Fender Player ii Strat vs Sire Larry Carlton S7V

[@bridgey3706]

I like the pickups in the Fender better.

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

Much more chimey and bright.

[@nvs6177]

I played a Player II today at my local Guitar Center and I thought it was fantastic. While watching KZbin comparisons are great and useful, I still think it's important for people try it for yourself. I know everyone doesn't have access to music stores, but for those that do it's worth playing it for yourself.

[@daviddalziel884]

Agree about trying guitars yourself . I finally got to play a PRS DGT SE and was so disappointed after all the great reviews/hype , then played a Revstar Standard with P90s which was great and a better bet than the DGT . Love to see a Silver Sky SE v Fender Player comparison-my money is on the PRS .

[@davidturzi3236]

J’ai une Player 2 stratocaster, j’ai toujours aimé les Fender. Ce sont des chefs-d’œuvre vraiment très réussies. Léo Fender était un génie.

[@jroobz]

the sire looks like the fender but melted. Fender all day, plus the colour is lovely

[@TheMcstevester]

I mean accurate but a dumb reason to choose a guitar

[@fruitykrueger]

@@TheMcstevesteri mean that’s a valid reason. Afterall in the same price range what really matters is which one look the most aesthetically pleasing to you, or else you won’t be playing it lol

[@jroobz]

@@TheMcstevester most important thing is that the guitar looks cool

[@syrup3299]

the sire is incredibly well built but those pickups can't hold a candle

[@daithi48]

Am I old fashioned? My preferred way to gauge a Fender guitar is to hear it with a clean tone though a good tube amp! 😊

[@SomeoneCalledRob]

I prefered the sound of the Fender pickups.

[@el_Gee]

I have beeeeen waiting for this comparison

[@worthmoremusic]

Another difference is that the Sire has locking tuners and a bone nut and for $200 more STILL Fender cannot give you those two features. I prefer the Sire's necks...It's basically what feels good in your hands. Having the big "F" on the headstock is less important to me.

[@bluwng]

It is important to you just in the opposite direction. Not a Fender lover but a hater where as I am indifferent.

[@BkBk-gy6vr]

My guitar sounding good is worth the extra 200.

[@worthmoremusic]

@@BkBk-gy6vr I'm glad.

[@uktmaxx]

i do have an S7FM... but apart from the humbucker, the S7 kills it!

[@hrebejk.p]

It’s a shame that the Sire’s headstock is just so damn ugly.

[@strumminronin]

Thanks for sharing! I have the plain Player and have wondered about the new version. Your video has helped me decide what I want most. Thanks!

[@perrins57]

The two seem very close, except the price - with over £200 difference, you’ve got to want the Fender name on the headstock a lot.

[@andbenitz]

I do! Just bought my first Fender (a Player Series), it was an old dream!

[@perrins57]

@@andbenitz Enjoy your new guitar!

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

I preferred the sound of the strat, apart from the high E choking out due to fret buzz

[@TheBbtlegit]

Oh im so glad you did this comparison. I interested in both these guitars.

[@thealissabilal]

You’re a fantastic guitar player! The intro jam was amazing

[@jr0706]

The Sire sounds like the tone is slightly rolled off compared to the Fender. I prefer the actual Strat tone.

[@FGg503]

After only watching a short bit of this video, its apparent to me that the Fender Player 2 has a better, clearer tone overall. Having said that, the Sire Larry Carlton can hold its own too.

[@perrins57]

It does have a clearer tone - whether that is better is personal choice. Many people use the tone knob to dampen down the treble on a Strat, the Sire's tone may be nearer to what some are looking for.

[@bluwng]

At the price point Fender needs pop in vibrato arms and rounded heel joint with locking tuners.

[@therangersinger]

The string spacing at the nut and the nut width maybe the same but spacing at the saddles is likely wider on the Sire. As well as the neck may widen out more toward the dusty end compared to the Fender.

[@shaunhughes2]

Wow, the Fender has a rich fullness to the sound and tone compared to the Sire

[@AmericanNationalist852]

Not to mention the Sire is hideous

[@kebotrans]

I own both. The Fender Pickups sound better to me. The Sires are great. In this comparison the Fender pickups sounded better.

[@telekarma]

What Fender does really well imo is colors. Wish Sire copied that.

