Let’s talk 7 Strings

[Whizzinby]

Since @jellodog revived my Mac with a single button click, it’s new guitar time. I think I’m moving a 7-string up in the queue in front of a strat. (Chuggy time)

Naturally I’ve started the hunt with Schecter. I really dig the Banshee Mach 7. (Non-sustainiac version) Swamp ash, flamed maple neck, 26.5 scale length, locking tuners. It’s about as extreme a look as I’d go for too. (Some of these 7 strings look to be designed for meth fueled serial killers)

The C-7 Blackjack looks AWESOME, but mohogany body, mohagany top, mohagany neck, ebony fretboard makes me think this would be the darkest sounding guitar in the history of man.

The Aaron Marshall sig looks nice, but there seems to be some feedback that there are QC issues with that.

Non schecter I’ve obviously looked at Ibanez, they seem to be pretty safe, especially since I’m a 6 string RG owner already. (They shove Fluence pickups in many of them though, ugh)

I wish I had the stones to buy a Strandberg, but I don’t want to turn into a vegan. They actually look cool, but that’s a big dice roll to see if you’ll gel with something with that body type.

The Mark Holcomb 7 string is a great price, but I don’t recall being overwhelmed by the 6 string the one time I played it a few years ago. Might need to see if my local shop has it and give it another spin.

Anyways, what 7 strings do you guys have and like? What do you guys look for? I just want something 26.5 or greater in scale. Non-fluence pickups. (Which for some reason I just avoid at all cost)

 

[aldunk]

I haven't played one but a lot of people seem to love Solar Guitars, have you looked at any of them?

 

[Whizzinby]

I haven't played one but a lot of people seem to love Solar Guitars, have you looked at any of them?

I have not really considered them, but really only because I’ve never played a Solar of any type before. (None of my local shops carry them and I’ve never seen one out in the wild)

 

[Deadpan]

Only 7 I have is the Holcomb. It's pretty good. Wish the neck was a bit slimmer but I imagine it's the size for a reason.

I really like Ibanez 7s, not the cheap ones though. I have a M80M and it is very nice.

I would recommend a Lundgren M7 if you have the chance. Love that pickup.

 

[Whizzinby]

Only 7 I have is the Holcomb. It's pretty good. Wish the neck was a bit slimmer but I imagine it's the size for a reason.

I really like Ibanez 7s, not the cheap ones though. I have a M80M and it is very nice.

I would recommend a Lundgren M7 if you have the chance. Love that pickup.

Yeah the Schecter Banshee has Lundgrens which I like the idea of.

I was looking at two Ibanez’s on either side of the price spectrum, the Iron Label RGIXL7 and the Prestige RG2027X. Same pickups in both, but a nicer fit and finish on the Prestige obviously. But the Iron Label is a tasty price. (Noting it’s not necessarily a “cheap” guitar, just cheaper)

 

[DrewJD82]

Solar Solar Solar Solar Solar Solar Solar Solar

Unless I came across an Ibanez UV for a killer price, I’ll be going Solar for my next 7-string. And really, the UV would just be because my JEM/UV love, the 26.5” aspect is one I want to avoid in the future and Solar 7’s are all 26.5” and above. Their pricing is stupid good for the quality you get and there’s a bunch of models to choose from!

 

[Whizzinby]

Solar Solar Solar Solar Solar Solar Solar Solar

Unless I came across an Ibanez UV for a killer price, I’ll be going Solar for my next 7-string. And really, the UV would just be because my JEM/UV love, the 26.5” aspect is one I want to avoid in the future and Solar 7’s are all 26.5” and above. Their pricing is stupid good for the quality you get and there’s a bunch of models to choose from!

There are so many Solar model types my head is spinning. lol

 

[mavrick102000]

Just curious on why you want to avoid the sustainiac versions? Is it more of a niche lead tonal characteristic (squashed dynamics) concern?

 

[Whizzinby]

Just curious on why you want to avoid the sustainiac versions? Is it more of a niche lead tonal characteristic (squashed dynamics) concern?

Partly because of the name, and partly because I know very little about it and am skeptical about anything I’m not familiar with.

