I'm about to be completely honest with you Adam. This was the most entertaining comparison video I have ever seen!!! It was like a magnificent concert!!! Your playing is extra ordinary (an ENTER THE DRAGON reference). I nearly jumped out of my seat when I heard the TREES by RUSH. I considered buying the SIRE gold top but changed my mind until I heard and saw you playing it. Thank you for your video!!!
I went a similar route...bought the Sire P7 bass after reading/hearing/watching the hype...totally impressed and love playing the bass...it's tone control is amazing, and it's a pleasure to play...next up will be the L7. I have owned a number of Gibson Les Pauls, even worked at Gibson/Epiphone as an Inspector...the Sire represents equal quality of construction and playability, without the premium cost...Gibson makes top shelf instruments, don't get me wrong - but to be able obtain a similar quality instrument at quarter of the price?...no brainer...I also own a USA Strat and love it, but I'm tempted to pick up the S7 as well...they've hit it out of the park with these guitars at this price...thanks for the video!
Thank you for taking the time to put together the video Adam. Lots of work. Great gear and demo. @46:00 thereabouts you nailed it with your review. The Gibsons have more uumph and we're used to hearing Gibsons on the original tracks including the quirks. The Sire was more accurate on the figerboard but a lot less push. It's a Larry Carlton Cursaders blues guitar for all intents considering he inspired the L7 and the genre he normally plays. And would likely fare better on a recording for being more consistent on changes up and down the board to where tweaking the sound is almost limitless. The Sire definitely falls under a well constructed guitar for $600 that looks like a Paul for those on a budget. Which was Larry's plan.
Most welcome! I think your comments hit the nail on the head. For me personally, I haven’t been playing it much. Currently mine has emg’s in it and I’m not sure if it’s that I don’t like those pickups, or maybe them in that guitar. Functionally, the guitar is very sound though.
@@AdamGotheridge Of course, you have two of the real thing. Wild guess Larry voiced the pickups so it would sound like his style. The L7 comes across to me like a cross between a Paul and a 335. How he was able to do that is a mystery considering how many pickup winders there are and for decades it's been a crap shoot of what pickup in where. The 335 is not just for jazzers. Van Halen started off with one and IIRC he used one a track. And though there are many artist inspired guitars, IMO, to his credit, Carlton was able to make something where the artist succeeded in making the guitar sound like his sound.
The custom sounds the best clean imo, to be expected, but the sire is pretty great for the money. Seems like the sire started to sound better as you got the feel of it, but might be my imagination. Great playing!
Good point on it probably sounding better the more I played it. Makes sense. And yes, Sire is pretty great for the money. Not quite the Gibson, but a lot less expensive too. As time goes by, I appreciate the locking tuners more and just how the nut was cut. Less messing around with tuning. Thanks!
Great videos very put together sound test on all guitars nice playing reminds me when I was playing in a cover bands late 70,s 80,s I just bought a Sire L7
You're awesome dude! Thanks for the demo. I really appreciate your honesty and no bullshit down to earth style. You come across as a very authentic and sincere person. I really enjoyed your playing too. I'm going to check out your other videos. Keep on rocking!!!
I need to stop watching Sire L7 videos. Im really trying to hold out until the L7V is back in stock, but my brain is trying to convince me to get the L7 with the excuse that i could use a humbucker based guitar in my collection even though i enjoy single coils more. Lol. That GAS can be tricky. Lol. U make the L7 sound awesome, and thanks for providing clean examples!
Both have quality tones. The big thing is the fact a Les Paul cost over $2000 more dollars than the Sie L7. I know a player that owns several Les Pauls. He no longer plays them after he bought the Sire L7.
I bought the Sire S3 3 months ago. I am absolutely thrilled with it. I'm playing through a Korg ToneWorks AX1000 Multi-effects pedal board. My S3 so close to the way a Music Man LIII sounds like in overdrive. Has graet clean tones also.
Liked and subscribed! I'm just listening in the dark. I'm not really hearing which guitar your playing. Sire prices so good! Will it just be another guitar that sell in a year or two? Subscribed because you bother to read and respond to comments unlike many product pushers. Great stuff.
First and foremost, thank you! Second, I don't think a lot of those people have time to respond when they get thousands of comments... it is what it is, but yeah, pretty disrespectful. Third, will you sell it in a year? Yes, and maybe. Is it going to be "the one"? I don't think so. But, it's a great to have around to practice on, it would be a fantastic entry level instrument, and it would be a great guitar to leave in an alternate tuning or say put some EMG's in it and leave it for that purpose. EMG's and some kind of dropped tuning was really why I bought the thing, but it still has the stock pickups and is in standard tuning. ;) I leave it in a bedroom and do exercises with a metronome with it, and I plug it into an Apollo interface and use it with the Friedman BE plugging to learn songs and just practice improvising. It's a fantastic guitar for that. Maybe most importantly "did you hear a difference"? I thought this would be a lot more revealing and helpful in that respect, but when I did it and listened back, I realized I have some kind of sound in my and I'm trying to get it out of the guitar, and I play them differently and sort of achieve the same result as a recorded product. But, if you put the different guitars at volume with a band in a room, there are huge differences, and I would be reaching for a regular Les Paul, thought really the sire would be fine. Maybe put another way, if I was live in the room and wanted a Les Paul sound and could choose between the sire or my PRS 535, I'm going for the Sire. So it's not like it's bad or anything. Hope that helps in some way.
Really enjoyed the demo, the Sire sounded good, the pups didn't have the output or complexity of the Gibbys, but what a great job it did in the side by side nevertheless!
Great vid. Brilliant playing. The Standard seems to have the best sound on most of those examples. Value wise though, the sound is good enough on the Sire. Reliability is to be considered I suppose but huge price difference.
Thanks so much, and totally agree on all your points. Given my druthers, I'm playing the standard. Reliability, I think the guitar is totally sound as I've had it for a couple years now, but maybe yes speaking to the pots or switches being a potential failure point. Not a deal breaker though.
I purchased the Sire strat. its very nice but i think slightly overprice. pretty sure these guiars are made in the same factory as the Harley Benton guitars which sell for less than half.
Yes. I mentioned it in the video somewhere, but I'm playing each guitar a little different to make a sound I hear in my head, and there's no real way not to do that. I think the results sounds closer than the guitars really are when they are in your hand. They all sound like les Paul's though. 🤘
Thanks for this demo and great playing. Waiting for a black Sire L7 leftie similar to your Custom but like most, love the Gibson sound. Thinking about Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates pickups but not sure if I’ll need them as stock sounds pretty darn good. The voice on that Custom is so nice and clear. Guess I should have watched this all the way through before commenting. Along with the L7 I’ve ordered a black Sire H7V leftie and the blue T7FM. Not sure how much tone overlap I’ll have which is why I’m waiting to mod the L7. Was going to also order a sire V8 5 string but decided to hold off until I figure out 4 or 5 string. I’ll have to check your channel to see if that’s aV8 you have and what you think about it. As per my user name I’m a GTO fan and love my V8’s. Ok, now that this is over time to hit your channel and find out the rest of the story. Hmmm, where have I heard that before. Awesome review but then I’m biased into thinking the same way you have. Party on Garth, yes I have the other name a it’s my world. Rock on Adam!
Thanks. Been working on another like video around this to try and make it more useful based on what I learned from this one. It's pretty hard to convey what's going on with an instrument in a video. I'm sure you'll like the H7. 😀
Nice demo man! It would be interesting to know if Sire located the bridge pup in the correct position? I know the Epiphone Les Pauls locate it further away from the bridge.