[@Horseheadbookendz]

I liked the sound and looks of the fender more

[@ringo1234567]

Fender Is great

[@AperaturePriority]

I don't know why I'm watching this, I actually want a Robert Cray Stratocaster ... (Edit: the Fender sounds brighter?)

[@guitarsfunmods3986]

The middle bridge position are both identical, but the middle neck of sire is darker. Maybe the neck pickup of Sire is hotter than fender.

[@BrentAdams]

I've owned a few Fender Strat guitars over the years...and every time, I ended up NOT bonding with it. I finally found a couple of G&L Guitars that I love! If the Sire felt better in my hands than the Fender I'd be going for that without question.

[@adriandavidm.guillen3825]

The Strat sounds like a Strat should, the Sire is like an enhanced version of it, more modern

[@glenngertz9429]

A few years ago I purchased a Sire short scale bass and it was fantastic . When I needed a new S style guitar I purchased a Sire S7 after reading good reviews . Unfortunatly the S7 was a dud . It sounded dead and also broke high E strings at the nut over and over . I could have fixed the string breaking problem but it was still sonicaly a dud . It got sent back sadly . I purchased a Mexican made strat and it is wonderful . The Fender is also nicer to look at .

[@bluwng]

The Sitar thing has to be at the bridge end.

[@christian_oz]

The sitar issue would annoy the hell out of me, more than the skunk strip finish. Otherwise, beautiful looking guitar.

[@Robert_Fordin]

Fender sounds better.

[@mscfsb]

I own a S7V. I think the tone pot is either rolled off, or has a faulty pot. Mine sounds nothing like this. Unless I dial the tone down. 🤔👍🏻

[@harvey785]

I have a Fender Pro II & 3 Sire S7's... Love the Strat but I find myself playing the Sire guitars most of the time. (incidentally I suspect the sitar noise is due to the saddle - I had a similar issue on one of the Sire's & solved it with very fine sand paper.)

[@somerandomguy180]

I recently had the Sire S7. Although the neck and spec was nice, it was quite dark sounding, and had too much fret buzz leading to an uncomfortably high action. I returned it for a Silver Sky. It's night and day. There's too much emphasis on spec these days (understandable as we buy online a lot more) rather than the overall quality and sound of the instrument. The Silver Sky QC was clearly miles ahead. Mexican strats IME have many of the same issues: inconsistent and generally poor QC and materials.

[@kaekayyy2554]

I defo feel the sire is just the better choice...but those fender pickups do noticeably sound better to me

[@faethe000]

When did people decide to say "comfortability" instead of just "comfort"? It's not a real word, and now it's everywhere when it's just making "comfort" longer for no reason.

[@drjay927]

All words are made up buddy

[@faethe000]

@@drjay927 Making up a 6 syllable word that means the same as its base 2 syllable word makes no sense.

[@drjay927]

@@faethe000 there's a lot of things in english that don't make sense. I wouldn't lose sleep over it

[@derelictconfusion9498]

It is what it is

[@CitizenOfEverywhere]

That ‘sitar thing’ is surely fret buzz. Maybe not enough relief in the neck, or the action is too low, or a high fret. Nothing that can’t be fixed, but if you have to pay for a setup, that obviously more money (if you can’t do it yourself). I’d expect a £700 guitar not to need that.

[@PelicanIslandLabs]

The Fender (assuming you get a good one) will have way better resale value. I personally much prefer the features and looks/tones of the Fender.

[@andrewchristie6483]

Hi JNC, love these comparisons, great insight for all of us who don’t always get the chance to play these instruments sided by side. Thank you. Looking for a bit of advice along the same lines if you can spare a few moments… about to buy a 335-ish style guitar £500-£1000. Saw your Epi 335 & Sire H7 video, which was really useful, but I’m really considering an Ibanez AS113. Wondering if you’ve come across it and what you think v the Sire. Like Fender, Ibanez also do the rolled edges but add a bone nut on the 113 version. Cheers.

[@davidturzi3236]

La Stratocaster et la Telecaster sont un patrimoine de l’humanité. Elles sont sublimes.

[@Reese_Kyle]

Tried an S7 and definitely fells and plays like a super strat. For my taste, if I need a super strat, I prefer the AZ a lot more. Looking forward to try the player II and compare it with the Vintera II.

