caughtinamosh

Caughtinamosh wrote:
"I'd like to see more 7-string semi-acoustics. I'm not even gonna pretend that Gibson is going to release one, which is very sad. It seems to be a guitar that would have to be of Roter or Sherman origin. I suppose that when you start pushing boundaries (God, I hate that cliche), mass produced guitars become less and less suitable. Custom definitely seems to be the way to go.

A 16 string guitar would be simply amazing. You'd need an incredibly strong neck to withstand all of that tension, but the results could be absolutely stunning.

I've found that there is a lot of "djent" players on this forum (and in general) who only use the low B and F# for low pitched rhythms. You seem like the sort of guy who would exploit these extra two strings in a different way. How exactly *do* you use them? My guitar playing is still very much in its embryonic stages, so I always want to learn. "

I gotta ask, who is the girl you're using for your avatar?

Back on topic! I don't disagree Gibson and Heritage are neither bound to produce a hollowbody electric or semi-hollowbody 7-string versions of their current production lines. I was very surprised and somewhat lucky to get my Raines guitar when I did for the price that Matt (Raines) was offering at the time (he's since jacked the price WAYYYYYYYY UP THERE!!!!) though it still took a goodly amount of modification. This is also true for my two Epiphone 7-string LP Standard and Goth models (still laughing at the "standard" designation. Hate to say it, but until someone who actively plays a 7-string gets a major record deal AND gets a Gibson, Heritage or PRS endorsement, you probably will not see a 7-string archtop production model. Next up, from the production model, how modified is the guitar going to be? In my case, I seriously doubt anyone is really interested in MIDI control and RMC's are bloody expensive! For a dual course instrument, there isn't anyone out there who is producing a MIDI pickup (piezo would be the only option due to audio crosstalk with magnetics) on the piezo end. Also, there isn't a single pickup per string solution out there on the piezo end for 12's. RMC was thinking about it at one point, but couldn't get Schlage to work with him as much on his hook design (to keep the piezo elements from touching). I suggested going with mini individual saddles, but was told that this would require some expensive retooling and base materials, let alone the testing involved... Sigh...

I agree, the neck would almost certainly need to be Carbon Graphite, or have a goodly portion of carbon graphite in conjunction with quite a few neck lamination layers. As much as I don't like the look of Status Graphite's headstocked necks, that would probably be the way I'd go. Modulus Graphite might be another option.

No worries! LOL! I tend to use my low F# and B pretty much as extra strings allowing for new/different neck positions and chord voicings. One thing that drives folks a little crazy when playing with me is that I use drone pitches frequently. (Really love bag pipes, uillean pipes, digeridoo and duduk music and try to emulate that in my guitar playing. Nothing like an asthmatic trying to play a wind instrument!) Inversions of chords are awesome on a 7 and 8 string guitar, especially if you're wanting to create a bass line/riff that you're playing around. Ummm, just in case, an inversion is where you play a note, say a 3rd from the root of a chord in a different position (lower pitched is the general rule, but it is also true if you take it an octave higher, too). So, a G chord usually looks like:
G (3rd fret E-string) (root)
B (2nd fret A-string (this is the third)
D (open string D-string) (this is the fifth)
G (open string G-string) (octave)
B (open string B-string) (this is sometimes viewed as a 10th or if you add the D then it becomes 12th if you're writing it out)
G (third fret high E-string) (octave)

Let's fiddle with it, move the 3rd or the 5th up to the low B string, and emphasize the 2nd (the "A").
B (open low-B-string) (major 3rd of G)
G (3rd fret E-string) (root)
A (open A-string) (Major 2nd of G)
D (open D-string) (fifth of G)
A (2nd fret G-string) (Major 2nd of G, in this case, considered a 9th)
B (open high B-string) (Major 3rd of G, in this case considered a 10th)
G (3rd fret high E-string) (Octave) or if you want, throw in a F# for a major 7th or F for a minor 7th.

A Miles Davis trick is to not give the major or minor third but to "hint" at it (using 6ths). This is more modal vs. scalar playing and also drives western classical folks nuts, too.

Hope this helps.

Yowch, what part does a 6-string play in my life any more? For me, I'm only ever using 6-string Steinbergers, mainly because I love the sound so much more than their wooden counterparts. Also, there is something to be said about using a TransTrem and calibrated strings, it is sooooo much smoother than any other tremolo out there. If there was a 7-string Steinberger then I'd have to say I'd probably stop on the 6-strings all together.

On this note, next week, I'm taking a few of the stable over to a near local music shop in trade on a Glissentar (so this would be a 6-string instrument).

The flip-side is that I still really love my 12-string guitars and actively play them. This said, I may at some point see about getting Roter or Mike Sherman to build a dual string course 8-string guitar (this would be a 16-string guitar). If I had my druthers I'd have a 14-string ES-175 dual humbucking guitar unless I find that the low F# is something I can't live without, then I'll have to upgrade the "want" to a 16-string version.

Have to agree, this would be a great thread to add to the Extended or Seven String areas.

thanks!

Anytime man, some BKPs would do a world of good to be honest, and if you like baritones that extra tension might be more your thing. The rest of the SE series are incredible that I've played. Best guitars you can get for under a grand.

Yeah, I've recontoured the neck to sort of replicate my 7421's wizard7. I'll probably get a neck made by ET though, need some maple fretboards in my collection

Haha, I'm getting Adam "elysian" to install the ferrules and drill some holes for the bridge, I should be fine from there. I can't ....ing wait for it.

Haha, man, ....ing Sims... he does spectacular work and everything and responds fairly quickly at first, but then sorta drifts away, almost avoiding the buyer. I ....ing want my ASH body NOW!!! but I got it for a great price, so I'm not really complaining. (that much , just hope I get it real soon)

NOW!!!



Man, your RG ET7 is going to be hawt. ....ing hawt. I'm thinking it's going to get GOTM.. if there aren't any ....ing blackmachines' or something similar contesting

Hey, he said he'd PM when he'd ship the body out.. so still no time frame on that I just hope I get it soon. Bridge, just a 7321 bridge with graphtech string savers
Order YOUR BODY NOW!!

Hey man, erm well the pickups sounded really muddy to me. I was playing it through a Blackstar, my first time with one, and they're supposed to be really good. I tampered with the amp a lot to try and get a nice tone, but I really couldn't. It might've been the amp, but I have heard people complain about the pickups, so I don't know. It sounded worse than a 7321. Secondly, and this could be down to opinion, but everything felt to tight and I didn't like the tension. Its a 27.7 scale, so as you can imagine its guite a difference. The strings just felt so tight it was hard to really dig into them at all, and everything felt a bit cramped. As I say this could just be my opinion, I've only tried a couple of baritones, but its not something I could play easily. I mean the actual guitar itself felt light and comfortable, the neck profile was nice and everything, it was just those two things. Probably worth trying yourself, but definately wasn't for me. I've played a few PRS, both custom and SE, and its the only one thats really had any problems.