Sire guitars. LP style model. Love it...

[sabasgr68]

Love it for the same reason I love AL3200s: Upper fret access!

They have left handed models too... A little pricey, maybe? Well, for me, anything beyond $25 is pricey!

[LightWingStudios]

Nice and versatile tone too.

[tobijohn]

They do have lefty versions of the 335, LP and Strat but they're sold out. However, the listing page for each also states that "ESTIMATED TIME FOR DELIVERY OF CUSTOM MODELS IS 5-6 MONTHS UPON PURCHASE" so if lefties are normally a custom order and they're marked as sold out, does that mean they're not accepting any orders at this time? I guess I'll drop them a line as I would love a 335 style in CSB and that is one of the finishes:

https://sire-usa.com/collections/custom ... carlton-h7

[sabasgr68]

They do have lefty versions of the 335, LP and Strat but they're sold out. However, the listing page for each also states that "ESTIMATED TIME FOR DELIVERY OF CUSTOM MODELS IS 5-6 MONTHS UPON PURCHASE" so if lefties are normally a custom order and they're marked as sold out, does that mean they're not accepting any orders at this time? I guess I'll drop them a line as I would love a 335 style in CSB and that is one of the finishes:

https://sire-usa.com/collections/custom ... carlton-h7

Let us know if you come up with something.

The L7 models - sold out too -, priced at $599, are close competitors to AL3200s.

[tobijohn]

I received a prompt response from them. They intend to eventually restock left-handed models but not in the near future, I'll just check their site periodically...

[mighty_duck]

The L7 models - sold out too -, priced at $599, are close competitors to AL3200s.

In price, maybe...
Despite their ergonomic heel, the L7 is a set neck, vs the neck through AL-3200.

If the heel was such a concern, I'd take a look at the Harley Benton SC line, at about a third of the price of the Sire. And they actually have some availability

[sabasgr68]

The L7 models - sold out too -, priced at $599, are close competitors to AL3200s.

In price, maybe...
Despite their ergonomic heel, the L7 is a set neck, vs the neck through AL-3200.

If the heel was such a concern, I'd take a look at the Harley Benton SC line, at about a third of the price of the Sire. And they actually have some availability

You got a point there regarding set neck vs neck through.

I´ll wait for a HB SC B stock priced at $25 including shipping Now, seriously, those HB SC are good enough for the price. And I also like those HB PRS style ones (CST-24) that you and others have adquired in bulk lately, your latest IYV one especially in that tobacco (?) finish...

[doc-knapp]

I enquired about the Sire a while back, and was also told there would be no lefty's for the foreseeable future. Shame. I would have considered buying one.

[tobijohn]

I enquired about the Sire a while back, and was also told there would be no lefty's for the foreseeable future. Shame. I would have considered buying one.

The guy I was going back and forth with via email last night more or less said they're way behind in production and are just trying to get caught up. It looks like they also did custom work but that's on hold indefinitely now too. I'd be surprised if there's any left-handed stock before the end of this year...

[sabasgr68]

@doc-knapp @tobijohn you guys have it tough...

[Mossman]

I think Sire might be starting to price themselves out of their market. When they first emerged a few years ago, they only made basses (in collaboration with Marcus Miller), and they were all the rage in the bass community, but for the first few years their prices were in the Squier CV range ($400-$500). Now, they cost almost as much as a Fender Player (which I think have become over-priced themselves). I've played a Sire 'V-series' (Jazz Bass), and they're good basses, but it's getting hard to justify the expense when Harley Bentons, Classic Vibes and (to a lesser degree) SX basses exist. And not that I ever think about selling an instrument before I even buy it, but how much of my investment am I going to recover from a $700 Sire Bass as opposed to a $750 Fender? It looks like they're now doing roasted maple necks and rolled fretboards to justify the higher prices, but those feature don't add much value to me.

And I hate the shape of the headstock... Not as much as the infamous SX "paddle", but still... It looks like they started with a Fender headstock and just flattened all the curves at the top. Not exactly what I would call a 'design'.





When I was looking for an alternative to the Epiphone 335 Figured, I did consider the Larry Carlton H7.





It looks great, and sounds good in review videos (well, it sounds like a 335), but at $700, it's a hard pill to swallow. That's $100 more than the Epiphone, and $50 more than the Ibanez AS93FM that I ended up buying. Having not played one, I can't say whether the Sire is better or worse, but I have a hard time believing it could top the Ibanez, and I'm sure both of those guitars will retain more value in resale than the Sire. Again, not that resale factors heavily into my guitar purchasing decisions, but if I'm going to accept the lower used value of an off-brand guitar, I don't want to invest as much, or more than its name-brand counterparts!

