Some beautiful 7 strings on Ebay lately

[Jim Soloway]

Last week a high end 7 string classical and one of Chis Forsage's custom instruments were sold and now there's listings for a Buscarino and a Triggs, two of the most respected arch top builders on the planet. This morning I also found a new listing for a 7 string by Saul Koll, a very repected builder here in Portland.

I don't know if it's an indication that the jazz world is also losing its interest in 7 strings, but somethings clearly changing. I've been tracking 7 strings on Ebay for a couple of years and I've never seen this many top of the line instruments listed at one time.

[darren wilson]

I've been noticing that, too. My jaw almost hit the floor when i saw that 7-string classical. It was a bit pricey for me right now, though. Lots of fine stuff out there!

[rlintz]

Noticed it too. You forgot to mention the Timtone - what a crazy and beautiful instrument. The guy sent me some additional pics of the body and it was insane!! Wonder if it's a trend or a coincedence...

[Sevenstringer]

Speaking of Timtone.....LOOK at this monstrosity!!!! 11 strings of death haha

http://www.timtone.com/GuitarClip40-Ryan.html

[darren wilson]

Wow... what a monster! 11 strings and 9 neck bolts!

I did a search the other day on Gbase and found some nice Monteleone 7-string archtops ($18,500) and Jimmy D'Aquisto's seventh (and last) 7-string archtop ($47,500).

[Skarekrough]

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

I don't know if it's an indication that the jazz world is also losing its interest in 7 strings, but somethings clearly changing. I've been tracking 7 strings on Ebay for a couple of years and I've never seen this many top of the line instruments listed at one time.

Much of it may have to do with the economy and the time of year.

Unloading a guitar now which can be given as a Christmas present has great appeal. Additionally custom shops seem to be getting more accessible to players; for what you would pay for a mid-to-high end guitar off the rack something of much better can typically be had from a custom shop.

I don't think they're being unloaded because they're unpopular; I think that trend is generally at the very end. The majority have been ferreted out and unlaoded for significant loss already and creative types have snapped them up....or they're taking up space in Guitar Centers and being mis-marked in hopes of getting them out of there.

[Jim Soloway]

Originally Posted by Skarekrough

I don't think they're being unloaded because they're unpopular; I think that trend is generally at the very end. The majority have been ferreted out and unlaoded for significant loss already and creative types have snapped them up....or they're taking up space in Guitar Centers and being mis-marked in hopes of getting them out of there.

I think that's certainly correct. For the first time in months there's less than one full page of results on Ebay when you search on "7 string" and the big catelog/on-line source have just about finished clearing all their 7 strings.