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Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
Sire Larry Carlton S7
VS
Playability
68
Sound
75
Build
80
Value
64
Score
74
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Playability
67
Sound
69
Build
64
Value
72
Score
67
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Music Man Cutlass RS HSS vs Sire Larry Carlton S7

Reasons to Get
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS over Sire Larry Carlton S7

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Pickups Brand
Music Man vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Fretboard Radius
10'' (254mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Sire Larry Carlton S7 over Music Man Cutlass RS HSS

Release Year
2020 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 10'' (254mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
72 vs 64
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS vs Sire Larry Carlton S7

Bridge Pickup
Music Man Custom Humbucker vs Sire Super-ST Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Music Man Custom Single Coil vs Sire Super-ST Single Coil
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Music Man Custom Single Coil vs Sire Super-ST Single Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Figured Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Figured Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-2 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Compensated vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS vs Sire Larry Carlton S7

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HSS
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
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
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

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
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Sire Larry Carlton S7 Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Music Man Cutlass RS HSS is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Sire Larry Carlton S7's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The Music Man Cutlass RS HSS wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Sire Larry Carlton S7 has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Music Man Cutlass RS HSS.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Sire Larry Carlton S7 is the better choice.

The Sire Larry Carlton S7 meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Music Man Cutlass RS HSS 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

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Sire Larry Carlton S7
  • 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.

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS Overview

  • From Music Man's 2017 Cutlass RS series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Roasted Figured Maple neck
  • Roasted Figured Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Music Man Modern Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass RS Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schaller M6-IND locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sire Larry Carlton S7 Overview

  • From Sire's 2020 S7 series
  • Larry Carlton Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Roasted Hard Maple neck
  • Roasted Hard Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sire Super-ST Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Sire Super-ST Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sire Super-ST Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Sire Modern Tremolo Bridge (2 Post Type) 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

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

Woods Used in the Music Man Cutlass RS HSS

Figured Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Figured Maple

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

Woods Used in the Sire Larry Carlton S7

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple

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.

Winner: Music Man Cutlass RS HSS.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HSS. HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

Pickups Quality

The Music Man Cutlass RS HSS has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Sire Larry Carlton S7. 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 Heavy Metal and similar genres.

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: Music Man Cutlass RS HSS.

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.

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS's switch options
Sire Larry Carlton S7 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Sire Larry Carlton S7'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

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
Pickups 90
Sustain 65
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 75
Sire Larry Carlton S7
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 69

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 Music Man Cutlass RS HSS compares to the Sire Larry Carlton S7.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Music Man Cutlass RS HSS is built in United States while the Sire Larry Carlton S7 is made in Indonesia.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

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: Music Man Cutlass RS HSS

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 Music Man Cutlass RS HSS has a Compensated nut. Each hole where the string sits at the nut is cut at a different distance from the bridge, which compensates for the different amount of tension that each string is subject to. This fixes most intonation issues across the fretboard, so it gives great tuning stability.

On the other hand, the Sire Larry Carlton S7 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 Music Man Cutlass RS HSS 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: Music Man Cutlass RS HSS.

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: Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

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
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sire Larry Carlton S7
  • Locking Tuners
  • Bone Nut
  • Tremolo
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
Quality of materials 81
Features 65
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 80
Sire Larry Carlton S7
Quality of materials 56
Features 65
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 64

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

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS Nut Width
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS Nut Width
Sire Larry Carlton S7 Nut Width
Sire Larry Carlton S7 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Sire Larry Carlton S7 has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 0.7mm (0.029'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Sire Larry Carlton S7, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS and Sire Larry Carlton S7'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

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS Neck Profile
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS's neck profile
Sire Larry Carlton S7 Neck Profile
Sire Larry Carlton S7'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 Music Man Cutlass RS HSS and the Sire Larry Carlton S7 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

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS Fingerboard Radius
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS's Fingerboard radius
Sire Larry Carlton S7 Fingerboard Radius
Sire Larry Carlton S7'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 S7's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Music Man Cutlass RS HSS'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 Music Man Cutlass RS HSS.

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 S7 favors large hands more than the Music Man Cutlass RS HSS.

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Sire Larry Carlton S7:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS and Sire Larry Carlton S7 Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 65
Playability 68
Sire Larry Carlton S7
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 67

Specs Side-by-Side

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS vs Sire Larry Carlton S7
General Music Man Cutlass RS HSS Sire Larry Carlton S7
Brand: Music Man Sire
Year: 2017 2020
Configuration: HSS HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: Cutlass RS S7
Colors: Blue, Brown White, Sunburst, Green
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: Music Man Modern Tremolo Sire Modern Tremolo Bridge (2 Post Type)
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Schaller M6-IND locking Sire Premium Locking Tuner
Fretboard: Roasted Figured Maple Roasted Hard Maple
Neck Material: Roasted Figured Maple Roasted Hard Maple
Decoration: 1/4 Black Or White Face Dots Abalone dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Cutlass RS C-Shape
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" 9.5"
Nut: Compensated Bone
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Sire Super-ST Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Sire Super-ST Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Sire Super-ST Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1