7 string vs 6
The quantity of strings is one of these differences, but of course, there are more, and we might even say that they are 2 completely different kinds of instruments. The main differences between baritone and 7 string guitars are that the latter has a wider range of available pitches and a wider neck due to their extra string. Baritones, on the other side, have a longer scale length and, usually a bigger-sized body. Both of them are usually tuned with a low B1. In this article, we will lay out the main characteristics of a baritone guitar, and then we will talk about 7 string guitars.
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Content:
- 7’s are built to go low:
- 6-String vs 12-String Guitars – Which Should You Choose?
- Why should I choose a 5, 6 or 7-string electric violin?
- Best Strings for 7 String Guitars (2021)
- Jackson Monarkh Case 6/7 String
- 7-string vs 6-string guitar
- Tips for Adjusting to a 7-String Guitar
- How to play 7 string songs on a 6 string
- Baritone vs 7 string guitar [Which one should you get?]
- Everything you need to know about seven- and eight-string guitars
7’s are built to go low:
This caused a few music industry observers to prematurely conclude that the seven-string guitar was just a passing fad with little more than novelty appeal. The timing of the discontinuation was unfortunate, however, as seven-string guitars were just starting to catch on with an increasing amount of players around the same time.
During the mid-'90s an impressively diverse variety of bands and guitarists embraced and popularized the heavier sound of the seven-string guitar, including Cannibal Corpse, Deftones, Dream Theater, Fear Factory, Korn, Meshuggah, Morbid Angel, Nevermore, Uli Jon Roth, Voivod and many others. Guitarists who favored the extended range of a seven-string guitar grew to significant ranks over the next few years, and Ibanez soon reversed course and started building seven-string models again in Other major manufacturers also introduced seven-string models during this time, although it took almost another decade before several companies started to offer more than just a handful of seven-string models in their product lineups.
The market for seven-string guitars has changed radically over the past 15 years, as have the designs of many of the instruments. Today guitarists can choose from several hundred different models, and a handful of manufacturers each even offer a larger variety of models than what the entire industry provided at the dawn of the new millennium. About the same time as the seven-string surge took place around a decade or so ago, a handful of companies started to offer the first mass-produced eight-string models, providing yet another tempting alternative instrument for guitarists interested in exploring a wider sonic range than that of a standard six-string guitar.
Over time, the design of the seven-string guitar has expanded to include instruments with extended scale lengths and alternate tunings, which has made the decision process more confusing for newcomers as well as experienced guitarists shopping for their first seven- or eight-string guitar.
While the basic features on a standard six-string and seven- or 8-string guitar are essentially the same, many of these attributes on seven- and eight-string guitars require more careful consideration based on how one plans on playing the instrument such as riffs, solos, chords and rhythm or all of the above , the tuning one prefers to use standard, drop tuning or alternate tunings and other playing and performance details.
In some respects, the seven- and eight-string guitar are almost like entirely new instruments, but the differences between them and standard six-string guitars is not as vast as the gap between a six-string guitar and a bass. Probably 99 Percent of all six-string solidbody electric guitars made today have scale lengths that fall somewhere between Eight-string guitars typically have scale lengths that are at least 27 inches, while a handful of examples like the Ibanez M80M Meshuggah signature measure almost For a guitarist who is used to playing a Gibson Les Paul with a A seven-string guitar with a However, instruments with longer scales offer certain sonic advantages, particularly for players who want to tune down the lowest string a whole step or the entire guitar a whole step or more.
On a shorter scale guitar, tuning down reduces string tension to a point where the lowest strings can feel too slinky and loose, which also makes those strings difficult to play in tune as even the slightest amount of excess pressure while fretting notes can bend the pitch. Some players use heavier string gauges to compensate, but intonation can become problematic for heavier gauge strings on shorter scale instruments and heavier gauge strings may not fit into the tuning pegs.
Fanned fret instruments provide the best of both worlds - shorter scale lengths for the treble strings and longer scale lengths for the bass strings.
Longer scale lengths require greater string tension when tuning to the same pitch as a shorter scale instrument, which allows players to use lighter string gauges that they are more comfortable with especially on the high E string instead of the heavier gauge strings required to maintain adequate tension on instruments with shorter scales.
Conversely, longer scales allow players to use heavier strings at lower tensions, which can make heavy strings easier to play, especially when bending notes. Several companies now offer seven-and eight-string guitars with fanned frets also known as multiple-scale fretboards , where the nut, bridge and frets are installed at varying angles instead of perpendicular to the strings.
Fanned scale lengths generally range from The rule of thumb for seven- and eight-string guitars is basically the same as it is for a six-string guitar: narrower nut widths are generally more comfortable for players with smaller hands while wider nut widths are better for players with bigger hands or who want more space in between each string to facilitate fretting notes more cleanly.
