Sire S3 BK – Larry Carlton Signature Black Electric Guitar

The Sire S3 BK embodies the collaborative vision of legendary session guitarist Larry Carlton and Sire’s engineering team, delivering a modern S-style instrument that respects tradition while meeting contemporary performance standards. Its gloss-black alder body offers balanced resonance and a timeless stage presence, complemented by a roasted maple neck that feels instantly familiar in the hand. A satin finish along the neck back eliminates stickiness under hot lights, letting players move effortlessly from low-register rhythm work to upper-fret solo passages.

The 9.5-inch-radius roasted maple fingerboard hosts 22 medium-jumbo frets, each hand-dressed for smooth transitions and precise intonation. Rolled edges further enhance comfort, encouraging hours of fatigue-free practice and performance. Under the hood, a custom-voiced HSS pickup array—two single coils and a beefy bridge humbucker—covers sparkling cleans, throaty mid-gain blues, and high-gain lead tones with equal authority. A five-way blade switch plus master volume and tone controls place an expansive palette at your fingertips without complicating onstage adjustments.

The two-point synchronized tremolo features a cold-rolled steel block that maximises sustain while preserving vintage-correct snap and bloom. Paired with locking tuners and a genuine bone nut, the bridge holds tuning admirably, even under aggressive dive-bombs or flutter techniques. An ergonomic contoured heel grants effortless upper-fret access, and deep body carves keep the guitar light and well-balanced for marathon sets.

Electronics cavities are fully shielded to suppress hum in challenging club environments, while full-size potentiometers provide a smooth sweep for volume swells and tone shaping. Straight from the factory, the S3 ships with low action and 10-46 strings, making it stage-ready the moment it leaves the case.

Specification