Why are 7-strings going out of style?

[UV7WH-LH !]

I definitly agree. There are not as trendy as it seems ! First of all they are expensive, the quality is not always Ibanez's priority and playing such a huge neck is quite fringhtening for simple mortal (even if Dino from FF proves that it is possible to have short fingers and play them).
Music is about trends, but the song remains the same. Styles evolve, change their names many time because of the label business strategies. What your father called punk rock is also what you call hardcore, grunge, alternative, independant, neo metal. Some things have changed but musical gimmicks are still there and what about the attitude ... ? Don't get me wrong, I don't mistake Dead Kennedy's, Black Flag, Nirvana or Korn. But it's still about three chords stuffs.
About seven strings ? Vai played them, death metal "guitar heroes" played them, now it's Neo Metal. The last category is interresting 'cause they never really needed a seventh string and their fans too. It was the same with Death Metal at first ( I won't mention all the bands), Carcass has been using the drop B tunning on 6 strings guitars (RG and S) a long time before Korn does, same for seven strings. Fans quickly realize that don't do a real use of them. So they tune drop B. Guitars are cheapers.
So why some buy 7's ? Because you look tough. So it won't never be everyone's guitars and manufacturers will keep on mading some models in limited editions. The only interresting things in that is that people will less money can find used model at a good price when trendy kids send them. If you play some Korn, buy a normal fixed bridge guitar and big strings, it will sound the same. You don't need extra strings or tremolos, I do ...

[trajectory fish]

Originally Posted by UV7WH-LH !

. . . You don't need extra strings or tremolos, I do ...

Careful there, you might be preaching to the choir on this one.

[Two hands31]

For the last time, you can not play Korn's music on a 6-string tuned to A and have it sound the same. You'll be missing notes. They do use all 7 strings. Trust me, I've tried. And they do use the trem, quite extensively, just more subtly than Vai.

[trajectory fish]

Originally Posted by Two hands31

For the last time, you can not play Korn's music on a 6-string tuned to A and have it sound the same. You'll be missing notes. They do use all 7 strings. Trust me, I've tried. And they do use the trem, quite extensively, just more subtly than Vai.

Korn in particular needs to be listened to rather closely in order to realy appreciate it, in order to realy be able to tell what they are doing with their guitars. Seeing them play is definitely a big help (EXA: "Make Me Bad" on their recent live DVD - good example of how they do stereo Q&A style guitar parts). The thing with Korn is, the stuff that stands out in their playing, their hooks, are things that are in the lower register, things that can be played with a detuned six. However, if you want to get more than just the hooks, and get all of the details of their playing, you do need a 7 string.

Aside from Korn, there's still the popularity of bands like Slipknot, Godsmack, and Mudvayne. These are some guys that simply detune six string guitars. I'm not saying these bands are any more simplistic or complex, just that they are just as popular for most of the same reasons.

-Bennett

[UV7WH-LH !]

wot ! It's impossible

Hehe ... ok ok ... not everything ... and for sure it doesn't sounds the same on detuned guitars. But it sounds the same on a baritone guitar ... I like then too ... Try an ESP ...
I hope that you're not thinking that it was a new occasion to shot the trendy band. I 've bought korn first three albums, so even if was pissed off to read " we are the first to think about using the low bottom end of the universe to write heavy riff ", i can recognize the cool stuffs they have made. This message was written while listening to "ball tongue" ...
My goal was not say : shred or bust !
This is just something I see, people who like neo metal realize that they don't really need 7 strings. I could have mention Dino ... The tab books are written for 6 strings !!!
Last but not least ... I think that you're not really right to say that Vai use of the tremolo is less subtle (once again I'm definitly not his biggest fan), what he does is quite complicated, and as consequence really subtile.
I think that we'll agree by saying that Korn has the good idea to forgett about makin' complicated stuffs to concentrate on makin' effective riffs.
I hope that I've been more clear this time, you know English is not my language ... and sometimes it's hard to be subtle ...

[trajectory fish]

Its cool man. Yeah, Korn's first 3 albums are awesome.

Welcome to the forum!

[Jim Soloway]

Originally Posted by germX

those who stapped a 7 & then reverted to 6 were a confused lot. the 7 string's waning popularity is simply good news to the rest of us who have a genuine use for it. i'm really glad that the 7 is now a less popular option to down-tuned players. no offence to these people but they are better off with a baritone 6. it seems that time has sieved the genuine 7 string manipulators. the 7 is simply not a staple for pop culture.

the downside is of course we won't get to grab a 7 dirt cheap in time to come.

What concerns me in the long run is not the price as much as it is the selection. When I first got interested in 7 string about 10 years ago, I simply couldn't find a guitar that worked for me at any price. The only option was to have one made which is what I eventually did. The 7 string fad made dozens of models available for a while, enough that there was a viable instrument for any style of playing. Now, most of those 7 strings have been discontinued and the companies that seemed really committed to them have changed their minds.

I've gotten tired of having to count on companies that have no commitment to the guitars that I need and at this point, I'm woring on developing my own line of instruments. Hopefully I'll have the first prototype around June 1.

[UV7WH-LH !]

Oh ? I'm interrest by any 7 stringed instrument ...hope you won't forgett lefties ... like most companies ... I had to build mine ... it sounds better.
I'm going to build two other one, more personal this time. I mean my UV7WHT looks like the real model ... it has several part of it ... but I want something different now ... a new dream guitar ...
I'll be interrested by your project ...

[EKG]

UV7WH-LH? Hmmm? Are you a lefty? Kidding?

Who cares if 7's go out of style? If you like playing 7's, go for it :-)

[UV7WH-LH !]

I'm the only left handed universe player ... i ll have pix soon ... mine has monkey grip and an all access neck (kinda all access)! )) I'm in love with her ...
7 strings players rul !
Due to my bad frequentation on this site, i m going to buy a line 6/ 60W combo ... thanks to those who helped me finding something cool to practice ...
Does anybody has EMG 707 on his Universe ?

[sam669]

hmm, about korn, i used to spit on them, but since i've looked a bit more closely at what they did, i appreciate them. they dont sweep all through their necks, but what they do is interesting. and well i tried playing their stuff on a detuned 6, well i had it in my 4ss, almost impossible
the k7 is alsoo a killer axe, despite the inlay, sick looking creation as jeremy would say!