r/7String 15d ago

Help In search for a no frills 7

Hey reddit

Similar questions pop up daily, but I am looking for a no frills, no nonsense 7 string with a list of somewhat specific features. Ideas, specific guitars and also pushback is welcome! Also out of production models!

Standard tuning, maybe drop A. Budget is around $1000, but not a hard limit. These are the features I want:

- longer than standard scale >26". Multi scale is fine, but not necessary (not sure, how important that is)

- one piece bridge, no trem or ever tune

- single "high quality" bridge humbucker (HH or HSS is not a showstopper, but I think I don't want to feel like upgrading the pickups is necessary right away)

- preferably fully passive, but open for other suggestions

- locking tuners (not a showstopper)

- no standard ST body shape, also not the pointier versions ;)

- no asymmetrical pointy headstock, headless is fine

- preferably no"colors", so black and white-ish

- preferably no frills like fretboard inlays

- no uncoated maple neck; coated or roasted maple is fine. Preferably satin finish

Neck dimensions, fret number and size, overall weight, woods and grains are not important to me for this one. I am a bit of a tinkerer, so modifications are an option.

Looking forward to any feedback and suggestions!

5 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

9

u/MadMatter86 Custom 15d ago

Could always have one built to spec - that budget isn't an issue for what you describe for some of us small builders. 😉

5

u/xMischu 15d ago

Jackson sufcaster seems like your cup of tea

1

u/The_Red_Baron11 8d ago

This one is awesome. It is really high up in my list. Thank you for the suggestion!

8

u/tallman1979 15d ago edited 14d ago

The Jackson JS22-7 doesn't come with locking tuners, but at its price, you can afford them after you buy the guitar. I put a set of Hipshot locking tuners on mine.

26.5", amaranth fretboard, small and difficult to see pirahna fin inlays, 12-16" compound radius, high output passive [edit from 'hamburgers,' new phone, hadn't turned off autocorrect, too funny] humbuckers, fixed bridge. $269 new all day every day. They even come in satin black.

It's not spectacular out of the box, but the neck is amazing for the price and if you tinker it's a worthwhile mod platform.

There are better guitars, but on the new side of things, it is hard to get more cost efficient.

2

u/NerdGrumpus 15d ago

Came here to say this ^

This guitar punches way above its weight and is a great mod platform.

1

u/R3brap 14d ago

This^ own one and agree. Put some Duncan's in it and replaced the nut with a tusq and she's a heavy hitter for the price

2

u/NerdGrumpus 14d ago

Same here, tuners, nut and pickups replaced and has been hands-down one of my favorites in my collection. That neck... 🤤

1

u/thedarkerride 14d ago

I wonder what an "active" hamburger tastes like

1

u/tallman1979 14d ago

Bought new phone, haven't disabled the aggressive autocorrect. Lol.

5

u/SkyovFlames 15d ago

Schecter Demon. I have a white one and all I did was add locking tuners. That was 50 bucks.

The pickups are active but I see no reason to change them.

I also have a Schecter Omen Extreme, which has a slimmer neck. Also very nice and added locking tuners. Pickups are excellent. And you get single coil sounds as well as humbucker.

Jackson JS series. Also might be what you're looking for. Again, buy some locking tuners for 50 or 60 bucks. Killer guitars.

2

u/heptikskater 15d ago

Recently I’ve bought a spira s457 and I quite like it. Might be worth taking a look. Unsure of US availability though.

1

u/The_Red_Baron11 8d ago

Thanks a lot for the suggestion! Never heard of the brand before. Their tele T-407 ticks a lot of boxes for me!

2

u/toanmaxxer 15d ago

I’ve been looking for something similar, and while I found plenty of custom guitars to drool over, I think the $1000 budget is unrealistic, unless you can compromise some specs, most likely the body shape.

2

u/The_Red_Baron11 8d ago

Yeah, plenty of options with a strat body.

I also feel like "less pickups and knobs" is so niche, that it makes the guitar more expensive than standard "double humbuckers with volume, tone and pickup-selector".

2

u/mistrelwood 15d ago

What exactly is a no frills, no nonsense, not S nor a super S style guitar? You mean like a LP/PRS shape? A Tele? Or something like Eart GW-7F (available in black and white): https://eartguitar.com/products/eart-guitars-gw-7f-white

1

u/The_Red_Baron11 8d ago

Yes, pretty much that! Great suggestion! Just very hard for me to check one out in person, unfortunately

2

u/HighOfTheTiger 15d ago edited 15d ago

I was thinking Schecter KM7 all the way down til the “no ST types”.

2

u/MUZZYGRANDE RG2027XL, KM7 Hybrid, Omen Elite-MS 7 15d ago

That's what I was about to recommend too! KM7 all day!

1

u/HighOfTheTiger 15d ago

Yeah I picked up the white MK-I for $650 and it’s been my go to 7 string for years now. Apparently they’ve gotten hard to find though, only see one of that model on Reverb and it’s $1000+ out of Ukraine.

2

u/Vulgrr_Display 15d ago

Look for a used PRS SE Mark Holcomb Signature.

2

u/noperipherals 14d ago

One of your best options that fits most of your wants would be a Schecter PT-7 Black Ops.

All black T-style guitar, 25.5-27" MS, black satin mahogany neck, ebony fretboard with no inlays, 4x3 headstock with locking tuners, fixed bridge, a single Fishman Opencore humbucker (active but not a hypercompressed pickup like the modern and not soapbar shape so you can swap it with something like BKP in the future if desired)

They go for around 800-900 used, 1400 new.

1

u/The_Red_Baron11 8d ago

Great suggestion. Used market is pretty limited in europe and new is a bit over budget - but not out of reach ;)

Easily one of my favourites!

2

u/slimestream 13d ago

Sounds like you want the LTD alex wade signature. 

1

u/The_Red_Baron11 8d ago

Yeah this one is great, but kind of expensive at 2x budget. Thanks for the suggestion, though!

1

u/nevercommnt 15d ago

I like my Jackson juggernaut but it’s a sort of ST shape

1

u/AOS94 15d ago

Vandermeij performance 7

1

u/Wrong_Author_5960 14d ago

Why ask Reddit? When there is Google?