Jeff Loomis Sig is HERE!!!!!!!!

[pro-fusion]

I've played both a Hellraiser-7 and an 007 Elite, and they have extremely similar neck profiles. Of course, the 007 has a shorter 25.5" scale, so it feels a bit different. Nice guitars--I've owned a Hellraiser before, but I couldn't get used to the 26.5" scale. If the Loomis had a 25.5" scale, I'd already own one.

[DarkSaga]

hey pro-fusion,

Could you describe the difference in feel and playability between the 25.5" and 26.5" scale 7's????

Since Jackson will only do 25.5" scale lengths and I want to order a Custom 7 from them... I would like to know if there is really any difference in sound, playability, feel, string tension, etc etc between the 2 scale lengths that really matters or makes much of a difference.... Thanks!

[pro-fusion]

Could you describe the difference in feel and playability between the 25.5" and 26.5" scale 7's????

The main difference is that the strings have noticeably more tension, which is great for the low B, but not so great (IMHO) for the higher strings. You get a much clearer, cleaner note overall, but I find the tone on the 26.5" guitars to be somewhat stiff and lifeless as a result. This particularly affects me because I like to play a lot of legato stuff.

If you like lots of string tension, you'll love the 26.5" scale. Also, the difference in fret intervals is noticeable on 26.5, but not that big a deal, whereas you really have to work harder on 27" scaled guitar to play scales with 4-fret stretches or more anywhere below the 12th fret.

[DarkSaga]

Hey pro,

Thanks for the run down on the differences in the scale lengths!!!

[DarkSaga]

Ok, so I took better pics and I also wrote a more in depth review and posted it over at sevenstring.org so here it is!!

Hope you guys enjoy it and find it useful!!! First...... Pics!!!!!!!!!!














Review:
1= shit 5= Perfect


Finish: Red Vampyre Stain -5

Pros: It looks even more fuckin badass in person and when my friend pulled it out of the box at GC...... I got wood!!!!!! It is a beautiful dark blood red stain which is pretty metal looking!!! It has a Satin Finish so it is not all shiny which is cool because it doesn't m make all of oils and gunk from your hands and such stand out like they do on gloss finished guitars!
Cons: NONE!!!!!!


Body: Ash -4

Pros: The body is surprisingly smaller than I thought it would be which is a good thing since I am a small little fella and was a little scared of it looking huge on me, but it looks quite normal on me.
The contoured/arched top is beautiful and perfectly carved and every route is clean and precise (most likely all CNCed)
The Volume knob and 3 way switch are also recessed into the body.
The lower horn is cut low enough to give you great access to the fretboard at the 24th fret.
The neck heel is very comfortable and very natural feeling when playing up near and on the 24th fret.

Cons: One problem with the body is where your forearm rests on it. The body kind of digs into your forearm a lot and is a little annoying. But my arm is geting use to it and I will probably be getting a arm band to help make it feel more comfortable. I really wish that Schecter would have contoured/beveled that area though to make it more comfy on the ole arm :wallbash:
Another personal thing for me is the volume knob placement..... It is ok and I have gotten use to it being sooo close to where I pick from playing my USA Jackson Warrior, but why are guitar companies putting the knobs so far up on the body???? My hand runs into it once in a while, but it is more of a little nit picky thing/ pet peeve of mine than anything else.
Also, the lower horn cut could have been cut a little deeper in giving you total access to the 24th fret. The access is great and better than on some of my other 24 fretters, but your hand still rubs against the body a little to play the last couple frets. the access is great, but could have been a little better.
Finally, the cavity covers on the back are plastic.... I would have prefered brushed metal ones!

Neck: 3 piece Maple neck Set Neck- 5


Pros: Ok, so when I was first saw the neck on this baby........ I shit a brick right there in GC!!!! I played Nateb's Hellraiser 7 a couple weeks before and the neck felt great! Since the Loomis is basically a Hellraiser I was even more stoked that the neck would be the same or very similar to my friends Hellraiser. At first sight... the neck looked like a baseball bat and I was kinda freaking out since I have small little girl hands
So I took it home and played it for 3 hours straight and WOW the neck was surprisingly comfortable everywhere on it. It shreds!!!!! Even for my little girl hands!!!! I did a side by side comparison and the neck is basically the same as the Hellraiser except it is very very slightly bigger because it has a little bit more of a C shape to it.
Plus the satin finish on the back of the neck feels so smooth and is a lot faster/better feeling to play on than the hellraiser. The neck is Veeery Nice and also has a cool looking volute under the locking nut!!!

Cons: None really other then that the neck might feel even more baddass if it was thinner:scratch: :scratch: but it feels great to me the way it is.


