Anyone switch to seven strings after years?

[mchn13]

Been playing like 30 something years now. Primarily odd, angular brootz and thrash. My old band from years(andyears) ago have started reforming; and me and the other guitarist have thought about going to sevens as drop b is as low as I can tune my six strings without temperament issues.
I’ve been interested for years, but never tried to make the leap. Considering getting a used Vader and selling off a couple of my six strings to fund it. Anyone switch, and it was an easy transition?
I’m sure it’s a learning curve, but why not? The only thing that bums me out is I have to sell my dean that I just got recently lol. My wife is gonna kill me.

 

[maddnotez]

IMO it is an easy learning curve depending on how you use it.

For me, I just used it like a 6 string and had an extra high string. Some guys use the first 6 as a 6 and then have an extra low string, idk.

I do remember saying wow, going back to a 6 was like playing a toy but after a while I went back to 6's. I would not mind another 7 TBH but don't need one.

Is worth a try IMO.

 

[mchn13]

IMO it is an easy learning curve depending on how you use it.

For me, I just used it like a 6 string and had an extra high string. Some guys use the first 6 as a 6 and then have an extra low string, idk.

I do remember saying wow, going back to a 6 was like playing a toy but after a while I went back to 6's. I would not mind another 7 TBH but don't need one.

Is worth a try IMO.

I’m gonna put a couple up for sale and try to get a used Vader or s series. My old guy metal band has gotten more crazy and progressive than less. I’m digging it, and wanna try new shit.

 

[cardinal]

I’ve been playing just 7s for about ten years but recently started moving to 8 strings. I think in terms of the scales and patterns etc. you will pick it up very quickly. It’s just an extra B string (you already have one!)

Two things took a bit of adjustment time. First was neck grip. For me at least, I learned to play wrapping my thumb over the top of the neck, but this turned out to cause wrist pain for me with the wider neck. So I had to relearn to play with my thumb on the back of the neck and sneak it over the top only for certain moments and then quickly move it back.

Second was what to do with the extra string. That just takes some time feeling it out and just jamming around with it.

 

[slyym]

Do it man. I recently did and regret not doing it sooner. When you get it give it a solid month or 2 of playing to really get a good feel for it. I didn't like mine at first but fucking love it now.

 

[mchn13]

Do it man. I recently did and regret not doing it sooner. When you get it give it a solid month or 2 of playing to really get a good feel for it. I didn't like mine at first but fucking love it now.

Awesome thanks. I’m just so used to scales on 6 string shapes. I’m sure I can get it eventually. Least I won’t be bored.

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

although i still play my 6 strings, i do have a 7 that i play as well. My first was the Schecter Merrow II, which i dug the tones for modern stuff, but wasn’t a fan of the scale length. i sold it and got an Ibanez Prestige 752, and it is killer. super easy to play compared to the schecter, and the trem is blocked, tuning is more stable, and i can dive bomb all day and comes back in tune. i love it.

 

[D-Rock]

I've thought about it multiple times over the past decade or so. But always attributed to fleeting curiosity.

The sticking point for me was that I don't like Drop B tuning. I would desperately want to avoid the 7th string from sounding like it usually does; gonk...gonk...gonk...gonk...gonk gu gu gonk...gonk...gonk.
I don't want my guitar sounding like a distorted bass.

I found this video after researching what I really wanted to do which was drop C in 7 and this is the only way that I would be able to do it. So getting a 7 seems more likely for me now.
it would just be a matter of string gauge because I wouldn't want too thin of a first string or too thick of a 7th string.
Ideally a 12-56 or 60 six string set then buy a handful of single 10's...(?) I don't know...

 

[mchn13]

I've thought about it multiple times over the past decade or so. But always attributed to fleeting curiosity.

The sticking point for me was that I don't like Drop B tuning. I would desperately want to avoid the 7th string from sounding like it usually does; gonk...gonk...gonk...gonk...gonk gu gu gonk...gonk...gonk.
I don't want my guitar sounding like a distorted bass.

I found this video after researching what I really wanted to do which was drop C in 7 and this is the only way that I would be able to do it. So getting a 7 seems more likely for me now.
it would just be a matter of string gauge because I wouldn't want too thin of a first string or too thick of a 7th string.
Ideally a 12-56 or 60 six string set then buy a handful of single 10's...(?) I don't know...