[@ThatOtherAndi]

Sounds like the strings on the Fender are fresher or the pickups on the Sire sound noticeably duller. I prefer the looks of the Sire and the sound of the Fender :)

[@rayarmstrong4350]

Most important thing is ACTION/ACTION HEIGHT....never discussed. Most important for mine as action height and playability is the FIRST interaction in terms of playability. Are they 2mm or over under 2mm at 12rth fret?

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

John, if the Fender didn't have the unfortunate QC issues and you had a gig tonight, would you take that, or the Sire?

[@tadask.4931]

Soundwise Fender sounded like… fender. Sire sounded like fender with terrible pickups - muffled and too mid scooped. I guess thats what Sire compromised on - electronics.

[@J.D....]

The sound doesnt even matter too much for me at either price point, since i would probably switch the pickups out for fraylin or lollars.

[@johnnyguitar-uu3zr]

👍👍👍👍🎸🎸HI John. I have been thinking of getting the new Player II but the HSS what do you think about the HSS model ? I'm not a big fan on the fender bridge thin sound so i thought maybe having the humbucker in that position i would like ...let me know thanks ...

[@luislazaro1071]

great playing!!!

[@AnDr3vV7]

Have a player 1 strat. Ive tried really hard to like it but i always seem to lift the ASAT i have instead. I have a sire bass and it blew me away so been debating an s7 recently. Problem is i want the sherwood green one but its only available in the HSS s7 (for lefty anyway) ive seen loads of videos of you with the s7 vintage, have you ever done a s7 hss vs vintage comparison? Is the difference significant other than that humbucker in the bridge?

[@fr3ak1shh]

You'll have to do a comparison with the S5 when it comes out. Basically an S7 without the roasted maple.

[@user-jy3io4iz2p]

Love Sire (got S3 myself) but that Fender is very nice and the colour is spot on 🤠 $800-ish for that Fender may just be perfect 😎 And resale...got no idea since I am no flipper, I buy for keeps.

[@stephanguitar9778]

Cant get over the horses head headstock on the Sire, only needs some ears on it to complete the picture.

[@BkBk-gy6vr]

Those Carlton head stocks are a deal breaker for me.

[@stephanguitar9778]

@@BkBk-gy6vr Yep, however doesnt look so bad on those with the non roasted maple headstocks

[@StopTheRot]

I like the blue one

[@RighteousRocker08]

Difficult isn’t it. Quality, features, and overall feel seems better by far on the Sire, but the Fender just sounds better! The really did right first time

[@James-eb7kp]

I have the Sire S7 it is very good. I prefer the sire neck. Fender looks and sounds good except for the high E string.

[@tonedowne]

The Sire is way darker. Sounds like the tone is rolled off compared to the Fender.

[@raybartell9807]

They both sound pretty close, but the sire is superior quality. I have a fender and a sire and I can tell you positively the qualities better on sire

[@Hickeroar]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think everything about the Sire looks better than the Fender, including the headstock.

[@paulallen9375]

I'm gonna throw a spanner in the works and say try the g and L s500 tribute. Awesome guitar !!!

[@ksharpe10]

yeah that would be a Good one same price Range.

[@LivinginLosAngeles-re5yx]

The Sire tones just have something extra to them.

[@PaoloC.]

wow the fender is way brighter, for me in a good way.

[@Hickeroar]

It's weird because it seemed to get way darker halfway through the video. In the intro it was *slightly* darker, but later I was initially convinced he had the tone knobs rolled back before I saw him check that. Kinda weird. In other videos I've seen of the Sires, they seem to be a lot brighter.

[@PaoloC.]

@@Hickeroar yes maybe it's when he went straight into the interface without amp sims, so you get the full range of the sound of the pickups.

[@kebotrans]

I purchased my new Fender OTD 650. I feel like that is a fair deal for what I got

[@adolfredomusic]

Honestly the sire guitars seem better assembled and with better atention to detail. That said, the stock pickups on the fender sound way better. But all advanced guitar players will replace either for something better anyways. So the better value for money would be sire!

[@tenebroruncr4374]

I have had the Schecter NJ and other brands and like the Fender tone none, especially in clean. They sound different.

