From either Wikipedia or Sire’s website I got the cool origin story. The guy who started Sire believed that in Korea they could make a top level guitar for a knockout price. Then he got Larry Carlton excited about the idea and willing to spearhead development. Voilà! Sometimes the magic works. Doesn’t surprise me, I have a Korean made ‘92 Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor II that was made at the Sammick piano factory and the craftsmanship is superlative, stood the test of time, with one of the nicest necks I’ve ever played. Korea is not generally known for its luthiers but they have the Asian secret sauce that goes into fine instruments.

@jmelara324

27 күн бұрын

sweet and spicy, that’s it, sweet and spicy

I love guitars with the input jack on the front rather than the side. Strat and SG, for example.

@peterwilson8039

Ай бұрын

I hate it, especially if you use the tremolo bar because it completely gets in the way. That's the reason why almost all the the strat copies out there have it on the edge.

@joeking433

Ай бұрын

@@peterwilson8039 Why anyone would use a tremolo bar is beyond me!

@RelicOnMaui

Ай бұрын

The flushmount slant face jack was brilliant. I’ve actually thought about mounting one on the BACK, especially on “flipped” Strats - just leave a dummy on the face to fill the hole. On a flipped Strat, the jam up between output cord and vibrato arm is more problematic

@RelicOnMaui

Ай бұрын

@@joeking433 There’s more ways to use VIBRATO than subtle or divebomb effects. I’ll sometimes use it to go so ridiculously out of tune and then back, one wonders WTF they “think” they just heard… like a 2-second acid flashback

@Throckmorton_the_great

16 күн бұрын

@@joeking433listen to Pink Floyd and youll understand. I use to be the same way, now I use it all the time and its great. When you use it to enhance your sound and not overpower it or use it as a gimmick, it can be another great tool in your arsenal

I watched Regi Wooten play a really old Squier Strat, and I imagine it was before they upped their quality. It was proof that the player is the biggest component of the sound. Better tools make it easier to do the thing, but I’m glad that there’s a trend of people really getting into off brands and saving some money while getting inexpensive gear that performs really well. Thanks for showcasing this Mike!

@Peter-ff1tp

Ай бұрын

The first Squier Strats were as good as anything. They were made in Japan, not China.

@novarobotslofi6596

Ай бұрын

In my early 20’s i too saw Regi Wooten playing his Squier live & that right there showed me the name on the headstock meant nothing.

@jonlavigne3270

Ай бұрын

Regi's tone is highly processed, but his playing is off the hook no matter what he plays.

@vorpalblades

Ай бұрын

I see someone has already mentioned early Squires were made in Japan. They definitely haven't improved.

@SAIBOT64

Ай бұрын

There were years squire strats were made in Japan. Squires don’t get better than that

lol, Mike proving that he's still a Mayer nerd by playing the Continuum version of Bold as Love

@joeking433

Ай бұрын

Are there any boomers who like Mayer??? He's the guy I point to and say, "so THIS is what rock and roll has come to"? WTF!"

@brandan5732

Ай бұрын

@@joeking433 there's alot of boomers who like mayer.

@brandan5732

Ай бұрын

@@joeking433 you dont have to like the guy, but to not respect him as a guitarist kind of makes people question how credible you are as a guitarist fyi

@joeking433

Ай бұрын

@@brandan5732 I respect the playing of Vai and Satriani, too, but their music completely bores me. In the old classic rock days people's personalities could be found in their guitar playing. Nowadays guitarists are either robotic speed freaks or clones of old rockers but without any personality. Do young people even care about new guitarists like we boomers did back in the day? I don't think they do. Rappers even garner more interest from kids these days than real musicians/guitarists. That's because that is the outlet for personality today rather than through guitars. I could be wrong. Maybe kids do care about guitarists that I never see.

@joeking433

Ай бұрын

@@brandan5732 I'm sure there are some. There are some boomers who like rap and electronic music, as well!