At $600 for the L7, I think you're better off getting an AL-3200 (if you can find one), or even an Epiphone... Or any name-brand guitar at the same price point, really. They're not exactly blowing the doors off the competition with added features. I think they need to offer either more value, or lower prices to lure me away from their established competitors. I would wait until they start proliferating in the used market and see what they go for, but even then, I think it would be a tough call between a used Sire and a new Harley Benton or Epiphone.

[edit]

Scalpers are selling the L7 on ebay right now for $740!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274558412979?c ... fae91fc358

[Mossman]

@doc-knapp @tobijohn you guys have it tough...

Don't feel bad for them... They had every opportunity to learn to play guitar properly, but they decided to do it their way.

They got what they asked for.

[sabasgr68]

@doc-knapp @tobijohn you guys have it tough...

Don't feel bad for them... They had every opportunity to learn to play guitar properly, but they decided to do it their way.

They got what they asked for.

Well, even so, together they both account for a respectable three digit number of guitars in their stables... You mean that if they would have learned the other way that number could be larger?

Just kiddin´, dear boys DK & TJ.

[Mossman]

Well, even so, together they both account for a respectable three digit number of guitars in their stables... You mean that if they would have learned the other way that number could be larger?

Just kiddin´, dear boys DK & TJ.

Hoo-boy... If Tobijohn were right-handed, he'd need half the state to store his collection!

I don't even want to think about it!

[doc-knapp]

The only thing stopping me from becoming TJ is the lack of hair, and the unfortunate presence of a wife.

[sabasgr68]

The only thing stopping me from becoming TJ is the lack of hair, and the unfortunate presence of a wife.

The hair issue can be solved, now, when you said "yes" years ago, you should knew that "certains conditions apply". Make her play guitar too!

Now, TJ @tobijohn , would you trade your guitar collection for a wife? You don´t need to answer, I´m obliged to read you the Miranda Warning: "You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future".

[tobijohn]

When I was looking for an alternative to the Epiphone 335 Figured, I did consider the Larry Carlton H7.





It looks great, and sounds good in review videos (well, it sounds like a 335), but at $700, it's a hard pill to swallow. That's $100 more than the Epiphone, and $50 more than the Ibanez AS93FM that I ended up buying. Having not played one, I can't say whether the Sire is better or worse, but I have a hard time believing it could top the Ibanez, and I'm sure both of those guitars will retain more value in resale than the Sire. Again, not that resale factors heavily into my guitar purchasing decisions, but if I'm going to accept the lower used value of an off-brand guitar, I don't want to invest as much, or more than its name-brand counterparts!

At $600 for the L7, I think you're better off getting an AL-3200 (if you can find one), or even an Epiphone... Or any name-brand guitar at the same price point, really. They're not exactly blowing the doors off the competition with added features. I think they need to offer either more value, or lower prices to lure me away from their established competitors. I would wait until they start proliferating in the used market and see what they go for, but even then, I think it would be a tough call between a used Sire and a new Harley Benton or Epiphone.

[edit]

Scalpers are selling the L7 on ebay right now for $740!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274558412979?c ... fae91fc358

All valid points and well presented. The only reason I'm interested in it is because I'm a CSB slut and other than on AliExpress, I've never seen a lefty CSB 335 style guitar. I've been keeping an eye out for kits and following your thread on that sunburst dye job you're doing but I'd pay a bit of a premium not to have to venture into DIY territory, especially with so much already on my plate...

[tobijohn]

Now, TJ @tobijohn , would you trade your guitar collection for a wife? You don´t need to answer, I´m obliged to read you the Miranda Warning: "You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future".

If it had been an option at the time, I would have traded my current guitar collection to get rid of my previous wife...

[Mossman]

The only reason I'm interested in it is because I'm a CSB slut and other than on AliExpress, I've never seen a lefty CSB 335 style guitar.

Sorry... I didn't mean any offense when you asked me if I was doing a CSB finish on another guitar, and I said there was already enough CSB in the world. I must have forgotten how much you like it. Having said that, though, the cherry sunburst was the only finish I was interested in on the Sire. If there's anything we really have enough of in the world (probably more than enough), it's Cherry and VSB 335s!