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@ Archie...I love the sound of the 7 string archtop, if you do not that is OK! I like playing one, though in the end 6 strings work better for me. If you have no interest in playing one, that is OK!
@ Silverfoxx (Alan). I have no video of me on a 7 string, but here is a video of my friend Howard Alden on his 7 string joining me along with Larry Coryell at a show 8 years ago. I asked Howard to sit in right before the show and we just improvised what you see (isn't that what jazz is all about?) I was playing my Wine Red L-5 Wesmo:
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08-14-2015 07:58 PM
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I've played 7-string guitar for the last 18 of my 43 years as a guitarist, and owned nine different 7-string guitars in that time (6 have found new homes and 3 aren't going anywhere while I'm still alive and playing). I'm baffled by the OP's blanket negative judgment. But would agree on one small corner of that judgment---the 7th string is a challenge in getting a tone that matches the other six. There is, as far as my experience is any guide, a real issue with bass-boominess. Especially if one uses the low-A tuning. Especially if one uses too heavy a string. The tone then is all fundamental. All too unfocussed.
The limited choices in string type and gauge are a real annoyance here. For myself, I've gone to a low-B tuning, and the lightest string I can get away with (a 72 or 74). And I'm lucky to now have guitars that were voiced by builders experienced with the challenges of the added lower register.Last edited by PaulHintz; 08-14-2015 at 09:49 PM.
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why not an 8? a 9? Obviously there are people playing many permutations including additional high strings as well. Check out Mike Coppola. Check out the Chapman Stick players. The obvious reason to limit the number of strings to six is for manufacturers of tubular guitar stands to know how wide to make that headstock fork...j/k.
Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven
No, when you have the extra seven low notes on your instrument, you can engage them logically, such as when you get to low E on a walking bass line and need another note or two to complete the phrase, you have more range available. Also, when you play in the key of Eb or D for example and the lowest tonic you have on a 6-string is at the 6th and 5th frets of the 5th string, that is a logical way to incorporate the low Eb and D for a fuller bottom. Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven
When someones arranges for 7-string guitar, they are not thinking of 6-string and working in the extra notes. It is approached as a single instrument. An arrangement [for 7-string guitar] is an arrangement for guitar.
Gee, you would be fun on the 5-string bass forum. lol
Why not play a unitar(one string guitar) with say 5 frets? why not? I am sure anybody can make music with anything they like, and find fulfillment. You should feel satisfied that you know what you like and have no need to look outside the box.Last edited by mikeSF; 08-15-2015 at 04:04 PM.
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The two Howards of 7-string are here in Napa this weekend, so lemme know if I can relay questions or comments.
from yesterday:
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I'll just say that I want play like Steve Herberman when I grow up. I love the way he plays. When I watch the videos of him playing duos with other guitarists I always think it sounds like the whole band drops out when he goes to solo. The guys he plays with are all great but I think it's really a testament to the usefulness of the 7 string and his incredible skills at accompaniment. In fact I'm building myself a 7 string right now and once completed will take some more skype lessons from Steve.
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The 7-string has been around for a very long time; in Brazil and Russia it's the standard instrument, guitar-wise. None of your arguments hold any water whatsoever, all of the "problems" you moan about are easily solved, from pitch to tone to usefulness. The small guitar has its place, of course, and I still own and play several, but the 7-string gives one a full range and is far superior to the 6-string in duo formats with a vocalist or horn-player or even another guitarist with that incomplete little 6-string.
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Several outstanding Bennedetto Artists have been very happy with the Bravo line 7 string. A workhorse for pro play - a laminate guitar. List is 5ish, but given the player you are I would suggest calling my friend Howard Paul directly because you may be able to work something out. There are other brands that make seven strings, however, Bob Bennedetto's design is really top notch for the seven.
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i thought they had discontinued the bravo 7? I'd love to find one.
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They still make the Bravo 7, it's just a slight upcharge from the 6 string model. Howard and I emailed about having one built a few months ago, but life plans got in the way. I'd also suggest keeping your eyes open for a Bucky Pizzarelli model. I know they were built under Fender ownership, but they are exceptionally well built and can be had for significantly less than a new Bravo. The last couple of times I've hung around Bucky, he always gives me crap for not having a Benedetto yet!
I don't have the funds for something like that, so I play an Eastman 7 string archtop. With a proper setup it's been a great playing guitar.
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which eastman do you have? I see that guitars-n-jazz has a 7 string with parallel bracing. There's also a moll 7 string on ebay for $3k Originally Posted by JSanta
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I have the 805-7CE, that I got from Guitars-n-Jazz actually. Bear in mind, I am nowhere near the player you are, and guitar is something that I enjoy for me (and sometimes my collie). I do really like the guitar though. The neck is exactly what I want in a guitar, and it has a really nice tone. Electronic components are not great of course, but I very rarely plug in. Originally Posted by jzucker
If I had the money, a Moll would be my first choice. John Pizzarelli is my favorite guitarist, and I love the tone he gets from his Moll guitars. When I saw him in February, he had a new one that was aesthetically modeled after a gold top LP with smaller f-holes. Looked really classy.
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When I was playing 7 I owned a Ibanez AF-207, very nice instrument, however I personally found the neck a little thin for my taste. I sold it and went for a Eastman 805-7 and it worked very well with a pro set up.
Joe V's archtop.com has a couple Ungers and a Victor Baker listed in the 3.5 range. 7's are not that easy to sell, there was a Moll JP model on Gruhn's site forever in about the 4.5 range.