I built a partscaster last year for the same price and this is taking into account that the body was a burnt barn door from Belgium and the neck was from the US (shipping to the UK). Not the most logical or cheapest way round it but I liked what I saw and it was in budget. It is the best sounding and feeling guitar I've played and it has all the memories along with it 😊

@zaxmaxlax

Ай бұрын

You can get brand new fender necks for 270 euros at thomann, if you put it in a 150eur squier and buy the best pickups possible it is still cheaper than a mexican strat 😂

I haven't even picked up a "real" Strat in years. I built two Partscasters, one with a roasted flame maple Warmoth neck, and one with a padouk Warmoth neck. Both with stainless frets. I'm all set.

My dad was a player & collector, so I grew-up around A LOT of gear going in & out of the house & had access to good gear as a beginner . I’ve played great $300 guitars & garbage $3,000 guitars. There are so many variables that it’s hard to make blanket-statements about gear. Especially these days.

Im sure most guitarist know that EVH was the guru of partscasters. He was never satisfied with a stock guitar. I totally get that now. Most of my guitars stay stock for resale reasons but the ones i love the most have been modified to fit my style of playing and comfort. I got to look at Sire one day just to try them out.

@RelicOnMaui

Ай бұрын

Yep. If you spend $1,000+ for guitar, modifications aren’t such a good idea. As a repairman/custom builder we so often advised people to leave classic models as is unless you never plan on selling the Frankenstein

Mike, I absolutely look forward to these real talks about gear. You are a man who loves his gear and it shows.

Mayor nerds are to be saved,just by listening to Prince,Eddie,Jimie,Keith ,Chuck😅 and Bo. The healing is guaranteed.

My son recently bought a Squire used for $300. Redid the electronics and put in new pickups, pick guard (now an HSS), and for around total $500 investment, it's killer. However, it sounded really good with the stock pickups too. He wanted a bigger sound and no noise (Gibson 57+ bridge and two 80s Lace Sensor Gold in middle & neck).

I really look forward to your videos. Passionate storytelling!!!

Hell yeah I play a parts caster into a vox valvetronix 😂

I had a Sire T7 for a while. Absolutely amazing tone and build quality. The neck in particular was the most comfortable neck I've ever felt fresh from the factory. I only gave it up because I got the oppertunity to purchase a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster brand new at a steal of a price. I'd glady check out anything they make, especially their new Super Strats coming out

Mike love your channel man ,. Great story teller , as far as sire guitars go I have played a few for a builder the are a particular guitar model, and before they start to build it, they have to take tests after being trained to keep the quality controller. Then when they’re done being built or QC again for a tech to go to a new Guitar, they have to be re trained and they have to test pass their test on building quality before. They’re actually allowed to build the additional guitar.

I actually have a Sterling Cutlass CT50HSS that I got for $499 about 2 years ago as my first electric guitar. It has treated me very well as of now, and I’m planning to turn it into a “partscaster” within a couple weeks. I’ll be swapping a DiMarzio Super Distortion into the Bridge and a BC-1 into the Neck to fit more of the kind of sound I tend to like. I wouldn’t have found the sound that I like, however, without the more vintage style sound of the current pickups (which are great btw, I play it about as much as my 2016 Gibson SG that I bought used for like $1000). I think that cheaper guitars can not only be great guitars, but they can be a way to find your sound without having to risk too large of an investment on a piece of gear, especially for a new player. If you aren’t sure if you’ll like playing a strat, get a squier. If you don’t like it, you can sell it or let I sit and you don’t lose much money. If you do like it, either upgrade to a more expensive strat or mod it to your own specs.

Had a $399r sire s style and it was very nice. I’m loving the look of that vintage! Great playing mike. 👍🏻

@Mike Cole First off, I’m so happy to see how much you’ve grown in your playing and video styles! You’re hanging with the quality of the top guitar channels now. Second, loving the Sire content! I’ve had an H7 for 2 years, a gold top L7V going on 2 months, and soon the G5N solid body nylon string. The online hype from them is definitely justified. I only wish they had relationships with dealers where you can try in person first because the S7 and T3 are on my list for future purchases too.

really good video mike! thinking about picking up a sire s7 now or atleast checking it out

what a sweet sound! love the mood of your videos!

