7 String Pickups…What a headache

[Nsatke81]

Hi all,

I wanted to vent for a second. It is such a nuisance how seven string pickups have no established parameters in terms of size. If your guitar came with pickups from one company and you want to switch to duncan or anything else you are going to have to rout the cavities. Want to go from passive Duncan’s to phase 2 actives? You gotta rout. Want to go to fishman classics to modern? Again the legs don’t fit. Gotta rout it out.

I am not sure why there are no drop in replacements for seven strings like there are for six. I guess 7 strings are niche instruments so it’s still a bit like the Wild West. Certainly wish there were more established parameters.


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[Mincer]

One of the many things that hold no standards...like pickup wire colors. Annoying, but here we are.

 

[dave74]

I really don't like anything about a 7-string. I'd rather use a 6 for anything down to C. Below that I'd just go baritone.

 

[1neeto]

When I put my Dimarzio Dreamcatcher/Rainmaker combo on my Ibanez 7 string, it was quite challenging. I had to remove the springs and foam felt just so they could fit low enough. And I had to put one of them upside down because there was no way to fit the wiring unless I made a routing for the wire. But it did work in the end.

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[Ashurbanipal]

^^ Nice RG . Zebras lookin' good.

Hmm, yeah, but this is mainly a problem if the pups are body mounted, no? If the guitar has rings or a pickguard stock, usually the pu routes accommodate most if not all things.

 

[1neeto]

^^ Nice RG . Zebras lookin' good.

Hmm, yeah, but this is mainly a problem if the pups are body mounted, no? If the guitar has rings or a pickguard stock, usually the pu routes accommodate most if not all things.

Thanks! Here’s a full shot. Not a bad guitar for $500. And yeah the issue with those Dimarzio’s is direct-fitting them in a cavity. I had to drill out the holes to accept the sodden screws since they’re pre-drilled for machine screws for a ring or pick guard. Only thing is that I can’t adjust the height, but they do sound great.


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[1neeto]

^ What model is that Ibby?

RG 7421 sapphire blue.


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[Mr. B]

That is one of the reasons I don't like direct mount pickups (along with the cheap foam/springs under the pickups and wood that too easily strips out if you install/reinstall too often). I'd much rather have pickup rings or a pickguard mount.
I have used a dremel tool and cutting disk to angle the square legs of Duncan pickups for direct mount a few times. I'd rather do that than route the body wood.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Hm, seems like the more budget friendly Ibanez 7 strings are pretty good for the $$.

With the pups, yeah, one option is to install a pickguard and mount them on that, but not everyone's cup of tea, and if you have a figured top, you'd hide half of it.

 

[1neeto]

Hm, seems like the more budget friendly Ibanez 7 strings are pretty good for the $$.

With the pups, yeah, one option is to install a pickguard and mount them on that, but not everyone's cup of tea, and if you have a figured top, you'd hide half of it.

I can only speak for mine, but yeah I agree. Even when I first bought it, I wasn’t expecting much, but it was a very nicely setup, and constructed instrument. Wasn’t a fan of the pickups from the get-go, but the guitar felt like it was worth at least 200 more bucks.

I made this after I installed the Dimarzio’s, I do ramble about the guitar a bit, but I also go through all the pickup switching options.

https://youtu.be/2aK4hxbIQuk


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[Demanic]

When I put my Dimarzio Dreamcatcher/Rainmaker combo on my Ibanez 7 string, it was quite challenging. I had to remove the springs and foam felt just so they could fit low enough. And I had to put one of them upside down because there was no way to fit the wiring unless I made a routing for the wire. But it did work in the end.

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Those are some thick pickups. What do they sound like?

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[1neeto]

Those are some thick pickups. What do they sound like?

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I posted a video above. They sound great through my Mesa amp. Very defined and balanced especially the low notes.


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[Ashurbanipal]

Pretty smooth sounds there.

Mm, I hope to get a 7 string at some point, though it's impossible to find one one with moderate/low output pups and a non-locking whammy at a wallet friendly budget. Everything's either Floyd or hardtail and with hotter pups (active or passive), which, given the typical targeted market and what they get used for, is not surprising. The AZ 7s Ibanez put out last year look sweet (the HSS twigs my gas a bit), but they're Prestige and over 2k; and some of those Vola Oz models look nice too, but only a bit less $ than Ibanez.

 

[PFDarkside]

Thanks! Here’s a full shot. Not a bad guitar for $500. And yeah the issue with those Dimarzio’s is direct-fitting them in a cavity. I had to drill out the holes to accept the sodden screws since they’re pre-drilled for machine screws for a ring or pick guard. Only thing is that I can’t adjust the height, but they do sound great.


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What’s that PRS?

 

[1neeto]

Pretty smooth sounds there.

Mm, I hope to get a 7 string at some point, though it's impossible to find one one with moderate/low output pups and a non-locking whammy at a wallet friendly budget. Everything's either Floyd or hardtail and with hotter pups (active or passive), which, given the typical targeted market and what they get used for, is not surprising. The AZ 7s Ibanez put out last year look sweet (the HSS twigs my gas a bit), but they're Prestige and over 2k; and some of those Vola Oz models look nice too, but only a bit less $ than Ibanez.

Yeah they can be hard to find without hot pickups. At least they’re inexpensive enough to still be at under $1k after a pickup swap.

What’s that PRS?

2014 SC245 with 57/08 pickups.

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[PFDarkside]

That’s a cool guitar!

 

[1neeto]

That’s a cool guitar!

Not bad for a Les Paul wannabe.


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[Ashurbanipal]

Yes. Interestingly, the original Korn RG was spec'd with DiM PAFs. Feel like amps/pedals these days have more than plenty of gain, you can always add more there. I guess that was the rationale for the boys back then, as they used Rectifiers. Hotter pups do have their own vibe and place, of course, with the way the compress, stark clarity etc. But I suppose, since these days it's possible to get a pretty good guitar for $500 or less, buying some pups is not a big deal, though finding PAF voiced/output ones in 7 string format is a bit tougher. Apart from DiM, I guess Seymour offers 59s and Jazz in 7 string? Maybe BKP does too, but they're

Indeed, the PRS is not too shabby .

 

[Mincer]

Seymour offers 59s and Jazz in 7 string?

They totally do.

 

[Nsatke81]

Yeah they can be hard to find without hot pickups. At least they’re inexpensive enough to still be at under $1k after a pickup swap.


2014 SC245 with 57/08 pickups.

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I know it’s pricey but the angel vivaldi charvel is really nice.


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