[@thelolguy007]

Maybe compare the new Harley Benton Pro S type to the Sire. They certainly look alike. Especially with that top oversized horn

[@dutelatte2154]

I like the Sire but I would like a compound radius and other colour, also an HSS would be perfect for me, I love the anodized gold. The crack near the neck is common even on higher end fenders.

[@perrins57]

One of the reasons for the crack at the neck joint is people picking up their Fenders by the neck and swinging them into playing position. Same thing when putting them back on a stand. Get into the habit of putting a guitar into playing position with one had around the joint and it's a lot less likely to happen.

[@dutelatte2154]

@@perrins57 right I'm not sure about that, I have an american deluxe, always in the hard case when not playing and always pick it up from the joint because it's heavy so yeah, but as you said "less likely" anyway I think it's common to see those cracks in the paint.

[@TrueSaiyen]

Buy the Sire and put the Fender pickups in it :)

[@Gearhart_Music]

It looks like Fender has gone back to larger frets. I have an original Player Series strat and I don't love the frets they have on those, but the guitar overall is pretty nice. I do need to have a level and crown done on it now after several years of gigging.

[@alessiograziani6355]

I prefer the tone of the Fender, it is much brighter

[@jimlansa7098]

the fender has a clarity and chime,the sire is muffeld compre to it

[@PaoloC.]

maybe on the Sire is the string spacing larger.

[@donlennon8513]

I played a used Larry Carlton a few days ago...almost bought it for $445....

[@Steven205]

The sire's play great, but I can't get into their pickups at all. Easy modification, but still upsetting that one has to do that.

[@picksalot1]

The Sire sounds strangely muddy/muffled. 🤷

[@GoranPantic]

Is it just my headphones or the Sire sounds like it has a tone pot rolled off? To me it sounds much much worse than Fender at least on this video...

[@GoranPantic]

Now that I'm thinking about this... To me, Sire guitars always sounded more bright if anything - not more muddy as this one sounds. Really strange...

[@mscfsb]

The tone pot is definitely rolled off. I have 4 sires, including the S7V. Which sounds nothing like this one. Unless I dial the tone down ! All the Sires have bright pickups. Which they usually get criticism for in other reviews. I also own a Fender Pro 2. There is very little difference if any in build quality between it and the Sires. Apart from the Sires necks feel better and they have locking tuners. Where the Fender doesn’t, and was nearly 4 times the price. I’m not knocking the Fender. I love it. But the Sires are a brilliant instrument. IMHO.

[@johnplaystheguitar123]

can you please try a levinson sceptre vendana version 2. they're 359 pounds and sometimes on sale. another one to try are soloking guitars i think andertons have them.

[@davidfaustino4476]

There's no excuse for high frets on any guitar made today. I'd have sent it back immediately. That's one of the first things I look for when trying a guitar.

[@eocha24]

Fender sounds and looks so much better

[@alfredcakeburn1166]

Pre owned the Sire is wortheless. Thats the clincher.

[@ksharpe10]

Fender is calling it BIRCH GREEN, we been kinda bandying about with Pea Green, lima Bean Green and Guacamole/Avocado GREEN. It does sound awful good but so does the 129 dollar flat black one to. JOHN proving The player and the gear down the Chain of sound makes it, The Amp. modeller, and the Technical expertise of JNC, Britain's/UK Best Guitar Player to me Right now. But I do like Ansley Lister quite well to, Great Singer/composer. Roasted Wood is always a bit of a premium, and it does look nice for sure, my Strandberg Selan/tele has the Roasted. That Green one is Amber colored like vintage Strats. Where Roasted is special Oven Cooked Wood, supposedly it is more Stable with Roasted/SUPPOSEDLY. That Sitar thing SUCKS for sure. JOHN is in LOVE/LUST for the LIMA BEAN GREEN!!! BIRCH GREEN is Fender proper, I assure you will NOT find a vintage Fender in BIRCH GREEN, must be one of the CAR COLORS Though, like a 50's ERA 2 TONE CAR. Maybe it was an OLDSMOBILE Color. MAYBE get CHRIS at K LINE to do you a SPRINGFIELD in BIRCH GREEN??? ONE for his FAVORITE SALESMAN!!!!