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re: being hard to sell, i hear you. Archtops are hard to sell in general when they are over $1k and a $3k-$4k 7 string is a niche of a niche
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Part of the problem I've seen too is that the nut widths are too narrow on a lot of them. I need over 2 inches (usually 2 1/8th) to feel really comfortable, and most of the ones I've seen just aren't wide enough. Originally Posted by jzucker
If you can get that Moll for around $3k, you have a steal, even with some of the cosmetic issues it has.
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If you're open to spending a little more and looking at laminates, CB Hill will build you whatever you want. I've played several Benedettos including older models that were made for Ron Eschete and even Ron switched to CB after owning Benedettos, Mapsons, and Fosters. They're not readily available on the used market, but given your knowledge of guitars I think if you gave him a list of your ideas he'd be happy to build you whatever you wanted. I got picky with the 7 string he made me and I couldn't be happier.
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Plenty of Eastman 7's out there - worth a look.
I also recommend Benedetto but all three of my 7's are out of that range. I have a Custom Benny 7, 16B laminate 7, and a Custom Manhattan 7.
My usual gigger is a Palen 7 about which I cannot say enough. It feels like the proverbial worn pair of jeans to my hands and ears (though it is still in like new condition). There arent many Palen 7's around but another good bet if you see one. Oh yeah, mine is the blonde on the left at the top right of this page
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In that price range, for a laminate, I'd go with the Ibanez AF207; for a carved floater, either the 905-7 or 910-7 Eastman (but I'm not seeing any 7s on their site at the moment).
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I play 7 string, years back, when I was looking at 7 string guitars I liked the look of the 7 string Eastman El Rey, but I thought that it would be neck heavy. You could always balance the El Rey with some extra weight near the jackplug socket.
You've played the El Rey 6 string:
Last edited by GuyBoden; 08-22-2015 at 09:37 AM.
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I have been considering getting into some seven string guitar and have been looking at the Ibanez AFJ975. For the money it appears to be a good entry level seven-string at $799.00, anything else in that category is much more expensive. Does anyone have any experience with this guitar? It is hard to trust the reviews posted on the retailers websites.
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I own an Ibanez AF207. It is a made in Japan archtop that is a pro level guitar on the same level as the Ibanez George Benson models. I tried one of these new Ibanez AFJ975's in a music store and was VERY underwhelmed by the quality and sound of these Chinese made guitars. The pickups are not replaceable. The only options for a better pickup would be to have a pickup maker rewind one of the stock pickups or have a luthier modify the guitar. IMO, both of those options would be a waste of money.
This guitar might serve as a device to try the seven string archtop out, but if a quality guitar is important, a trade up will soon be required.
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I believe that, whereas the expectation of MIJ Ibanez guitars such as the Prestige series, the GB-10, the AS-200 and AF-200, and the old AF-207 (prior to the designation of "Prestige") is that they are high-quality instruments, the Artcore and Expressionist lines (in which the AFJ-957 falls) are more hit-and-miss. Some are really good, some are total failures, and some have the potential to be good with some attention from a proper tech (like leveling a few high frets, etc.).
You could, potentially, do well with an AFJ but buy it from a dealer with a generous return policy in case you get a lemon.
Having said that, it's for all intents and purposes the only decently priced segue into the 7 string archtop. Next up would probably be an Eastman.
I guess the niche for 7 string archtop guitar is so small that it just doesn't pay for companies to offer a standard model. In that respect, Kudos to Ibanez for doing so, although I wish they had a Prestige model (such as a reissue AF-207). For what it is - an $800 seven string, it's about what you'd expect out of any $800 guitar, probably.
The lack of available quality seven strings at a comfortable price point (say, for example, around $2000) is frustrating. It's one of the reasons I don't play seven string that much any more. Of course, I'm an idiot, and I sold both my AF-207 and my Benny 7 a long time ago. Oh, and my Soloway 7 string Swan - another fatal error. THAT thing sounded like a Steinway Grand!
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I have seen some you tube videos that feature the AFJ975. They sound pretty good to me. I had one for a while but never bonded with it. I prefer the feel of a 25 1/2" scale length. Anyway it is a fairly decent starter guitar, though the tailpiece design leaves a LOT to be desired. Very hard to change strings.
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J. Santa has an Eastman 7 string up in the For Sale forum. At $1,400 for a fully carved 7 string, it is possibly the best 7 string at the best price I've seen.
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T-I Bebop is available in an 0.081 gauge as a single string, BB081. May work far better as a 7th string to complement the T-I Jazz Swing than the GHS.
You may order single T-I strings from www.schneidermusik.de . They charge actual postage, not a flat rate.Last edited by Jabberwocky; 06-21-2016 at 10:57 PM.
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Just a thought, based on my own 19 years of buying/selling/playing 7-string guitars...
The marketplace for 7-string archtop (and classical and steel-string acoustic) guitars is small, but the marketplace for 7-string solidbody guitars, because of their use in some rock styles, is large. If all the OP wants is a serviceable, well-made 7-string guitar to try out, why not look for a second-hand solidbody made by Ibanez? Lower cost, better return if/when you resell it. If you like 7-string, then budget for an Eastman or an Ibanez AF207 (those tend to show up about once a year or so on evil-bay or elsewhere), depending on the specific archtop features you prefer (all carved vs laminate, set pickup vs floater, etc).
FWIW.
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