Son of a gun, they are different. Measuring from the pickup (not the ring) to where the g string crosses the saddle, it's 1.25" on the Sire and .75" on both the standard and custom.
Wow! Great comparison/review. Great playing as well! I'm a beginner/amateur, and they all sound relatively the same to me. I'm buying the Sire L7 Gold Top!!! Thank you, Adam...
@AdamGotheridge I ordered an L7 Gold Top today. I'll have it within a week. Thanks, once again, Adam, for such a great review. Your playing is definitely inspirational!
I just ordered one, only problem is that the only one available was the ugly yellow one. I got no problem with the ugly yellow as long as it meets the quality that I have experianced from other Sire guitars.
Nice back-to-back, thanks. There isn't that big of difference to the sounds in to my ear. They are there, just not enough to convince me to pay 3x's more, (I do own several collector high end guitars but don't gig with them). I just pulled the trigger on a Sire, thanks again.
The Custom clean sounds the best. More dynamic and body. You even hear the wood. But standard and sire sounds pretty similar. I don't know the feel in the real word.
I've since changed the pickups in the custom to the same in the standard. A like that a little better. Feel wise, they are all totally different, but not uncomfortable so. Lastly, the custom still sounds the most "woody" to me too.
Wow best guitar review ever. I would love a custom, played one in hugh's blackrock years ago. Best guitar i ever played. Should have bought it. But that sire sounds close man.
@@AdamGotheridge Had a few...57 standard, 72 reissue (standard) 77 Custom. Before '78 Customs were all mahogany In the early/mid 70's Customs were 2 piece Mahogany no maple cap. The difference is depth. rounder lower mids without the crisp highs. You can hear the difference even between the standard lp and the custom in the video. The standard kind of blows out the low end high range while the custom has a rounder warmer tone with sustain hanging around the low mids. The sire on the other hand is mostly bright with less dynamic range thus requiring less compression but also missing a certain character. . For a "Closer" Custom sound from the Sire consider SD JB's. They offer a slightly higher output and more punch in the low mid range, but you'll lose a little of the crisp high end. More Santana like less Dwayne Allman
@@swishzonetech2551 All those instruments, really cool. Your observations are great, thanks. I ended up swapping out the 498/490 pups in the custom with the same Throbaks I have in the standard. Not really sure of the tone differences yet between them because the std currently has 11s tuned down 1/2 step. The sire, tried a couple other sets and put the stock ones back in. One set in particular, SD Saturday night special, I hated everything about those. I've had the JB in a couple guitars in the past (Hamer and Parker) and liked them. Sire missing a character - agree. I like it, but it's not as complex a sound.
Greeting from the US! My parents were from the UK (Birmingham, WW2 era, I think that's why I mumble ) 😜. The Splawn is a beast, throw it in against drums and bass and it more it just really cuts through and sounds full.. I might add that I had used an old Splawn modded 1959 for a while and I liked that quite a bit more than this one. That was a long time ago though.
I’m one of the oddballs who likes the pick guard. I kind of learned how to play on a Les Paul with a pick guard and they feel weird to me without them.
with a little bit Equ. tweaking and a Seymor Duncan's Pickups. they are sound very similar. it's all about brand. at 50 feet you dont even notice that you play a SIRE instead a Gibson
The Les Paul Standard is simply the sound of rock and roll. It can't be topped. That said, I would buy the Sure, which sounds very good, get a couple of great studio mics, and make still phenomenal sounding music, only now owning some awesome mics
Thanks for the detailed comparison and explanation. I would like a L7, just the weight (nearly 5 kilo) might be the showtopper. Is the Sire the heavyweight amongst the LP's you have?
Easily the best comparison video I've watched. Great job! Quick but relevant question: Are you built like an elk? Those guitars look kinda small in your mitts.
Thanks, tried to honestly convey my thoughts on the whole thing. Elk - I think I'm looking more like an Elk all the time now that you mention it! 🤘I have pretty big hands, though they don't stretch very far wide. Arm span is weird too, like 7" more than my height. But really, I think I'm just getting old! BTW, I always get a kick out of watching Hendrix play, those necks just look tiny in his hands. Or DiMeola has really small hands, but doesn't seem to hinder him at all. Thanks!
Good ear. Output on the sire is about the same as the standard. The custom is quite a bit hotter. Sire maybe a little warmer, or less present than the standard.
I just found you channel and I think it's great. Could you please check the box for closed captions for the hearing impaired? Thanks. BTW I love you LP Custom. Always my favorite.
They are on, but the button to display them isn't, so I'm not sure what's going on. Searching around, it seems other people are having the same problem. Thanks though, I never looked at the before. Thanks for the kind words too! And yes, the LP custom is a wonderful guitar.
Great comparison video! Sire L7 at $599 = perfect gigging guitar out of the box. No mods needed. Price, tone, playability. Gibson Standard $2,700 = classic Gibson tone. Studio quality tracking tone out of the box no mods needed. With A/B comparison at home using quality headphones/monitors the overall tone differences are noticeable. Let's face it the Standard has that classic Gibson sound we've all come to love. That drive sound is heavenly. In a live setting just hearing one or the other in a full mix it would be difficult to hear much of a difference. The biggest tone differences is the response and articulation of the notes when playing softly not full heavy stumming. In my opinion anyways.
I think you hit the nail on the head. I will say this though... sometimes when things are loud and a band is blaring, all the details can get lost. Sometimes, though, all those little details then make a huge difference. Like play a modeler amp at normal listening volume, sounds great, then play it loud with a band and it's like "where did the sound go". It can sometimes be the opposite with good gear where it really shows what it has to give at volume an in context. Love your thoughts here.
Thanks! The Splawn is really cool and it does that one sound really well. On the other hand though, it always kind of sounds like that no matter how you set it.
Man where did you learn how to play so good, just the coolest sounds for a demo. now for my sour grapes moment lol most people don't have those high end amps so maybe just a review using an amp like a fender blues jr that more than not might be using. just a suggestion. Peace !
Good point, but it's still comparing guitar to guitar. "play so good" not so sure, but I do the best I can and have worked on this stuff for decades and continue to do so. It's fun, like a puzzle in a way. Cheers and thanks!
Great in-depth comparison. Yeah, the Gibson is still hard to beat, and if you do manage to get your hands on a 2nd hand in great condition, I recommend, I have a Gold Top Studio 50s Tribute with the P90s, pretty much the best GLP you can get for the money! Paid 749.99 plus taxes CAD in 2015 Ok it doesn't have the binding around the body, but it sounds totally amazing!
Thanks. FWIW, I'm on my 4th set of pickups with this guitar and I think the stock pickups sounded the best by quite a long shot. Currently emg 85/81 and those aren't doing anything for me in this guitar.
@@AdamGotheridge Adam, Вам самому нравится ли играть на этой гитаре Sire L7, или быстро надоедает? Нравится ли она Вам по эргономике, ни тяжёлая от слишком (4,4 кг), по звуку нравится?!.. Или же лучше купить Yamaha RSS20 RevStar?
@@Вадим-з7к7н В целом, мне нравится гитара, но сейчас у меня в ней стоит комплект звукоснимателей EMG, которые я не переношу. Так что я вообще не играю на ней много. Эргономика как у обычного Les Paul, может быть, немного удобнее. Хотя по ощущениям как Les Paul. Я не пробовал Yamaha RSS20, но мне нравится ее идея в целом. Держу пари, что это довольно хорошая гитара. Yamaha всегда уделяла внимание деталям и качеству, на мой взгляд. Удачи, и приятно слышать от вас!
