Opinions on RC7X, SLAT3-7, RGD7

[I_infect]

You are buying/want a new guitar. These models are all roughly in the same price range, with roughly the same features... sleek fast necks, tremolos, built for shred. Pick one. Please state WHY! I'd like to hear some honest opinions on the specs, especially from any owners... PLEASE no brand loyalties/hatreds i.e. 'it's MiJ, it's an Ibanez, it's a Dean' etc. For non-owners, which one interests you the most?

[Hamatha]

TBH, I'd rather the RGD because 1) I like passives 2) 26.5 scale is badass and 3) That arm contour look F**king comfy.

[Sebastian]

For non-owners, which one interests you the most?

The Jackson (no way Sebastian and Jacksons )
Arch top body: Alder, EMG's, Ebony fingerboard, I always loved Jackson's necks, and I bet the quality is great and in my opinion it looks killer, especially with the binding and bigger inlays

PLEASE no brand loyalties/hatred

NO H8

[MaxOfMetal]

Of those I would be most interested in the RC7. It's really built for playing, and that white finish it comes in is pretty snazzy. A shop by me finally got one in (the black one unfortunately) and it's a great, solid instrument. I was particularly impressed with the neck, both contour and fretwork as well as the overall fit and finish. It's very reminencent in feel to the RG7620s and UV7s that are my primary instruments, but have a more "modern" tinge to them. It's hard to vocalize, but I think you'll understand.

The cons, the frets aren't the giant speed bumps you would expect on such a shred oriented guitar, but by no means are they "small". Also, the EMG routes. Though, I will say they sounded pretty good. I'd just prefer a different set of pickups.

I haven't played the SLAT or RGD yet. Though I'm sure they're both of just as high, if not higher quality. I'm slightly biased towards the Dean and Ibanez as I'm a lead player who loves bolt-on necks and flat-top bodies, so take what I say knowing that. Though, I also like having a tone knob, so the SLAT gets some redemption in my mind for that fact alone.

If you like EMGs go for either the RC7 or SLAT, if you like passives go for the RGD. They're all thin necked shredders.

[-One-]

I've gotta say, I'm most interested in the RC7X. I'm not a huge fan of the feel of the SLAT3-7, and the extended scale on the RGD2127 is a bit of a turn off for me, as well as the Ibanez pickups.

[I_infect]

My concerns:

RC7X- I'm not sure if I am comfortable with how extreme the cutaway seems... there doesn't seem to be alot of meat there holding the neck, and I had a new Jackson COW come in with the neck bolts stripped and the neck hanging by the strings. Max, how secure did the neck pocket feel when you played it?

SLAT3-7- pretty much my only concern here would be the trem, and that oversized headstock.

RGD- I have the least concerns about this, the neck pocket fear still applies however it doesn't look as iffy as the Dean. And of course, it's the most expensive.

[MaxOfMetal]

Originally Posted by I_infect

My concerns:

RC7X- I'm not sure if I am comfortable with how extreme the cutaway seems... there doesn't seem to be alot of meat there holding the neck, and I had a new Jackson COW come in with the neck bolts stripped and the neck hanging by the strings. Max, how secure did the neck pocket feel when you played it?

SLAT3-7- pretty much my only concern here would be the trem, and that oversized headstock.

RGD- I have the least concerns about this, the neck pocket fear still applies however it doesn't look as iffy as the Dean. And of course, it's the most expensive.

The neck pocket/joint was solid. I was using the trem a lot, and it didn't have any "creaking" at the joint, which can be a fairly common issue with stock bolt-on guitars, so it's certainly seated and constructed right.

I did the typical "strength" test with the guitar, pushing and pulling the headstock and there was not much movement, at least any more than other bolt-on instruments. Also, the cutaway looks a lot more extreme then it really is with the guitar in your hands. While it takes a little meat out of the neck pocket, it's only from the side and doesn't interfere with the bolts. I'd say it's just as solid as any RG7 or UV7 I've owned.

I'm assuming the RGD will be about the same, from the photos I've gathered. As long as you don't take too much wood away from the upper bolts or the front of the neck pocket you should be pretty good.

[777]

Ibanez Lover here, voted jackson tho

Alder body+ some passives+emg sized pup covers would be awesome

[Sebastian]

Originally Posted by I_infect

My concerns:
SLAT3-7- pretty much my only concern here would be the trem

Isn't it an original Floyd

[I_infect]

Originally Posted by Sebastian

Isn't it an original Floyd

Wasnt sure, I hadn't checked. No problems if it is

[D-EJ915]

You like basswood, alder or mahogany? That's the biggest difference between those guitars, pick the one you like the body wood the most.

[MaxOfMetal]

Originally Posted by D-EJ915

You like basswood, alder or mahogany? That's the biggest difference between those guitars, pick the one you like the body wood the most.

