[thereisnospoon1]

Hey everybody.

I'm about to get my first 7 string guitar and need some help. I'm a big Dream Theater fan and want a guitar/pickup combination that will get me close to John Petrucci's tone from Train of Thought, or at least as close as possible with the $500 I have to spend.

I originally was set on getting a Schecter Damien 7 and then switching out the bridge HZ7 with a Blaze, but it seems that's not an easy thing to do because of the EMG pickup size.

A couple other options I've thought of would be getting an RG7321 or an LTD SC207. The neck on the RG7321 seemed too thin to me when I tried it, but my last guitar was an RG321 so I'm sure I could get used to it. I haven't been able to try the SC207 but it looks cool. I've never played a guitar with a humbucker in the middle position. Would this fit in with Dream Theater style music?

And would any other pickups work besides the Blaze? I think I only have enough money to replace the bridge right now, but suggestions for the neck (or middle with the SC207) would be helpful.

Thanks.

[shadowgenesis]

i don't think he had prototype drop sonics in his guitars by that point... but i can imagine that would still get you the best results in a well suited guitar. Can't say i know too much bout a good 7. Do they make the OLP version of his sig in a 7?

[Seedawakener]

I'd gor with the SC-207 and a Drop sonic 7 in the bridge. Same woods and same pickup. The thing is, you would need a mesa to get close to his sound. And those are not that cheap! But, the SC 207 seems very nice, and with a pickupchange it'd probably work very well for what you want!

[Justin Bailey]

I wish they made an OLP version of his seven, that would be a sweet guitar to fuck around with.... anyways, The 7321's are good guitars for the money, and with the drop sonic it seems like it'd be the closest you can get within that price range... hell you'd probably have some coin left over. Unfortunetly I've never played any sc207's,so I cant comment on that, sorry.

[yevetz]

Music Man is a best way

[TomAwesome]

I'd say any decent 25.5" scale basswood 7 with a D-Sonic 7 bridge and an Air Norton 7 neck should get you pretty close. The middle position on the LTD won't sound quite the same, but I'd imagine it would still work well. With $500, I'd see if I could find a used Ibanez 7620, 7621, or 7421 depending on whether or not you want a trem.

[Anthony]

do what I'm doing. RG7321 d-Sonic and Air Norton.



Don't forget the mesa

[RichW]

He still used the custom bridge pickup based on the Steve's Special on Train of Thought, and not the D-Sonic. Check DT's live at Budokan DVD for evidence (and it's a great DVD too, whaddayaknow).

[TomAwesome]

^ In that case, yeah, stick with the Blaze if you specifically want the ToT tone

[technomancer]

Ok keep in mind This Dying Soul is the only song on the album played on a seven. The rest are sixes tuned down to C if I recall.

Guitar wise I'd say find a used RG7620 and go with a D-Sonic in the bridge and an Air Norton in the neck. The Blaze has great growl but gets a little muddy on complicated chording.

Also keep in mind a HUGE part of the tone on that album is the Mesa Road King v1.