[@jaymax3201]

For £700 I would go for the Saito Guitars SR22.

[@juanmacaceres2702]

Now more than ever I'm starting to prioritize playability and feel more than anything. I'm selling two Gibsons, one is a Custom shop, because my mexi Strat plays better, plain and simple. I've also given up on regular nickel frets, I'm done with luthiers, fret jobs and nonesense. I want to buy an Ibanez Az Prestige, should be more than enough for the rest of times.

[@user-xk8xr8gs4f]

The Fender clearly sound better.

[@VEV-cu6no]

Bet you wouldnt be able to tell the difference in a blind sound test

[@shaunhughes2]

I wasn’t watching the video, just listening in the background. When he started playing the Sire I quickly turned to the screen because the tone just wasn’t there compare to the Fender

[@KennedyIvy]

Highly agree. The sire sounds muddy

[@thegreatgigindisguise4446]

@@VEV-cu6no wasn't watching it either. I literally looked up to see which of the two started to sound like it was muted somewhat.

[@misterreality]

One sounds muddy, but not bad. The other rings out. I wouldn’t be unhappy with either, but cosmetically Fender just looks amazing. Playability, I’ve yet to play Sire, but I enjoyed the few player IIs that I tried over the weekend. You can’t go wrong with either.

[@jeikomanuel]

Silver sky se vs fender player II vs sire please jsjsjs

[@predigr]

Fender is taking advantage so far of their stunning beautiful guitars to offer less for the same money. Sire has a body shape you will only see in fender ultras for 2K+, and roasted maple neck you only see in limited editions or alike. Rolled edges is also a reserved feature for 2K+ fender guitars. Unfortunately, if you want to have a beautiful guitar, you need to go for Squier or Fender. All other alternatives are inferior in that sense. I would also include sound, that even Squiers can sound absolutely amazing, much more "straty" than other alternatives.

[@racerx3065]

The Player II actually has rolled edges!

[@spacepodi]

The fenders are always the prettiest, but seldom the best value for the buck.

[@zaprodaju1661]

Fender sounds better. Period

[@MayonnaiseOreo]

The Fender sounds dramatically better than the Sire. I know Sires get recommended a lot but I think they're so ugly and their bodies look cheap. I know it's all subjective but those weird head shapes with the super dark wood look really off too. I imagine most people would prefer the Fender, even if it didn't say Fender on the guitar.

[@sudkreuz7570]

no conparison between pu... fenders are wayyyy beetter

[@ddaudio9938]

Fender

[@Nocturnal_Sun1999]

Im not a fan of the Sire's extended upper horn. It looks out of place and that alone is enough reason for me to not buy one.

[@andrewbecker3700]

Paid $700 for an NF3 that dusts them both off the map. Otherwise its just my Cutlass CT50 HSS for S type guitars. Never even considered other models. No value in them.

[@sicilianmammalian]

I have a player 1 neither of these want to make me sell my guitar

[@kyran4238]

No need for this many wraps on vintage styled tuners <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="215">3:35</a>

[@Sonny_AA]

The Nick Johnston gives you the nice neck joint, excellent neck, locking tuners for the same price. Fender, like Gibson is a dedicated lifestyle brand that is 60% nostalgia marketing and 40% repacking of the same designs from the last 70 years with the slightest of tweaks. Classic Tuners? "Slightly" rounded fretboard? Low effort ...people need to stop rewarding this kind of thing.

[@BradMiller007]

The Sire looks better made

[@varanzmaj]

I gotta say, the Fender sounds noticably better. In fact it's the first Mexican strat that I've heard that doesn't sound....."plastic". So yeah, if all of those new Player 2's sound this good, they have finally gotten the Mexican built strats to a decent place.

[@uktmaxx]

the Sitar thing is 100% a fault...

[@tbone2451]

Sire sounds nice. Pick guard is ugly as are the aged plastics.

[@netzarim1277]

I think the sire is a better quality guitar, however I like more the tone of the fender. If the site pickguard is aluminum then that can explain the dark tone….so replace the pickguard and it should get very close to the fender.

[@jaredlackey9177]

You can buy a Ford Mustang or a very nice car that looks like a Mustang but isn't...

[@Simbosan]

The Sire sounds very muffled and whoofy, not a fan