Which 7 String? Cooley? Loomis? Vai?

[kev]

Hey guys,

Thanks to a pay rise, i am thinking of finally splashing out on a 7 now ive kind of learnt to play a 6 The 3 I have in mind are the Rusty Cooley sig, the Jeff Loomis sig, and the Steve vai sig. What do you chappies reckon & why?

 

[Executioner213]

Why does it have to be a sig?

 

[Metaltastic]

Well I'd say Loomis with the tune-o-matic, since the Universe (AKA Vai, dunno if they still call it that) has the Edge Pro (more trouble than it's worth IMO, since you already have a couple of trem guitars, like a certain red Ibanez ), and the Cooley is RIDICULOUSLY expensive (and also has the Floyd). Also check out the other Schecters, though they're too big and clumsy feeling for me (specifically the necks)

 

[J.DavisNJ]

What type of body wood do you want???

I'm really not a big fan of basswood, but if I was going 7 I'd probably look into a Petrucci Musicman.

-Joe

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Or the Loomis, really dig that one!

-Joe

 

[Metaltastic]

What type of body wood do you want???

I'm really not a big fan of basswood, but if I was going 7 I'd probably look into a Petrucci Musicman.

-Joe

EWWWWWWWW, SOOOO ugly IMO (though I'm sure it plays great!)

 

[J.DavisNJ]

EWWWWWWWW, SOOOO ugly IMO (though I'm sure it plays great!)

I really don't mind the look of it, but that's the ONLY Musicman I dig aside from the Stingray basses. And yeah, they do have great build quality.

But like I said, me and basswood are meh.

-Joe

 

[Cyanide_Anima]

hellraiser C7!

 

[Jaymz]

Out of those id go Loomis. The Cooley is stupidly expensive! You could get a new Dual Recto for that price! Not a fan of Ibanez, so Loomis all the way.

Id have got one but at the time the local shop gave me a waiting time of 7 months, so I thought fuck that and got a C7 Hellraiser.

 

[006]

The HellRaiser C7, or even a BlackJack C7 (and the ATX counterpart) are really great guitars - don't let the prices fool you. Remember, Loomis started with the HellRaiser before getting a signature model

However, if you are use to the thin necks on Ibby's, you will hate the Schecter most likely, unless you find the Ibanez necks too thin for your tastes and just put up with them anyway? Necks being thicker or thinner than others is not a big deal to me, I've always learned to just deal with stuff like that because my HellRaiser C7 is fucking tits, not that I'm "dealing" with the neck (I actually dig it's thickness personally) but other guitars I've owned/played. I never really understood complaining about that honestly...

The Universe is aight, I prefer an all mahogany fiddle myself. Then again, Shane reallllly loves his Loomis sig and never misses a chance to brag about it! Haha. Honestly, bang for your buck will be Schecter or a non-signature Ibanez.

~006

Oh, and P.S.: Fuck anything with Floyds.

 

[Agonal]

If you don't have little girlie hands go with the schecter its not a big neck like people make out. My hands are huge though. Reasonable price and exceptional build. I can't stand Ibanez they fill small and cheap like a toy. Agile makes some decent 7's as well if you want something different.

 

[Lowberg]

carvin custom

that is if you don't mind the waiting out the build time for an awesome guitar

 

[kev]

Why does it have to be a sig?

Haha... should of mentioned in the OP, nope it doesnt have to be a sig, these are just the ones i've had in mind for a while as they have been most publicised to me.

Well I'd say Loomis with the tune-o-matic, since the Universe (AKA Vai, dunno if they still call it that) has the Edge Pro (more trouble than it's worth IMO, since you already have a couple of trem guitars, like a certain red Ibanez ), and the Cooley is RIDICULOUSLY expensive (and also has the Floyd). Also check out the other Schecters, though they're too big and clumsy feeling for me (specifically the necks)

Yeh... I agree here too. I think it's time to axe the floyd for once Marcus! I figure all 7 string necks are going to be fairly hefty. I find ibanez wizards are perfect for me, but obviously not gonna happen lol.