Something wrong with the mic you have on clean amp. May be the source of the rattle I hear in the mid range on all the clean samples. Something loose inside the mic maybe? Have a look.
In Your opinion would you say that the Sires pickups are a bit less powerful than the Gibson. That would lend to more top end and brightness. Gibby has more bottom and mids. I can see LC wanting to voice his pickups to play with a more mid scooped and clean (fendery) amp and the Sire's pickup voices would complement that... just a guess? I am looking to add a 2HB guitar and was leading toward a SG and putting in SD Jazz pickups for that bright, chimey top but this may fill that bill. Id appreciate your insight. Good review here cat.
Great observations and you have really good ears! Sire pickups, you are right on. They are about the level of the throback's in the standard. Less output than say a gibson bust bucker 1 or 2 for reference. Some of that bottom end in the Gibsons is coming from the guitar itself, I think. The SD jazz might work well, but I wouldn't say they really have anything on the sire pickups. I had those in the neck position of a few guitars and liked them, so I feel I have a little reference there. I've been through 4 sets of pickups on the sire (stock, some custom ones (too bright), SD Saturday night special (yuck!), and currently emg 81/85). I liked the sire pickups the best so far. They are closer to my fancy throback pickups than say the burstbuckers. The sg or l7 - I borrowed a friends stock 64 sg for a while and it was the bomb in every way. So I picked up the normal Gibson 61 sg and it was a real dog. That lead me to getting a custom shop sg and that is decent, but it's not that old sg at all. So I put some $600 throwbacks in that one and didn't get any closer compared to the stock gibson custom buckers that it came with. My 2 cents is that I think in general, and especially for the money, the l7 is a great guitar as stock. Do I like the super expensive sg custom shop more, yes, but that is a ton more money too. Good luck with whatever you do, and thanks for the insightful comment!
Hi Adam, nice playing as always. How do you get along with that Splawn? I've always wanted to try one but 50% of people say they're stiff and the other say they're good. Will it put up a good fight against a 2203
I like it a lot. Used it for many years on a lot of important gigs and it never let me down. Yes, very stiff and immediate, and I would say not very forgiving. However, I like the articulation that brings. I will say that "that" sound it makes, it's kind of the only sound it makes. Also note, it is REALLY loud. You have to get the master up a little past 9pm for the low end to fill in, and at that point, it is really loud. It's a great amp nonetheless though. I would strongly consider Dr. Z EMS if you are looking at an 800 though. That's a really flexible amp with lots of Marshall type sounds, completely hand wired, and built like a tank. Just my 2 cents.
Hello, I´m interested in buying this guitar, but I can´t test it due the stock issues in my country. Could yo tell me the weight of this model? Thanks.
I cannot say that Sire sounds worse. In a blindfold comparison people would barely hear the difference or just made a false conclusion based on their expectations. Like the real Gibson should sounds warmer or louder etc… But in reality you could turn the tone knob a bit and people would say that it is a different guitar. Also Gibson’s tuners are garbage
For me, the concerns are playability and build quality. I’m not a concerned about the “sound”, most likely the pickups are coming out but that’s if it’s a purchase for me. I’ve been looking for a decent affordable option for my buddy’s kid. Sire has the look for sure, have to check one out in hand. I do like the 335 style guitar they make. Nice job man, thanks. 🤘🏻😷🤘🏻 Edit: I did subscribe also. I’m an older cat and you seem to have a no nonsense approach I can appreciate.
Thanks! Build quality is great. Locking tuners very good, works perfect, stays in tune. I have tried a couple different sets of pickups in the guitar since this video. A custom builder low wind paf style and a SD Saturday Night Special set. I think I like the stock pickups better. Good luck to you!
I haven't played one of those, so I can't speak to Sire, specifically, but I've bought about 6 "budget" guitars over the last couple years, and with very minimal setup they play every bit as well as the $4000 Gretsch I used to own. The advent of CNC machines has made making very solid, playable guitars a very affordable proposition.
@@DJBuglip can you please tell me what brands were as good as the gretsch? I genuinely want to know because I’m hunting a great budget les paul style. So far Sire is the top of my list although I really want something with a fat gibson-like neck. The neck on a gibson is what has me wanting one so badly, I just can’t afford anything that high up in price.
@@applesauceblues6952 Seriously, check out the Agiles. 3000 series or higher. You're probably going to want to replace the pickups, switches, and wiring. But you simply will not find better bodies, necks, or frets. 3/4" maple caps on mahogany bodies, and you can even get a neck-through version that plays amazingly. Sounds like bullshit, but I got rid of one Gibson LP because the Agile plays better, and is better built from the factory. Yeah, it needs upgrades in some areas, but you can get the base guitar for $599. Spend $300 upgrading whatever you like (mine really LOVES the Slash Alnico II pickups...it SINGS), and you'll have the equal of any Gibson currently made.
@@alementary4065 but they don’t fundamentally feel the same which is my issue. I need the gibson fat neck and wide chunky frets. I’ve heard agile necks are super slim and not as wide with narrower frets
I've watched this video, yet again, and I must say that the Sire held its own against the Gibsons in that quaint setting. I'm sure that in a Stadium setting the Gibsons would outshine the Sire. With that being said, I do feel that when you played the Trees by RUSH that the Sire sounded the best. I will continue to occasionally chime in with comments as I really enjoy this video tremendously and will often watch it. I have yet to see a video comparing the Sire L7 vs an Epiphone. Can you please do one comparing that gold top Sire against an Epiphone Les Paul in the same price range? Thank you and Happy Holidays to you.
Would love to do an Epiphone comparison, but a couple problems: 1, I'd have to buy one, 2, SW doesn't have any of the normal ones in stock. I did put different pickups in the Sire though, and that might be worth another short comparison, but it would really have to be against the Gibson's again. It might be interesting though because I'd use different amps this time. Last buy not least, thank you very much and Happy Holidays to you as well! Also, might add that I sent my Royer in for repair and would like to get that back before doing another one.
Don't be too sure a stadium would make much difference! There was a headline in October that Mike Rutherford is playing Bullet Strats on the Genesis tour right now. Lightly modified, but he's mostly using the stock pickups. Good enough for one of the biggest rock bands in history! Doesn't surprise me too much; when you're pushing multi-thousand dollar amps/hundred-thousand dollar back-of-house audio/million-dollar arena audio, the sound difference between [$ PAF-style] and [$$$ PAF-style] starts to become a smaller and smaller portion of the overall sound production going on. And Sire's founder has a special focus on pickup making, as well.
I had to give you a like on the video. Great playing. You played Rush! I have the L7 and S7 models. The necks on them are wonderful. On your hypothetical 5k budget at the end, it sounded like you said a Sire strat, but that mustve been a Squire you held up? Cause I thought..my S7 doesnt have a front loading jack :)
Thanks! Yes, it was a fender Strat, but trying to make a point. How do you like the S7? Rush stuff - many moons ago I played in a Rush tribute band and still remember some of the stuff, somehow. 😌
@@AdamGotheridge I have the white S7 and think it looks great and plays very smooth. Rush was my fave band in the 70's and early 80's. Lifting the arm of the record player back and listening to the same part over and over on the record while trying to figure out Alex's part on my guitar. Man, those were the days....
Are you still happy with the L7? I’m seriously considering one but also have an opportunity to buy a Tokai. Playability wise the sire takes it, but does it sound as good? Hard to say.
