Now DONE : fretless 7-string baritone Sustainiac Project !

[Flurko]

I recently posted this in the "shred guitars for non-shredders" thread, and I've already ordered it :

I was looking for either another 7 string or a baritone for an upcoming project, if I sell some unused gear I might be on time to jump on this :



I like Ibanez's take on the LP DC, it's pretty neat to see a 7 string that's shreddy but not too much ! Looks like it's neck dive city though.

I haven't sold anything yet but I've reupped my local classified ads, it almost counts!

This model has been out of production for a few years, this particular guitar comes straight out of 1999 and was probably selling for the nu metal crowd at this point.

The model reminds me of Owen Gardner's from Horse Lords, already a whole different vibe. I might be planning to install a sustainiac and make it fretless at some point...

[JSett]

That took me longer than it really should have to work out what was up with the headstock I blame the late night I just had

[Flurko]

The seller's blurry picture doesn't help ! I'll show off the headstock when it arrives.

[Embenny]

The question is, are you going to break stuff with it? Or just keep rollin' rollin' rollin'?

I assume you've already picked up a Dual Rectifier.

[Flurko]

The question is, are you going to break stuff with it? Or just keep rollin' rollin' rollin'?

I assume you've already picked up a Dual Rectifier.

More seriously, I'm always surprised to see how few guitarists outside of very specific genres picked up the 7 string guitar. It's almost required if you're playing some kind of extreme metal, nu metal, djent, some prog etc, but I don't really understand why it's not been used by guitarists in other styles, especially compared to the baritone guitar which doesn't seem pigeon-holed in the same way. My first 7 string gets a lot of use in my band, we do only some improv stuff together without any serious goals but I love being able to switch to the bass register when the bass player switches to keys or to sax, for example, or to play weird chords, etc..

The seller messaged me earlier to warn me that it was'nt an "AX7221" like he thought, but an AX7521, the model type was stamped on the heel and he saw it when taking the neck off for shipping. I don't care much either way, it looks like I made an ever better deal because this model was only made in Japan according to the Ibanez wiki, where I stole this catalog picture :

[Flurko]

It's here !

[Zork]

Awesome. I always kind of wanted one of these but never really went for it. Best looking 7-string there is imo.

[Flurko]

Awesome. I always kind of wanted one of these but never really went for it. Best looking 7-string there is imo.

I really like this version of their Artist shape, glad to have found a 7 string that isn't some kind of superstrat.
The guitar is from 1999, it has some dings but in a nicely worn way. I've never had rust on a guitar before though, especially on the pickup screws, I wonder how much sweat went on it..

[Flurko]

Something is afoot...

[Jonesie]

Something is afoot...

Afoot? Looks more like Aguitar!

[Framus]

OOooooOooo,


Are you going to make it a six string baritone?!

Is the neck custom made or off the shelf?

[Flurko]

OOooooOooo,


Are you going to make it a six string baritone?!

Is the neck custom made or off the shelf?

It's still a 7 string neck, but baritone scale indeed ! It's just from a random ebay seller.
It's gonna be fretless and sustainiac powered as well !

[Flurko]

The eagle-eyed readers might have noticed how paddle-like the new neck's headstock is.
I'm currently torn between cutting it in the same shape as the original, which is perfectly serviceable, or splurge on new tuners and do something inspired by the cool old Roadstar heads :



It's not there yet, I need to tweak the shape so the string pull is straight but It might look cool, and might be a tad easier to cut.
(paddle shape in purple, I'm trying to do some scale drawings in Illustrator)

[Steadyriot.]

Though I like the Roadstar headstock, I think it’s more suited for the strat-style guitars it came on. I’d go with the stock “symmetrical” headstock.

[Flurko]

Though I like the Roadstar headstock, I think it’s more suited for the strat-style guitars it came on. I’d go with the stock “symmetrical” headstock.

I'm not so sure as well, I'm also a bit worried about neck dive with the longer neck.

The 7-string Sustainiac came in today, I'll try to wire it up soon, it doesn't seem this hard compared to how some forums make it out to be.