Are 7 strings just a fad?

In 1995, I almost bought a 7 string universe (the one with the nifty lava colors) for less tan 700 dollars. Shred was dead, and the store just wanted to get rid of that monster that clients kept making fun of...

And now, with all those neo metal groups, I keep seing 7 strings in magazines and in stores, and everyone going "that's the next big thing". All of them need a reminder... Errrrr... This isn't like...new... Jazz cats even had 7 strings in 1950!!

Do you thing it will go away, or that it will be like 5 stings basses? Around 50/50?

That's a good question...

Honestly, they don't appeal to me. I mean, number one, I'm not a nu-metal'er who plays spineless, one-finger, detuned power chords that needs an extra bass string to get a heavier sound.

I appreciate what guys like Vai are doing with the extra string, that is, simply increasing the range of guitar and letting themselves do more with it; but 6 strings is plenty for me thank you very much, and I'm not pretentious enough to want to simultaneously play the part of guitarist and bassist, which is what I hear a lot of guys and tryin' to do.

after playing the guitar for 20yrs the 7 string was like a breathe of fresh air, it was new, yet the same. It really inspired me to sit down and start doing some serious practicing again.
I don't think the total capabilities of the 7 string have been entirely explored yet. I use mine for everything from jazz to blues to rock to classical, I've even worked out some slap bass lines on it just to p*** the bass players off.
A big plus w/the 7 string is you don't have to use any drop D or Eb tunings, no need to bring 3 guitars to the gig anymore. The 7 string has even made some songs easier to play because it gives you more options where to play the lower notes. And the chord possibilities are endless, you now have the broad range of a piano. The wide neck also forces you to clean up your technique.
Wether there here to stay, I don't know, but I know I will never go back to playing 6 string.

This is probably a real dumb question but what the heck is the 7th string tuned to?

same as a 6 string with a B for the 7th.

I like what Chris Mood said, I Play a 7 string and have pretty much the same attitude about it. I was brought up on piano, and switched to guitar when I was 21: the range of the 7 appealed to me right away although I couldn't afford one, I was always reaching into the air after the low E when practicing in the dark. I finally purchased a 7 string jay tursor one of the less trendy guitars, it is a wonderfully toned and affordable guitar, I couldn't afford a 2800 Ibanez; this guitar was 400 dollars and I love the range. I started on Gibson style goya? then acoustic then a statacaster-wich taught me so much about the possibilities of tone without affects, the 7 is my favorite becuase I like inverting chords and real long range scales (like Judas Priest-okay I'll admitt I'm a bit of a metal head, raised on classical piano-excellent for neoclassical rriffology).My point? well if it's really you then play one if not yer just trying to wear someboby elses leather pants.

I think they'll go in and out just like everything else.

Originally posted by Raskolnikov
I think they'll go in and out just like everything else.

Well, sometimes things don't go away. The wah wah pedal, the whammy pedal, the floyd rose etc. and they become a part of the 'normal' stuff. I was wondering if it would become some kind of new standard, just like the 5 strings bass has become the standard (almost) for heavy rock or jazz.

I think they'll be around 50/50.
But i would not have one unless i could tune
it to H.
Just be yourself! :cool:

7 strings will only be popular until the 8 string models come out this Spring, this whole craze is being secretly manipulated behind the scenes by a powerful cabal of guitar and string manufacturers, within 5 years we will only be able to buy 13 string guitars, the guitar will become a 2 player instrument, I think the record companies are in on this too, with each guitar having 2 players, who will want to hear the sound of "one hand tapping".

new zen koan ," what is the sound of one hand tapping?"

I've never played one, but I know that they have been around for a while. The 7th string makes some pretty cool sounds. I wouldn't mind having one.

I have enough trouble playing a 6 goddammit! Who came up with this 7 string? Just when I try to go legit they wanna pull me back in.. Besides, my fingers are too stubby to play something with a wider neck.

It all came back recently for me to a 6 string acoustic, and a handfull of good songs like pinball wizard by the who. Although I do have a 7 string and think it is brilliant for the range it has for soloing, as for chords I prefer an acoustic 6 string or strat or gibson style guitar.

There's a name for a guitar with more than six strings. It's called a piano.

Any time I get to feelin' that 6 strings aren't enough, I just grab my 12-string for a while! :D

I don't have any interest in getting into 7-string guitar, and any time I play a 5-string bass, that extra string just confuses me. They may be good, even necessary, for some people, but I'm not of of 'em.

Who makes good 7 string guitars other than Ibanez and how much do they cost ?

ESP also makes 7 string guitars. i never played one though so i don't know how well it is. but if i wanted a 7 string i would probably lean towards an ibanez myself.

Personally i used to think that 7 strings were the "devil" but after seeing Vai and Petrucci make some absolutly amazing music on them i really started to think "hey maybe these aren't so bad". Basically i think the bands that do abuse the 7 banger should go back to the 6 style, and people like vai need to keep innovating on them. But that's just my stupid opinion so who cares anyways right ? =Þ

Schecter makes some decent 7 string guitars.