@@lionelhutz3170 I dont still have the L7, but it is still in the family. I gave it to my kid. He plays the hell out of it. Im an old guy who always wanted a Gibson LP, so I finally got one. I cant say the Gibson is definitively better than the L7 though 😂. Ive never played a Tokai, so I cant give an opinion, but I hear they are nice.
Awesome review and thanks for sharing this 😊..really appreciate it. Fancied a Les Paul with p90 for years ..I'm thinking of going out and getting this very viable option
I don't have a p90 LP either and would love to try the SireL7V which I'm sure would be great. A couple years ago a friend brought over a Gibson lp with p90's and it sounded fantastic in whatever rig I was playing though at the time. And thanks for the thanks! 🙏
@@AdamGotheridge I've had one previously, a custom shop version with p90 ...only one pickup..I have been looking for this sound for years . For me ..nothing better than p90s through a mesa boogie dual rectifier.. thanks for your efforts and response
@@jockster5525 I can imagine. The P90 les pauls, to me, is sort of the great tone of the LP with a little bit of a strat mojo mixed in. Someday I'll get one! 😎
In your previous LP copy videos both the Standard LP and Custom shamed the competition. In this one while the Custom still remained supreme the L7 seemed to spark my ears a bit more (Yes I've had a Custom and two Standards (70's) I'd love to hear a comparison with the new sire L7 with p90's to your standard/
@@AdamGotheridge - Hi Adam- What about the Seymours didnt you like? I`go back and forth with them, had Pearly gates in a neck thtu 25.5 HSH guitar and liked them. But they did have the mid range spike folks talked about that you can eq out ...watched a comparo between 59s and some way more expensive and my cork sniffing brain couldnt hear much if any difference.....thanks again
@@888jimm Nothing against SD, I just didn't like that Saturday night special set. They were bright, but no air, too hot, just kind of no tone. I've had a couple guitars with JB/jazz combo I liked those. Had a 59 a long time ago and didn't like that one. One thing to keep in mind with this stuff is the mic and it's position (or IR) really put sonic stamp on the recorded sound and makes things sound more similar than they really are (imo). Andertons recently did a really good comparison (technically) of speakers, and they all kind of sounded the same, but I have some of those speakers and they are completely different from one another. I think that's just a decent example of that. It's the same way in say this video, it comes out more or less the same, but they are quite different when you play them.
@@AdamGotheridge I'm Irish, Rory is a god to me. Love playing his stuff always a lot of fun. This is the first of your videos I've seen, I'll be sure to subscribe, seriously considering getting the L7 and T7 by sire seem like a lot of guitar for the money
Appreciate that. Since this video, I replaced them with some custom ma/pa pickups and kind of hated them. Then put in a set of Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Special pickups, messed around with pickup height on those a tone, and don't like them at all. Probably going to drop the original pickups back in. They work very well.
So many clean tones, I really appreciate that! Not everyone wants to listen to clipped sounds only.
Thanks, and yes, me too!
The best Les Paul comparison i've ever heard!
Much appreciated!
Im pretty shure if the Sire had a Gibson logo no one can hear a big difference… great playing!!!
Yeah, sounds more or less the same to me too. Thanks!
Also, I’m a designer, so I honestly bought it because the headstock logo looks so much better. And now hearing it makes me stoked :) 🤘🏽
I'm about to be completely honest with you Adam. This was the most entertaining comparison video I have ever seen!!! It was like a magnificent concert!!! Your playing is extra ordinary (an ENTER THE DRAGON reference). I nearly jumped out of my seat when I heard the TREES by RUSH. I considered buying the SIRE gold top but changed my mind until I heard and saw you playing it. Thank you for your video!!!
Thanks, very kind of you. Glad you found it helpful!
I went a similar route...bought the Sire P7 bass after reading/hearing/watching the hype...totally impressed and love playing the bass...it's tone control is amazing, and it's a pleasure to play...next up will be the L7. I have owned a number of Gibson Les Pauls, even worked at Gibson/Epiphone as an Inspector...the Sire represents equal quality of construction and playability, without the premium cost...Gibson makes top shelf instruments, don't get me wrong - but to be able obtain a similar quality instrument at quarter of the price?...no brainer...I also own a USA Strat and love it, but I'm tempted to pick up the S7 as well...they've hit it out of the park with these guitars at this price...thanks for the video!
I think you summed it all up very well. Thanks for sharing that.
I really appreciate your review ! Thank you for sharing !
Thanks for taking the time to say thanks! 😎
Thank you for taking the time to put together the video Adam. Lots of work. Great gear and demo.
@46:00 thereabouts you nailed it with your review.
The Gibsons have more uumph and we're used to hearing Gibsons on the original tracks including the quirks. The Sire was more accurate on the figerboard but a lot less push. It's a Larry Carlton Cursaders blues guitar for all intents considering he inspired the L7 and the genre he normally plays. And would likely fare better on a recording for being more consistent on changes up and down the board to where tweaking the sound is almost limitless.
The Sire definitely falls under a well constructed guitar for $600 that looks like a Paul for those on a budget. Which was Larry's plan.
Most welcome! I think your comments hit the nail on the head.
For me personally, I haven’t been playing it much. Currently mine has emg’s in it and I’m not sure if it’s that I don’t like those pickups, or maybe them in that guitar. Functionally, the guitar is very sound though.
@@AdamGotheridge Of course, you have two of the real thing. Wild guess Larry voiced the pickups so it would sound like his style. The L7 comes across to me like a cross between a Paul and a 335. How he was able to do that is a mystery considering how many pickup winders there are and for decades it's been a crap shoot of what pickup in where. The 335 is not just for jazzers. Van Halen started off with one and IIRC he used one a track. And though there are many artist inspired guitars, IMO, to his credit, Carlton was able to make something where the artist succeeded in making the guitar sound like his sound.
The custom sounds the best clean imo, to be expected, but the sire is pretty great for the money. Seems like the sire started to sound better as you got the feel of it, but might be my imagination. Great playing!
Good point on it probably sounding better the more I played it. Makes sense. And yes, Sire is pretty great for the money. Not quite the Gibson, but a lot less expensive too. As time goes by, I appreciate the locking tuners more and just how the nut was cut. Less messing around with tuning. Thanks!
Great videos very put together sound test on all guitars nice playing reminds me when I was playing in a cover bands late 70,s 80,s I just bought a Sire L7
Thanks, and good luck with the guitar!
And yeah, I'm still stuck on 70's - 80's guitar sounds. 🤘
You're awesome dude! Thanks for the demo. I really appreciate your honesty and no bullshit down to earth style. You come across as a very authentic and sincere person. I really enjoyed your playing too. I'm going to check out your other videos. Keep on rocking!!!
Really kind of you, thanks!
I need to stop watching Sire L7 videos. Im really trying to hold out until the L7V is back in stock, but my brain is trying to convince me to get the L7 with the excuse that i could use a humbucker based guitar in my collection even though i enjoy single coils more. Lol. That GAS can be tricky. Lol. U make the L7 sound awesome, and thanks for providing clean examples!
Thanks. I kind of wish I had the V too, but the hum bucker one is cool too.
Both have quality tones. The big thing is the fact a Les Paul cost over $2000 more dollars than the Sie L7. I know a player that owns several Les Pauls. He no longer plays them after he bought the Sire L7.
They are a great value for sure.
