[jufob]

There's something to what Eric previously wrote about the magic that Leo had. I've tried out a lot of Strat copies but they all lack the spank and bell tones and even the way the tone and volume controls roll on and off. For me, the Strat 7 has got to be Labeled "Fender Stratocaster +" or something like that to ignite the mojo, save the world, explore the universe...I have to have one before Sanjaya discovers it!!

[ohio_eric]

OK so I got an e-mail from Rob Stone saying that USA Custom Guitars is keeping an open mind towards new designs but there is a minor hitch. Their CNC guy left a while back and they're having a hell of time replacing him. So a lot of new ideas have to be kept on the back burner until they get a CNC programmer.

Also he says he will register here.

So we need to be patient or get them a CNC programmer. I swear if I knew how I'd do it.

[jtm45]

It would be extremely cool if they started doing 7 string stuff,especially if they made all their body and neck options available for 7's.
That's pretty unlikely i know,but we can live in hope.
Man!!!!! Imagine a 7 string Thinline Tele (semi-hollow body)with a double bound body and a bidseye or flame maple neck/ebony board.Pure sex in a 7 string form.

On a side note regarding USA Custom Guitars,i had a Tele neck built by them for that Aluminium custom Tele i put together and it's probably the nicest Tele neck i've ever played.
I had it built from a single piece of flame maple topped with a solid black Ebony board (22 Jumbo 6100 frets)and Abalone face and side dots.
I had the nut slot machined for an LSR roller nut (same as they fit on the Custom Shop Jeff Beck Strats).
The build quality was as good as i've seen and better than any Fender Tele neck i've seen.
Fretwork was flawless and top grade. They can't do exact Fender shaped headstocks as they don't pay Fender a copyright fee (don't blame them either) but it's pretty close so i just re-shaped it myself.
I didn't have it finished by them because i wanted to do that work on the headstock and apply a headstock decal first.I didn't particularly want a lacquer finish anyway so i finished it with Tru-Oil (Birchwood Casey)and it looks and feels spot-on.
So,basically,they do top-notch work
The neck in question;

[Donnie]

Originally Posted by ohio_eric

OK so I got an e-mail from Rob Stone saying that USA Custom Guitars is keeping an open mind towards new designs but there is a minor hitch. Their CNC guy left a while back and they're having a hell of time replacing him. So a lot of new ideas have to be kept on the back burner until they get a CNC programmer.

Also he says he will register here.

So we need to be patient or get them a CNC programmer. I swear if I knew how I'd do it.

Hmmm... I learned the ins and outs of the CNC machines back at Gibson Guitars and these guys are close by...

[ohio_eric]

I've heard nothing but good things about them. That's why I was happy when they seemed open to the idea. We just need to find them a CNC programmer.

Originally Posted by Donnie

Hmmm... I learned the ins and outs of the CNC machines back at Gibson Guitars and these guys are close by...

If you do it, you'll be my hero.

[jtm45]

Originally Posted by Donnie

Hmmm... I learned the ins and outs of the CNC machines back at Gibson Guitars and these guys are close by...

Get on the job Donnie
Do you know enough to do what is required for what we want ? That's the question....

[Donnie]

Well, I pretty much just know how to load the programs and how to run the actual machine. As far a programming goes...

[eelblack2]

Eric, Lee, and Mr.Krogh,

Thanks to all of you for your informative and genuine emails. I, as a player of music that could greatly benefit from a 7 string, I have personally had to resort to my current 6 string axes to make it work. I have no desire for the legion of tired, pointy, wierd scale and dangerous looking peghead guitars currently available. This in no way takes away from their overall design or execution though, I have played alot of them and some of them are truly exceptional in quality and craftsmanship. However the glaring issue is as you all have addressed... "where are the 25.5 scale Strat and Tele 7's?"

If you can forgive my limited and completely independent observations for the sake of continuing this dialog, lets take a look. Fender briefly jumped on the "bandwagon" with the Squier but obviously fell short of expectations in sales. This was likely due to the market at that time really being fueled by the metal guys and coupled with poor quality parts, this ended up disappearing before it really got started. What has since happened is a complete explosion of the selection of baritone guitars. Cool in alot of ways but a huge miss on one very important feature. Playability. You can riff all day on those things but any sort of lead work, from the Gilmour guys to the shredders just isnt cool at all. I am still wondering why there are so many more choices in baritones than 7 strings. If I wanted a 30" scale I'd play bass. 28 5/8 feels just about the same. 25" scale works, but not very well. As an employee for a company that makes baritone conversion necks and a Bass VI copy I have come to realize that there is no more of a market for these instruments than that of the 7string. Yet the choices abound. Even Gibson makes several. Go figure.

