NGD Charles cilia 7 string

mat2379 · 11-01-2012, 11:15 PM

Hi NGD

I just received this custom 7 string from Charles Cilia a Luthier from Sydney about 2 weeks ago. Waited a while before posting. Here's the specs:
Neck - flame maple (bolt on)
Fretboard - rosewood
Headstock - madagascar rosewood
Body- Mahogany
Top - Burl Maple
Pickups - Dimarzio Air norton (neck) Dimarzio tone zone 7 (bridge)
Piezo
Volume knob (Blower switch)
Tone knob ( volume control for piezo)
Hipshot bridge.
scale length - 27" 24 frets

Overall vibe - Sheer Awesomeness

haha

Vicious7 · 11-01-2012, 11:53 PM

Mmmmmm...clean, simple, elegant yet brutal...you sir have an awesome axe!!!

TIBrent · 11-02-2012, 12:26 AM

I dig it! Looks clean & mean!
-Brent

capoeiraesp · 11-02-2012, 01:56 AM

Very nice man. Although the exposed piezo wires don't sit well with me.
That sure is a nice top too.

Najka · 11-02-2012, 02:52 AM

That is a friggen nice piece of Burl Maple! Congrats!

guitarnoize · 11-02-2012, 03:29 AM

It's an awesome guitar, I can't wait to get mine!

shitsøn · 11-02-2012, 05:27 AM

Looks very Carvin-ish, especially the headstock. Happy NGD!

Stealthdjentstic · 11-02-2012, 05:38 AM

Nice, kimd of sloppy on the piezo though

mat2379 · 11-02-2012, 06:07 AM

Yeh about the piezo there was a good reason for it turning out the way it did. Can't remember it but I'm going to see Charles next week so I'll ask him then and get back to you all with the reason

he ran it by me first and I was fine with it

MF_Kitten · 11-02-2012, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealthdjentstic

Nice, kimd of sloppy on the piezo though

even LACS did that on Tosin's older 7 string though

guitarnoize · 11-02-2012, 06:29 AM

Yeah I think it's to do with the hipshot, I've seen other guitars Charles has built with Les Paul style bridges and you can't see the Piezo wires at all.

mat2379 · 11-02-2012, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarnoize

Yeah I think it's to do with the hipshot, I've seen other guitars Charles has built with Les Paul style bridges and you can't see the Piezo wires at all.

Oh yeh I remember something bout that. That sounds right.

GXPO · 11-02-2012, 07:35 AM

That flamed neck is beautiful!

JPMike · 11-02-2012, 08:47 PM

Gorgeous guitar there, man. HNGD!!

guitarnoize · 11-02-2012, 10:43 PM

How do you find having no inlays I'm thinking of doing the same for my build with just side dots, played classical when I was younger so figure I'll get used to it again?

mat2379 · 11-02-2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarnoize

How do you find having no inlays I'm thinking of doing the same for my build with just side dots, played classical when I was younger so figure I'll get used to it again?

I'm primarily a classical player so no inlays isn't much of an issue although i do prefer side dots though. When i play my guitars that have inlays I still look at the side ones so i reckon you'll get used to it pretty quickly and easily. I couldn't think of an inlay i wanted on this guitar so i just went with none.

guitarnoize · 11-02-2012, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mat2379

I'm primarily a classical player so no inlays isn't much of an issue although i do prefer side dots though. When i play my guitars that have inlays I still look at the side ones so i reckon you'll get used to it pretty quickly and easily. I couldn't think of an inlay i wanted on this guitar so i just went with none.

Oh wait are you the guy Charles was telling me about that has won classical guitar contests etc. overseas? I couldn't think of an inlay either so thought a really nice piece of Madagascar Rosewood instead would look awesome carried through to the headstock. I studied classical at Uni but its been a while! No side dots in those days though and seemed to cope ok so yeah hopefully should be fine too

mat2379 · 11-03-2012, 03:22 AM

Hahaha yeh man that's me unfortunately. Yeh a nice piece of rosewood is just classy. There's a really awesome inlay he's done on another 7 string. Did you end up selling the suhr?

guitarnoize · 11-03-2012, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mat2379

Hahaha yeh man that's me unfortunately. Yeh a nice piece of rosewood is just classy. There's a really awesome inlay he's done on another 7 string. Did you end up selling the suhr?

