7 string guitars

[Pentagrimes]

In spite of having played in bands with stupidly low tunings since the early 90s, I'd never actually tried a 7 string guitar until today.

 It was actually interesting how different it felt- the neck and the scale were like an instant cramp for me (I've RSI in both arms which is making playing a standard guitar challenging at the best of times), but it was actually cool having the benefit of 'standard'  tuning as well as the low B, and believe it or not I didn't play any metal on it.

Anyone here play them?did it take you a while to get used to them?

[Bürggermeister]

Yeah, tried them more than once over the years, every few years. If it's all you play, you do start to get used to it but, if you're not using the notes on that extra string all the time, you start to wonder why you're not just playing a 6. It's an ergonomic compromise, not a big one but still...

In the end, I always go back to a downtuned 6 instead.

Same with me for basses. Tried 5s and 6s and they're grand if you stick just to them but, in the end, I always come back to 4s. Probably just too old to be arsed really working out the flaws in my technique to feel truly at home on them.

[Pentagrimes]

It was really out of curiosity I tried it (a Spira one if anyone is curious), i was in music maker at lunch time and theyd a few hanging on the wall.I do ambient type stuff as well where I'm always swapping tunings so I was thinking about it from that point of view really.  I'd deffo stick to a downtuned 6 string for death or doom metal though, rather than a 7 string or Baritone.

[ochoill]

I played a 7 for decades, loved it, any sort of music.  Have moved to the Bari aluminium in the last couple years instead as my primary mostly because the Maverick I have is in dire need of some work, once it's fixed up I'll be rotating the two.

Once you get used to them, they are great, and it doesn't take long.  Small changes to tuning can quickly change play on them - tuning the G to F# moves the standard chord shapes to work off the 7th string root instead of the 6th, and you are only tuning a half step on one string.  Couple that with a capo and you've a great little writing machine.

[Pentagrimes]

Yeah I think I would like to pick up one to mess around with at some point. The discomfort I imagine would disappear after a while of playing one and adjusting. Definitely like the idea of the tuning changes you mention John. I have a project in mind that would definitely benefit from that (as well as using two different guitars in different tunings for different songs!)

[TurnTheAirBlue]

I have owned a few 7s. The best I had was a 1990s RG7620. You can get them secondhand for around 450 - 500 euros. The necks are very comfortable on them, and the scale length is 25.5", which is the same as most of their standard RG series 6 strings.

[Pentagrimes]

Cheers Bluey. I've definitely seen at least 2 Ibanez 7s (Possibly those ones actually) in local shops in the last few weeks around the 500/600 mark, one went pretty quick. I'd be opting for a cheaper one to mess around with some Unholy/Dolorian/MDB weirdness really but if one comes up like that again and I have the cash I may pick it up

[Eoin McLove]

I'd be opting for a cheaper one to mess around with some Unholy/Dolorian/MDB weirdness

Sounds very promising if you can bring this to fruition.

[Pentagrimes]

When I do it'll likely be more for my own enjoyment than public consumption at this point. Actually had time booked this week for it but its been postponed.

[Pentagrimes]

Had a go on one of the aforementioned Ibanez 7stringers earlier, a 421ex if I recall. Cool enough, still not sure if i'd commit to the bit so to speak, and I was surprised how confused I was with the extra string. I think the 6 strng tuned down might be more my jam.

[General Lee]

I've been playing them for nearly 20 years now, love them. Mine are down half step (same as Morbid Angel). Have 3 of them, an old Schecter, an Ibanez prestige, and a solar. Very versatile instruments

[Shardknife]

I've always been a bigger fan of adding strings rather than just downtuning. I like to be able to play in standard and have the option of lower notes too. I've been playing 7's for so long it doesn't really feel weird. It was tricky to get used to the 8 string at first when I went that route. I always found it trickier playing the middle strings and getting hung up rather than losing what I was doing on the lower extra strings.

I actually find it harder doing things on long baritone necks now as big chord stretches feel rotten on the lower frets. A 7 string with a normal enough scale length is nice and I don't think you really need the extra length for the low strings if you use the right gauge string.