Obviously the world of 7 string players has grown up a bit and is now not limited to the outer extremes of Metal and Jazz. It seems as if the need for a more traditional approach to the 7 is long overdue. Conversely, my company's market which would include Warmoth's I presume, is largely comprised of the typical "vintage" player and/or builder. This is not going away and will continue to be the primary focus of our current selection of instruments and options. However, here at USACG we are players and we are always looking at how we can accomodate innovation and tradition without alienating the clientel that keep our doors open. Frankly, until the ridiculously out of control vintage guitar phenomenon has a reality check, old designs and old philosphies will not go away. That being said though... I dont feel there is any reason against trying to meld the two worlds. Im not saying we should perpetuate the oxymoron of "Vintage-Modern" concepts, but more the approach of making a better more versatile incarnation of what have proven to be two of the most prolific guitar designs ever. The Strat and the Tele. Call it making the wheel more round, if you will.

This brings us to the possiblility and feasibility of my company making these designs. The short answer is not very positive. We cant! The long answer entails modification of several aspects of current programming. Bridge, pickups and neck pocket on the bodies. Heel and nut width, and tuner holes on necks. Lets not forget about the south paws either! The good news is that we have most of the design already in place since we will only be modifying current programs.The other major hurdle, at least for USACG would be pickguards. If we were to ever offer 7 string strats or teles I doubt we would be able to offer a pickguard option as we have great difficulty in making standard p/g options. This is not because we dont know how, but our limited amount of machinery is tied up with the more pertinent tasks of necks and bodies. Unfortunately we are dead in the water without a full time programmer on staff. NOTHING of substance can happen without this position filled. The only ray of hope for the short term I can offer you guys is to come up with an idea, either individually or as a collective, on how to share the expense of comissioning our consultant/programmer to take on the task of programming to get this going. It wont be cheap and will take some serious time but is not out of the question. It's not the best answer but it is certainly not the worst. Bottom line... it can happen, we can do it, but it is simply a matter of money, time and a large comittment from you guys to get this out of the forums and into your hands.

I will do what I can to assist you from my end.

Regards,

Rob Stone
USACG
253.446.4048




----- Original Message -----
From: Tommy Rosamond
To: Rob Stone
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 8:22 AM
Subject: Fw: 7 string guitar options



----- Original Message -----
From: Lee White
To: sales@usacustomguitars.com
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 6:42 PM
Subject: RE: 7 string guitar options


I am a member of sevenstring.org. We are a community of players very serious about 7 strings, and very much beyond the “novelty” of it all. It is an essential instrument for us. That being said, I would like to express my strong desire to build strat and tele 7 strings on a very frequent basis. (I am a gear pig, I will admit to this freely.) I have been playing 7 strings since 1992. I have grown a little older since then, and to be quite honest, my taste in pointy 7 strings has diminished recently. My desire for more traditional 7 string guitars with true single coils has increased exponentially. I realize that programming the CNC for a different neck and body cut is not the most economically feasible option when catering to a smaller segment of the market. I ask that you consider helping us where Warmoth guitars has flat out said no to us time and time again. I firmly believe if you give us a chance to purchase your products as 7 string players, we will not disappoint you.



I submit this thread from the “Unofficial Warmoth” Board. Note that it is almost the only thread that anyone has been passionate enough about to post repeatedly in:



http://p102.ezboard.com/funofficialw...icID=603.topic



Thank you for your consideration,



Lee White

[jtm45]

Hmmm.. He sounds very positive to a certain point and then he's basically throwing it back into our hands.
I know there would be no shortage of knowledge and theoretical input from the forum members but i'm not sure how many would be up for putting 'big' money into the design + programming stage.
I know quite a few people would be interested in a 7 string Strat or Tele of quality but it's going to cost enough just to pay for the parts,let alone the programming and stuff.

Certainly gives a ray of hope to the idea though Nice work dudes!

[Pablo]

Just adding my reply to what Rob wrote:

Originally Posted by Pablo

Cheers Rob,

I know fully well that it is a decidedly "big deal" to R&D a new design (especially when you have no in-house CNC programmer) and as I wrote, I don't even have a clue as to the possible market and/or feasibility of such an undertaking.

As you may well have gathered, your answer is not quite as positive as a few of us knuckleheads had hoped for - but I asure you that I applaud your genuine interest and frank reply to our inquiry as much as had you reply been rosier than a really rosey thing...

I quite honestly do not know the position of the forum vis-à-vis possible partial funding of your R&D. Personally, however, I am not at all opposed to the idea - and that's despite the fact that I will have my custom 7-string Strat in my hands fairly soon.

I thank you very much for your time and if you come across a plan to set a 7-string production into motion, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards

Eske Meldgaard Krogh