Yeah I was tempted to go with a similar inlay as that other 7 it's crazy but didn't want to copy and couldn't think of anything original haha

Yeah sold my Suhr Modern to fund the build and confident that this will become my main guitar, I've never played a 7 that feels so comfortable before I didn't even notice the longer scale length!

Santuzzo · 11-03-2012, 07:34 AM

Congrats!
That guitar looks awesome!

Lach Rae Dawn · 11-03-2012, 04:34 PM

I like it, I really like the neck, head stock area.

The only thing about it, is that the wires into/from the bridge should of been black.

guitarnoize · 11-08-2012, 01:00 AM

After chatting with Charles today I may go with a Flame Maple neck too, he was saying what a perfect combo it was on your guitar with the right piece of Mahogany. Looks awesome too!

guitarnoize · 11-08-2012, 02:00 AM

By the way have you had a chance to A/B your Cilia with any other 7's? I tried that Wing inlay 7 after a J Custom 7 string and it was like night and day in terms of feel and weight and the neck carve was also so much better on the Cilia. The difference to me seems to be that it doesn't feel like a 6 string design that has been altered and widened to accommodate a 7th string, I was playing the same as I do on a 6 using my thumb over the neck for fretting both the low B & the E no problem.

mat2379 · 11-08-2012, 06:46 PM

I've tried it against the ibanez universe, John suhr 7 string and a Jp musicman 7. The universe was just so dead in comparison. Sounded lethargic and the low b was muddy as anything. With all three guitars compared to they all lacked definition on the 7 th string. The cilia however is so much clearer you can actually hear intervals and when playing chords on the lower string. The John suhr came closest to the cilia but they all just felt like a guitar that was 6+1 whereas the cilia was so natural as 7 string I barely noticed an extra string in terms of change of technique and sound. Oh and the piezo. The music man has a piezo and it is a rather thin sound. Had to have a blend knob to make it useable. Don't really need that knob on the cilia sounds one the way it is. Overall the cilia rips them up. Very hard to play other guitars after playing this one. I haven't tried the wing inlay one but I played a 7 arch top by Charles and I got the same vibe. It actually felt like a natural 7 string.
Flame maple is a good choice. I should bring my guitar down to Charles if u want to try it again.

trickae · 11-08-2012, 06:52 PM

nice, my custom should be finishing soon.

Matt did you see my guitar there? its the one with the bird wings - quilted flame maple inlay.

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11-01-2012, 11:53 PM	#2
Vicious7 Vegetables Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Haven, MI Posts: 466 Thanked: 3 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Mmmmmm...clean, simple, elegant yet brutal...you sir have an awesome axe!!! Gots: Houston BH-7, Agile Hornet 7 Custom, Ibanez RG8L Upcoming: Siggery Heresy 7L, Livewire Lavender Ibanez RG7420L, Ormsby 7L

11-02-2012, 12:26 AM	#3
TIBrent Drop Z regular Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 535 Thanked: 2 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I dig it! Looks clean & mean! -Brent Stuff that makes me sound like I can play...

11-02-2012, 02:52 AM	#5
Najka Tiger! Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: FL Posts: 379 Thanked: 15 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	That is a friggen nice piece of Burl Maple! Congrats! http://soundcloud.com/dan-schuch

11-02-2012, 05:27 AM	#7
shitsøn (((Ω))) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Berlin, DE/Tampa, FL Posts: 2,790 Thanked: 65 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Looks very Carvin-ish, especially the headstock. Happy NGD! Check: http://soundcloud.com/mouldermasters Extended Range Guitar Nerds Facebook

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11-02-2012, 01:56 AM	#4
capoeiraesp SS.org Regular Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Land of roos Posts: 1,334 Thanked: 49 Feedback Score: 6 reviews	Very nice man. Although the exposed piezo wires don't sit well with me. That sure is a nice top too.

11-02-2012, 03:29 AM	#6
guitarnoize ss.org Regular Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 95 Thanked: 3 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	It's an awesome guitar, I can't wait to get mine!