See, I’m already in drop b. This would enable me to do b standard and drop a, and Be tighter(?) than my six string.?

 

[slyym]

Do it man. I recently did and regret not doing it sooner. When you get it give it a solid month or 2 of playing to really get a good feel for it. I didn't like mine at first but fucking love it now.

Awesome thanks. I’m just so used to scales on 6 string shapes. I’m sure I can get it eventually. Least I won’t be bored.

Thats what I spent the first couple weeks on was going through scales a lot until I was comfortable with it. Its mainly the 2 high strings that will be a little different. Idk about you but I mainly play in phrygian dominant and minor so I didn't have much to re learn. Also I have a "26.5 scale length and its recommended if you tune lower.

 

[maddnotez]

tighter(?) than my six string.?

Idk, subjective. I did hear a difference between using a 27.5'' scale and a 25.5'' but tighter was not the difference at all. I would say slightly more clear/clean.

 

[D-Rock]

I've thought about it multiple times over the past decade or so. But always attributed to fleeting curiosity.

The sticking point for me was that I don't like Drop B tuning. I would desperately want to avoid the 7th string from sounding like it usually does; gonk...gonk...gonk...gonk...gonk gu gu gonk...gonk...gonk.
I don't want my guitar sounding like a distorted bass.

I found this video after researching what I really wanted to do which was drop C in 7 and this is the only way that I would be able to do it. So getting a 7 seems more likely for me now.
it would just be a matter of string gauge because I wouldn't want too thin of a first string or too thick of a 7th string.
Ideally a 12-56 or 60 six string set then buy a handful of single 10's...(?) I don't know...

See, I’m already in drop b. This would enable me to do b standard and drop a, and Be tighter(?) than my six string.?

Then it seems like a viable option for you. It's my understanding that it's the feel that's hard to get used to.
Have you considered a baritone 6?

 

[stratjacket]

I go both ways, 6 and 7 (wait, what).
I tried 8 strings and just hated the really low tunings. A 7-string tuned to Bb is about as low as I like to go. But I went all in, at one point I had about 5 seven-strings and only a couple of 6's, now it's pretty even.

If you think in terms of basing your scales or patterns from a low root note, then t takes a little time to get used to it, but once you get it, it's like riding a bicycle. Going back and forth is seamless.

I'd definitely say go for it. Try a cheap one that you can easily flip if you don't like it.

 

[godgrinder]

See, I’m already in drop b. This would enable me to do b standard and drop a, and Be tighter(?) than my six string.?

I'd say get a baritone 6 string if you don't need that treble E string. Something with a 26.5" or 27" scale.

The key thing is the scale length, not how many strings it has. If you get a 25.5" (regular scale) 7 string there won't be any improvement for tuning lower. But if you go for a baritone 7 string it's probably too much adjustments all at once since the neck is now wider AND longer.

 

[shredhead7]

As far as the overall feel of the instrument, at least on my Ibanez Universe, the neck is wider and the string spacing is closer. Other than that, the string tension feels the exact same. It takes maybe a day of playing to get used to the string spacing and you will be able to go back and forth with no problem. As mentioned before, the only thing that you can't easily do is the Hendrix over the neck thumb chording, the neck is just too wide to make it easy.

If you play drop A, it's not an issue either. These guitars became popular in the Nu-Metal era, which was the height of pedantic playing. /s

 

[riffermadness]

I go both ways, 6 and 7 (wait, what).
I tried 8 strings and just hated the really low tunings. A 7-string tuned to Bb is about as low as I like to go. But I went all in, at one point I had about 5 seven-strings and only a couple of 6's, now it's pretty even.

If you think in terms of basing your scales or patterns from a low root note, then t takes a little time to get used to it, but once you get it, it's like riding a bicycle. Going back and forth is seamless.

I'd definitely say go for it. Try a cheap one that you can easily flip if you don't like it.

I have thinking about this myself.buying a $300-possibly $500 max 7 string and trying it out,and if not for me send it on its way..my friend bought one of the earliest Ibanez Universe 7 strings when they first came out and I had hell for awhile on that guitar,but it did come around.