7 string Les Paul for 2015

[EllenGtrGrl]

I'm in a tech thrash band that migrated to sevens. To me, it's more about the extended range than chugging in B. Yeah, we have B songs, but it's not the majority. We've also got a real singer and loathe that djent garbage.

I love the 27" guitar for the ridiculously tight rhythm assault, but it just doesn't work as well for solos. To thin up top on the high B and E strings. Not that anyone really notices live, though.

I'd have to agree with you about that. That is one one of the downsides of longer scale 7s & 8s. I loved the tighter feel and sound that the lower strings had on my 26.5" scale Schecter Omen Extreme 7, but it got a bit screechy sounding at high gain, when playing in the higher registers (especially when playing above the 12th fret). Nonetheless, I do like 7 strings (8-strings are also cool, but I'm not sure if I could fit them into my playing repertoire to my satisfaction - every time I play an 8-string, if I don't end up doing Fear Factory stuff, I end up sounding like a mutant bass player). Like you, my reason for liking them, is due to the extended range they give you. I liked the lower register stuff I could play on a baritone guitar, but it frustrated me to lose the higher registers, so 7-strings it was!

If the non-super-Strat 7-string situation doesn't change by November or December, I'll probably end up picking up another Schecter 7-string. I really wouldn't mind having an Ibanez ARZ (especially since it doesn't have a Wizard neck, and due to the fact that I have a soft spot for non-RG Ibanezes [I had a killer AS-120 Artstar, 335 clone that I regret selling]), but that 25" scale length - I'm not so sure.

BTW, kudos for doing thrash (I'm one of the 80s thrash kids, and I used to play thrash in some of my bands years ago ago). Ah luvs muh heavy music (but I will admit that I've gotten more eclectic in my tastes over the years).

 

[dspelman]

Most 7 strings available right now are hardtails by FAR.


This is ****ing badass IMO, just don't think many 7 string guys are too comfortable on ToMs so it might be a bad idea.

This is ****ing halfassed, IMO. Just don't think many 7 string guys are particularly interested in a 24.75" scale seven these days, what with the huge number of 25.5" and 27" guitars out there with 24 jumbo stainless frets and 14-16" radii fretboards, that stay in tune because they have straight-pull headstocks, etc.

Worth noting that brands like Agile have had 627 and 727 (7-string, 27" scale) models with LP style bodies out for years (current price on a 24-fret version in flat black with an ebony fretboard is $369.95).

 

[dspelman]

I'd have to agree with you about that. That is one one of the downsides of longer scale 7s & 8s. I loved the tighter feel and sound that the lower strings had on my 26.5" scale Schecter Omen Extreme 7, but it got a bit screechy sounding at high gain, when playing in the higher registers (especially when playing above the 12th fret).

No biggie. Here's an 8-string with a 24.5 - 27" multiscale (fanfret) board.

 

[paco1976]

Really the 7, 8, 9 strings... it is not for me. I find them so ugly...

 

[noodlesatf]

Some of the reactions in this thread are probably exactly how Gibson guys back in the 50s reacted to the Les Paul the first time. What, it's solid? So heavy. How's it going to sound any good without a soundboard? That looks like a toy, not a real guitar. So ugly.

 

[EllenGtrGrl]

No biggie. Here's an 8-string with a 24.5 - 27" multiscale (fanfret) board.

I've toyed with the idea of going to fanned frets, but after visiting Rondo's website today, I have serious GAS for this, due to my love for hollow & semi-hollowbodies. Oh yeah, and it has a 27" scale length!

 

[celticelk]

This is ****ing halfassed, IMO. Just don't think many 7 string guys are particularly interested in a 24.75" scale seven these days, what with the huge number of 25.5" and 27" guitars out there with 24 jumbo stainless frets and 14-16" radii fretboards, that stay in tune because they have straight-pull headstocks, etc.

I'd say that Gibson is probably in the best possible position to know what the demand level for this model is, since they produce its only real current equivalent, the Epi Matt Heafy LP Custom 7. (Disclaimer: I own one.) Personally, I own six 7-strings, three of which are 24.75" (the Epi, an Ibanez AX7521, and a DeArmond S67), and none of which are longer than 25.5". None of them are superstrats, either, and only one is 24-fret (why Schecter built a single-cutaway semihollow 7 with 24 frets and a 25.5" scale, I *cannot* fathom, but hey). I'm certainly not *typical* of the 7-string market, but I doubt I'm unique.

