New Guitar! First 7-string.

[pro-fusion]

Re: New Guitar! First 7-string.

I just got a used RG7621 (the fixed-bridge version) at GC for dirt cheap because they mistook it for an RG7321 (the current cheapo Korean version). I've owned a 7620 before, and I think the fixed-bridge version sounds a lot better.

As far as the various stuff in this thread goes:

--the pickups in the 7620 are indeed the "New 7", or the "Custom 7" as they were called in some literature. Much different than the Blaze pickups. Not bad, but not as good as the Blaze.

--I've heard differing things on the whole "American basswood" issue. It may just be that Ibanez selects better pieces of basswood from their stock for the Universe--which they damn well better, given how the Universe costs. Whatever the case, the Universe sounds dramatically different than the 7620--more resonant and 'alive', in my experience, though some of that might have to do with the front-mounted electronics creating a bit of sound chamber.

--the neck on the 7620 is a different shape than the neck on the Universe. Vai doesn't like the ultra-thin Wizard profile, so his signature guitars typically have slightly thicker necks than the RG guitars. They're both nice necks, though, and the 7620 has the advantage (in my opinion) over the Universe in having much bigger frets.

[paddok]

Re: New Guitar! First 7-string.

So i'm heavily considering picking up one of these RG762X's which should i get a trem or non trem version?

[Chrisb]

Re: New Guitar! First 7-string.

Asswood doesn't have bad tone but its very very soft and dings easy. I just don't think structurally that its a very good wood for long term use. Thats a nice guitar for the price though. As for 7 string stuff to impress your friends....Nevermore would likely impress your nu-metal friends. But Vai (if your that good) and Petrucci (from Dream Theater) use 7 strings. I think for example that Dance of Eternity by Dream Theater is played on a 7 string.

[pro-fusion]

Re: New Guitar! First 7-string.

[ QUOTE ]
So i'm heavily considering picking up one of these RG762X's which should i get a trem or non trem version?

[/ QUOTE ]

That depends on whether you use a trem very often. If you do, you can't really go wrong with a 7620, since it has the best commonly available 7-string trem, the Lo Pro Edge.

In my experience, the low-B string on a seven is sharper and clearer on guitars that don't have trems. This increased clarity and attack is also true on fixed-bridge sixes, but you notice it a LOT more on the low-B string on a seven.

[pro-fusion]

Re: New Guitar! First 7-string.

[ QUOTE ]
Nevermore would likely impress your nu-metal friends.

[/ QUOTE ]

Uhh, ok. I tend to think that Nevermore would scare the shit out of most nu-metal fans, but that's just me. Jeff Loomis and Steve Smyth are absolutely fantastic seven-string players--easily in a league with any other shredder. I don't hear anything nu-metal about Nevermore.

Vai doesn't use the seven that much, even though he basically invented its modern incarnation. Petrucci definitely does some kickass seven work--in fact, I don't even know why he bothers with a six anymore.

[Chrisb]

Re: New Guitar! First 7-string.

I dunno why but alot of my friends who like nu metal (the heavier nu metal though) like Nevermore. They think Dream Theater is cheesy but I always get the "holy shit those guys fuckin rule man!" when I play Nevermore for nu-metal fans. Hey I don't get it either but there it is.

[BallsOnParade]

Re: New Guitar! First 7-string.

[ QUOTE ]
So what is the best 7 string for the money? In the used less than 600 market.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm partial to the ESP LTD H-207, personally, and I've played some Ibanez, BC Rich, and Schecter 7's as well, but my H-207 beats them all, playability and tone-wise...

[pro-fusion]

Re: New Guitar! First 7-string.

I would go for a RG7621 over an H-207, personally. Typically, you'll have to get extra fretwork done on LTDs to make them playable with low action, and they come with horrible stock pickups. The RG762x series comes with much better fretwork and real DiMarzios that sound pretty decent, even if they're not quite as good as the aftermarket DiMarzio 7 pickups.

On the other hand, the H-207 is made of ash, I believe, so it's going to have a bit brighter, snappier tone than the basswood RGs--might be a good option if you don't mind putting some work and money into it.

[BallsOnParade]

Re: New Guitar! First 7-string.

well, pickups are purely subjective, but the Duncan Designed(s) in my H-207 sound quite nice in my rig, and for me, the neck profile is excellent, it's a 7 string that's not too difficult to play, it made the transition from 6 to 7 very easy, and it just felt like a more solidly built guitar over the Ibanezes and BCR's, only the Schecters had them beat in the construction department (but had baseball bats for necks!), while the Ibanezes and BCR's felt like beginner guitars...

[siggy14]

Re: New Guitar! First 7-string.

[ QUOTE ]
well, pickups are purely subjective, but the Duncan Designed(s) in my H-207 sound quite nice in my rig, and for me, the neck profile is excellent, it's a 7 string that's not too difficult to play, it made the transition from 6 to 7 very easy, and it just felt like a more solidly built guitar over the Ibanezes and BCR's, only the Schecters had them beat in the construction department (but had baseball bats for necks!), while the Ibanezes and BCR's felt like beginner guitars...

[/ QUOTE ]

Personaly i think it is all in your head, not in a bad way, but alot of people think ibanez and they think cheap guitar. Well let me tell you i owned one of them and have played many 7 strings since, and the 7620's blow away most every 7 strings out there in playibility and sound. Even with the basswood body it still sounded great, the only 7 string i liked better was an ibanez S 7 string.

I tried both the ESP and the Epiphone/gibson V 7 string and most every other one on the market and none had the playibility of the ibanez.

But then again i guess it all comes down to the neck you like, i prefer the super thin wizard necks. I wasnt a big fan of the stock pickups, but they sounded better then most pickups out there in other guitars.

As to built, those RG7620's were top of the line and built like a tank and nothing on the guitar felt or looked cheap, the trem on that alone blows away most guitars in general.

[noodlesatf]

Re: New Guitar! First 7-string.

[ QUOTE ]
I dunno why but alot of my friends who like nu metal (the heavier nu metal though) like Nevermore. They think Dream Theater is cheesy but I always get the "holy shit those guys fuckin rule man!" when I play Nevermore for nu-metal fans. Hey I don't get it either but there it is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Probably because Nevermore has a very modern sound that blends in well with a lot of genres. I could see them doing well with both new and old metal bands, as well as the metalcore bands. True, they'll blow most of them off the stage if you're dumb enough to follow them, but it's not their fault that they're so talented. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I know when I first heard them, it was a total revelation to me. I saw the way to bridge the gap to a completely modern sound, without having to sacrifice what made heavy metal great back in the 80s.