First 7string recommendations

[Vermilion.Inc.7]

Hey everyone,
Its my first post so bear with me. I'm looking for my first 7 string, but I'm not sure what I need. I know that I want something not crazy expensive, and something to play in both Drop A and Drop G. I dont entirely know if it's a matter of scale length or string gauge. If anyone has some knowledge about this they could share with me, that would be great

Thanks

 

[bostjan]

Have you played an extended scale guitar before? Low G is going to sound quite a bit brighter and clearer at 27" than at 25.5". If scale length ends up being a consideration, you might want to take that into account as well as ergonomics, pickups, and other spec's.

I know you said not very much money, but what kind of budget are you working with? Jackson JS22-7 money or Used Prestige money?

 

[Vermilion.Inc.7]

Have you played an extended scale guitar before? Low G is going to sound quite a bit brighter and clearer at 27" than at 25.5". If scale length ends up being a consideration, you might want to take that into account as well as ergonomics, pickups, and other spec's.

I know you said not very much money, but what kind of budget are you working with? Jackson JS22-7 money or Used Prestige money?

I'm probably closer to used Prestige. I'm looking for something less than 1500 bucks or so, but this purchase will probably in a few months, more or less. I'm mostly just looking into buying one of these bad boys. I've only played 25.5" scale guitars. I'm mostly just trying to figure out what I need to have drop A, drop G, and whatever else sound good.

 

[bostjan]

That's a good budget. Schecter makes some good stuff in that range, as does Ibanez. Lots of other companies make sevens in that price range that I don't know as much about, too. Lots of people have mixed feelings about Sterling and Legator - hopefully they'll chime in. Of the Sterlings I've tried, most of them were fine, but some of the older ones had a few issues.

What are your feelings about trems? What sorts of pickups do you like or dislike? What kind of music are you playing? What other guitarists would you compare your ideal sound to?

With $1500 to play with, you could consider multiscale (unless you want a trem) - it can offer some of the benefits of having a longer scale at the low end without having to deal with the extra stretch on the other strings - and the shorter scale on the treble strings is something a lot of people say sounds better (27" high E sounds just fine to me, personally).

 

[Vermilion.Inc.7]

I know for certain I do not want a trem. If its a TOM or some other fixed thats great. I've been looking at Seymour Duncan Black Winter passive pickups, or SD Mick Thomson Blackouts. I have a trem on my Xseries Dinky and i think i value the ability to change tuning way more than i do having a trem. I'm more of a rhythm player, mostly metal, but I occasionally play clean. I mostly just want a 7 string to unlock that whole side of guitar, I've figured that drop B isn't low enough haha. I just want to be able to play Korn, Slaughter to Prevail, and stuff like Whitechapel.

 

[Crungy]

IMO, it's really hard to go wrong with an RG 7 string. I preferred the 25.5" scale to the one 27" 7 string I had. The RG's are just more comfortable to me, and I'm happy with the string tension on drop G tuning. Even with regular gauge strings.

 

[wheresthefbomb]

how bad do you really need the high E?

if you're mostly just hammering caveman riffs on the bottom four strings you can skip the 7 and just get a baritone

 

[Vermilion.Inc.7]

how bad do you really need the high E?

if you're mostly just hammering caveman riffs on the bottom four strings you can skip the 7 and just get a baritone

I've never thought about that, I'll definitely have to look into that.

 

[Vermilion.Inc.7]

IMO, it's really hard to go wrong with an RG 7 string. I preferred the 25.5" scale to the one 27" 7 string I had. The RG's are just more comfortable to me, and I'm happy with the string tension on drop G tuning. Even with regular gauge strings.

I really do like the superstrat type shape, I even found a used RG 7string at my local Guitar Center.

 

[Crungy]

There's a lot to choose from if you go that route, and there are some positives to that like a lot of part availability if you wanted to switch something out like a neck, bridge, etc.

 

[AMOS]

I bought a Schecter Damien Elite 7 and changed out the Special with an Original Floyd. It does everything I want it to do.

 

[littlebadboy]

how bad do you really need the high E?

if you're mostly just hammering caveman riffs on the bottom four strings you can skip the 7 and just get a baritone

I agree.

I couldn't get myself comfortable with a 7, so I tried a multiscale 6 for down tuned stuff. I liked it better. It's like having both a baritone and a standard in one guitar with the appropriate scale length where it matters.

 

[Vermilion.Inc.7]

I agree. I couldn't get myself comfortable with a 7, so I tried a multiscale 6 for down tuned stuff. I liked it better. It's like having both a baritone and a standard in one guitar with the appropriate scale length where it matters.

I think I might have to go with a baritone. I just have a feeling that it will be easier for me. I found a cool Ibanez, I've found a good Solar Guitar but the Evertune bridge bothers me. The Ibanez is way under my budget while still being built well, with some light mods it seems perfect.

 

[littlebadboy]

I think I might have to go with a baritone. I just have a feeling that it will be easier for me. I found a cool Ibanez, I've found a good Solar Guitar but the Evertune bridge bothers me. The Ibanez is way under my budget while still being built well, with some light mods it seems perfect.

Try one out first. I had an Ibanez RGIB6 which I liked a lot! But, I was having a hard time with the spaces even at the higher frets. But, I have small hands.

 

[Vermilion.Inc.7]

Try one out first. I had an Ibanez RGIB6 which I liked a lot! But, I was having a hard time with the spaces even at the higher frets. But, I have small hands.

I'll look around. I'm looking for a 27" to a 28" or something. I found this ibanez that's pretty dope. I think ima go huntin' around my local guitar stores and see if I can find some baritone guitars to try.

Thanks!

 

[littlebadboy]

I'll look around. I'm looking for a 27" to a 28" or something. I found this ibanez that's pretty dope. I think ima go huntin' around my local guitar stores and see if I can find some baritone guitars to try.

Thanks!

Look at the used section of Guitar Center on-line. If you see something you like even from a faraway branch, have it shipped to your nearest branch. They have a generous return policy. If you don't like it, just return it and consider the shipping cost as renting the guitar.

 

[TheBloodstained]

I immediately thought of these 3 when I saw your headline:
Schecter Reaper 7 Multiscale
Ibanez RGIXL7-BKF
ESP LTD M-7HT B Black Metal

They all have 27" scale (the Schecter 25.5"-27"), so they should be suitable for the low tuned stuff
I'm going to be jealous as fuck if you post a NGD with any of those in the near future!

 

[eaeolian]

I immediately thought of these 3 when I saw your headline:
Schecter Reaper 7 Multiscale
Ibanez RGIXL7-BKF
ESP LTD M-7HT B Black Metal

They all have 27" scale (the Schecter 25.5"-27"), so they should be suitable for the low tuned stuff
I'm going to be jealous as fuck if you post a NGD with any of those in the near future!

The only one of those I've played is the LTD, and I thought it was rather good for the price point. If, you know, I got on with 27" scales.

 

[Isaiah04]

Have a look into Schecter, they have pretty affordable 7 strings with some new affordable multiscale models on the way.

 

[Vermilion.Inc.7]

Have a look into Schecter, they have pretty affordable 7 strings with some new affordable multiscale models on the way.

I was looking at an E7 Apocalypse, but after I asked my band mates they said it looked tacky. Its definitely still in the running for me though.