 

[celticelk]

I want another 7-string (especially if it's not the typical super-Strat variety, that most 7-strings are), but even if this is a regular production 7-string, it probably is like every other 7-string that Gibson has made - it has a 24.75" scale length. Sorry, but that's too short for my 7-string tastes - it makes the the 7th string (especially if you tune it to Drop A, like I used to tune my 7-strings to [that tuning gives you the capability to play particularly crushing, 5-string barre chords]) too loose feeling, unless you roll your own heavier custom gauge set of 7 strings (the heaviest gauge 7-string set I've ever found is 10s) to get the desired string tension (I used to use 11 gauge, 6 string sets, combined with individual .062-.065" strings I purchased separately [to use as the 7th string]), or use a telephone cable thick 7th string (which causes issues with intonation, and playing feel).

Hi, Ellen! I've read your posts over at sevenstring.org - good to run into you again! I feel pretty much the same way about the necessity for heavier strings with shorter scale 7s, but apparently unlike you, I don't see it as a big stumbling block. Heavier single strings are readily available online, and a 62 combined with an off-the-shelf D'Addario 11-49 set does just fine for BEADF#BE for me on the shorter scales (up to 25.5").

 

[EllenGtrGrl]

Hi, Ellen! I've read your posts over at sevenstring.org - good to run into you again! I feel pretty much the same way about the necessity for heavier strings with shorter scale 7s, but apparently unlike you, I don't see it as a big stumbling block. Heavier single strings are readily available online, and a 62 combined with an off-the-shelf D'Addario 11-49 set does just fine for BEADF#BE for me on the shorter scales (up to 25.5").

Ahhh, another SS.org person! It's been a while for me, I take a break from that forum every now and then. I found out the hard way a few months ago - via a very bad case of dermatitis (that resulted in me having to see a dermatologist), that I'm allergic to chromium (which is used in stainless steel), and nickel (which is used in most electric guitar strings!). As a result, I have to use nickel and chromium free electric guitar strings. Very few sets of strings meet this requirement, and I now use one of them - Ernie Ball Cobalts. Unfortunately, to help pay for the medical bills my dermatitis caused, I had to sell the Schecter Jazz 7.

I'm digressing - like you, I've also played 7s, with shorter scale lengths (a 25.5" Schecter Jazz 7, a 25.5" DeArmond Sevenstar, and a 25" Danelectro MOD 7). While they were decent guitars, and their scale lengths weren't really a problem for me playing-wise (I just used D'Addario EX115Ws [11s], with a .065" extra string, for the 7th string), I really do prefer the playing feel that my 26.5" scale Schecter Omen Extreme 7 had. The only reason I got rid of that guitar, is because I just am not a fan of Strat bodied guitars. But, I'm at the point, where I'm getting desperate enough to consider a 7-string longer scale super-Strat. But, maybe that won't be the case, since the 27" scale Agile AL-1000 727 is kind of like a 7-string 335 (and I LOVE semi-hollow guitars), making it my first choice at the present time.

Oh, before I forget, luckily I can get Ernie Ball Cobalts in 10 gauge, or 11 gauge, 7-string sets, or it would be a case of forgetting about playing 7-string guitars anymore. As it is, nobody makes 8-string sets, that meet my nickel and chromium free requirements, so 8-string guitars are a no go for me.

 

[celticelk]

Ahhh, another SS.org person! It's been a while for me, I take a break from that forum every now and then. I found out the hard way a few months ago - via a very bad case of dermatitis (that resulted in me having to see a dermatologist), that I'm allergic to chromium (which is used in stainless steel), and nickel (which is used in most electric guitar strings!). As a result, I have to use nickel and chromium free electric guitar strings. Very few sets of strings meet this requirement, and I now use one of them - Ernie Ball Cobalts. Unfortunately, to help pay for the medical bills my dermatitis caused, I had to sell the Schecter Jazz 7.

I'm digressing - like you, I've also played 7s, with shorter scale lengths (a 25.5" Schecter Jazz 7, a 25.5" DeArmond Sevenstar, and a 25" Danelectro MOD 7). While they were decent guitars, and their scale lengths weren't really a problem for me playing-wise (I just used D'Addario EX115Ws [11s], with a .065" extra string, for the 7th string), I really do prefer the playing feel that my 26.5" scale Schecter Omen Extreme 7 had. The only reason I got rid of that guitar, is because I just am not a fan of Strat bodied guitars. But, I'm at the point, where I'm getting desperate enough to consider a 7-string longer scale super-Strat. But, maybe that won't be the case, since the 27" scale Agile AL-1000 727 is kind of like a 7-string 335 (and I LOVE semi-hollow guitars), making it my first choice at the present time.