After 5 years of being an old man learning to play guitar, I'll say this: the name on the headstock has nothing to do with how that guitar will sound. I've lusted after a red Gibson SG like Frank Zappa played for much longer than I've been playing. I had the opportunity to play a 2014 Gibson SG and a '91 Orville by Gibson at the local shop, and the Orville was a screamer! That poor Gibson sounded dead by comparison. The Orville's were licensed by Gibson, and made in Japan. I regret not buying that Orville to this day. Lessons learned, play it before buying, and buy it for the magic inside instead of the name on the outside. Thanks for another great video Mike, you rock!😁

@RelicOnMaui

Ай бұрын

Not only play before buying - also ask if there is another of the same model stocked “in back”, because no two guitars are the same, even when built by the same hands

Had a Sire T with HH. It was like many high ends I had tried. Fret work, rolled edges, solid build, flawless.

reminds me a lot of my 60th anniversary classic player strat. Great review

Your playing sounds great!! Great video.

Thank you for this video, and the suggestion of checking out sire. I definitely will. The next Guitar I want to buy is one to replace the Strat I sold years ago.

My main strat started life as a '91 MIM that I bought brand new in high school. Today, it's essentially a parts caster with an Allparts neck, Bootstrap pickups, and a custom-made passive treble bass tone setup. It plays as well as the American Vintage ii I played and sounds incredible. Partscasters are great and they are custom to the player who put it together. I just got another parts caster that has an MJT body, an MIM Fender Strat neck, and Benson Custom 50s noiseless pickups. I didn't put this together, I just traded into it, but it's a killer player. I do want to try a Sire S7.

@zaxmaxlax

Ай бұрын

Tell me more about that custom passive treble bass tone setup?

@jfturner67

Ай бұрын

Thumbs up on the Bootstrap pickups. I just put a set in a cheap Tele clone and they sound great!

what every strat player is looking for is the position of the volume knot and the height of the middle pickup

This reminds me a lot of my situation with my bass... It's an epiphone EB3 from 2005 (I think) that I got relatively recently for ~$340. Although it's not a perfect instrument it's got to be the best instrument I've ever played. I love it's tone and I can't imagine why I would need anything else because even gibson's versions of it are either short scale or have different pickup selections. Not to mention it's the best looking instrument I own. The only problem is since I'm more of a bass player than a guitar player I now can't justify spending any more on a guitar than I did on that bass!

The best part of my Sire T7 is that neck! It's so good

@iked3702

Ай бұрын

same with the s7 it's my first electric guitar. I've had it for a year and I feel like I've been spoiled by it to the point where I'll never be able to play another guitar

I have a Sire T3 I got it thinking I would probably do modifications to it since it’s their budget model but honestly guitar is so good. The only thing I changed were tuners to locking tuners

I bought the squier 40th anniversary tele and swapped the pick ups with custom shop 51’s and the thing sounds absolutely amazing for a 1/4 of the price

I have a Tradition PRS Copy. Really nice looking tobacco burst, 24 frets. Plays, sounds and looks great. I had an oil change being done, walked across the parking lot to a Music Go Round and bought it 10 minutes later. It was also my birthday gift to myself. The End.

I found that Godin guitars are a bargain on the used market, and for similar to Sire money you can get North Anerican made… i am still amazed by the quality of some of the offshore brands, with a good setup they can play as well as anything out there! Best advice - find a great Luthier that is close to you… they can make almost anything play bettet

I sold my fender american pro to fund another guitar but ended up missing my strat. I bought a S7 vintage to replace it. In the end, I liked it more than my old fender, especially the roasted maple neck... and I ended up with 2 guitars instead of one! Its awesome to see one of my favorite youtubers talk about the S7 :D

I built a G&L partscaster ASAT. I put a SD 1/4lb bridge with pearly gates neck HB. It is versatile and a beast.