Depending on the nut width of a seven- or eight-string guitar, the addition of an extra string or two can result in strings that may feel too close to each other or a neck that feels uncomfortably wide and unwieldy. This is one instance where guitarists need to try out instruments before they buy to see how comfortable the neck width feels in their hands.
Some seven-string necks are as narrow as 42 or 43 millimeters certain ESP and Caparison models, for example , which is about the same nut width as a standard six-string Stratocaster, so with the addition of an extra string the strings are now much more closely spaced together.
Players who prefer the same average string spacing as a six-string guitar should look for seven-string guitars with nut widths around 47 to 48mm. Because the necks on most seven-and eight-string guitars are wider than those on six-string guitars, the shape of the neck profile and curvature of the radius can seem more exaggerated. Generally, most seven-string and particularly eight-string guitars have thin and relatively flat profiles as even an average C-shaped profile can seem overly thick and unwieldy.
The trade-off for the easier, faster playability of a flat, thin neck profile is that the tone may not be as full and rich or the neck may not always feel solid, so you have to determine your priorities here.
Be particularly careful when considering cheaper instruments with flat, thin neck profiles as the materials, construction and truss rod support may not be solid enough to handle the excess string tension, causing the neck to bend easily and tuning stability to go out the window when playing. Most seven- and eight-string guitars also have a larger, flatter radius than a standard six-string guitar.
On a wider neck, even a inch radius will have noticeable curvature. Many models feature a compound radius that becomes flatter further up the neck, which can make it easier to play chords in the lower registers while facilitating string bending further up the neck. One common overlooked consideration is the gauges of the strings that the instrument was designed to use.
Never assume that any seven- or eight-string guitar can accommodate whatever gauges of strings the player plans on using. For example, players who find the lowest string on a The hole or slot in the tuning peg may not be wide enough, or the string may be too wide to fit into a locking nut or the holes for a stop, through-body and tremolo tailpiece where the ball end or string end is anchored. Also, on a shorter scale guitar the bridge saddles may not provide enough travel to properly intonate heavier low-end strings, so the bridge will need to be either replaced or moved.
Some players prefer to tune the lowest string down a whole step to A on a seven-string or to E on an eight-string. Before you go into the guitar store or place an order online, do a little research to verify what tuning the instrument was designed to best accommodate.
Because many seven- and eight-string guitars have wider and longer necks, the neck may also be heavier and not well balanced with the body. Body contours can increase playing comfort, but make sure that they conform or fit to your body and arm positions. Instruments with neck-through-body or set-thru designs usually have a seamless transition where the neck meets the body compared to the bulky heels on most set neck and bolt-on neck designs.
When trying out a seven- or eight-string guitar, you should play it through an amplification rig similar to one you already own or plan on buying. This also is a good time to listen for fret buzzing which may or may not be easy to fix and rattles coming from inside the instrument in which case you should probably select another guitar.
Passive pickups work great with guitar and bass alike, but design features that work great for standard six-string guitars windings, shape and strength of the magnetic field, etc. Active pickups tend to deliver greater overall clarity across a wider frequency range, and the attack can be faster and more pronounced which can be very desirable. It mainly depends on which tonal characteristics matter more to you personally. If you prefer warm, fat tones with midrange emphasis and greater dynamic responsiveness, passive pickups may be better, but if you are more into precise clarity and brighter overall tone with a wider frequency range, active pickups can be a better choice.
Note that the selection of pickup configurations for most seven- and eight-string guitars is less varied than that for six-string electrics. In fact, the majority of these instruments have dual-humbucker designs, while only a handful have a pair of single-coil pickups, a single-coil in the neck or bridge position along with a humbucker, or, in very rare instances, three pickups usually a single-coil in between neck and bridge humbuckers.
Most instruments also have only master volume and master tone controls, and many have only master volume controls, so if you prefer having separate volume and tone controls for each pickup or more sophisticated tonal shaping capabilities for active pickups, you may have to consider buying a custom-made instrument.
Most modern high-gain amplifiers can handle the extended bass frequency ranges of seven- and eight-string guitars pretty well, especially if you are primarily using distorted tones. Speakers are a more important consideration as most and inch speakers designed for guitar have prominent midrange frequencies and significantly roll off bass frequencies starting around to 70 Hz. Subjecting standard guitar speakers to lower bass frequencies also can cause them to distort earlier than they do when subjected to normal guitar frequencies, and in some cases the speakers may be more likely to blow out.
Using speakers with a wider, flatter frequency response is one alternative, although these speakers can make regular guitar midrange frequencies sound cold and sterile. This type of system is capable of handling a wider range of bass and treble frequencies while providing the rich midrange tones that guitarists prefer and are accustomed to. Depending on how a guitarist plans on playing, a seven- or eight-string guitar might not be necessary and it may be better to use a six-string down-tuned standard guitar, long-scale guitar or baritone instead.
