No more XLs??????

[Jim Soloway]

In the NAMM discussion on one of the other forums, they say there are no more XL 7 strings being offered. That's sad news. I was hoping to see more of them and I was certainly willing to buy another if it was even close to a configuration that I liked. It may be a good business decision, but musically, I think it's pretty close to a tragedy that an idea so right could end up being scrapped so quickly.

[Two hands31]

Yeah, looks like no XL 7-strings in North America. That really sucks, but at least they haven't ditched all the high-end non-signature 7-strings. That new 7620 replacement is nice.

[trajectory fish]

This may be the time to hunt for a good deal on a 7421XL. And dammit, I was trying to go at least a year without buying another guitar!

[ATDVSBL]

what long scale production 7 strings are left?....custom may soon be the only answer. Sure would be nice to see some more high end 7's.

[Jim Soloway]

Originally Posted by ATDVSBL

what long scale production 7 strings are left?....custom may soon be the only answer. Sure would be nice to see some more high end 7's.

Baker is building me one that I expect to arrive in about a week, but that is a custom one-of. I don't believe there are any others in production. Frankly, if no one else is going to make them, I may put some effort into bringing out a model of my own. I just got off the phone with a possible source for building the parts.

[ATDVSBL]

Jim, When you get the Baker, you will have to record some mp3's for us. Maybe if more people hear the beauty of the longer scale 7's, the demand will increase, resulting in better choices....BTW, I really enjoyed the mp3's you posted here as well as on your site, very inspiring music, thanks.

[Moonchild]

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

Baker is building me one that I expect to arrive in about a week, but that is a custom one-of. I don't believe there are any others in production. Frankly, if no one else is going to make them, I may put some effort into bringing out a model of my own. I just got off the phone with a possible source for building the parts.

Hey make sure its an all mahogany, neck through, string through body, extended scale guitar, with some nice jazzy pickups

[Edit]

basically the Mike Mushok model with an extra string

[Useful Idiot]

what about the RG2077XL's? aren't they coming out in the US? please tell me they are!

[Jim Soloway]

Originally Posted by Useful Idiot

what about the RG2077XL's? aren't they coming out in the US? please tell me they are!

According to the NAMM discussion, they won't be available in the US.

[Moonchild]

How can I find out if (and when) the RG2077XL is coming to Holland/Europe?

[DoctorCrunch]

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

I was hoping to see more of them and I was certainly willing to buy another if it was even close to a configuration that I liked. It may be a good business decision, but musically, I think it's pretty close to a tragedy that an idea so right could end up being scrapped so quickly.

I don't think they gave the idea enough of a chance. Like you said, there weren't enough different configurations to figure out which people would dig. I think it's just not what people wanted on RG's. The Mushok model looks like a great basis for a line of long-scale guitars. Why not make a 7-string version, and versions with tremolo systems?

My opinion is that shredders were afraid of the long scale f***ing-up their chops, and the nu-metal kids would just get the K7. The XL neck would have worked on a different series, I'm sure of it. Something appealing to players with jazzy tendencies. The whole thing's a shame.

BTW, Jim, what configuration would you have liked?

[Jim Soloway]

Originally Posted by DoctorCrunch

I don't think they gave the idea enough of a chance. Like you said, there weren't enough different configurations to figure out which people would dig. I think it's just not what people wanted on RG's. The Mushok model looks like a great basis for a line of long-scale guitars. Why not make a 7-string version, and versions with tremolo systems?

My opinion is that shredders were afraid of the long scale f***ing-up their chops, and the nu-metal kids would just get the K7. The XL neck would have worked on a different series, I'm sure of it. Something appealing to players with jazzy tendencies. The whole thing's a shame.

BTW, Jim, what configuration would you have liked?

Certainly another hardtail. I have no idea what to do with a trem, especially a locking one. I'm playing jazz standards in upscale restaurants, so a much less extreme body style would have been nice. A mahogany or swamp ash body would have probably gotten my vote. A two sided 3+4 peghead would have also been step forward. I've always thought the Tallman peg head would adapt very nicely to a 7 string. A tewo sided peg head is both better balanced and more convenient. With the 7421XL, I have to use a bass gig bag because the headstock won't even fit in a guitar bag.

There is a very sustantial group of jazz players using 7 strings. Unlike a lot of rock players, the 7 string players in jazz are not going to go back to 6 string, so even though their numbers are small, they make a very real part of the 7 string market. They probably ge the greatest benefit from the extended scale, but very few of them are going to buy a nickel grey solid body pointy guitar with a bat wing peg head.

[brianboros]

Jim, what do you think of the headstock on the LTD H (Horizon) series 7 strings?

[Two hands31]

I really like the AX series 7-string. It's very nice, but a baritone would've been cool. Same with the SC series (or whatever it is now). Yea, a Mike Mushok-like 7-string would be amazing.

[Jim Soloway]

Originally Posted by brianboros

Jim, what do you think of the headstock on the LTD H (Horizon) series 7 strings?

I like it a lot. It's small, balanced and provides and almost perfectly straight string pull.