Re: Curiosity: What strings do you use on your seven string?
Okay... there's so few inexpensive second hand options for pickups. (As well as other things. Replacement necks, bridges, etc.) I thought I had edited that in but forgot.
But I do see that Entwistle makes the Dark Star in a 7 version, so that will be a definite contender if I decide to go that route.
No worries.
But hardware isn`t really an issue, either... I can source a ToM, Kahler pro series, OFR, strat hardtail or trem, PRS style trem, or even wraparound in a seven string version within about 48 hours...
But I do agree that the DIY market for seven strings is somewhat meager... but it`s also steadily growing, 200$ kits in JEM or LP style are easy to find, warmoth and others make necks and bodies... But replacement parts are in fact hard to find.... probably becasue the need isn`t big enough to be profitable, as most appear to either buy a cheapo that cost less than a good neck just to kick around with, or went straight after the 1k+ offerings becasue they plan on using it in a (semi-)professional fashion and will probably take appropriate care of it.
Come to think of it, it`s actually only really the used market that`s more or less bare, both with parts and complete instruments....
I would wager that the main reason for that is that a 6 string is more of an impulse buy /Pokemon ("Gotta have `em all"), wheras a "true" 7 string player (i.e. one that intends on it being his main instrument, and not just a party gag to doodle on every so often) is probably making a more "active decision", likely with a few years of playing under his belt telling him exactly what he likes and doesn`t like and why he even needs a seventh string to begin with. And the word "need" is key in this context... there are simply things you can do on a seven that you can`t feasibly do on a 6.
And as soon as these players have "found" their instrument, the 6 strings are actually the ones more likely to get sold... For ex. mine haven`t seen more than a day of play since I bought my 7, because there`s nothing any of them can do from a playing standpoint that my 7 can`t do as well or even better. They`ve essentially been relegated to "use for tonal variation" corner, at least for the time being, with only the USA Jacksons and my Wrath having any chance of actially getting played.
As much as I don`t want to admit it, 300$ of guitar and pickup essentially obsoleted a multiple thousand dollar collection.
And I`m probably not the only one that has had this happen to them, either... and that would explein the used market situation very handily, too..
I think the same goes for any changes to the original instrument that may be made.... For example,. I was 100% I`d be very pleased with the Nazgul bridge when I ordered it, but still played the stock pickup for almost a week just to make sure it was even necessary... Had I not deemed it necessary, I`d have simply returned it for a full refund within 14 days as is the Law here.
I think that becasue the parts aren`t so common on the used market, the same form of research goes into any upgrades that may be made, mostly leaving only cheap stock parts for said used market, and nobody wants to buy those for the most part. Again, the guy just doodling around doesn`t care, and the die-hard knows exactly what he wants and needs before he buys it. Come to think of it, I don`t think I`ve ever seen someone "casually" buy a seven string or modify it, which you know pretty well is par for the course for many 6 string players...
And it `s a vicious cycle, less upgrades means less used parts, means less peoply trying to DIY them on the cheap, leading to a smaller demand for parts overall, leading to the mabufacturers believeing there isn`t a market for 7 string parts, leading to a lower percieved amount of available upgrades, leading to less "random" upgrades and more "surgical" ones, leading to less upgrades which still means less used parts... Just a theory.
/offtopic off
/ Deathbar (b) combo.