11-02-2012, 05:38 AM	#8
Stealthdjentstic Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canadia Posts: 19,969 Thanked: 338 Feedback Score: 10 reviews	Nice, kimd of sloppy on the piezo though

11-02-2012, 06:07 AM	#9
mat2379 ss.org Regular Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 26 Thanked: 2 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeh about the piezo there was a good reason for it turning out the way it did. Can't remember it but I'm going to see Charles next week so I'll ask him then and get back to you all with the reason he ran it by me first and I was fine with it

11-02-2012, 06:29 AM	#11
guitarnoize ss.org Regular Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 95 Thanked: 3 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeah I think it's to do with the hipshot, I've seen other guitars Charles has built with Les Paul style bridges and you can't see the Piezo wires at all. Nonservium likes this.

11-02-2012, 07:35 AM	#13
GXPO SS Contributor Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stevenage, Greater London Posts: 649 Thanked: 3 Feedback Score: 3 reviews	That flamed neck is beautiful!

11-02-2012, 08:47 PM	#14
JPMike Totally Random Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 2,077 Thanked: 44 $JPMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $JPMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $JPMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $JPMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $JPMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $JPMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $JPMike is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 13 reviews	Gorgeous guitar there, man. HNGD!!

11-02-2012, 10:43 PM	#15
guitarnoize ss.org Regular Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 95 Thanked: 3 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	How do you find having no inlays I'm thinking of doing the same for my build with just side dots, played classical when I was younger so figure I'll get used to it again?

11-03-2012, 03:22 AM	#18
mat2379 ss.org Regular Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 26 Thanked: 2 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hahaha yeh man that's me unfortunately. Yeh a nice piece of rosewood is just classy. There's a really awesome inlay he's done on another 7 string. Did you end up selling the suhr?

11-03-2012, 07:34 AM	#20
Santuzzo SS.org Regular Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Posts: 3,504 Thanked: 70 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Congrats! That guitar looks awesome! my website - free licks - some of my music my 1st EP 'Sonic Sketches' is out now

11-03-2012, 04:34 PM	#21
Lach Rae Dawn ss.org Regular Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Louisiana, US Posts: 87 Thanked: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I like it, I really like the neck, head stock area. The only thing about it, is that the wires into/from the bridge should of been black.

11-08-2012, 01:00 AM	#22
guitarnoize ss.org Regular Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 95 Thanked: 3 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	After chatting with Charles today I may go with a Flame Maple neck too, he was saying what a perfect combo it was on your guitar with the right piece of Mahogany. Looks awesome too!

11-08-2012, 02:00 AM	#23
guitarnoize ss.org Regular Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 95 Thanked: 3 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	By the way have you had a chance to A/B your Cilia with any other 7's? I tried that Wing inlay 7 after a J Custom 7 string and it was like night and day in terms of feel and weight and the neck carve was also so much better on the Cilia. The difference to me seems to be that it doesn't feel like a 6 string design that has been altered and widened to accommodate a 7th string, I was playing the same as I do on a 6 using my thumb over the neck for fretting both the low B & the E no problem.

11-08-2012, 06:46 PM	#24
mat2379 ss.org Regular Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 26 Thanked: 2 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I've tried it against the ibanez universe, John suhr 7 string and a Jp musicman 7. The universe was just so dead in comparison. Sounded lethargic and the low b was muddy as anything. With all three guitars compared to they all lacked definition on the 7 th string. The cilia however is so much clearer you can actually hear intervals and when playing chords on the lower string. The John suhr came closest to the cilia but they all just felt like a guitar that was 6+1 whereas the cilia was so natural as 7 string I barely noticed an extra string in terms of change of technique and sound. Oh and the piezo. The music man has a piezo and it is a rather thin sound. Had to have a blend knob to make it useable. Don't really need that knob on the cilia sounds one the way it is. Overall the cilia rips them up. Very hard to play other guitars after playing this one. I haven't tried the wing inlay one but I played a 7 arch top by Charles and I got the same vibe. It actually felt like a natural 7 string. Flame maple is a good choice. I should bring my guitar down to Charles if u want to try it again.

11-08-2012, 06:52 PM	#25
trickae Ibanez Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: sydney Posts: 527 Thanked: 6 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	nice, my custom should be finishing soon. Matt did you see my guitar there? its the one with the bird wings - quilted flame maple inlay. guitarnoize likes this. The greatest guitar lesson of all time: http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/3028785-post54.html

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