Actually both the RC7X and SLAT are Alder, and the RGD is Basswood. None of them are mahogany.

[D-EJ915]

oh right the new usa one is mahogany, my bad lol, in that case I would get the jackson over it

[JeffFromMtl]

RGD!

The passive pups are the deal-breaker, but the long scale is nice and I think it's the best-looking of the 3.

[IDLE]

The Jackson, because I like how Jackson necks feel. The only thing I don't like is the pickups, but I think they got a lot right on it especially the green swirl and the inlays.

[MacTown09]

RGD! WE WANNA SEE A NGD!

[777]

Originally Posted by JeffFromMtl

The passive pups are the deal-breaker..

Wow... never in my entire life did I expect to see this statement on the forums...

[MaxOfMetal]

Originally Posted by 777

Wow... never in my entire life did I expect to see this statement on the forums...

Please tell me you're joking.

There's a fair amount of EMG hate, though it's more of a hate of their over-sized routings, on this board. Even before I joined.

[splinter8451]

RGD2027 all the way.

I played the RGD2120ZCSM yesterday and I was blown away. It played so smoothly and the body felt awesome. The new contours are great.

I hated the 26.5 inch scale on my old Schecter but on this it just felt right.

[JeffFromMtl]

Originally Posted by MaxOfMetal

Please tell me you're joking.

There's a fair amount of EMG hate, though it's more of a hate of their over-sized routings, on this board. Even before I joined.

It makes switching to passives a bitch and seriously limits your options. I have no problem changing the pickups in my guitar unless the pickups don't fit properly. So when I'm on the market for a new guitar, I'm thinking "what could I put a set of my pickups of choice into?" and the answer is, "not much" because the 7 string market is almost EMG-exclusive.

[Cheesebuiscut]

I'd be more interested in the RGD or the RC7 just because they are both made with ergonomics in mind where the SLAT is just a plain ole superstrat with nothing special about it besides the addition of a seventh string. Also I can't freaking stand the headstock they put on it.

Beyond that though I would have to play them. If I had to choose without playing them I'd lean more towards the RGD because of the scale length, passive sized pups (though I could always get direct mount Q-tuners for the emg sized pups), and the trem. Theres also the possibility that the RG has larger frets which would be another + for me but I have no idea if they are considering that all the ibanez I've played recently have had significantly smaller frets than the 10 year old frets on my S series.

So yeah I'd probably go with the RGD out of those choices (though at that price point you could get a roter *cough*cough*)


Oh and as I too hate the emg sized routes it really doesn't matter since all you have to do is buy 4$ worth of emg sized covers for your passives and your golden. Your options are not limited in the slightest.

[ShadyDavey]

I like the RC7 but I wouldn't buy an X on the basis that while supposedly the same neck and frets as the G the last picture I saw here showed a difference...the Mahogany bodied RC7G is of more interest if the same doesn't hold true for it's specs...although that said the fret size isn't hugely disimilar....

Out of the three the RGD gets my vote. The scale length isn't a deal breaker for me and ergonomically it looks very comfortable....the trem is undoubtedly a reliable piece of hardware.

[bibz]

Originally Posted by Cheesebuiscut

I'd be more interested in the RGD or the RC7 just because they are both made with ergonomics in mind where the SLAT is just a plain ole superstrat with nothing special about it besides the addition of a seventh string.

That is the most wrong thing I've ever heard anywhere. The SLAT is the least super strat going here, its a ....ing neckthrough! See that massive shaped access where the bolts would be? Its perfectly ergonomic, perfect access, and lets just say higher quality then the others. Didn't bother with the rc7x I seen, and blows the 1527 I've played out of the water. If you want to play the guitar, the topend jap jacksons are only second to customs. If you dont like the colour, fine, if you dont like the specs, fine. But its the most comfortable 7 I've touched.

And again, this is the progression of what PLAYERS wanted over the normal strats. 30 years of evolution! Jackson fo' lyfe!

[Prydogga]

OFR+EMGs+Neck Thru+ Colour Options = Jackson

[MaxOfMetal]

Originally Posted by bibz

That is the most wrong thing I've ever heard anywhere. The SLAT is the least super strat going here, its a ....ing neckthrough! See that massive shaped access where the bolts would be? Its perfectly ergonomic, perfect access, and lets just say higher quality then the others. Didn't bother with the rc7x I seen, and blows the 1527 I've played out of the water. If you want to play the guitar, the topend jap jacksons are only second to customs. If you dont like the colour, fine, if you dont like the specs, fine. But its the most comfortable 7 I've touched.

And again, this is the progression of what PLAYERS wanted over the normal strats. 30 years of evolution! Jackson fo' lyfe!