A seven-string guitar with the seventh string tuned to B provides only an additional five notes, yet it can present a somewhat dramatic conceptual shift such as when playing chords on the bottom four strings for certain players who are accustomed to six-string guitars in addition to the physical adjustments some guitarists will need to make to get used to playing instruments with wider necks and potentially longer scales. And in some bands with lots of different instruments occupying similar frequency ranges such as six-string piccolo bass, keyboards, horns and so on the expanded frequency range of a seven- or eight-string guitar may just add to the sonic clutter and serve little useful purpose.
The variety of seven- and eight-string model guitars available today is truly staggering, and it can be difficult to know where to start. Other popular manufacturers of affordable seven-string guitars include Agile, B. Several of these companies but not all also offer eight-string models.
Looking for your next seven- or eight-string guitar? These are some of the top sellers right now:. Guitar World. Chris Gill.
6-String vs 12-String Guitars – Which Should You Choose?
This caused a few music industry observers to prematurely conclude that the seven-string guitar was just a passing fad with little more than novelty appeal. The timing of the discontinuation was unfortunate, however, as seven-string guitars were just starting to catch on with an increasing amount of players around the same time. During the mid-'90s an impressively diverse variety of bands and guitarists embraced and popularized the heavier sound of the seven-string guitar, including Cannibal Corpse, Deftones, Dream Theater, Fear Factory, Korn, Meshuggah, Morbid Angel, Nevermore, Uli Jon Roth, Voivod and many others. Guitarists who favored the extended range of a seven-string guitar grew to significant ranks over the next few years, and Ibanez soon reversed course and started building seven-string models again in Other major manufacturers also introduced seven-string models during this time, although it took almost another decade before several companies started to offer more than just a handful of seven-string models in their product lineups. The market for seven-string guitars has changed radically over the past 15 years, as have the designs of many of the instruments. Today guitarists can choose from several hundred different models, and a handful of manufacturers each even offer a larger variety of models than what the entire industry provided at the dawn of the new millennium.
Why should I choose a 5, 6 or 7-string electric violin?
Marc Johnson Feb 09, Comments 9. Intimidated by an axe that moves beyond the borders of their six-string safety net, many players look at a seven-string as something of an anomaly, and if they close their eyes tight enough, 7-strings will eventually just go away. First, unless you prefer playing on what feels like a rubber band, you have to move to a higher string gauge. And therein lies the rub. See when you go that thick, you have to file the nut and saddle slots to accommodate the thicker strings. You might even have to drill out a bigger hole in your fifth and sixth-string tuning gear. And, TTK is all about saving money. There is a difference! Generally, 7-strings are cleaner and more articulate where 6-stringers are muddier. Some suspect that this is because of the pickups, and many pickup manufacturers are banking on that by releasing pickups for down-tuned guitars.
Best Strings for 7 String Guitars (2021)
Acoustic violins are limited to 4 strings and acoustic guitars have 6 strings. However, the universe of electric instruments expands to limitless ranges such as string electric guitars or 7-string electric violins. At 3Dvarius, we also offer 6- and 7-string electric violins in both our Line and Equinox lines. These come as a complement to our usual 4- and 5-string models. It is above all a matter of preference, of wanting to explore even further the lower tones.
Jackson Monarkh Case 6/7 String
It only takes a minute to sign up. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. I've been getting suggestions from other musicians maybe musical enthusiast is a better term for me about what equipment to experiment with next and I keep hearing that I should buy a 7-string guitar. I'm not really sure about the advantage of the extra string. I get that having another string will add more range potential but is there something less obvious I might be missing?
7-string vs 6-string guitar
It's all personal preference really, some people don't like the thickness of the neck, others don't like the longer scale length. I think for myself the thicker neck is definitely what does it for me. They are both great axes. Problem is, I live in the boonies, so I can't go test out either of them. Let's consider the pickups.
Tips for Adjusting to a 7-String Guitar
Messages: Likes Received: Title says it all, which do you prefer? A seven 7 or a 6 string tuned all the way down to B standard or even drop A. I'd love to hear why you guys play 7's!
How to play 7 string songs on a 6 string
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Baritone vs 7 string guitar [Which one should you get?]
By cobrahead , July 4, in Amps. Paradoxically, I kind of feel like a low-tuned 6 string is "lower" than a 7 string, because the 7 string is really more like a 6 string with an extra low string while a low-tuned 6 is obviously like a regular 6 string, just with everything being lower. Whereas on a down-tuned 6, you can pick up a Metallica song and just play it way lower, without having to change any fingerings. All that being said, I love playing 7s. All of the stuff on our EP with the exception of a few clean parts, because I liked my Parker's tone better is on 7 string guitars and a 6 string bass. We definitely use the 7th string; it's an important part in a lot of riffs. However you're pretty much limited to three or four string chords if you're including the 7th string, as the add really doesn't sound that great in most applications to my ears.
Everything you need to know about seven- and eight-string guitars
By Jason Stallworth. July 22, Are you just starting to transition from 6 to 7 string guitar? Or are you thinking about making the jump?
Bravo, I think this is a wonderful thought.