I bought the Sire S3 3 months ago. I am absolutely thrilled with it. I'm playing through a Korg ToneWorks AX1000 Multi-effects pedal board. My S3 so close to the way a Music Man LIII sounds like in overdrive. Has graet clean tones also.
@@user-zn6gz4ub7w Thanks for the valuable feedback, and it doesn't surprise me.
Very helpful! Thanks for putting this together.
Very nice presentation. Thank you, and God bless.
Thanks, and you too!
The gibson sounds incredible with gain, thats all i need to know. For cleans theres always fender, gretsch and acoustics.
The Sire would sound the same with a Classic 57 bridge pick up.
Liked and subscribed! I'm just listening in the dark. I'm not really hearing which guitar your playing. Sire prices so good! Will it just be another guitar that sell in a year or two?
Subscribed because you bother to read and respond to comments unlike many product pushers. Great stuff.
First and foremost, thank you! Second, I don't think a lot of those people have time to respond when they get thousands of comments... it is what it is, but yeah, pretty disrespectful. Third, will you sell it in a year? Yes, and maybe. Is it going to be "the one"? I don't think so. But, it's a great to have around to practice on, it would be a fantastic entry level instrument, and it would be a great guitar to leave in an alternate tuning or say put some EMG's in it and leave it for that purpose. EMG's and some kind of dropped tuning was really why I bought the thing, but it still has the stock pickups and is in standard tuning. ;) I leave it in a bedroom and do exercises with a metronome with it, and I plug it into an Apollo interface and use it with the Friedman BE plugging to learn songs and just practice improvising. It's a fantastic guitar for that.
Maybe most importantly "did you hear a difference"? I thought this would be a lot more revealing and helpful in that respect, but when I did it and listened back, I realized I have some kind of sound in my and I'm trying to get it out of the guitar, and I play them differently and sort of achieve the same result as a recorded product. But, if you put the different guitars at volume with a band in a room, there are huge differences, and I would be reaching for a regular Les Paul, thought really the sire would be fine. Maybe put another way, if I was live in the room and wanted a Les Paul sound and could choose between the sire or my PRS 535, I'm going for the Sire. So it's not like it's bad or anything. Hope that helps in some way.
Really enjoyed the demo, the Sire sounded good, the pups didn't have the output or complexity of the Gibbys, but what a great job it did in the side by side nevertheless!
Thanks! Agree. Pickups in the standard cost more than the whole Sire, so there's that too.
Great vid. Brilliant playing. The Standard seems to have the best sound on most of those examples. Value wise though, the sound is good enough on the Sire. Reliability is to be considered I suppose but huge price difference.
Thanks so much, and totally agree on all your points. Given my druthers, I'm playing the standard. Reliability, I think the guitar is totally sound as I've had it for a couple years now, but maybe yes speaking to the pots or switches being a potential failure point. Not a deal breaker though.
Appreciate the review abs detail!
I purchased the Sire strat. its very nice but i think slightly overprice. pretty sure these guiars are made in the same factory as the Harley Benton guitars which sell for less than half.
In clean tones there's tiny differences but if we just listen without looking it's quite hard to hear the diferences.
Yes. I mentioned it in the video somewhere, but I'm playing each guitar a little different to make a sound I hear in my head, and there's no real way not to do that. I think the results sounds closer than the guitars really are when they are in your hand. They all sound like les Paul's though. 🤘
Man I forgot about the guitars and just listened to the guitarist!
Funny!
I got mine 3 day's ago....
A black beauty with a crystal clear sound...😮
Love it...!😊
Awesome! Hope it brings you years of enjoyment.
You are a great guitarist, Adam! I always enjoy your music and style! 🤘🎸🤘😎🤘
I'm going to get Monica in a video one of these days. :)
Boston!!!!! Yeahhhh I'm sold that sounds Bloody awesome!! magnificent playing good sir!!!
Thank you sir!
Thanks for this demo and great playing. Waiting for a black Sire L7 leftie similar to your Custom but like most, love the Gibson sound. Thinking about Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates pickups but not sure if I’ll need them as stock sounds pretty darn good. The voice on that Custom is so nice and clear. Guess I should have watched this all the way through before commenting. Along with the L7 I’ve ordered a black Sire H7V leftie and the blue T7FM. Not sure how much tone overlap I’ll have which is why I’m waiting to mod the L7. Was going to also order a sire V8 5 string but decided to hold off until I figure out 4 or 5 string. I’ll have to check your channel to see if that’s aV8 you have and what you think about it. As per my user name I’m a GTO fan and love my V8’s. Ok, now that this is over time to hit your channel and find out the rest of the story. Hmmm, where have I heard that before. Awesome review but then I’m biased into thinking the same way you have. Party on Garth, yes I have the other name a it’s my world. Rock on Adam!
I think the GTO is more interesting. 🤘
My sire bass is I think a V5, but can't remember. Thanks
Excellent review. You really gave a diverse review, precisely what I needed to hear. I could hear a tonal difference. Thank you.
Very good all around review and comparison. Currently waiting for delivery of an H7 in cherry finish.
Thanks. Been working on another like video around this to try and make it more useful based on what I learned from this one. It's pretty hard to convey what's going on with an instrument in a video. I'm sure you'll like the H7. 😀
Nice demo man! It would be interesting to know if Sire located the bridge pup in the correct position? I know the Epiphone Les Pauls locate it further away from the bridge.
Son of a gun, they are different. Measuring from the pickup (not the ring) to where the g string crosses the saddle, it's 1.25" on the Sire and .75" on both the standard and custom.
Wow! Great comparison/review. Great playing as well! I'm a beginner/amateur, and they all sound relatively the same to me. I'm buying the Sire L7 Gold Top!!! Thank you, Adam...
Rest assured it's a very good instrument. 🙏🙏
@AdamGotheridge I ordered an L7 Gold Top today. I'll have it within a week. Thanks, once again, Adam, for such a great review. Your playing is definitely inspirational!
Awesome, I think you'll really like it. And most welcome and thanks too!
I just ordered one, only problem is that the only one available was the ugly yellow one. I got no problem with the ugly yellow as long as it meets the quality that I have experianced from other Sire guitars.
Good luck with it, and hop you like it!
I do want to say, it sounds nice, but I also think the LP Standard has the best clarity of the three. Even better than the custom, in my opinion.
Agree!
I don't agree. I think the Sire sounds brighter ( and I love it ❤)
@@nalaetsimba4400 It could be!
Nice back-to-back, thanks. There isn't that big of difference to the sounds in to my ear. They are there, just not enough to convince me to pay 3x's more, (I do own several collector high end guitars but don't gig with them). I just pulled the trigger on a Sire, thanks again.
Thanks, and most welcome. Hope you like it!
The Custom clean sounds the best. More dynamic and body. You even hear the wood. But standard and sire sounds pretty similar. I don't know the feel in the real word.
I've since changed the pickups in the custom to the same in the standard. A like that a little better. Feel wise, they are all totally different, but not uncomfortable so. Lastly, the custom still sounds the most "woody" to me too.
@@AdamGotheridge I have a LP Standard and thinking to buy a Sire with P90 pickups version. Looks fantastic for the price.
@@predigr I think it would be great with p90’s
Wow best guitar review ever. I would love a custom, played one in hugh's blackrock years ago. Best guitar i ever played. Should have bought it. But that sire sounds close man.
Glad you liked the video. I like the Sire, regardless of the price point.
