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Yamaha PAC1611MS
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM
VS
Playability
72
Sound
72
Build
69
Value
66
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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Playability
67
Sound
69
Build
64
Value
72
Score
67
FIND IT ON:
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Yamaha PAC1611MS vs Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM

Reasons to Get
Yamaha PAC1611MS over Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Pickups Brand
Seymour Duncan vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickups
HH vs HSS
High output without hum
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.839'' (21.3mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.906'' (23mm) vs 0.94'' (23.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.594'' (40.5mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM over Yamaha PAC1611MS

Decorative Top
Flamed maple veneer vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2020 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSS vs HH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.9'' (22.9mm) vs 0.839'' (21.3mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.94'' (23.9mm) vs 0.906'' (23mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.594'' (40.5mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
72 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Yamaha PAC1611MS vs Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan STHR-1b vs Sire Super-ST Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N vs Sire Super-ST Single Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Yamaha PAC1611MS vs Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
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

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • 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 FM Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Yamaha PAC1611MS is probably the better product overall with its final score of 71 compared to the Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The Yamaha PAC1611MS wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

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

The Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Yamaha PAC1611MS meets only 5. 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

Yamaha PAC1611MS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM
  • 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.

Yamaha PAC1611MS Overview

  • From Yamaha's 2014 Signature series
  • Mike Stern Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 7.25" Fretboard Radius
  • Light Ash body
  • Maple neck
  • One-Piece Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan STHR-1b (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Hardtail bridge
  • PAC1611MS Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh SD91-05M-L tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM Overview

  • From Sire's 2020 S7 series
  • Larry Carlton Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed maple veneer top
  • 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 the Yamaha PAC1611MS

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Woods Used in the Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM

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: Yamaha PAC1611MS.

Pickup Configuration

The Yamaha PAC1611MS has an HH configuration while the Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM has HSS pickups.

Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

On the other hand, 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 Yamaha PAC1611MS has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM. 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 Blues and similar genres.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Yamaha PAC1611MS'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: Yamaha PAC1611MS.

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

The Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM gives you 5 switch options while the Yamaha PAC1611MS gives you 3. This means that the Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

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

Yamaha PAC1611MS pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Yamaha PAC1611MS's switch options
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM'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: Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Yamaha PAC1611MS
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM
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 Yamaha PAC1611MS compares to the Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Yamaha PAC1611MS is built in Japan while the Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM is made in Indonesia.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

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: Yamaha PAC1611MS

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.

In this case, both have Bone nuts. 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.

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.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

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.

The Yamaha PAC1611MS's brige is a 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.

On the other hand, the Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM's is a 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

The Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM has the best tuners of the two because they are 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: Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM.

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
Yamaha PAC1611MS
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM
  • 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

Yamaha PAC1611MS
Quality of materials 66
Features 50
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 69
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM
Quality of materials 58
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

Yamaha PAC1611MS Nut Width
Yamaha PAC1611MS Nut Width
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM Nut Width
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 40.5mm (1.594''). This is a 1.5mm (0.06'') difference

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

Scale Length

Yamaha PAC1611MS and Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM'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

Yamaha PAC1611MS Neck Profile
Yamaha PAC1611MS's neck profile
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM Neck Profile
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM'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 Yamaha PAC1611MS and the Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM 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

Yamaha PAC1611MS Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha PAC1611MS's Fingerboard radius
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM Fingerboard Radius
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM'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 Yamaha PAC1611MS's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM'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 Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison are balanced for most hand sizes.

Yamaha PAC1611MS:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Yamaha PAC1611MS and Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM 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

Yamaha PAC1611MS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 72
Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 67

Specs Side-by-Side

Yamaha PAC1611MS vs Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM
General Yamaha PAC1611MS Sire Larry Carlton S7 FM
Brand: Yamaha Sire
Year: 2014 2020
Configuration: HH HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Indonesia
Series: Signature S7
Colors: Natural Black, Blue, Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Light Ash Alder
Bridge: 6-Saddle Hardtail Sire Modern Tremolo Bridge (2 Post Type)
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh SD91-05M-L Sire Premium Locking Tuner
Fretboard: One-Piece Maple Roasted Hard Maple
Neck Material: Maple Roasted Hard Maple
Decoration: Dots Abalone dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: PAC1611MS C-Shape
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.839'' (21.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.906'' (23mm) 1st Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm) - 12th Fret: 0.94'' (23.9mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 7.25" 9.5"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 40.5mm (1.594'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan STHR-1b (Humbucker / Passive) Sire Super-ST Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Sire Super-ST Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive) Sire Super-ST Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1