Lord of the Strings: An Unexpected Journey (Into The Forums)

Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 352 Location: Illinois

Three strings for the Delta Blues-kings under the sky,
Six for the average Joe in his parents' home,
Twelve for Mortal Men who dare try,
While the Dark Lord shreds on his dark throne
In the Land of Metal where MTV dies.
A 7th String to rule them all, a 7th String to palm mute
Forgo a geet of longer scale, another string to palm mute
In the Land of Metal where Power Chords lie.

Which reminds me, I really need to see "The Hobbit." Very Happy

I've had a Dean ML AT3000 for a couple years now and it's a fantastic guitar, but she's my only one Sad

I don't even have an acoustic (which I should probably buy before I do this), but the more I listen to heavier/more progressive metal (Keith Merrow!!!) the more I want a baritone or 7-string. The ML is great for lower tunings (drop C/C#) with 10's, but I also play in Eb and E standard and I usually play in those tunings with 9's. So, question time!

Both a baritone and 7-string seem OK for B standard, drop Bb, drop B, and C standard tunings because, at most, I'm tuning a string up a whole step on either guitar. However, with tunings like drop C and drop C# I'd be going up by 3 or 4 semitones which seems a little tight on the neck. Is it safe for either guitar to be tuned up like that instead of dropping my ML down to the same tunings?

Obviously, this is a tuning question, but I'm definitely in the market for one or the other (buying used, preferably). Granted, I haven't played either type of guitar yet; I need to call my local GC and see what they have to monkey with. The big names I'm being recommended are Schecter, Ibanez, and now Dean (totally forgot to look here first). Another was Carvin, but the word "custom" appeared on their website too much and it scared me ._. Well, that and their prices. Honestly, though, on paper, I'm leaning towards a baritone. The high E string and wider neck on 7-strings seem like detractors. I've also heard that baritones have more clarity because of the longer scale length (as opposed to a 7-string with a normal scale length), but I'm not sure about that.

In terms of pups, though, I'm assuming a lot of people use actives with these extended range guitars? The video comparisons I saw made me want a SD JB SH-4 for the baritone or a Bare Knuckles Aftermath for the 7-string (both in the bridge).

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

Just get an Ibanez RGD. They have both a 6 and 7 string model. Both are 26.5" scale so not standard and not baritone. You can use 10s tuned down to drop C because the guitars are designed to be tuned a full step down. On the 7 string its even lower....

Here is the demo vid for the 7.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yryA0vpYwKQ

Here is the 6 string.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id1t2LgE8lI&feature=share&list=PLF1235DAAEFEAFCA8

That's the prestige which is awesome! I had the 6 string version. There is also a lower end Indonesian one for about half the price. The Prestige is amazing though. I kinda get what you mean with the tuning you want to do but a baritone isn't really designed to do what I think it is you are looking for. These are specifically designed for lower tuning that's not baritone.

Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 970 Location: Rock Hill,SC

I tune my ibby 7-string up a half step above standard tuning. It's a 25.5 scale. I love it. Haven't tried it with 9's yet

Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 4911 Location: Brooklyn, NY

I play in Baritone tuning on my baritone but I use 13-65 gauge strings.... To get a similar effect on a normal scale guitar I'd be using 13-60s or something like that according to tension calculators.

Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:47 pm

That 2120 looks like a great choice

Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 352 Location: Illinois

Look out! Make way for my ignorance! Confused

I looked at the two videos you posted, Lanning, and I liked only part of what I saw. I stupidly forgot to mention that I would definitely prefer a TOM bridge over any sort of Floyd Rose (especially for a baritone or 7-string). That and my opinion of bolt-on necks is quite skewed. Unless I'm right, but I usually never am with guitar related things Laughing

My first guitar was a bolt-on and my second (my Dean) is a set neck. I've come to associate bolt-ons with being of a lesser pedigree of quality than set necks or a neck-through. Pair that with a 7-string or a baritone and it feels weird to me. Again, I'm most likely completely wrong.

I was looking more into this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Schecter-C-1-EX-Baritone-Guitar-New-Seymore-Duncan-Pickup-Great-Shape-/330849577266?pt=Guitar&hash=item4d082be932

Just a tad out of my current price range, but it has what I'm looking for.

Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 4:05 pm

Schecter's are plentiful and cheap, why not? My buddy has a Diamond Series V and seems to like it. It looks like a solid guitar for the money

Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 352 Location: Illinois

Must have skipped over this while reading the description, but the seller swapped out the "Duncan-designed" bridge pup for a JB SH-4 Shocked

Sweet Jebus, it officially has everything I want in it.

What are the odds this thing doesn't sell and I negotiate with him outside of eBay? lol

Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 4:22 pm

GuitarNewbie wrote:

What are the odds this thing doesn't sell and I negotiate with him outside of eBay? lol

It's dirt cheap and what you want, why gamble losing it?

Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 352 Location: Illinois

Northwinds wrote:

GuitarNewbie wrote:

What are the odds this thing doesn't sell and I negotiate with him outside of eBay? lol

It's dirt cheap and what you want, why gamble losing it?

Sorry. I have a habit of never explaining my situation.

Honest answer: I'm only the cost of shipping ($45) away from being able to hit "Bid," but I don't get paid until Wednesday!!! Evil or Very Mad

Oh, but the best part? I'm in my dorm for winter break with no one to ask for $45 that I could simply pay back Wednesday. I've been putting what I can spare (usually only a few bucks) aside, per paycheck, for music gear. Everything else goes home or to my school.

God damn do I have sh*t luck >_<

Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 3462 Location: North Carolina

The bidding doesn't end for four days so I've got time. Just keep an eye on it.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

If bolt on necks are lesser quality and not as good as set or neck through then someone forgot to tell Suhr, Caparison and Ibanez. lol I can't get into all the reasons you're completely off the mark on that one, but just get what makes you happy. I don't want to post a diatribe so I'll just watch from a far. Laughing

Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 7:03 pm

Setmeck or bolt on is a preference in athestics only. It does give the illusion of a higher quality build but in practice, you can't tell a damn difference in playability. Even preceived sustain really is not a factor in a well made bolt on guitar

I prefer setnecks but have owned many bolt on early USA Charvel's and Ibanez's that were a pleasure to play. The MIJ Model 3 that I just sold was no exception

Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 352 Location: Illinois

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

If bolt on necks are lesser quality and not as good as set or neck through then someone forgot to tell Suhr, Caparison and Ibanez. lol I can't get into all the reasons you're completely off the mark on that one, but just get what makes you happy. I don't want to post a diatribe so I'll just watch from a far. Laughing

Wait, I was wrong about bolt-ons? Who'd've thunk it Rolling Eyes

I just need to look up the main differences between the three to get this damn preconception out of my head about neck joint types.

Northwinds wrote:

Setmeck or bolt on is a preference in athestics only. It does give the illusion of a higher quality build but in practice, you can't tell a damn difference in playability. Even preceived sustain really is not a factor in a well made bolt on guitar

I prefer setnecks but have owned many bolt on early USA Charvel's and Ibanez's that were a pleasure to play. The Model 3 that I just sold was no exception

Again, preconceived notions on this subject = no bueno. Sorry about steering away from the original point of this thread, but, as always, I do appreciate your guys' help.

Oh, and the seller said he'd be able to work with me! Very Happy

Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 12:38 am

USA fender strats have been bolt on since day one yeah? just a thought

Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 352 Location: Illinois

lordkronos187 wrote:

USA fender strats have been bolt on since day one yeah? just a thought

Although I would love a Strat sometime down the road, I've never actually needed one before, thus I've never bothered looking into specific specs on Strats. I believe that the US, Mexico, and Japan are the biggest supplier of Strats, but for all I know US Strats could be mainly set neck and Strats out of Japan could be mainly bolt-on.

I'll look up all of this stuff when I have the spare time. I've spent enough time looking like a moron on forums as it is Laughing

Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 1487 Location: Atlanta, GA

A high end bolt on neck is nothing to sneeze at. The bolt on design offers many advantages to set or thru, but it can also be more easily mass produced for inexpensive guitars, so you were half right, give yourself a little credit;)