 

[mavrick102000]

Same here. I've heard them on some demo's, but never played a guitar with them to know if I'd like them.

 

[sleewell]

man i played 7s for a while and am so much happier back on 6s. i'm a dumb noob so its not like i was ever really making use of the few extra notes.

drop C w a bass player is plenty low. i think there are like 3% of the people who actually make a 7 worth it and the rest should just play a bari 6 if you really want to get down in like A, G, or F.

 

[TJontheRoad]

I've owned and either traded or returned 3 7-strings. An Ibanez, Jackson, and Schecter (I forget the model #s). The Ibanez was the most stiff guitar I've ever owned. I felt like playing a rowing oar with zero give. Traded that for a Tele after a few months. The Jackson pickups sounded like total sh1t. It sounded like they were wired out of phase or something weird like that. Returned it. The Schecter showed up with a dead pickup and faulty selector switch. This was the last straw on my 7-string journey. Returned that and never looked back.

Moral is I guess, 7-strings are harder to find a good one.

 

[mbenigni]

Iron Label RGIXL7 [or] the Prestige RG2027X

My first question would be: are you looking for a guitar with a Floyd Rose, or a hardtail? Floating bridges on 7-string guitars can be a bit unwieldy IMO, especially if you expect to change tunings now and again. And they're typically an added expense.

(This from a guy who almost always wants a floating bridge on a 6 string.)

 

[Whizzinby]

My first question would be: are you looking for a guitar with a Floyd Rose, or a hardtail? Floating bridges on 7-string guitars can be a bit unwieldy IMO, especially if you expect to change tunings now and again. And they're typically an added expense.

(This from a guy who almost always wants a floating bridge on a 6 string.)

Hard tail generally speaking.

 

[mbenigni]

Hard tail generally speaking.

So that rules the Prestige RG2027X out - unless I'm missing something and there are two variations.

That's my only question, and as usual I have no answers. I'm not very discerning when it comes to 7 string guitars. I'd probably just walk into a GC and play enough cheapo Ibanez hardtails to find a non-dud 7421 or whatever, and roll with that. But I don't play 7's very often, and when I do, there's almost always enough gain involved to obliterate any nuance in pickup variations, etc.

(Yes, it's arguably a crime against humanity that I own a UV7P. It just sort of happened...)

 

[Alex Kenivel]

I have one of the first run Iron Labels that I'm not necessarily in love with but is overall a good guitar after a bunch of upgrades. I'm just not into thin wizard necks but I've sank enough money into it to keep it.. for when I need to scratch that itch.

I've played some of the more modern Schecters and they seemed really top notch. I remember wanting to try out a Powercab in the amp room at a GC near me so I grabbed a Schecter 7 string (dunno the model) with a single bridge pickup and it played like butter and felt great in the hands. Didn't really know how I felt about the PC but the guitar was great. I almost bought a Schecter 8 string in 2013 and kinda wish I did, the one I played then felt so smooth and was set up so

and I used to laugh at Schecters in the early 2000s...

 

[Gearzilla]

That Banshee is sexy.

…Solars too.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Kinda shocked Fender hasn't jumped into the 7 string market? or have they?
Would be kinda cool to see a 7 string stratocaster, HSS layout.

 

[jellodog]

Kinda shocked Fender hasn't jumped into the 7 string market? or have they?
Would be kinda cool to see a 7 string stratocaster, HSS layout.

The birth of the Alex Gregory 7 string Stratocaster

Alex Gregory is a multi-instrumentalist who was awarded the title "Maestro" by the British government in 1983. He is a renowned musician and, thanks to a couple of patents, he is considered the inventor of the seven strings electric guitar.

www.fuzzfaced.net

 

[FuzzyAce]

The birth of the Alex Gregory 7 string Stratocaster

Alex Gregory is a multi-instrumentalist who was awarded the title "Maestro" by the British government in 1983. He is a renowned musician and, thanks to a couple of patents, he is considered the inventor of the seven strings electric guitar.

www.fuzzfaced.net

Wow, had no idea. His looked a little weird, maybe because of the 24 frets and 3 singles within the 25.5 scale?