Guitar Gear ReviewsLarry Carlton S7 FM See Thru Red New Gen
The Larry Carlton S7 FM See Thru Red New Gen impresses with its looks and versatility but may need professional setup for optimal playability.
★★★★☆ 3.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 6 min read · updated 2026-09-28 · Tested by Cal Whitaker
Shipping and duties
The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.
Scores by area
Where it shines, where it stumbles
What convinced me
- Attractive see-through red satin finish with flamed maple top
- Versatile electronics with humbucker and single-coil pickups
- Compound radius fingerboard enhances playability across all positions
- Premium locking tuners offer stable tuning
What bugged me
- Some units arrived with poor setup, requiring professional adjustment
- High string action may affect out-of-the-box playability
- No bag or case included
Is it the right one for you?
Good pick if
Ideal for players who value modern features, wide tonal range, and aesthetics, especially those who can perform or budget for their own setups. Suited for gigging musicians seeking versatility and stage presence.Look elsewhere if
Not recommended for beginners or anyone seeking a flawless instrument out of the box. Less suitable for those unwilling to handle or pay for additional setup or fretwork.Suggested level: Intermediate
Specifications
- Color
- Red
- Body
- Alder
- Top
- flamed Maple
- Neck
- Maple
- Fretboard
- Rosewood
- Frets
- 22
- Scale
- 648 mm
- Pickups
- HSS
- Tremolo
- 2-point
- Incl. bag
- No
- Including case
- No
What other players say
Customer feedback is mixed. Some praise the instrument's finish and performance at gigs, reporting no defects and great value for the price. Others are dissatisfied with the high string action, uneven frets, and the need for immediate repairs or setup, leading a few to return the product.
I was so pleasantly surprised that I bought it in red as well. Both guitars arrived without defects and well set up.
The guitar looks great and feels good in the hand. Unfortunately, it has some issues. It arrived unadjusted, and the string action is high.
After a professional setup, action improved only slightly. Fret and nut work required extra repairs at additional cost. One of the strings broke immediately.
Up close
Watch and listen
Questions players ask
Does the S7 FM See Thru Red New Gen come with a case or gig bag?
No, neither a case nor a gig bag is included with this guitar.
Is the guitar ready to play out of the box?
Some users report high string action and recommend a professional setup for best performance.
What pickup configuration does this model use?
It features a humbucker at the bridge and single-coil pickups at the neck and middle positions for a wide tonal palette.
How stable is the tuning?
The guitar is equipped with premium locking tuners, which provide good tuning stability with proper setup.
What is the neck profile like?
It has a Modern C-shaped bolt-on maple neck with a compound radius fingerboard, improving comfort and speed.
Larry Carlton S7 FM See Thru Red New Gen: Technical Assessment
The Larry Carlton S7 FM See Thru Red New Gen aims to combine visually striking features with a spec sheet focused on versatility. With a transparent red satin finish highlighting its figured maple top, the guitar maintains a modern aesthetic. Under the surface, its ash body paired with a figured maple top and a maple neck suggests a tonal palette built on clarity and snap, with a design clearly influenced by contemporary superstrats.
Construction and Hardware
- Body Material: Ash (providing warmth and even mids)
- Top: Figured maple (adds brightness and attack)
- Neck: Maple, bolt-on construction (for added snap and midrange)
- Fretboard: Maple (reinforces top-end sparkle and attack)
- Inlays: Simulated pearl/abalone rounded block markers
- Frets: 22 medium jumbo
- Hardware: Chrome
- Tremolo: Two-point system
- Tuners: Sire premium locking machine heads
The neck sports a C-shaped contour, which caters to a wide range of hand shapes without feeling overly vintage or too flat. The fingerboard's radius shifts from 9.5 to 14 inches, making chording comfortable in lower positions and bending effortless as you move up the neck. Hardware choices, including locking tuners and the modern tremolo, aim for reliable tuning stability, a welcome inclusion at this price point.
Electronics and Versatility
- Pickup configuration: HSS (humbucker in bridge, single-coils in middle and neck)
- Pickups: Sire LC Super-ST humbucker (bridge), Sire LC Super-ST single-coils (middle, neck)
- Controls: 1 volume, 1 tone, 5-way switch
An HSS configuration makes the S7 FM adaptable for various styles, from cleaner rhythm tones to driven leads. The Sire LC Super-ST humbucker offers fat, powerful tones in the bridge, while the single-coils in neck and middle provide crisp, glassy sounds expected from alder and maple. The five-way switch yields classic Strat-inspired versatility, morphing smoothly between all five positions without abrupt volume drops or tonal inconsistencies.
Setup, Playability and Field Impressions
Several user reports point to the guitar arriving with a serviceable factory setup, though not every instrument ships perfectly dialed in. Most reviews agree that the out-of-the-box action is on the higher side, and lowering the bridge sometimes introduces fret buzz, particularly on the G string. These issues appear to stem from fretwork that is inconsistent in height across certain batches, occasionally requiring additional investment in a professional fret level and bone nut adjustment to achieve optimal performance. Some players find the guitar usable as-is, while others opt for a professional setup, which significantly improves playability but increases the total investment.
On the positive side, the instrument ships free of major manufacturing defects. The build quality, as observed by gigging musicians, is consistently robust. The maple neck feels immediately comfortable and the compound radius facilitates both rhythm and lead work. Aesthetically, the transparent red finish is praised for both its striking appearance and subtlety, the figured maple top stands out without veering into ostentation.
One commonly noted downside is the inclusion of outdated factory strings, and at least one user experienced immediate string breakage, necessitating a full replacement. No gig bag or hard case is supplied, so prospective buyers should plan for additional protection if the guitar is to be gigged or transported frequently.
Final Verdict and Value Proposition
Priced at 777, the Larry Carlton S7 FM See Thru Red New Gen offers a blend of showpiece looks and practical specifications geared towards professional and semi-professional players. At this price, the quality of fit and finish stacks up admirably against competitors in the intermediate market. However, buyers should be aware that some guitars may require additional setup work to reach their full potential, particularly regarding fret finishing and nut adjustments.
The inclusion of a two-point tremolo and locking tuners are strengths rarely seen at this tier, and the electronics package delivers the tonal flexibility demanded by modern gigging musicians. While the lack of included gig bag or case is a minor oversight, the guitar's construction and hardware make up for it in daily use.
Who Should Consider This Guitar?
- Players seeking a modern, versatile superstrat platform.
- Those comfortable investing in a professional setup for best results.
- Anyone attracted by the blend of figured maple visual appeal and flexible electronics.
Overall, the Larry Carlton S7 FM See Thru Red New Gen competently bridges the gap between aesthetic allure and solid performance, just budget for a fresh set of strings and, if you are particular about playability, a setup from a skilled technician.
The last word from the bench
The Larry Carlton S7 FM See Thru Red New Gen pairs striking aesthetics with a flexible pickup configuration, making it suitable for a range of musical styles. However, inconsistent factory setups and high string action out of the box may disappoint some buyers, especially those unable to perform their own adjustments. When professionally set up, it proves gig-ready and sonically diverse. The absence of a case is a drawback in this price range.
Hanging next to it
Before you decide
Larry Carlton S7 FM See Thru Red New Gen
Today's price and delivery time are shown at the retailer. Affiliate link, your price does not change.