Sorry to hear - expensive health problems that interfere with playing just suck on so many levels. The Agile is pretty sweet if you're into that sort of thing; if you're willing to wait for their semi-custom orders to open up again, they now make most of their body styles available in 7-strings at multiple scale lengths. (Unfortunately, not the Valkyrie - I seem to be developing a mild obsession with SG-shaped 7s!) For solidbody non-superstrat options at your preferred scale length, check out also the Chapman ML-7T: 26.5", swamp ash Tele-style body, ebony fretboard. I keep hearing rumors that Schecter will (finally!) release a Tempest 7-string next year, which will likely be 26.5", but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[EllenGtrGrl]

Sorry to hear - expensive health problems that interfere with playing just suck on so many levels. The Agile is pretty sweet if you're into that sort of thing; if you're willing to wait for their semi-custom orders to open up again, they now make most of their body styles available in 7-strings at multiple scale lengths. (Unfortunately, not the Valkyrie - I seem to be developing a mild obsession with SG-shaped 7s!) For solidbody non-superstrat options at your preferred scale length, check out also the Chapman ML-7T: 26.5", swamp ash Tele-style body, ebony fretboard. I keep hearing rumors that Schecter will (finally!) release a Tempest 7-string next year, which will likely be 26.5", but I'll believe it when I see it.

The Chapman ML-7T looks pretty cool. I'll have to keep it in mind.

 

[Richard W]

It's on Gibson's site now: Gibson.com: Les Paul Classic 7 String

 

[EVH9442]

Of course Gibson puts the regular script, non electronic tuners, and a bone nut on the one model that NOBODY WANTS!

 

[EVH9442]

Hell that thing even has the nibs too!!!

 

[Thunder Dump]

I've got no problem with them doing a 7-string, but what is 'Classic' about a 7-string in the Les Paul lineup? It should have been a Futura or something.

 

[bungle]

Classic you say? Um ok

 

[dspelman]

I'd say that Gibson is probably in the best possible position to know what the demand level for this model is, since they produce its only real current equivalent, the Epi Matt Heafy LP Custom 7. I'm certainly not *typical* of the 7-string market, but I doubt I'm unique.

As you note, you're not typical of the 7-string market, and since Gibson rarely has a 7-string LP on the market, it's possible that they do understand the demand level for a short scale 7.

 

[celticelk]

As you note, you're not typical of the 7-string market, and since Gibson rarely has a 7-string LP on the market, it's possible that they do understand the demand level for a short scale 7.

I think you missed my point. If Gibson's bringing out a Les Paul 7 with the traditional scale length, then clearly they think there's enough demand to warrant production, at least on a limited basis. Strictly speaking, *Gibson* has never had a 7-string LP on the market, but they've had 7-string Epiphone LPs on the market at a couple of different times: in the early 2000s, when nearly everybody had at least one 7-string model out, and again with the Matt Heafy sig over the last couple of years. The fact that they didn't release a Gibson version in the 2000s and have done so now leads me to believe that the demand warrants it now and didn't then. YMMV, of course, but if you have better data sources to indicate that Gibson shouldn't be doing this, I'd like to hear what they are.

 

[Ermghoti]

Gibson also believed there was a demand for the Fireturd.

 

[Stealthtastic]

This is ****ing halfassed, IMO. Just don't think many 7 string guys are particularly interested in a 24.75" scale seven these days, what with the huge number of 25.5" and 27" guitars out there with 24 jumbo stainless frets and 14-16" radii fretboards, that stay in tune because they have straight-pull headstocks, etc.

Worth noting that brands like Agile have had 627 and 727 (7-string, 27" scale) models with LP style bodies out for years (current price on a 24-fret version in flat black with an ebony fretboard is $369.95).

I am very aware of 7 strings. I have probably owned more than anyone else on this board. There is nothing wrong with specs these come with. If you are comparing an MiA Gibson to an Agile then you are a bit lost. Nobody is really making a proper single cut LP with a shorter scale right now. Cheapshit imports don't count.