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Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional
Sire Larry Carlton T7
VS
Playability
73
Sound
77
Build
74
Value
80
Score
75
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Playability
68
Sound
67
Build
62
Value
71
Score
66
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Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional vs Sire Larry Carlton T7

Reasons to Get
Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional over Sire Larry Carlton T7

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Seymour Duncan vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.905'' (23mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.944'' (24mm) vs 0.94'' (23.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Fretboard Radius
10'' (254mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
80 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Sire Larry Carlton T7 over Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.9'' (22.9mm) vs 0.905'' (23mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.94'' (23.9mm) vs 0.944'' (24mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 10'' (254mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional vs Sire Larry Carlton T7

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Hot Tele vs Sire LC super-T Single Coil
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Hot Tele vs Sire LC super-T Single Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Headstock
R6 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional vs Sire Larry Carlton T7

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Roasted Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
SS
Beautiful cleans
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Sire Larry Carlton T7's 66 score, although not by a lot.

The Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Sire Larry Carlton T7 in every aspect.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Sire Larry Carlton T7 is the better choice.

The Sire Larry Carlton T7 meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional meets only 6. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Sire Larry Carlton T7
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional Overview

  • From Chapman's 2021 Pro series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Roasted Maple – Dark Colour neck
  • Roasted Maple – Dark Colour fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Hot Tele (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Hot Tele (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Chapman String-Through Tele-Style with Brass Saddles bridge
  • C Shape Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Hipshot Grip-Lock Open (18:1 Gearing) tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sire Larry Carlton T7 Overview

  • From Sire's 2021 T7 series
  • Larry Carlton Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • North American Alder body
  • Roasted Hard Maple neck
  • Roasted Hard Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sire LC super-T Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sire LC super-T Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Vintage T Bridge(Saddle : Brass) bridge
  • C-Shape Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Sire Premium Locking Tuner tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are SS. SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

Pickups Quality

The Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Sire Larry Carlton T7. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Country and similar genres.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional's and use them on any guitar:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional and Sire Larry Carlton T7 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional and Sire Larry Carlton T7's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional
Pickups 100
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 77
Sire Larry Carlton T7
Pickups 70
Sustain 65
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 67

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional compares to the Sire Larry Carlton T7.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional is built in South Korea while the Sire Larry Carlton T7 is made in Indonesia.

South Korea was for many years the number one choice for mass-producing semi-premium guitars. They can build excellent guitars for a cheap price. Now, it's less common to find Korean guitars because Indonesia has proved capable of building guitars just as well, but likely for cheaper.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional has a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

On the other hand, the Sire Larry Carlton T7 comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

They both have locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Strap Lock
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sire Larry Carlton T7
  • Locking Tuners
  • Bone Nut
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional
Quality of materials 81
Features 70
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 74
Sire Larry Carlton T7
Quality of materials 56
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 62

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42mm (1.654'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional and Sire Larry Carlton T7's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional Neck Profile
Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional's neck profile
Sire Larry Carlton T7 Neck Profile
Sire Larry Carlton T7's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional and the Sire Larry Carlton T7 have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional Fingerboard Radius
Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional's Fingerboard radius
Sire Larry Carlton T7 Fingerboard Radius
Sire Larry Carlton T7's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Sire Larry Carlton T7's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional.

Still, both are closer to a Stratocaster radius than a Les Paul, so both of them will favor chord playing rather than soloing.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Sire Larry Carlton T7 favors large hands more than the Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional.

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Sire Larry Carlton T7:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional Frets Size
Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional's Frets Size
Sire Larry Carlton T7 Frets Size
Sire Larry Carlton T7's Frets Size

The Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Sire Larry Carlton T7's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 75
Playability 73
Sire Larry Carlton T7
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 68

Specs Side-by-Side

Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional vs Sire Larry Carlton T7
General Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional Sire Larry Carlton T7
Brand: Chapman Sire
Year: 2021 2021
Configuration: SS SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea Indonesia
Series: Pro T7
Colors: Sunburst, Black White, Sunburst, Red, Yellow
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder North American Alder
Bridge: Chapman String-Through Tele-Style with Brass Saddles Vintage T Bridge(Saddle : Brass)
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Hipshot Grip-Lock Open (18:1 Gearing) Sire Premium Locking Tuner
Fretboard: Roasted Maple – Dark Colour Roasted Hard Maple
Neck Material: Roasted Maple – Dark Colour Roasted Hard Maple
Decoration: Glow-in-the-Dark Side Dots with Black Infinity Abalone dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: C Shape C-Shape
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.905'' (23mm) - 12th Fret: 0.944'' (24mm) 1st Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm) - 12th Fret: 0.94'' (23.9mm)
Frets: 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" 9.5"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Hot Tele (Single Coil / Passive) Sire LC super-T Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Hot Tele (Single Coil / Passive) Sire LC super-T Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1