I've been waiting almost 2 years for sweetwater (or any other American retailer) to get Sire in stock. I noticed earlier this week that Sweetwater now does have Sire strat models and Les Paul single cut in stock.

I have played guitar for years and had never purchased a strat so I decided last year to purchase my first strat. I went to a music store and tried out several including a Fender Player Plus series and was not impressed. Long story short I ended up purchasing a Sire S7 with the blue flame top and absolutely love it. To my ears it sounds much better than the Player Plus and played better. The neck and frets are as smooth as silk and the tonal variations is awesome. I have had it for about a year now and would definitely purchase one again if something happened to this one.

i have 3 gibson les pauls an junior 2 american fender strats 80s charvel an jackson my favorite guitar to play is squier classic vibe tele think its 2013 and 2006 Epiphone jeff beck oxblood les paul epiphone did limited run on the blow by blow guitar an she rips amazing guitar

I think you’re going to play this guitar more than others. Love those necks

I have 3 Sire gutars and all of them are just fantastic! I have L7, S7v and S3. Real gems!

@dbreardon

Ай бұрын

Where the heck did you get them? Sweetwater has been out of stock for like the last 2 years.....or they get in an order but there is a huge waiting list of buyers.

@vlada71bg

Ай бұрын

@@dbreardon Actually I am from Serbia and, while market is smaller, there are official stores having small quantities available.

I decided to get a new guitar the other day so i got a squier classic 60s vibe starcaster, but my amp wasn't really the best so i got a fender amp and man do it bring that guitar to life. ive played many types of guitars i used to be a les paul guy, but even tho it took time getting use to im never going going back im team stratocaster for life when i play it just becomes a literal part of me

Ironic timing as I was just mentioning the Sire T7 to a friend and how I'm thinking of stepping up from my Squier Affinity Tele to it or a Chapman ML3. Reasonably priced good guitars are wonderful things. Have a wonderful day yourself, too, Mike.

Buy a used Reverend, you’ll be blown away, I assure you.

In the spirit of this video could you take a look at the Donner DJC-1000s it’s a Donner’s take on the Thinline Telecaster!

For me, the best values in the guitar market are the Japanese-made Allparts necks. They're on par with the modern Fender Japan stuff and dirt cheap; with one of those as your starting point, you can basically use whatever high-quality components and pickups you prefer and have an excellent Strat/Tele/etc. for around $700.

As someone who owns Fender, Gibson & Ibanez made in Mexico, USA, & Japan. What I look into an instrument is that it inspires me to play . Also worth mentioning is that I practice and learn songs with a Chinese nylon Ibanez guitar that I bought 20 years ago for $270 USD. That is the guitar that I that I play the most.

I have a 93 mim strat and yes I need fender on the headstock....especially of a s style guitar

I helped a friend of mine pick out his first electric guitar years ago, he ended up with a squier affinity tele and I have a mexican made fender tele for comparison. Sure the fender one has a bit nicer neck, better tuners and such, but that didn't really matter because the squier still feels nice to play. Both guitars have nice sounds and both could be exelent platforms for new pickups. My point is, if you want a guitar that's fun you absolutely can go cheap. These things are meant to be played, not scrutinized to the last detail. If it sounds nice and feels nice, it's a good guitar.

I’ve got a T7 and it’s fantastic

I’m in the market for a Tele or Strat. Every forum I read Sire gets recommended. I’m gonna have to pickup one, especially for that price. Also, could you theoretically make a partscaster with Sire and fender parts?

I've got a MIM tele and a crappy squier HHS strat that I really want to do the partscaster treaatment on both of them

@hailmaryrecordings8255

Ай бұрын

I put vintage-noiseless in my Mexi-Tele & had a really good tech set it up. It’s my #1. Make it your’s, man. ☮️

@dbreardon

Ай бұрын

What model of the squire hss (do they sell an, HHS)? Only saying because their cheapest version strats - under $350 - have a slimmer body style. The"Classic Vibe" line of guitars have a standard sized body. The cheaper (< $350) have a thinner body. It makes things like changing pickups or the bridge more difficult - or they might not even fit. At least that is what I heard from some online youtube reviewers. But anyway, something to keep in mind.

