Larry Carlton S3 HSS BK New Gen

Larry Carlton S3 HSS BK New Gen: Technical Review

The Larry Carlton S3 HSS BK New Gen is a black electric guitar listed at a price of 377. The product has been available since September 2025. Its specifications describe a mahogany body, a maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, 22 frets, and a tremolo. The detailed pickup description specifies a humbucker at the bridge and single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions.

This review is based only on the supplied product information. No customer reviews are available, so there is no user feedback to draw on for conclusions about playing feel, tuning stability, sound quality, or long-term reliability. The dimensions and hardware details can be assessed as listed, but they do not establish how the instrument performs in practice.

Body, Neck, and Fingerboard

The body is made from mahogany, with no separate top listed. The neck is maple and attaches to the body with a bolt-on joint. The fingerboard is rosewood, with dot inlays and a stated radius of 241 mm, equivalent to 9.5 inches. The neck profile is described as a C shape.

The scale length is 648 mm, or 25.5 inches, and the nut width is 42 mm, or 1.65 inches. These measurements provide useful points of comparison for players checking instrument dimensions against a preferred setup. The specifications do not include neck thickness measurements, fretboard edge treatment, or details about the finish, so those aspects cannot be evaluated from the supplied data.

The guitar has 22 medium jumbo frets. That identifies the stated fret type and count, but there is no information about fret material, leveling, or setup at the factory. Those details can affect playability and should be checked on the individual instrument rather than assumed from the model specifications.

Pickup Configuration and Controls

The detailed specification lists one Sire H-S-S humbucker in the bridge position and two Sire H-S-S single-coil pickups in the neck and middle positions. It also lists one volume control, one tone control, and a five-way switch. Together, these details describe an HSS pickup arrangement, with a bridge humbucker and two single coils.

There is a discrepancy in the supplied information: the short specification summary labels the pickups as SSS, while the detailed description explicitly identifies an HSS arrangement. The product name also includes "HSS." The more detailed pickup listing points to HSS, but the inconsistency should be confirmed with the seller before purchase if the exact configuration is important. No pickup output, magnet type, wiring options, or control-circuit details are provided, so specific tonal claims would go beyond the available evidence.

Tremolo and Hardware

The guitar is specified with a two-point tremolo and chrome hardware. The listing does not provide a brand or model for the bridge, nor does it explain the tremolo's construction, adjustment range, or recommended use. As a result, the presence of a two-point system can be noted, but its stability or feel cannot be judged from the specifications alone.

There is no included bag or case. Buyers who need protection for transport should account for a separate purchase and verify that the chosen bag or case fits the instrument's dimensions.

Specifications at a Glance

• Body: Mahogany, black finish, no separate top listed
• Neck: Maple, bolt-on construction, C-shaped profile
• Fingerboard: Rosewood, dot inlays, 241 mm radius
• Scale and nut: 648 mm scale, 42 mm nut width
• Frets: 22 medium jumbo frets
• Pickups: Detailed listing says bridge humbucker and two single coils
• Controls: One volume, one tone, five-way switch
• Bridge: Two-point tremolo, chrome hardware
• Included protection: No bag or case

Verdict

The listed specification gives the Larry Carlton S3 HSS BK New Gen a clear combination of a mahogany body, maple bolt-on neck, rosewood fingerboard, 25.5-inch scale, and two-point tremolo. Its detailed pickup description indicates an HSS layout, although the SSS summary entry creates an unresolved catalog inconsistency. At a listed price of 377, the supplied information supports a practical specification comparison, but not a performance verdict. Confirm the pickup configuration and inspect the instrument's setup before buying.