[Hexer]

yea so I have that idea of an ERG floating around in my head.... and I'm kinda trying to decide if it should be more like a "standard" 8 string (tuned F# - E or something) or a sevenstring with some more weired tuning (double-drop or whatever)
I have some experimental stuff that I'd like to use it for. okok, its kinda meshuggah-influenced, I admit it haha. for this I'd like the guitar to be able to go down to F# or F. also, my band plays in B and I think it would be cool if I could use such an instrument for the more progressive moments there, too so having a low B string would be nice. or course I could just fret a B on a lower string, but....
also I'd really like to have the high end be something around the regular high E of a normal guitar. dont care too much for even higher strings as for me those extremely highpitched notes usually sound pretty piercing and sharp and all. just dont like that sound too much. also I've gotten pretty used to using my additional high range (up to E) quite a bit when soloing.

I would like some kind of multiscale instrument here but not with a very extreme fan.... I have no experience playing a multiscale unfortunately but I'm pretty confident I'd be able to pull it off with a little getting used to if the scale-difference is not too extreme. was thinking something like 28.625" on the low end and I'm fine with something like 26.5" at the high end (actually I like my 26.5" RAN's scale much better than my Ibby's 25.5" even for soloing). hell even 27" on the high end would be fine

so what would you suggest? any cool 7-string tunings that would work well for what I described? or should I just add the 8th string?

if I did something like a double-drop tuning including a low B, I'd end up with a LOW E for the lowest string lol. its only half a note lower than F of course but for some reason it strikes me as a bit of an overkill.... dunno....

what about scale on the low end? 28.625 sound fine? or more? 29? 30 even? keep in mind I'd like to keep the fan somewhat non-extreme. high-end 26.5 - 27 should be ok though

what do you think something like that might cost?

lets say with 2 lundgrens, neck-through and maybe something like mahogany wings with quilted maple cap? good idea?

thoughts? opinions? threats of murder?

[Ishan]

For a low E you should consider 30" scale if you like thin strings.

[Hexer]

hmmm, I also thought of course I need strings long enough.... I THINK I once played with that tension-calculator and found I'd be fine with Elixir strings. their heaviest is 68 and I think I did the calculation for 28.265" but dont remember exactly what tuning.... could be F but might have been G...

the low E was just a though cause thats what I'd end up with if I had a low B and had the lowest string in a drop tuning. I dont really need to go that low

[Erik Hauri]

Last year I built an 8-string multiscale that went 28" to 25.5" and used an 85 tuned to drop-E. Its...*OK*...but much happier at F#...the 85 is from a bass string set, so no problems with length.

If you're going 8 then I'd consider 29"-27" or 30-28" with your perpendicular fret around #7 or #9.

FWIW an 85 is about the largest string you'll put through a reamed-out guitar tuner post without breaking it off (reaming out the hole weakens the post), or without ordering custom strings with tapered ends. Any larger than 85 and you need a bass tuning key.

Mahogany with quilted maple top would be keeellir!

[Hexer]

I have my 6-string Marathon (25.5" scale) in a double drop-tuning for experimenting right now. the lowest string on that is an 80 (from DAddario) tuned to F. its.. ok I'd say, but doesnt stay in tune all too well and also is really floppy. of course its a pretty cheap and old guitar, too, a better quality axe would probably hold up better. the 80 would not fit through the tuner but I unwound the last bit of it and that worked without much problems. I'd preffer to use somehting NOTICABLE lighter than an 80 for this though. lets say maybe a 70 max?
just for comparison: my low B on my 26.5" 7 is a 59 and that is about perfect to me right now.

I dont really want that low E actually, F or F# should be fine I'm thinking...

[Erik Hauri]

For a 70 tuned to F# I would go with at least a 28" scale, no doubt about it. Otherwise it will feel like a rubber band.

[Ishan]

F# .070 I'd go with 28"5/8 myself. I like low E cause you can use this tuning : bassE bassA EADGbe

[Erik Hauri]

Originally Posted by Ishan

I like low E cause you can use this tuning : bassE bassA EADGbe

Almost exactly what I do with my 8: lowE-BEADGbe a standard drop-E 8 tuning.

[Apophis]

Interesting design

[Hexer]

I'm almost thinking I should go for standard 8-string tuning...