recommendations for 7 string

[plyta]

For my taste stock 1527 pickups lack greatly in clarity, transparency and definition compartments. Too muddy.

You can rock stock 1527 studs back and fourth inside the stock bushings using your bare fingers. When you put a bridge with string and spring tension on it, it pushes the studs making them sit at a funky angle inside the bushings - no tuning stability there.

Why do you think Vai and Satriani still use the older Lo-Pro?

[prydogga]

I much prefer stock 1527 PUPs to some DiMarzio's (Super Distortion, Air Norton, X2N, Deactivator) and what's a $40 mod on locking studs going to make you cringe?

[tobias.]

Originally Posted by Brosa

For around $ 1000,- get an old green dot Ibanez Universe.

Amazing guitars and bang for your buck.

+1000 - great neck, feel and tone for medium money...GO FOR IT!

[IamFastEddie]

I'll add my vote for an RG1527. You can get a great used one, upgrade the pups, and have it professionally setup for well under $1K.

[IamFastEddie]

Originally Posted by plyta

For my taste stock 1527 pickups lack greatly in clarity, transparency and definition compartments. Too muddy.

You can rock stock 1527 studs back and fourth inside the stock bushings using your bare fingers. When you put a bridge with string and spring tension on it, it pushes the studs making them sit at a funky angle inside the bushings - no tuning stability there.

Why do you think Vai and Satriani still use the older Lo-Pro?

Really? I have a 2007 RG1527 stock model that I go nuts with and have no issues with tuning. Definitely upgrade the pups, though.

[plyta]

Originally Posted by IamFastEddie

Really? I have a 2007 RG1527 stock model that I go nuts with and have no issues with tuning. Definitely upgrade the pups, though.

I had 1527 for almost 3 years and I couldn't make it hold the tuning no matter what I did. That was the main reason it had to go.

Oh, and the resale value of these is crap. Another reason to stay of the brand new ones.

[Timbaline]

Originally Posted by plyta

I had 1527 for almost 3 years and I couldn't make it hold the tuning no matter what I did. That was the main reason it had to go.

Oh, and the resale value of these is crap. Another reason to stay of the brand new ones.

Really, I abuse the trem (when I say abuse I mean rape..... don't take that literally) and my 2009 Rg1527 stays in tune.

[prydogga]

Originally Posted by Timbaline

Really, I abuse the trem (when I say abuse I mean rape..... don't take that literally) and my 2009 Rg1527 stays in tune.

I have the same experience.

[Satchriossi]

i think from what ive read on jemsite; that locking studs prevent the sort of movement which, over time can oval out the wood that the trem studs are anchored into (on basswood guitars atleast) and once that has happened, THEN you get tuning problems because of the slack fit of the anchors in the wood. How many years, or how much trem use is needed to make this happen, i dont know. But i think its fair to say plyta has had an unusually bad experience with his guitar and the majority of people have had nothing but good experiences with their guitars. Though it does seem to be common opinion that the p/ups are sub standard. I definately wouldn't agree. 'Tone' - whatever the hell it is, seems to be one of the more subjective topics when it comes to guitars!

[STorpedo]

Originally Posted by plyta

Whatever you do, don't buy a new Ibanez. IMHO they're really overpriced for what you get out of the box.

I've had bought a new 1527 and a new Agile Intrepid 8 string.
IMHO new Agile will be so much more bang for your buck.

With new 1527 you will need a pickup replacement (stock ones are useless) and locking stud conversion for your trem (stock cheap**** studs don't like to hold tuning very well).

I can't say much about the 7320, but I can guess it would require pickup replacement as well.

Noooo way man, their lower-range is hands down the best I've played, cause the production quality is almost as good as the upper-range guitars', most other guitars feel absolutely horrific at 300$ or something, Ibanez feels almost as good as their more expensive models.

Get an ibanez dude, you won't regret it. The only thing I would say is that if you're looking at an S-series, make sure you check em out in the store, and make sure that your hand sits comfortably on the body, and that it's easy to play. Since it doesn't have an arm-rest per se, it might be difficult to play for some people.

[6fingers]

Originally Posted by prydogga

I have the same experience.

Same here.

[chicks]

go with a carvin dc 747 , great guitar

[IamFastEddie]

Originally Posted by plyta

I had 1527 for almost 3 years and I couldn't make it hold the tuning no matter what I did. That was the main reason it had to go.

Oh, and the resale value of these is crap. Another reason to stay of the brand new ones.

Well I wouldn't know about resale because I got mine used in a moving sale. I think the dude blazed on his wife so she practically gave it to me. I got it, a 1999 7621 with blazes that needed a new jack and a small Peavey Envoy amp for under $300 US. I traded the amp and a couple of old Boss pedals that I didn't use anymore for a JC120 and put $150 into new pups for the 1527 (Petrucci set) and maybe $50 in supplies to do repairs and cleanups for the Ibbys. For under $500 I got a 1527 that definitely stays in tune even after intense dive bombing (I use 5 springs which helps I think) a decent 7621, and an amp that plays great clean and through which my POD sounds great.

[IamFastEddie]

Originally Posted by Satchriossi

i think from what ive read on jemsite; that locking studs prevent the sort of movement which, over time can oval out the wood that the trem studs are anchored into (on basswood guitars atleast) and once that has happened, THEN you get tuning problems because of the slack fit of the anchors in the wood. How many years, or how much trem use is needed to make this happen, i dont know. But i think its fair to say plyta has had an unusually bad experience with his guitar and the majority of people have had nothing but good experiences with their guitars. Though it does seem to be common opinion that the p/ups are sub standard. I definately wouldn't agree. 'Tone' - whatever the hell it is, seems to be one of the more subjective topics when it comes to guitars!

Definitely. I have had zero problems with my 1527's vibrato (sorry, I really am so old that I use the proper term lol), and the pups, though I hated them in the 1527, sound great in a Dean Vendetta 7 that I had sitting around.

[PortlandAxe]

Personally, I bought the Ibanez S7320 and replaced the stock "AH" pickups with DiMarzio Blazes. The result was an extremely comfortable guitar (the S7320 is very light) which has a sound closer to the Universe. I love it.