I've never cared much for the Tele's. Partly b/c they are perceived as mostly being for country twang and partly I've just never liked the looks of Fenders in general. I've gotta say though that the T7s look really nice and I am tempted to give one a try. Something like this, which I believe has coil splits on the HBs so that would open up the tonal options. I like the bevel also.I have a sire S7 HSS and love it. The neck is amazing, decent sounding pickups for stock ones (usually change mine) and the hardware is decent. No issues with the woods or tone. My guitar tech rates it too, when he did a setup on it. It’s also addictive to plat
Thinking of getting a T7 now!
Yeah, I get that. I've never really been a fan of the traditional Tele twang, but I do think there might be some more interesting tones to be found or you could at least get in the neighborhood of a traditional tone (if needed) with the coil split. Just thought it might be worth checking out.
Is your attitude the same with the Bass guitars? Because if so, I’ve seen your knowledge with the 5150 build I’ve been following and know you’re not a hack, but my brother finally got his 9 month wait M5 5 string MM Trans Blue a month ago and it’s a stellar instrument. Now he ordered when it was only $699 USD (which makes it a HUGE bargain) they have gone up in price considerably. The Swamp Ash body is as good as any Swamp Ash on any Fender. The Maple neck is solid and cut perfectly. I was worried what the “Ebony” board would be, but it seems like a solid piece of non stained Ebony or close variant that is on most guitars twice the price. Honestly the days of getting real old growth (mahogany, rosewood, Ebony) Brazilian, Honduran, Indian exotic tone woods on any brand Asian (Ibanez,etc.) without paying multiple thousand dollars are long gone. The pups are excellent and the electronics are far superior than anything in the price range. The nut, bridge, fret work is all great. Tuners are not bad. They’re mini’s which may become an issue, but seem solid now. It plays wonderfully.
Although GC is a bad example. I would never take a used instrument to them and expect to not be ripped off.
I find the bass guitars better, BUT a huge consideration is component failure in cheap active circuits particularly after they stop support . Often this is not long after they swap design . There will be no information and you may end up with a perfectly playable bass that the electrics have failed on and nothing is a direct fit. This can easily cost the same as the bass did to rectify. Also at this price point the electrics are the lowest quality you can get and still offer the so called up market features. Sire may seem like a free lunch but we all know there is no such thing.Is your attitude the same with the Bass guitars? Because if so, I’ve seen your knowledge with the 5150 build I’ve been following and know you’re not a hack, but my brother finally got his 9 month wait M5 5 string MM Trans Blue a month ago and it’s a stellar instrument. Now he ordered when it was only $699 USD (which makes it a HUGE bargain) they have gone up in price considerably. The Swamp Ash body is as good as any Swamp Ash on any Fender. The Maple neck is solid and cut perfectly. I was worried what the “Ebony” board would be, but it seems like a solid piece of non stained Ebony or close variant that is on most guitars twice the price. Honestly the days of getting real old growth (mahogany, rosewood, Ebony) Brazilian, Honduran, Indian exotic tone woods on any brand Asian (Ibanez,etc.) without paying multiple thousand dollars are long gone. The pups are excellent and the electronics are far superior than anything in the price range. The nut, bridge, fret work is all great. Tuners are not bad. They’re mini’s which may become an issue, but seem solid now. It plays wonderfully.
I know there were some issues with the first generations, but the company (owner) seems dedicated to improving. Of all the cheapy Indonesian instruments being put out, I would not put Sire among them. Are they a $8000 Spector, Fodera, PRS…no, but they’re not a commodity.
Update:
The reality is my brother’s guitar is now selling for $250 more than just 9 months ago. So for right now I bet Guitar Center would probably give him his full price plus many pack of strings.
I really think you’re attitude is bit off. Seems like a weird bias. This is the case with all guitars in this price range. To get the quality you’re referring to is not possible in todays market for under $2500. What is your recommendation of a guitar for people who don’t have that money to spend? I have an EE background and took a look at the electronics and it’s not as big a deal as you’re making out. I mean this with all due respect, but maybe you’ve been woodshedding figuring out the exact position of EVH’s stripes and not seeing where we are price and market wise.
Maybe the fact that I can fix at a component level any electronic problem skews slightly my view, but not by that much. Heck, You could tear out all the active stuff and wire it passive and still have a hell of an instrument. I guess why is your bias worse than any of the Indonesian guitars like Schecter, etc..
I hate to be a prick, but you’re just plain wrong about Sire. Well Bass guitars. I have no experience with the guitars, but I can’t see it being different. You do know they have different price ranges and as I said their first very, very inexpensive models had some quality issues.
I have been a repair tech for over thirty. I have played and worked on practically everything available over the time from famous, vintage and high end . I would like to see you fix a pcb that is covered in epoxy and has ten black wires coming out.I really think you’re attitude is bit off. Seems like a weird bias. This is the case with all guitars in this price range. To get the quality you’re referring to is not possible in todays market for under $2500. What is your recommendation of a guitar for people who don’t have that money to spend? I have an EE background and took a look at the electronics and it’s not as big a deal as you’re making out. I mean this with all due respect, but maybe you’ve been woodshedding figuring out the exact position of EVH’s stripes and not seeing where we are price and market wise.
I have 3 core PRS’s from various points last 22 years. One with a solid Rosewood neck and Gabon Ebony fretboard. So I do know the difference.
Covered in epoxy?? But I’ve done it. Depends on the mess. I fix all my and other peoples guitars. Not an official tech, but I’m 57 and been around the block.
See, I don’t get your whole “bling” thing. I don’t see them as bling. The guitars that are a bit more blingy are also more expensive.
In a plastic box filled with epoxy and ten black wires not numbered. Add non standard pickup sizes and tell me how that can be cost effectively repaired down the line? This is not Sire BTW but I've seen it many times.
Well now your starting to veer off. Let’s just agree to disagree. So do you hate all Asian guitars? Because I can handle that way easier than the bias towards Sire.
A £1k guitar leaves the factory at about £200 cost add transport and multiple layers of margin and you start to see how anything remotely fancy eats in to the core instrument budget.