Taming the RG7420

[Petie]

Okay, so it's been a little over a week since I got my RG7420MC. I was a bit concerned about...
A: The so-low-it-fretted-out action
B: The LO TRS 7 trem
C: The harsh pickups.

So...

A: Fixed the action with a few quick turns of the trem posts. Peice of piss! (That's Aussie for 'easy'.) It's now, honestly, one of the best-playing guitars I've ever met. Only things that have topped it are a Tom Anderson, and an old JEM7PBK that practically played itself.
B: Aside from reduced resonance compared to the Edge, I don't see QUITE why everyone's so down on the LO TRS. Sure the way the bar attaches to the body is awkward and poorly thought out, but I've found that the LO TRS is like a horse, or a pitbull, or Madonna circa 1989 - if you be firm with it, let it know who's boss, it'll respect you and let you ride it like a mule.
C: Well I'll eventually replace the bridge pickup with a TZ or Blaze Custom, and a Blaze neck (which is what the Evolution six-string neck pickup is based on, accoridng to Dimarzio.com's FAQ) but for now, the secret weapon, as with my home recordings, is one of those cheap little Korg AX1Gs used as an EQ.

So yeah, I hate to say it while my 93 RG570 (bought new in 93) sits in the corner looking at me, but I've never connected so well with a new guitar. I think I'm in love!!!

If only it came in purple... Oh well. When I get my Ibanez signature series, wink wink, I'll have them make me purple and dark green ones with cosmo hardware.

[Drew]

Originally Posted by Petie

Madonna circa 1989 - if you be firm with it, let it know who's boss, it'll respect you and let you ride it like a mule.

[Skarekrough]

I always found the Lo-TRS to just feel really flimsy. When I took the time to listen I could almost hear the notes flutter when i would strum or pick hard. Putting a wooden chunk in to stop it from pulling up helped considerably, and then dropping another one in to seal it in place made it even more solid.

It also takes me awhile to really be able to "get" the sound of a set of pickups and whether they're really good for the long run or not. I found the stock ones, after awhile, just to be very flat. I found I also did the same thing with my UV777BK; I loved the pickups for a month or so and then in between playing my RG7620 with a Tone Zone and PAF and a Schecter C7+ with an Air Norton and a Tone Zone the UV777BK just sounded very flat and lackluster. Even after all these years I'm amzed at how my initial impressions of an instrument can change after a month of playing and gigging.

But if it's working out for you then more power to ya! Welcome to the world of the 7 string; it's a whole lot of fun...

[Petie]

I'm interested to see how the LO TRS holds up over time...

[Chud]

My RG7420 has strangely over time started to get higher in action the more i play it. I'll have to get it sorted out, but I'm trying to get the kind of 'Get it as low as you can' sort of action.

[Petie]

Well, a few weeks later and I'm still happy with the tuning stability and stuff (though that extra string makes oblique bends even more out of tune, dammit), but I'm frustrated with how the trem arm attaches to the body. It's bluddy stupid. Ah well. I'll cope I guess, til I can afford a UV777BK. Heh heh heh.