Help me choose a great budget 7 string

[maddnotez]

Been doing quite a bit of searching lately.

In a few weeks I'm going to buy a 7 but there are so many choices.

Obviously I would love to find an amazing deal but I will put the max at $600. (maybe a bit more if I can sell something for the right guitar)

I've only played a few 7's and what I can definitely say is:

No Schecters, No 7320's.

I did enjoy the 7420 neck but would like a higher level guitar. Think fast, somewhat thin neck, flat board.

I'm thinking maybe ash body, maple or ebony neck (prefer maple but on a budget), extended scale perhaps.

I REALLY love the looks of the S series 7's especially with the FM paint but idk how they play.

What's my best bet? Rg7620? RG or S7420, RG1526 lol

I mostly know ibanez guitars but am willing go go another brand. Floating trem is almost mandatory. I play metal and love high gain as well.

 

[cardinal]

If you're willing to buy used, the Ibanez RG7620 is a killer guitar for very cheap. I picked up a 7621 (the fixed bridge model) for $60 (the crack in the headstock was thrown in for free at that price...). Fixed it up, and was stunned at how well it compares to my J-Custom 7 string. Plus, in that price range I'm not sure you'll find a guitar with a quality Floyd-type trem other than the 7620 or maybe a 1527. (I'd stay away from the 7420 and even the S-series guitars because they use a cheaper Floyd that I don't like).

 

[C1-ocaster]

Been doing quite a bit of searching lately.

In a few weeks I'm going to buy a 7 but there are so many choices.

Obviously I would love to find an amazing deal but I will put the max at $600. (maybe a bit more if I can sell something for the right guitar)

I've only played a few 7's and what I can definitely say is:

No Schecters, No 7320's.

I did enjoy the 7420 neck but would like a higher level guitar. Think fast, somewhat thin neck, flat board.

I'm thinking maybe ash body, maple or ebony neck (prefer maple but on a budget), extended scale perhaps.

I REALLY love the looks of the S series 7's especially with the FM paint but idk how they play.

What's my best bet? Rg7620? RG or S7420, RG1526 lol

I mostly know ibanez guitars but am willing go go another brand. Floating trem is almost mandatory. I play metal and love high gain as well.

Ibanez makes great guitars with nice fast necks, as you know.
ESP LTD line has some nice 7's, and in your budget.

BTW, why not Schecter?
I have a C1 Classic and it's a great guitar. Plays beautifully, and sounds great with Duncan's JB and Jazz.

 

[ke2]

The newer SLS Schecters have slimmer bodies and necks, and the new Banshee models look super hot.
I want a Merrow model myself, but I have to restrain myself a little

 

[maddnotez]

Thanks Cardinal I forgot to mention I am buying used.

Jealous you got a 7620 for $60 lol nice score.

Why not Schecters? I despise their necks. Entirely too thick and too round for me although they do sound really good. I guess I would have to play the newer models.

ESP I am interested in. I played an H-207 I believe and liked it a lot. Honestly the 2 things I didn't like was the neck was just a couple mm too thick, enough to bother me and the headstock looked pretty gay.

What are some ESP 7's with thinner necks and non spade headstocks?

 

[dfrattaroli]

Look at the Ibanez Premium RG927 on the used market. EZ2 trem. Very nice guitar that gets over looked and can be had in your range.

 

[dfrattaroli]

The PRS SE 24 7 is also a good one.

 

[GuitarGoat]

I had an S7420 that was awesome. It had the pickups upgraded to Dimarzios and played like a dream. If I was going to look for a cheaper 7 again, I'd look for one again.

 

[maddnotez]

Awesome, thanks guys keep them coming.

Also to Cardinal: would the only reason you say stay away from S series is because of cheaper Floyd?

I really love the S series with the fm paint. Could always upgrade the Floyd later.

 

[maddnotez]

Thanks Cardinal I forgot to mention I am buying used.

Jealous you got a 7620 for $60 lol nice score.

Why not Schecters? I despise their necks. Entirely too thick and too round for me although they do sound really good. I guess I would have to play the newer models.

ESP I am interested in. I played an H-207 I believe and liked it a lot. Honestly the 2 things I didn't like was the neck was just a couple mm too thick, enough to bother me and the headstock looked pretty gay.

What are some ESP 7's with thinner necks and non spade headstocks?

Check out the ESP LTD Alex Wade model. No EMGs either. I've seen them go pretty cheap on SS.org. Great player.

That's actually a really nice guitar. I also think he used the H-207 way back?

I am however looking for a Floyd equipped guitar.

 

[maddnotez]

Look at the Ibanez Premium RG927 on the used market. EZ2 trem. Very nice guitar that gets over looked and can be had in your range.

I love the look of the red paint. This guitar looks killer but MAde in Indonesia scares me.

What can you tell me about the quality?

 

[Lord Toneking]

I had a 7420s with Evo's and I didnt like it at all. Idonesian with a crap ass trem. I just bought a MIJ 7420 with DeActivators and love it. Has the low pro trem, better neck...just a much better built guitar...and a bargain at $300

 

[Steinmetzify]

The newer Schecter SLS models are great; I bought the Merrow and dig it......I'd recommend the KM7 but you said you wanted a trem. The SLS necks are a lot thinner than the other models you didn't like....not Ibanez thin, but around the same as the ESP/LTD 7s.

 

[Steinmetzify]

.

 

[maddnotez]

Thanks guys.

I sent a pm about the 7620 hopefully the dings aren't too bad.

Honestly I'll take black if I have to but I love some color to my axe.

Right now looking into MIJ 7420, 7620, RG927q, 1527 and S series,

Still need to look at the new Schecters and the Esps you guys mention.

So many damn choices and my guitar center has none of these to try used at least

There's also the Carvin DC's which I've never tried.

 

[Mudder]

LTD vp407, or whatver they're calling their 7 string Viper these days.

 

[richardt4520]

The PRS SE 24 7 is also a good one.

I just bought 2 of those. I'm pretty impressed by what I got for the price.

 

[cardinal]

Awesome, thanks guys keep them coming.

Also to Cardinal: would the only reason you say stay away from S series is because of cheaper Floyd?

I really love the S series with the fm paint. Could always upgrade the Floyd later.

Yeah, I think all the Japanese S 7 strings with Floyds used the cheap copy with the cheap posts. I'm pretty sure an OFR7 is a direct swap, but you're stuck with the posts without putting in a bit more work.

 

[maddnotez]

Awesome, thanks guys keep them coming.

Also to Cardinal: would the only reason you say stay away from S series is because of cheaper Floyd?

I really love the S series with the fm paint. Could always upgrade the Floyd later.

Yeah, I think all the Japanese S 7 strings with Floyds used the cheap copy with the cheap posts. I'm pretty sure an OFR7 is a direct swap, but you're stuck with the posts without putting in a bit more work.

That sucks because they look so good to me.

My buddy had a s7 said he sold immediately but he's an old Schecter guy so I take with a grain or two.

 

[GuitarGoat]

Awesome, thanks guys keep them coming.

Also to Cardinal: would the only reason you say stay away from S series is because of cheaper Floyd?

I really love the S series with the fm paint. Could always upgrade the Floyd later.

Yeah, I think all the Japanese S 7 strings with Floyds used the cheap copy with the cheap posts. I'm pretty sure an OFR7 is a direct swap, but you're stuck with the posts without putting in a bit more work.

That sucks because they look so good to me.

My buddy had a s7 said he sold immediately but he's an old Schecter guy so I take with a grain or two.

The one I had had the ZR trem which was pretty cool. I didn't notice any problems with it...I actually thought it was a pretty dang good idea.