You should check out a Yamaha Revstar standard. $850 and it hits way above it's weight class.

It’s 99% the player negotiating the instrument and vice versa. Both sides gotta give.

Give me a video of you trying different plectrum varieties. They really do make a massive difference!

Hey Mike, when you are playing through the Quad Cortex how are you hearing it in the room?

I have a sire h7 and it absolutely rips!

@CameraLaw

Ай бұрын

Played one at GC. Absolutely top grade on every level.

I have been thinking about picking up an H-7V

I don't normally care about the name, I've had a bunch of cheap guitars from various brands, and I currently have a Squier Jazz bass, a couple Schecters, a custom Warmoth build, and just last year I got my first Fender. I wanted a guitar similar to the Tom Delonge signature Strat, I'm left handed and they don't make official ones for lefties, plus they're more expensive than I want to spend even if they did. I could have gotten any old Strat style guitar and did what I wanted with it, but I wanted the real deal. I found a used lake placid blue MIM Strat for a good price, but it didn't have the neck I wanted, so I got a replacement for it. I was able to recoup a lot of the extra cost by selling off the original neck and loaded pickguard. New pickguard, new electronics, vintage tuners, and it's got the right headstock and name. It's a dropped C sleeper chug machine and it plays amazing. Maybe I would have been happy with an alternative, but I was in a "buy once, cry once" kind of mood after years of buying and selling gear.

Partscasters, when the fender sound iceberg isnt deep enough. I have a Yamaha EG-303 Strat Clone (think pacifica 012/112) thats been rewired and parts swapped to hell. I can relate to your friend.

fender stratocaster's are really expensive, some are in triple single coil configuration others are in hss configuration, most strats have amp buzz anless you get a superstrat if thats your style double h pickups. There's also really ridiculously cheap strats that vary in tone quality or playability

Great video my friend.. I would love you to review the Jet -300.. I have watched a lot of your videos and I am curious on what you think.. let me fill you in, The Jet-300 has a maple roasted Beck bone nut, nice frets nicely dressed in the ends, a nice trem with full block ( zinc). Try one make a video I think you will be very surprised.. Thank you Craig

Had the same initial thoughts when buying S7FM, but the biggest downside is the neck and the frets. Yes, I know, flame maple, locking tuners, fret ends, all true. But it's got a really high action if U don't want to tolerate a LOT of buzz. I suppose the frets are uneven. I need to have it plecked. So consider this and account for it the price for it. Otherwise, the specks are comprable to US made Fenders, hands on. If only they paid more attention to important stuff...

I play an e2 sn2. It's geared toward "metal" and doesn't really fit in this class as it's expensive af (not really a brag point) however I feel it still punches well over its hefty weight. I can play so many different styles so comfortably it's scary! My second favorite guitar!

Guitar inflation even just in the time I’ve been playing is ridiculous. In 2018 I purchased a brand New Mexican standard strat for 599. Now if you try to get something like that with the vintage style trem , you’re looking close to $1200 with the Vintera series. It’s disappointing fender doesn’t fill that void anymore, but it’s great for the little guys getting their excellently valued products out

Damn I feel you’re talking about me my rig is a partscaster and a Vox Valvetronix😂

5:48 IM BOLD IM BOLD.... oh... we are going to sing that? Okay...

I have found Cort guitars and I'm surprised by them 👍

The Danelectro U2 is one of those where the price (I got mine used last year for under 200 bux) is WAY worth it. I've used this guitar in recent recordings as much as guitars that cost 10 times as much. I have a few partscasters - I select unique pickups and I prefer the backwards slant on the bridge pickup - They are a nice way to assemble a guitar that can compete with a 1000 dollar guitar for 4 or 5 hundred bucks. That sire sounds nice but the headstock - it's hard on the eyes lol.

Fender groupies can fuss about a headstock, but I think this one's pretty, and shows off that roasted maple well

Big fan of the Sire H7. Can't beat it at the cost.

