Steve Herberman on a $500 7-string Tele

**Jim Soloway** · 07-09-2022, 02:07 PM

Actually a $400 7-String Tele since it's on sale at Sam Ash. It's a Michael Kelly 507X with a 26.5" scale length and he has it tuned down a full step. I think it sounds just great.

**deacon Mark** · 07-09-2022, 02:39 PM

Nothing against Steve he is an incredible player way beyond me but for another take, I am just not crazy about the sound. It is dark and not defined to my ears. I have said this numerous times but never really thrilled with the sound that comes from a 7 string. This one tuned down to me would be better at standard pitch. But nothing against the playing Steve is wonderful.

**Jazz_175** · 07-12-2022, 06:36 AM

Really great playing!
And I like the sound as well.
But why this 26.5" scale length? What are the advantages?

**Jimmy blue note** · 07-12-2022, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by Jazz_175

Really great playing!
And I like the sound as well.
But why this 26.5" scale length? What are the advantages?

On a 7 string, the low 7th string is traditionally going to be a low A or low B. That's approaching the range of a bass guitar. Down that low, the string gets looser, intonation can become tricky, tuning is more temperamental. One solution when venturing outside the 'optimum' guitar range is to make the string thicker, the other is to increase the string length. The increase in the string length makes all the strings more taut, and though the stretches on fretting are longer because of that, on a long neck high fret clearance guitar like this, there's a lot of usable and closer to reach neck clear of the body in the upper frets.

**Woody Sound** · 07-12-2022, 09:43 AM

I like his sound.

**nevershouldhavesoldit** · 07-12-2022, 04:15 PM

He sounds great to me too. But through a good audio system, I think I hear a touch of the honkyness that’s so common in cheap solid body guitars (especially above the first few frets on the middle strings, G being the worst). A light touch minimizes it, and he’s got that in spades. But even my Raines Tele 7 had it with the stock fittings - and it’s twice the price of the Kelly. I finally got mine tamed, but I had to spring for good pickups (Lace Alumibuckers), a Tusq nut, and a Hipshot bridge/TP.

I suspect that Kelly is a great buy even after better pickups, nut, hardware etc. But when you play like SH, who notices a little midrange honk?