Fretboard: Maple w/Black Binding and black Metal Cross Inlays-5


Pros: The Maple board, black binding and inlays look SICK!!! I love it:shred:
Everything is perfect.. the binding is perfect along the neck and the inlays desoign is cool looking along with the inlay job itself is phenominal and looks flawless. They almost look painted on... that is how good of an inlay job it is:metal: Also the fret work is perfect too:yesway:

Cons: None


Bridge: Original Floyd Rose 7 String Trem System-5


Pros: I love Floyds and this guitar has my favorite one on there. It was one of the few main reasons why I was interested in the Loomis Sig.
It actually came with 4 springs in the back trem cavity from the factory.
The locking nut is perfectly positioned and installed!!!
Nothing more to say really!!!

Cons: None from me

Pickups: Dual EMG 707's-5

Pros: Well, I for one love EMG's and they sound killer in the guitar and even more so with the 18 volt mod I wired up. the bridge 707 is clear, articulate, dynamic, defined, and crushing and the neck 707 is clear, warm, articulate, defined, smooth...... You either like EMG's or you don't.... I love them!!!!!
Cons: I think I read somewhere that the guitar actually has to have a special route because of the housing of EMG's is bigger than usual....so I guess if I wanted to switch to another brand, then they might look stupid/out of place in routed cavity or I might have to drill holes in the body to add a pickup ring to hold the new pups.

Tuners: Grovers - 2

Pros: Luckily the guitar has a locking nut so the tuners are bypassed and just basically hold the strings!
Cons: They pretty much suck Donkey Balls!!!! More so with a guitar without a locking nut!! They move a lot and cause a lot of tuning problems!!!

Overall/Playability: 4 and a 1/2
I am loving this guitar more and more everyday and it would be the perfect guitar except for some little things that I mentioned above in the review. If you are seriously interested in getting one then I would recommend talking to Nick over at Piney Hills Music Studios and he could get you one for $899 and probably throw in a free case with it unlike everyone else online that sell it without a case!!!
Thanks and enjoy the pics/review and as a bonus here is a little something extra that I made to make the Loomis it a little more of my own:shred: :shred:



-Jeremy

[Thoraby]

Any idea when these will get to Europe? Can't find em in sweden or german web-shops. Worst case of GAS ever.

[kelly user]

is that a ping, because word has it all the new floyds are pings, and if they are, that sucks!!!!!!!!!!

[petedz]

What's a ping?

[Thoraby]

What's a ping?

check this link out. I can't see why they would be any worse than the originals, if they use identical materials?? Brass Blocks are an improvement even...

http://www.meanstreetguitars.com/floyd_rose_tremolo.htm

[Sunbane]

check this link out. I can't see why they would be any worse than the originals, if they use identical materials?? Brass Blocks are an improvement even...

http://www.meanstreetguitars.com/floyd_rose_tremolo.htm

The choice of manufacturer can account for notable differences if they have different standards for tolerances. And brass blocks have always been on the OFRs - but they were nickel plated. Ping peddlers just use the unplated blocks as a marketing hype.

[elrrek]

Sort of off topic folks, but I got a C7 Blackjack recently and I like it a great deal.

Not had it too long but I was recording at the weekend so put some new strings on it. Following the advice on the Schecter FAQ for their 7 strings I got a set of 10-59s (they say their low B is actually a 56) but I'm finding the strings a bit "light".

What with the 26.5 scale length I think the strings should be heavier, anyone got an opinion?

On topic - if I could afford it, I'd have one of these Jeff Loomis models in a flash. It looks amazng and the specs are fantastic.

[kmanick]

I used to have a Hellraiser 7, Now I have a Carvin 7.
The hellraiser is a 26.5 scale length, the Carvin 25.5.
I used 10-56 on the Schecter.
9-56 on the Carvin.
the 26.5 does have more tension, but I din't find it to be much of a
problem "bending", or getting my vibrato going on it. I do like the extra
room you get up high on those schecter necks, makes soloing up there a
bit easier.
I had 10's on my Carvin when I first got it but it just seems to play better
with 9's on it so I have those on there now.

If this Loomis model was available when I ordered my Carvin, I probably
would've just gotten one of these instead. They're pretty great playing
guitars. I had no problem at all with the "big neck" that the Ibanez sissies
always cry about.

DarkSaga , I know what you mean about the 'forearm" issue, I also noticed
on the Hellraiser that that back of the top horn isn't rounded either (like a
traditional strat or dinky) so when playing sitting down it sometimes dug
into my chest.

Congrats!
now put up some clips I wnat to hear what this thing sounds like, I may
end up getting one yet.

[horns666]

Nice guitar, very cool..

Nice to see my favorite metal player get his due with a extremely cool sig axe!!

I'm playing the hell out of my Jackson 7 lately..sounds amazing with the Uber. I'm trying to get anywhere close to Jeff's level..

I don't copy his stuff, but he inspires me more than anyone, as much as Ed did back in the day...probably more.

I hate him, he's so fuggin' good!

Bill Z Bub

[horns666]

I love the color of that stain and that finish!!!

[mmmipa]

I dont care for it.It looks like a bass guitar.Look at how wide them pups are and the neck on monstorous.




Sean