wouldn't spend such money. I'd buy Mexican Player II (or Player II mod with noiseless pickups and locking tuners) and keep some money to put stainless frets later.

    I wouldn't buy Sire because of ugly headstock.

    Just to reinforce the total cost of ownership, my Anderson SS frets have no visible wear after being played extensively for 23 years now as my main guitar. I would have needed at least 1 refret if these were standard basic wire, plus I'd have to live with all of the wear issues throughout.

    The initial price equates to $130 per year now.

    Quote from skoczy

    If you cash out 3000 USD, the you get those frets in American Ultra Luxe Vintage https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/S…eirloom-lacquer

    To be honest I wouldn't spend such money. I'd buy Mexican Player II (or Player II mod with noiseless pickups and locking tuners) and keep some money to put stainless frets later.

    I wouldn't buy Sire because of ugly headstock.

    I can't see spending another $800 on the Ultra Luxe just to get SS frets. Plus I don't like those colors options and I don't like laquer paint. I think they all come with plastic pickguards which I don't like either. Too me, even $2000 is a lot of money for a guitar when you can get excellent guitars at the $1000-$1200 range which is most of what I own.

    These are my favorite non-Fender strat headstocks...

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.

    Quote from Finally

    Just to reinforce the total cost of ownership, my Anderson SS frets have no visible wear after being played extensively for 23 years now as my main guitar. I would have needed at least 1 refret if these were standard basic wire, plus I'd have to live with all of the wear issues throughout.

    The initial price equates to $130 per year now.

    I'll have an update soon on which one I get.

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.

    Update: Sweetwater just made me an offer I can't refuse. As far as I know, it's a one-of-kind. I'll post pics and the backstory to link below when it arrives this weekend.

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.