Ah yes. The Andy lore expands.

Nice job getting a cool axe Mike.

All of guitars are modified, especially the bolt-on Fender style ones. Had my first one made in the late 70s. It's the best way and most fun way to get what I want. Some end up pretty expensive.

I probably wouldn't buy a new Fender today. I got my strat in 2013, the USA model. Fat 50s pickup stock. I don't think they have gotten much better since. That Am Standard run was 2012-16 I think. Maybe 2018. I got an HB Tele, its fantastic. only upgraded the saddles. Was like $220.

My biggest issue with fender strats is the damn volume knob. I cant play one without constantly banging my pinkey against it. I get an Sterling by Music Man Cutlass s/s/s and love everything about it. Volume knob is further away and i have no need for a second tone knob. Nearly perfect.

I like the squier starcaster

Hey Mike how do we get a hold of you?

Thanks!

@mikecole4489

Ай бұрын

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

I was wondering if you were going to pick that company -- I've heard a lot of great things about their guitars. I myself just got my hands on the Squire Classic Vibe 60s P bass. And, I have to say, it too punches way above its weight, and I'm too old to care what anyone might think based on the name on the headstock!

I've been looking for a first guitar either an S or T for my grandson. I've thought about kits and parts, but then a Yamaha popped up on Sweetwater for $220 so I clicked and it arrive a few days later. Umm... better quality than my 2020 Player Strat. Fender has some competition that they can't beat.

Oh man, thought that you were going to show us a partscaster that you made

@ronnynast

Ай бұрын

If only….. just another new gear vid.

Mike is starting to clue in, but I’d push it a bit further. Fender and Gibson are way behind in quality control if not overall quality, but the charge heaps of money for the name. It’s time to get over the big names. I recently got two FGN guitars (tele and LP types) and they are incredible (especially the tele). My poor 335 hardly gets any attention anymore! Only problem with FGN is that they’re hard to get outside Japan…

i tried a sire L7 and a 3000$ Gibson Les Paul Standard in a store once. And the sire played and sounded better.

You know what Mike? YOU KNOW WHAT!?!?!?!? WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC DAY!? How about that huh? I hope YOUR day is wonderful. Take that! (appreciate you and all of your content)

Brother, the preamble on this was like trying to google a recipe for Garlic Breadsticks.

I'm definitely going to own a Sire (or three) at some point. There's so much gear out there these days; I see no reason to think you've got to use the big (classic) names/brands.

Yea, sire is great.🎶😉

I like to think that my acoustic tonality is upper level. Trying to get my electric skill there

I always say there is a reason a lot of legendary players didn't play stock guitars but instead, modified guitars.

@bread6085

Ай бұрын

True I’m pre sure Clayton’s main guitar was a combo of a couple of strats parts

I can tell you from experience these are NOT substandard guitars. I bought a Sire awhile back. It's a very good company and they make very good guitars.

You Should try going to a guitar shop and buying something weird with crazy mojo

My buddy plays a sire 5 string bass

Sire Larry Carlton L7 is the best Les Paul style guitar ever made IMHO. Also, I really couldn't give a rats ass about the name on the headstock. I know what to expect from big brand names, which makes them not very exciting.

find a squier 51.. the OG of partcasters..

My Aria Pro II PE-850 was $200 CAD and plays better than a top Epi Les Paul. Sounds crazy good, better than actual Gibson Les Pauls. Some of these knock offs are just too good.

Try a Squire 40th Anniversary Strat

The key is not to buy a retail, fully built guitar. It's a bit like building your own PC, you can source and find the parts that you like best, spend your $ on the quality parts that matter like electronics and hardware, and many light hardware and plastic components are so cheap it's unbelievable. You can get body and necks on the second-hard market for cheap. My partscaster would destroy many expensive strats, and is the best stratocaster I own hands down.

Sire guitars are nice but need a treble bleed

Try an Oscar Schmidt to see something at a reeeeeaaallly low price point truly punch above its weight.

Do you mean you bought it there or was given it to review by them ... \