@@AdamGotheridge Had a few...57 standard, 72 reissue (standard) 77 Custom. Before '78 Customs were all mahogany In the early/mid 70's Customs were 2 piece Mahogany no maple cap. The difference is depth. rounder lower mids without the crisp highs. You can hear the difference even between the standard lp and the custom in the video. The standard kind of blows out the low end high range while the custom has a rounder warmer tone with sustain hanging around the low mids. The sire on the other hand is mostly bright with less dynamic range thus requiring less compression but also missing a certain character. . For a "Closer" Custom sound from the Sire consider SD JB's. They offer a slightly higher output and more punch in the low mid range, but you'll lose a little of the crisp high end. More Santana like less Dwayne Allman
@@swishzonetech2551 All those instruments, really cool. Your observations are great, thanks. I ended up swapping out the 498/490 pups in the custom with the same Throbaks I have in the standard. Not really sure of the tone differences yet between them because the std currently has 11s tuned down 1/2 step. The sire, tried a couple other sets and put the stock ones back in. One set in particular, SD Saturday night special, I hated everything about those. I've had the JB in a couple guitars in the past (Hamer and Parker) and liked them.
Sire missing a character - agree. I like it, but it's not as complex a sound.
The Custom is so “open” sounding. What a guitar. The winner was the Splawn. Goodness, what a beast of an amp. Greetings from The UK 🇬🇧🤘🏻
Greeting from the US! My parents were from the UK (Birmingham, WW2 era, I think that's why I mumble ) 😜. The Splawn is a beast, throw it in against drums and bass and it more it just really cuts through and sounds full.. I might add that I had used an old Splawn modded 1959 for a while and I liked that quite a bit more than this one. That was a long time ago though.
YES the splaawn was AWESOME!
I ordered the black one! I just hate pick guards :( I own quite a few LPs and takes me a long time to find ones without the holes
I’m one of the oddballs who likes the pick guard. I kind of learned how to play on a Les Paul with a pick guard and they feel weird to me without them.
with a little bit Equ. tweaking and a Seymor Duncan's Pickups. they are sound very similar. it's all about brand. at 50 feet you dont even notice that you play a SIRE instead a Gibson
The Les Paul Standard is simply the sound of rock and roll. It can't be topped. That said, I would buy the Sure, which sounds very good, get a couple of great studio mics, and make still phenomenal sounding music, only now owning some awesome mics
Good point! It's a very good guitar.
W końcu ktoś gra normalnie 👍💯🎸
Killer to hear some proper tight gain! How is the tuning stability?
I think better than the Gibsons. 🤘Thanks
Thanks for this beautiful demo 🫶🙏🙌 I feel For the money ..sire ❤ but the tone wise les Paul ❤.. both are amazing axe
Thank you, and totally agree! 🙏
Crap, you just reminded me to listen to Rush! Great review. I bought a Sire LP white and its great
thanks, and glad you like the guitar! Rush is always fun too 🤗
Thanks for the detailed comparison and explanation. I would like a L7, just the weight (nearly 5 kilo) might be the showtopper. Is the Sire the heavyweight amongst the LP's you have?
They are all so close that I can't tell a difference. 🙏
@@AdamGotheridge Ok, thanks for the reply!
@@stroopwafel6141 You are most welcome! Good luck!
Easily the best comparison video I've watched. Great job!
Quick but relevant question: Are you built like an elk? Those guitars look kinda small in your mitts.
Thanks, tried to honestly convey my thoughts on the whole thing. Elk - I think I'm looking more like an Elk all the time now that you mention it! 🤘I have pretty big hands, though they don't stretch very far wide. Arm span is weird too, like 7" more than my height. But really, I think I'm just getting old! BTW, I always get a kick out of watching Hendrix play, those necks just look tiny in his hands. Or DiMeola has really small hands, but doesn't seem to hinder him at all. Thanks!
El mejor review. Solo agradecer tu generosidad. Saludos desde Chile.
¡Muchas gracias! Ten un día maravilloso. 🙏
Thank you for the demo. Appreciate all the sound samples and your opinion of the guitar (after you actually owning it for a few months).
Most welcome! How do you like it?
Although the difference is subtle the standard has what it takes to make that difference between a good guitar lick and a great one.
Agreed!
The Sire L7 sounds like it has lower output pickups, a bit softer sounding.
Good ear. Output on the sire is about the same as the standard. The custom is quite a bit hotter. Sire maybe a little warmer, or less present than the standard.
Thanks for a great demo! The best of all the guitar gear channels. Subscribed
Awe, thanks! 🙏
Thanks for the great review!
Most welcome, and thanks.
20:17 End of travel sickness. xD
I just found you channel and I think it's great. Could you please check the box for closed captions for the hearing impaired? Thanks. BTW I love you LP Custom. Always my favorite.
They are on, but the button to display them isn't, so I'm not sure what's going on. Searching around, it seems other people are having the same problem. Thanks though, I never looked at the before. Thanks for the kind words too! And yes, the LP custom is a wonderful guitar.
I got them turned on somehow! Thanks again.
Great comparison video!
Sire L7 at $599 = perfect gigging guitar out of the box. No mods needed. Price, tone, playability.
Gibson Standard $2,700 = classic Gibson tone. Studio quality tracking tone out of the box no mods needed.
With A/B comparison at home using quality headphones/monitors the overall tone differences are noticeable. Let's face it the Standard has that classic Gibson sound we've all come to love. That drive sound is heavenly. In a live setting just hearing one or the other in a full mix it would be difficult to hear much of a difference. The biggest tone differences is the response and articulation of the notes when playing softly not full heavy stumming. In my opinion anyways.
I think you hit the nail on the head. I will say this though... sometimes when things are loud and a band is blaring, all the details can get lost. Sometimes, though, all those little details then make a huge difference. Like play a modeler amp at normal listening volume, sounds great, then play it loud with a band and it's like "where did the sound go". It can sometimes be the opposite with good gear where it really shows what it has to give at volume an in context. Love your thoughts here.
I bet if he puts those same pickups and wiring in the L7 we may be flipping a coin to see which one sounds best.
Excellent job man... ;) Very useful for me...Thx a lot
Thanks, and glad it was helpful!
Sounds great through that Splawn my man! Love the Foreigner & Dokken riffs
Thanks! The Splawn is really cool and it does that one sound really well. On the other hand though, it always kind of sounds like that no matter how you set it.
I cut the resistor for the treble bleed and it made it much better.
Thanks. I did that on my bridge pickup and it was a lot better for me too.
Man where did you learn how to play so good, just the coolest sounds for a demo. now for my sour grapes moment lol most people don't have those high end amps so maybe just a review using an amp like a fender blues jr that more than not might be using. just a suggestion. Peace !
Good point, but it's still comparing guitar to guitar.
"play so good" not so sure, but I do the best I can and have worked on this stuff for decades and continue to do so. It's fun, like a puzzle in a way. Cheers and thanks!
@@AdamGotheridge a broom stick would sound great thru those amps but yeah I get what you are saying, guitar to guitar, Thanks for reply.
Great in-depth comparison. Yeah, the Gibson is still hard to beat, and if you do manage to get your hands on a 2nd hand in great condition, I recommend, I have a Gold Top Studio 50s Tribute with the P90s, pretty much the best GLP you can get for the money! Paid 749.99 plus taxes CAD in 2015 Ok it doesn't have the binding around the body, but it sounds totally amazing!
Your gold top sounds like the bomb. Wish I could find one like that for that kind of money. The one P90 LP I played was super cool. Cheers and thanks!
@@AdamGotheridge Thanks, yeah you can probably find a good condition one used. I also have P90s in my Epiphone E339, sounds amazing. Cheers!
