6 or 7 String

[FourT6and2]

Ok, so I've decided to give in to my GAS and get yet another Mayones Duvell. These are fast becoming my go-to and I don't see myself ever touching my LPs again. I have my pick of a few really cool custom shop / limited edition Duvells. One is a six string, the other a seven string. The two I already have are both six strings. So I figure, maybe it'd be nice to have something different.

But...

I've never played a seven string before. I mean, maybe once or twice just noodling around in a GC. I play mostly standard / drop d. Is it difficult to play songs that are in standard or drop d on a 7 string? The wider neck most likely won't be an issue for me.

 

[mniel8195]

I personally don't like drop tuning or tuning my 6 string down a bunch. I would rather keep the standard range and add a low b or low a. The scale is the same 25.5 so it should not feel that different. The main issue is finding the best low string that fits your needs. To loose and it sounds like shit and to thick it sounds like shit. Bother big factor is whether your amp and cab will sound cool with a lower note. If you have a plexi that's probably not going to sounds as cool as a modern amp wth a boost I front. Also do you like music that has a 7 string In it?

 

[FourT6and2]

I personally don't like drop tuning or tuning my 6 string down a bunch. I would rather keep the standard range and add a low b or low a. The scale is the same 25.5 so it should not feel that different. The main issue is finding the best low string that fits your needs. To loose and it sounds like shit and to thick it sounds like shit. Bother big factor is whether your amp and cab will sound cool with a lower note. If you have a plexi that's probably not going to sounds as cool as a modern amp wth a boost I front. Also do you like music that has a 7 string In it?

Yeah, there's a bunch of music that interests me that has 7 string in it. I've just never played that stuff since I've never bothered getting one. One of my guitars is tuned down 1.5 steps for stuff like Killswitch Engage. My amps can handle it just fine. But I just forgot to mention it in my OP.

 

[BigBellyRocker]

Get the 7 strings yo. I have gas for one as well. Most people just keep the 6 strings in standard tuning and tune the 7 string to drop b or a or whatever.

 

[maddnotez]

Some guys love it and others don't. I've had a few low end 7's and decided it wasn't for me. I did really like it for a while but always came back to the 6.

If I had a really nice 7 maybe that would change things idk.

But to answer your question, in my opinion it's not difficult at all to play the top 6 strings in standard if that is something you want to do. Just a little different but easy to get used to.

If you do get a 7 I'd play around with different tunings. I jammed with some guys that used drop G and at first I was like wtf this is stupid but it grew on me and is an awesome tuning.

 

[FourT6and2]

Maybe I should get the six. And mess around with a cheap seven string to see if I even like it.

 

[hstlaurent]

Maybe I should get the six. And mess around with a cheap seven string to see if I even like it.

Make sense to me.

 

[BigBellyRocker]

If you buy a 7 string guitar and if you don't like it then just play the last six strings and problem solve.

 

[maddnotez]

Maybe I should get the six. And mess around with a cheap seven string to see if I even like it.

But then if you do you'll have a cheap 7 and hate it it may sound weird but if I did try another 7 id want it to be very nice. Will sound and play better IMO.

I know guys that got addicted and went from 7 to 8 to ERG's and it just never stops sometimes. There's some bands out there with really awesome sounds that are in a very Low E octave. Pretty crazy stuff but not for everyone.

Speaking of ERG's and another suggestion, depending on your tuning.. There is a science behind tuning and scale length and to get the proper harmonicities it may benefit you to get a 27" or 28" scale.

 

[Valtyr]

Maybe I should get the six. And mess around with a cheap seven string to see if I even like it.

I have been considering getting a 7 string for some time. I didn't want a lot of $ wrapped up in a guitar that I may only occasionally use, so I recently acquired a used entry level Jackson 7 string. If I end up using this guitar a lot then I'll consider upgrading. If you have plenty of time to move on the Duvell then this is probably the best way to be sure that a 7 is acceptable.

 

[PBGas]

Go with what works for you! I sold both of my Les Paul's for a very tidy profit last year. Haven't looked back since. I have exactly what I like playing and what works for me. If the Mayones are in, then you have your answer! Enjoy!

 

[Deleted member 22177]

I have several 6 stringers and one 7 string. The 7 string is fun to have just for something different. It's a KM7, so it's also an awesome 7 string.

 

[Tone Zone]

Stick with the 6 string, otherwise you'll probably wish you had.

 

[RockyStar]

If both is not an option I would go with what you are familiar with. Hopefully the guitars you have and the ones you are looking at are different in some ways. You can always tune the 6 differently and land in 7 territory.

 

[FourT6and2]

If both is not an option I would go with what you are familiar with. Hopefully the guitars you have and the ones you are looking at are different in some ways. You can always tune the 6 differently and land in 7 territory.

Nah, they are pretty much all the same. Just different woods. The two I have, one has a mahogany body, eye poplar top. The other is black limba body, koa top. And this new one would be mahogany body, buckeye burl top. But other than that, same necks, frets, hardware, etc. Different pickups though. The first has a Distortion, the second has a Nazgul (but I might switch it out for a Pegasus). The third would have the Nazgul. But these guitars sound and plays so much better than a Les Paul. And I can get a super good deal on this new one. Cheaper than I got the other two, used. And it's new. Everyone says these are like 4k guitars here in the USA but that hasn't been my experience lol.

But getting both... hmmm... in a perfect world maybe the shop would give me a deal if I wanted both. But man... I'm running out of space haha!

 

[FourT6and2]

Huh, looks like someone just bought the seven string one so my choice is a lot easier now lol

NGD incoming!

 

[PatF]

It's not hard to play the 6 string songs on the 7. In in band situation it really adds to the overall sound. We used to have one guitar playing a low part and the other an octave higher and it was massive. The biggest problem was accidentally playing a low B sour note on a chord that it doesn't go with.

 

[FourT6and2]

Here are both guitars. I got the one on the left

 

[rottingcorpse]

Oh my freaking God....what a beautiful guitar top.

Super jealous. All I hear is good things about these. Wish I could gell with a strat. Congrats.

 

[FourT6and2]

Oh my freaking God....what a beautiful guitar top.

Super jealous. All I hear is good things about these. Wish I could gell with a strat. Congrats.

I don't really like Strats all that much either. I've been using LPs and a PRS Singlecut for like 10+ years. But these really do play great and I don't notice anything significantly affecting playability. In fact, it was an easy transition. And I haven't touched my LPs since getting my other Duvells. But it's only been like a month, so...

Of all the Buckeye Burl Duvells made, this one is definitely my favorite, but it belongs to someone already haha: