Steinberger style 7-strings???

[revsharp777]

I've owned close to 30 guitars in my time. Of all these guitars, NONE of them played as well as my Steinberger GU-7R. It is the ultimate instrument for me. However, Steinberger has never made a 7-string guitar.

Does anyone know if there are any makers of Steinberger style 7-string guitars? I'd even settle for a link to getting Steinberger style 7-string guitar parts & then, I'll just have it made.

The only guitar manufacturers that I know of are Timtone (but the waiting list is a mile long) & Tueffel (spelling?). The Timtones are cool, but I don't care for the space-age look of the Tueffel. Any help would be MUCH appreciated.

[Two hands31]

Are they making a 7-string Speedloader Floyd Rose by any chance? Cuz if they are then almost anyone could make you a 7-string headless guitar based on the specs of your favorite guitar. It wouldn't be exactly the same, but it'd get ya damn close.

[darren wilson]

You could always write to Timtone or Teufffel and see if they might sell you one of their 7-string bridge/tailpiece units and a head piece. Other than that, i can't think of anyone who's making 7-string headless hardware. (Double ball-end strings are also hard to find in gauges heavy enough for tuning down that low.)

Another option might be to rig up a plate or ferrules behind the nut to hold the ball end of strings, then use a 7-string Tune-o-Matic bridge and mount LSR tuners or Steinberger gearless tuners on the body. That way you can also use standard strings.

[Two hands31]

That second idea's a pretty good idea Darren, I hadn't even thought of that. It'd work sort of like the B.C. Rich 10 or 12-strings but without the second set of tuners on the headstock.

[revsharp777]

I've been tuning my Steinberger down low for a while now. I just buy a custom set of double ball strings through JustStrings.com (13, 17, 24w, 36, 46, 56).

Steinberger also sells an adapter that lets you use standard strings. If I could get someone to build a 7-string version, then I'm halfway there.



Please keep the suggestions coming!!!

[darren wilson]

Would a 7-string locking nut do the trick?

[Two hands31]

Originally Posted by darren wilson

Would a 7-string locking nut do the trick?

I think it would, as I remember hearing a story about Dimebag Darrel (I think) snapping off his headstock midsong and continuing playing without any touble because of the locking nut.

[frankfalbo]

The 7 string lock nut is a flawed product to begin with, since it asks the middle lock block to cover 3 strings. That means it's pivoting on the D string. Sometimes if you don't lock it right you can have either the A or G loose enough to lose it's tuning if you slack the tuner. You can get enough pressure to lock the strings for whammy use by squashing the D down, so it's fine. But as a replacement for a Steinberger nut it's probably not advisable because it would be prone to slippage in my opinion. Plus the mounting method isn't really designed for long term 100% string tension. As a matter of fact it's not designed for string tension at all. It's meant to lock at zero tension and only accept tension during whammy use, which by definition is temporary. Even if you whammy like a madman during playing hours the guitar still spends most of it's time sitting without tension on the nut. It would probably be prone to pulling, compressing, and distorting the mounting holes. Top mount would be even worse. The Steinberger mounts with screws parallel to the string tension, not perpendicular.

[Shakma!!]

but the 7 string nut also has 2 bolts holding 1 pad. i dont think it'd be that prone.

[CQ7String]

Originally Posted by Two hands31

I think it would, as I remember hearing a story about Dimebag Darrel (I think) snapping off his headstock midsong and continuing playing without any touble because of the locking nut.

Now THAT is \m/ metal.

[revsharp777]

A FR locking would work, but it's still more trouble than it's worth. For example, if I needed to change out a broken D string, the nut would lose it's grip on the A & G strings also since those 3 strings are locked down with the same pad.

On the Steinberger string adaptor below, each string has their own lockdown pad. In this case, that is a MUCH better design for this application.

[Shakma!!]

Originally Posted by revsharp777

A FR locking would work, but it's still more trouble than it's worth. For example, if I needed to change out a broken D string, the nut would lose it's grip on the A & G strings also since those 3 strings are locked down with the same pad.

On the Steinberger string adaptor below, each string has their own lockdown pad. In this case, that is a MUCH better design for this application.

Good point, i think we left that out in the original conversation...its not a problem if you wanna replace 3 strings at a time though lol