@@russtyruss_i-Invest Yet another vote for P90's! Thanks. ✌️
Despite the sound, how do they stand in term of feel?
Maybe better than the Gibsons.
@@AdamGotheridge Wow... thanks.
I love the sound of the custom.
Thanks. I ended up replacing the pickups with some throwbacks and now it's really something special. Sounded good with the stock pickups too though.
Rush AND Stevie Wonder 😍
I can find no difference between sire and gibson standard but custom one makes great sound. Thanks for the video
Most welcome. They sound a little more different from each other in the room, but yes, pretty close.
I really dig the way you play man. Isn't She Lovely was a very nice tune to pick for the demo.
Thanks! Love those Stevie Wonder tunes, and it's fun to and cop his keyboard vibe on guitar.
L7 ordered in August. Single coil, 10dB boost, and switching choices coming!
Awesome! I didn't know you could spec options like that. Do you have an ETA for it?
You can do that?
Thanks much.The best review I found to determine if buying. Nice playing
Thanks. FWIW, I'm on my 4th set of pickups with this guitar and I think the stock pickups sounded the best by quite a long shot. Currently emg 85/81 and those aren't doing anything for me in this guitar.
@@AdamGotheridge Adam, Вам самому нравится ли играть на этой гитаре Sire L7, или быстро надоедает? Нравится ли она Вам по эргономике, ни тяжёлая от слишком (4,4 кг), по звуку нравится?!.. Или же лучше купить Yamaha RSS20 RevStar?
@@Вадим-з7к7н В целом, мне нравится гитара, но сейчас у меня в ней стоит комплект звукоснимателей EMG, которые я не переношу. Так что я вообще не играю на ней много.
Эргономика как у обычного Les Paul, может быть, немного удобнее. Хотя по ощущениям как Les Paul.
Я не пробовал Yamaha RSS20, но мне нравится ее идея в целом. Держу пари, что это довольно хорошая гитара. Yamaha всегда уделяла внимание деталям и качеству, на мой взгляд.
Удачи, и приятно слышать от вас!
@@AdamGotheridge Спасибо Вам большое! 👍☀️
I love my sire L7😊
Something wrong with the mic you have on clean amp. May be the source of the rattle I hear in the mid range on all the clean samples. Something loose inside the mic maybe? Have a look.
Yes, good ear! The 121 needs to have the ribbon redone.
In Your opinion would you say that the Sires pickups are a bit less powerful than the Gibson. That would lend to more top end and brightness. Gibby has more bottom and mids. I can see LC wanting to voice his pickups to play with a more mid scooped and clean (fendery) amp and the Sire's pickup voices would complement that... just a guess? I am looking to add a 2HB guitar and was leading toward a SG and putting in SD Jazz pickups for that bright, chimey top but this may fill that bill. Id appreciate your insight. Good review here cat.
Great observations and you have really good ears!
Sire pickups, you are right on. They are about the level of the throback's in the standard. Less output than say a gibson bust bucker 1 or 2 for reference. Some of that bottom end in the Gibsons is coming from the guitar itself, I think.
The SD jazz might work well, but I wouldn't say they really have anything on the sire pickups. I had those in the neck position of a few guitars and liked them, so I feel I have a little reference there.
I've been through 4 sets of pickups on the sire (stock, some custom ones (too bright), SD Saturday night special (yuck!), and currently emg 81/85). I liked the sire pickups the best so far. They are closer to my fancy throback pickups than say the burstbuckers.
The sg or l7 - I borrowed a friends stock 64 sg for a while and it was the bomb in every way. So I picked up the normal Gibson 61 sg and it was a real dog. That lead me to getting a custom shop sg and that is decent, but it's not that old sg at all. So I put some $600 throwbacks in that one and didn't get any closer compared to the stock gibson custom buckers that it came with. My 2 cents is that I think in general, and especially for the money, the l7 is a great guitar as stock. Do I like the super expensive sg custom shop more, yes, but that is a ton more money too.
Good luck with whatever you do, and thanks for the insightful comment!
I greatly appreciate your counsel. I'll prob pull the trigger on one of these before long@@AdamGotheridge
@@tylerholloway_gitpikin It's just my opinion, and your results may vary. 👍
Great Job man!! Thank you!!
Thanks and most welcome!
Any experience with Revstars? How do they compare?
no, sorry
I bet that would put a smile on Stevie's face :)
LOVED THE RUSH SONGS THAT YOU PLAYED!!!
Dude, this was awesome!
Much thanks!
Hi Adam, nice playing as always.
How do you get along with that Splawn? I've always wanted to try one but 50% of people say they're stiff and the other say they're good. Will it put up a good fight against a 2203
I like it a lot. Used it for many years on a lot of important gigs and it never let me down. Yes, very stiff and immediate, and I would say not very forgiving. However, I like the articulation that brings. I will say that "that" sound it makes, it's kind of the only sound it makes. Also note, it is REALLY loud. You have to get the master up a little past 9pm for the low end to fill in, and at that point, it is really loud. It's a great amp nonetheless though. I would strongly consider Dr. Z EMS if you are looking at an 800 though. That's a really flexible amp with lots of Marshall type sounds, completely hand wired, and built like a tank. Just my 2 cents.
@@AdamGotheridge Definitely getting me an EMS. Thanks for the response you're awesome....
Wonder if you put a JB/59 combo in the Sire how close it would come to the standard.
It would sound different, and I don't think in a bad way, just different.
Hello, I´m interested in buying this guitar, but I can´t test it due the stock issues in my country. Could yo tell me the weight of this model? Thanks.
Assuming my scale is ok, the L7, Standard, and Custom each way 9.5 lbs. From feel though, the L7 is the lightest and the custom is the heaviest.
@@AdamGotheridgeit sounds good :) Thanks a lot
I cannot say that Sire sounds worse. In a blindfold comparison people would barely hear the difference or just made a false conclusion based on their expectations. Like the real Gibson should sounds warmer or louder etc… But in reality you could turn the tone knob a bit and people would say that it is a different guitar. Also Gibson’s tuners are garbage
For me, the concerns are playability and build quality. I’m not a concerned about the “sound”, most likely the pickups are coming out but that’s if it’s a purchase for me. I’ve been looking for a decent affordable option for my buddy’s kid. Sire has the look for sure, have to check one out in hand. I do like the 335 style guitar they make.
Nice job man, thanks. 🤘🏻😷🤘🏻
Edit: I did subscribe also. I’m an older cat and you seem to have a no nonsense approach I can appreciate.
Thanks! Build quality is great. Locking tuners very good, works perfect, stays in tune. I have tried a couple different sets of pickups in the guitar since this video. A custom builder low wind paf style and a SD Saturday Night Special set. I think I like the stock pickups better. Good luck to you!
I haven't played one of those, so I can't speak to Sire, specifically, but I've bought about 6 "budget" guitars over the last couple years, and with very minimal setup they play every bit as well as the $4000 Gretsch I used to own. The advent of CNC machines has made making very solid, playable guitars a very affordable proposition.
@@DJBuglip can you please tell me what brands were as good as the gretsch? I genuinely want to know because I’m hunting a great budget les paul style. So far Sire is the top of my list although I really want something with a fat gibson-like neck. The neck on a gibson is what has me wanting one so badly, I just can’t afford anything that high up in price.
