[Ponte506]

Hello, I'm pretty new to this board, and so far I've found a lot of usefull posts. But, I do have a question that's been nagging the shit out of me the past few weeks...

A few weeks back I purchased a ESP SC-207, the bolt-on neck "lower end" model of the Stephen Carpenter 7 strings. Being a Deftones fan since 2000 (I think obsessed is more appropriate than fan). After playing their other albums for years on my Ibanez 6 string, I finally had to get the 7 string to get those awesome low notes (and to write a lot of my own music).

So far, I've been having a blast, but the strings suck (supposedly the factory ones on the guitar suck), and I recently purchased a new set of Ernie Ball .11 guage strings along with EMG 707 pickups, and a TonePros locking bridge that will be installed by a guitar tech. I'm hoping to be able to improve not only the sound I get from the guitar (especially since I'm putting in the same stellar pickups Stephen Carpenter uses), but I want hold my tuning for more than 20 minutes (I have it tuned to G#C#F#B E G#C#), and it seems that the guitar will get out of tune within that 20 minutes. Here's my main question:

Am I never going to acheive that "keeps in low tuning" aspect with my guitar since its only a standard scale and not a baritone? Or am I fine, and its just the strings that need to get swapped out? Of course I'll never get the "awesome sustain" with a neck thru, but from what most of my guitar buddies are saying, if you have great pickups, and a good setup, then there's not much a difference. So, for someone that one days plans on recording music seriously, was this a "dumb" buy, and I should have saved for the ridiculously priced 607B? Or am I good to go?

Thank you for your time guys.

[djpharoah]

1) Stef uses EMG 81-7s not 707s in his signature guitars.
2) The SC607B and the SC207 are in different leagues.
3) To use the heavier down tuning you will have to use thicker cables/strings.

If you are planning on going low get the baritone. Its just a better playing guitar, already comes with the EMGs and will allow you to use lighter strings and will allow your strings to intonate.h

[soldierkahn]

yea what Mesh said. If you wanna down tune as far as youre going, you really shouldve invested in a baritone. just my two cents tho...

[Ponte506]

1) I read in an interview with Steph at ultimate-guitar.com he uses 707's, but his models on the website are 81's:

What types of pickups are in your guitars?
I have EMGs in all of them. The 707 is my main pickup in the bridge position, and then they have a version of the 81 in a 7-string model. I can’t remember what it’s called. These have a bassier tone and have more body to them. When I get the 8-strings, I’m going to use their 808. I think that’s what it’s called.

Plus, I've heard that a 707 would be the best choice in getting those thick and clear notes over the 81. Never tried either one, so I just went what with Steph and others said.

I'm using the same guage as Steph (.11 - .59).

I really wish I did go with the Baritone, but it wasn't really much of an option. I'm a Private in the U.S. Army, so needless to say, I'm not making a whole lot. I was just wondering whether or not I was going to have the "gets out of tune way too often" probelm I've been having now. The 607B is definitely a consideration in the future (once I can save a bit more).

I was just hoping I wasnt buying some junk or even "mediocre guitar". I guess my hopes were that if I added all of the high quality parts to it, it would be pretty much on par as the 607B.

[JJ Rodriguez]

I don't think it would be quite on par with the 607B, and add the fact after adding all those parts, you probably just about spent the same amount as you would have on the 607B in the first place.

[JJ Rodriguez]

Okay, I just checked the price on DCGL, you wouldn't have spent as much....but I'm one of the people who would rather save up and get something a bit nicer. With the 207, I would probably get Blackouts instead of EMG's, so you could get the active tone, but then you wouldn't have to pay a tech to route out the guitar for the EMG's.

[blackout]

That 11-59 set better be the first 6 with a 68 or 70 at least on the low string, cos otherwise its not gonna hold G#.

It does seem strange, unless you got the guitar dirt cheap you must have come close to spending at least the used cost of a 607b. why did you get the 207?

[Ponte506]

Well, after much debate, I finally decided "Shit, why not?". So...I bought a SC-607B through Musicians Friend using their credit system (beats paying it in all one lump sum), and I think I made the right choice.

As far as the SC-207, it holds G# quite well actually when playing those heavy riffs. I'm prob. going to keep the SC-207 to use as a beater guitar, in case I want to use it for gigs (one day) or just bringing it over to another friend's house for a jam session...the 607B STAYS!

Plus, I'll be able to get my money back on those 707's I picked up, but I'll still have the Tonepros Bridge installed on the 607B, since I think it just comes with a Tune-o-matic from the factory.

Thanks for all the input guys, I really appreciate it!

[darren]

You have to realize that Stef Carpenter isn't the most knowledgeable guy when it comes to his own gear.

Good call on the SC-607B. I hear they're awesome guitars. I'd love to get a 207 as a beater/backup guitar.

[ibznorange]

Good call.
FWIW, im pretty sure i read somewhere that stef refuses to use anything thicker than either a 56, or possibly a 52 on his low G# string