What type of body wood do you want???

I'm really not a big fan of basswood, but if I was going 7 I'd probably look into a Petrucci Musicman.

-Joe

Well Joe, im not majorly bothered here... I've got guitars in all shapes and forms and am happy enough to tweak tone based around the guitar. Im not a fan of heavy guitars too much, and with a fair chunk of live playing coming up towards the middle/end of year i figure lighter the better.

EWWWWWWWW, SOOOO ugly IMO (though I'm sure it plays great!)

You reckon the Loomis is ugly Marcus! I LOVE the look of it

hellraiser C7!

Thats a definite option!

Out of those id go Loomis. The Cooley is stupidly expensive! You could get a new Dual Recto for that price! Not a fan of Ibanez, so Loomis all the way.

Id have got one but at the time the local shop gave me a waiting time of 7 months, so I thought fuck that and got a C7 Hellraiser.

Oh yeh indeed Jaymz. Im looking at the prices now, and the Schecters are outstanding value in comparison with the rest.

The HellRaiser C7, or even a BlackJack C7 (and the ATX counterpart) are really great guitars - don't let the prices fool you. Remember, Loomis started with the HellRaiser before getting a signature model

However, if you are use to the thin necks on Ibby's, you will hate the Schecter most likely, unless you find the Ibanez necks too thin for your tastes and just put up with them anyway? Necks being thicker or thinner than others is not a big deal to me, I've always learned to just deal with stuff like that because my HellRaiser C7 is fucking tits, not that I'm "dealing" with the neck (I actually dig it's thickness personally) but other guitars I've owned/played. I never really understood complaining about that honestly...

The Universe is aight, I prefer an all mahogany fiddle myself. Then again, Shane reallllly loves his Loomis sig and never misses a chance to brag about it! Haha. Honestly, bang for your buck will be Schecter or a non-signature Ibanez.

~006

Oh, and P.S.: Fuck anything with Floyds.

I did just think whilst reading your post mike, im pretty sure ive settled on rosewood fingerboards at the moment. Ive discovered whilst i do like the spring of ebony and maple, i cant really invisage detuned mapleidge too much and i love the bending on a rosewood board in comparison to the others which are a little icy. Ideally I am gunning for the thinnest possible 7 string neck I suppose

If you don't have little girlie hands go with the schecter its not a big neck like people make out. My hands are huge though. Reasonable price and exceptional build. I can't stand Ibanez they fill small and cheap like a toy. Agile makes some decent 7's as well if you want something different.

Thanks dude, could be something to look into there too!

carvin custom

that is if you don't mind the waiting out the build time for an awesome guitar

My rise wasnt that much I'll be sure to check it out, ta lowberg.

P.S What a shoddy site schecter have!!!

 

[Sora01]

I reccommend the blackjack c-7 atx, Its pure awesome build quality, and all the things I heard about the neck being huge...

its only huge if you have pixie hands tbh, its comfy and nice to play on.

Mahogany body and blackouts go really well.

Tone pros bridge, gotoh tuners, I love it.

 

[Metaltastic]

Oh no Kev, I think the Loomis is fucking gorgeous, it's the Petrucci I can't stand. And for the record, my hands are pretty massive, I just don't like thick necks, they feel clumsy TO ME And the problem with Carvins is they're only 25.5"; for a 7 string, I'd prefer the longer scale length the other manufacturers offer

 

[musickey]

This is my main Axe, and i love it!

 

[beyond dead]

I agree with marcus about schecter bass ball bat guitars lol but the petrucci is mighty fine if ya ask me!

 

[Metaltastic]

Ooooooooh yeah, the COW does give me a boner, but I couldn't stand not having a neck pickup (and if I know Kev, neither could he )

 

[kev]

lol so true. Right... I think the pre-requisites are: Rosewood board, EMG actives, thinnest neck possible

 

[Jaymz]

Thinnest neck possible would have to be the RC7 then