@@applesauceblues6952 Seriously, check out the Agiles. 3000 series or higher. You're probably going to want to replace the pickups, switches, and wiring. But you simply will not find better bodies, necks, or frets. 3/4" maple caps on mahogany bodies, and you can even get a neck-through version that plays amazingly. Sounds like bullshit, but I got rid of one Gibson LP because the Agile plays better, and is better built from the factory. Yeah, it needs upgrades in some areas, but you can get the base guitar for $599. Spend $300 upgrading whatever you like (mine really LOVES the Slash Alnico II pickups...it SINGS), and you'll have the equal of any Gibson currently made.
@@alementary4065 but they don’t fundamentally feel the same which is my issue. I need the gibson fat neck and wide chunky frets. I’ve heard agile necks are super slim and not as wide with narrower frets
The L7 and the Gibson Custom sounded more alike ... the LP Standard sounded more ambient and warm
Good description, "ambient". I think most people use the term "open", but your description makes sense.
I've watched this video, yet again, and I must say that the Sire held its own against the Gibsons in that quaint setting. I'm sure that in a Stadium setting the Gibsons would outshine the Sire. With that being said, I do feel that when you played the Trees by RUSH that the Sire sounded the best. I will continue to occasionally chime in with comments as I really enjoy this video tremendously and will often watch it. I have yet to see a video comparing the Sire L7 vs an Epiphone. Can you please do one comparing that gold top Sire against an Epiphone Les Paul in the same price range? Thank you and Happy Holidays to you.
Would love to do an Epiphone comparison, but a couple problems: 1, I'd have to buy one, 2, SW doesn't have any of the normal ones in stock. I did put different pickups in the Sire though, and that might be worth another short comparison, but it would really have to be against the Gibson's again. It might be interesting though because I'd use different amps this time. Last buy not least, thank you very much and Happy Holidays to you as well!
Also, might add that I sent my Royer in for repair and would like to get that back before doing another one.
Don't be too sure a stadium would make much difference! There was a headline in October that Mike Rutherford is playing Bullet Strats on the Genesis tour right now. Lightly modified, but he's mostly using the stock pickups. Good enough for one of the biggest rock bands in history!
Doesn't surprise me too much; when you're pushing multi-thousand dollar amps/hundred-thousand dollar back-of-house audio/million-dollar arena audio, the sound difference between [$ PAF-style] and [$$$ PAF-style] starts to become a smaller and smaller portion of the overall sound production going on. And Sire's founder has a special focus on pickup making, as well.
@@AdamGotheridge Which replacement pickups?
@@jerryg.3080 I tried an off brand, small mom & pop set, then a set of Duncan Saturday Night Specials. Ended up back to the stock pickups.
I had to give you a like on the video. Great playing. You played Rush! I have the L7 and S7 models. The necks on them are wonderful. On your hypothetical 5k budget at the end, it sounded like you said a Sire strat, but that mustve been a Squire you held up? Cause I thought..my S7 doesnt have a front loading jack :)
Thanks! Yes, it was a fender Strat, but trying to make a point. How do you like the S7?
Rush stuff - many moons ago I played in a Rush tribute band and still remember some of the stuff, somehow. 😌
@@AdamGotheridge I have the white S7 and think it looks great and plays very smooth. Rush was my fave band in the 70's and early 80's. Lifting the arm of the record player back and listening to the same part over and over on the record while trying to figure out Alex's part on my guitar. Man, those were the days....
@@rogiemac Me too. I used to do it 4+ hours a day, probably 8 on weekends. Still have all the old records, they all scratched to hell from that.
Are you still happy with the L7? I’m seriously considering one but also have an opportunity to buy a Tokai. Playability wise the sire takes it, but does it sound as good? Hard to say.
@@lionelhutz3170 I dont still have the L7, but it is still in the family. I gave it to my kid. He plays the hell out of it. Im an old guy who always wanted a Gibson LP, so I finally got one. I cant say the Gibson is definitively better than the L7 though 😂. Ive never played a Tokai, so I cant give an opinion, but I hear they are nice.
Les Paul still has it to my ears..... Having said that the Sire is certainly value for money and not that far away.
Ditto!
Awesome review and thanks for sharing this 😊..really appreciate it.
Fancied a Les Paul with p90 for years ..I'm thinking of going out and getting this very viable option
I don't have a p90 LP either and would love to try the SireL7V which I'm sure would be great. A couple years ago a friend brought over a Gibson lp with p90's and it sounded fantastic in whatever rig I was playing though at the time. And thanks for the thanks! 🙏
@@AdamGotheridge I've had one previously, a custom shop version with p90 ...only one pickup..I have been looking for this sound for years . For me ..nothing better than p90s through a mesa boogie dual rectifier.. thanks for your efforts and response
@@jockster5525 I can imagine. The P90 les pauls, to me, is sort of the great tone of the LP with a little bit of a strat mojo mixed in. Someday I'll get one! 😎
In your previous LP copy videos both the Standard LP and Custom shamed the competition. In this one while the Custom still remained supreme the L7 seemed to spark my ears a bit more (Yes I've had a Custom and two Standards (70's) I'd love to hear a comparison with the new sire L7 with p90's to your standard/
Me too. 😁
The sound is too similar therefore you need to admit the price has a difference even though the guitars don't !
Thank you!
You are most certainly welcome! 🙂
Very cool demo ,i support your vidéo !!!
And I all of yours!
Very helpful thank you
Glad you found it helpful!
@@AdamGotheridge - Hi Adam- What about the Seymours didnt you like? I`go back and forth with them, had Pearly gates in a neck thtu 25.5 HSH guitar and liked them. But they did have the mid range spike folks talked about that you can eq out ...watched a comparo between 59s and some way more expensive and my cork sniffing brain couldnt hear much if any difference.....thanks again
@@888jimm Nothing against SD, I just didn't like that Saturday night special set. They were bright, but no air, too hot, just kind of no tone. I've had a couple guitars with JB/jazz combo I liked those. Had a 59 a long time ago and didn't like that one.
One thing to keep in mind with this stuff is the mic and it's position (or IR) really put sonic stamp on the recorded sound and makes things sound more similar than they really are (imo). Andertons recently did a really good comparison (technically) of speakers, and they all kind of sounded the same, but I have some of those speakers and they are completely different from one another. I think that's just a decent example of that. It's the same way in say this video, it comes out more or less the same, but they are quite different when you play them.
Is the neck slim like 60’s les Paul or slimmer?
I´m also interested in that
From what I remember of playing the 60's model, I think a little fatter, but not fat by any means. It feels great.
@@AdamGotheridge Thanks
Only into the first clean comparison n already i prefer the sire.
Interesting. Please let me know how you think the distorted comparison came out.
Isn’t it lovely
Bad Penny what a song
I was wondering if anyone would recognize that! Love that old Rory Gallager stuff.
@@AdamGotheridge I'm Irish, Rory is a god to me. Love playing his stuff always a lot of fun. This is the first of your videos I've seen, I'll be sure to subscribe, seriously considering getting the L7 and T7 by sire seem like a lot of guitar for the money
Sorry I was reading the comments, which was which, I missed it !
To my ears the Custom sounds best. They play beautifully too.
Gets in tune, stays in tune , true music to my ears
I hear you. I struggle a lot more with the Gibsons.
Great demo! Thanks Adam!
man the standard sounded good!
In general, I think that's the best sounding of the bunch too.
If I'm being honest the sire pickups sounded better to my ears
Appreciate that. Since this video, I replaced them with some custom ma/pa pickups and kind of hated them. Then put in a set of Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Special pickups, messed around with pickup height on those a tone, and don't like them at all. Probably going to drop the original pickups back in. They work very well.