the death of the 7 string - why 7 string popularity is falli

[jeffrey]

Yeah, I have to admit, I'm a member of the SSGPPS myself (Seven String Guitar Players Perservation Society).

It's just opened my eyes so much. I feel like I'm missing a finger when I play my 6's now.

[jay ratkowski]

I still don't get it... Maybe I just don't play enough... but when I go from 6-7 or guitar to bass... it doesn't feel any better or worse. *It's different... but it's not like I look at a 6-string and go "oh this guitar is far inferior!" *Like I said... maybe I don't play enough.

[jeffrey]

Ah! Not inferior, that's a bad word.

Different is right.

That extra string has just opened up so many possibilities for me. It's changed scalar runs, arpeggios, chord voicings are so much cooler now.

And I guess I've always found guitars tuned to pitch (440) to be kind of high and tinny (just my perference) which is why I've always tuned down (long before it was trendy thank you ), but I always missed the higher strings for solos and chord voicings and stuff...

So for me, the 7 string is the best of both worlds. I can have the deep rich sounds I want and the higher notes like a standard guitar.

You don't have to play the B string, but it's really nice to have the option.

[adamquek]

7 strings forever! I jsut got my first 7 string myself, an RG2027... quite an upgrade from my beat up 62 reissue jap Tele with EMGs. It's a bloody dream come true! The thin neck, the low action, 2 humbuckers AND the icing on the cake, the absoloute deciding factor, the low B! The thing absoloutely chugs and roars and I reckon it is *the* best thing I've ever done for myself and my playing. My influence has very little to do with any of the nu-metal bands using 7 strings, if anything at all. Rather, I was open to the possibilities that the low B provides. New voicings, new directions, that really HEAVY tone while still allowing me the option of more "conventional" playing which I really love. Different is absoloutely the right word to use to describe 6 and 7 strings... totally different beasts that bring out the different musician in you. I feel more "straight ahead" with 6 strings and more open and experimental with 7 stings, and I totally love both options. Look forward to hearing more from you guys. Anyone out there with a 2027, feedback would be nice too! So far, I'm smitten with mine. I'm trying to find out if we can be legally wed because this is *true* LOVE!

[jeffrey]

How do you like the 2027? I've been wanting to try one but have never seen one here.

I'll have to bug my local shop guy.

[tagg 7]

have any of you guys ever decided to scallope your RG7's
just curious

[tommy west]

I have stayed away from the local dealer. Seeing the 2027 sends me into all kinds of brain warp for days. I will have one soon. Congrats on yours!

[adamquek]

I bought the 2027 without even trying it. It basically had all the elements I wantedin a guitar. A thin, unfinished, Prestige neck, H-H config, mahogany body, a glorious finish, a solid trem system and of course.. the all important low B! My local dealer had never before brought it in, so I just put a deposit down and waited. And man it's an amazing guitar! It's certainly worlds apart from my tele, and considering that I play mostly heavy stuff and *hope* to shred some day, it's definitely much more suited towards my playingstyle. It was totally worth every cent, and it was pretty cheap. Guitars in Singapore tend to be! I got mind for 1700 SGD. Which is sliglty under 1000 USD... seemed like a good price to me. Brand new too With hardcase and everything.
I've never scalloped any of my guitars before, but speaking of scalloped 7 strings, Santiago Dobles of Aghora uses a Universe scalloped from the 7th fret upwards I think. Check out that band if you haven't already, it's inspiring!

[jeffrey]

Dammit... your making me want another guitar and I'm still paying for my UV. :angry:

[adamquek]

*chuckles* Hey man at least you HAD a UV to begin with. I was trying to play symphony X and metallica covers andsome Yngwie stuff on a jap TELE. Trying. Not that owning the 2027 makes trying any easier... but at least I look good now when I do it *grin* I tried my friends UV once and it's an awesome guitar but this is a totally different beast. Not to mention I like the finish better. For some reason black guitar's never really appealed to me. *drool*
I should die now, because if I die any later, there'll be time for this glorious high to go down

[jeffrey]

I like the 2027 and it's Sabre-bodied counter part, I just wished there were more finish options. From what I can tell the 2027 only comes in that VV finish..

[ryan]

Jeffery,

The VV finish is really nice - I don't see what you're worried about. *Would you rather pay $1200 for a BLACK guitar? *Cuz the way things are going, if there were more color choices that would probably be it.

The top is stained lighter than the sides and back - but the top extends down the sides a quarter-inch to give a beautiful natural binding.

I changed the pickups on mine but, like Jay has said before, the stock pickups are probably some of the nicest ones Ibanez has ever put out.

I ordered mine without playing it simply because I wanted everything it had to offer. *When I first picked it up and felt how smooth and PERFECT the neck is, I knew I'd made the right choice.

I can't recommend this guitar highly enough - it's the nicest Ibanez I've ever owned and I'd even go as far as to say it's the best feeling guitar I've ever played.

[lgascoig]

I have been looking into getting a 7, and I don't really care for the pyramid inlaid on the body of the current UV or the mirror pickguard (personally I think that looks hecka ugly). *

So I was looking at the other options and the US RG7620 looks pretty good specwise since it has the Dimarzio blaze and no piezo (which I don't need). *But it only comes in that whiteish color. *Since I already have a JS1000WH and a 7VWH I don't need another white guitar. *Fortunately, the Japanese market has the RG7620-DAB (dark adriatic blue) and GK (galaxy black) although the site describes the pickups as Dimarzio RG-7n and 7b which sound like crap Ibanez brand pickups designed by Dimarzio or something.

Does anyone have one of the Japanese models? *Is it that the website describes the pickups incorrectly or do the Japanese market models actually use different PUs?

[adamquek]

I totall agree with ryan, the finish is STUNNING! I was floored when I first took it out of the case... and when I plugged it in I wondered if I would even need to change the pickups at all. Today I had the chance to try out the piezos. Once through a cheap acoustic amp, and also through a mixer into a PA system. I must say, at first I didn't care much for them when I tried them on my amps clean channel... but now I think it's actually pretty cool. Kinda faux-acoustic sound, it's definitely not the real thing but I'm not a real acoustic player so it gets me as close as I wanna go. I'm tempted to get an acoustic amp now... severe case of G.A.S. Anyone out there who has an opinion on the piezos, feedback would be interesting Keep it alive folks. I'm off to the army in 7 hours, won't be back for 10 days. Look forward to some interesting replies when I do get back!

[jeffrey]

I don't want a painted finish on that guitar.. I just wish there were more options then a psuedo sunburst.

I'm not a big sunburst fan.

About the 7620: White? I've only seen them in black and that gunmetal color.