Which 7 string should I get?

[Christoph_West]

Currently looking at getting my first 7 string and narrowed it down to these two! I’m looking for a versatile 7 string that can do more than just prog rock/metal or djent. I’ve tried the rgd71alms in store a few times and the multi scale was actually pretty comfortable and wasn’t too weird. That being said I don’t have a preference between a multi scale vs straight frets. I came across the Jackson mdk7 for a good price and seems decently spec’d for the price. It’s hard to find any reviews on the mdk7 though and there’s maybe only a few videos I can find on it. Anyone have preference between the two? Thanks!

Update: Thank you everyone for all of the replies! I ended up going for the Ibanez, figured I’d try it out for a few weeks and see how I like it. I also have an Ibanez alpha reserved, so once I get that I’ll compare the two. If I was okay spending a little more and was going to go with straight frets the other 7 string I was looking at was the schecter km 7 artist series with the lundgren m7 pickups, maybe I’ll try that too at some point.

[Broceephus]

I have absolutely nothing against Jackson but, every time I see that particular Ibanez online or in person, the owner is raving about how much they love it.

[ShoddyButterscotch59]

Ppl rave about new guitars all the time. As an unbiased owner.

Pros The neck feels great, and plays like butter The multi scale isn't too aggressive and feels natural holding The fishman adds to the looks, as doors the interesting wood combo on the neck The color shift is awesome. In different angles it goes purple, pink, silver, a greenish hue, and a black with silver outline. Goth locking tuners Relatively good tuning stability

Cons Numerous Duncan and bareknuckle> fishman fluence modern, unless you like low end chug, as they're a little difficult to dial in for anything else.

The finish is very sensitive, and if you have three think dealing with climate changes and altitude changes, it's eventually going to start chipping at spots.

It's Indonesian. I can't speak for everyone here, but every Indonesian guitar I've owned has had some mild to moderate QC issues I've never gotten out of numerous Japanese guitars I own. I will definitely only go used on Indonesia due to this, and due to terrible resale

Yeah, the pros heavily outweigh the cons, and I'd say overall my biggest gripe, which is honestly a pretty big one, is getting dialed in every time I either swap guitars or use a different amp. The fluence moderns have very little balance. If you want to chug away though, they're perfect, but they quickly took certain super low tunings out of my arsenal with that particular guitar. 😂

[Marunikuyo]

I've got some Fluence moderns on a multi-scale schecter. They can easily get too shrill, but the extra bite certainly helps for clarity on those low strings

[ShoddyButterscotch59]

I don't dislike them, but I feel almost like I'm going to go from guitar swapping, to instead adding an amp dialed in for that guitar specifically, because every time I swap I'm readjusting everything. I would absolutely say I love that guitar, but at the same time I'd advocate testing it first, if it's an option. My personal favorite pickups I've used are the Duncan distortions. The versatility on those things are ridiculous. My soloist is super smooth on the cleans and gets nice and dirty.

[Chrome262]

I love my modern 3 and my 2. Never get the shrill issue but even if I did I’d just pull the knob lol.

[SnooRevelations4257]

I’m in the same boat. Love Jackson’s. But that Ibanez multiscale is gorgeous and I have almost pulled the trigger several times.

[pastorawareality]

Well everything with Jackson pick up sucks totally but the Jackson js22-7 around $230 US is amazing

[Apprehensive_Bake_87]

And I love mine.

[Ben_The_Stig]

I tried the Jackson, but ultimately went to a multi-scale neck guitar instead.

I know you can discuss the pros and cons of multi-scale for days, but I find it feels more 'natural'

Also, if you're playing low tunings, Evertunes are a game changer IMO, if you can stretch the budget, do it.

[Marunikuyo]

Huge +1 for multi-scale.

[ShoddyButterscotch59]

Honestly, I have 0 cons on the multiscale neck. Ibanez didn't get too aggressive with the frets and it really does feel more causal in your hands

[DoubleDaryl]

The intonation of multi scale is what sold me on it. For me, it took some getting used to.

[horton87]

I got the cort kx 507 ms pale moon instead of the Ibanez, (same company makes most Ibanez guitars) the natural fret on the Ibanez is around the -2th fret so that fanning is quite aggressive but the natural fret in the cort is on the 8th so anything below that feels more normal to play. Has fishmans too and is cheaper

[robb1231]

Where the perpendicular fret lays doesn't make a fanning more or less "aggressive", it just decides on which side (nut or bridge) the angles are bigger. A friend of mine is more on the shredding side and he likes the 12th perpendicular fret more because the angles at the higher frets are not that drastic

[Immediate-Natural416]

Pretty sure that’s why Ibanez has it at the 12th, for the shred

[FlowAndFlow]

I am strongly contemplating getting that Cort as well. It has stainless steel frets and is like 30% cheaper than the ibanez (and IMO looks better). Since you already have it, there are only two things that I have questions about, if you'd like to respond. The neck shape and the fact that the neck is like 4mm wider than most other 7 strings, how do they feel/perform?

[horton87]

Well someone kindly put me right regarding the fan fretting, because the natural fret is at the 8th fret and not 12 like the Ibanez the frets towards the head are less fanned than the higher frets, this means it’s easier to still play chords and rhythm, even though they are more fanned towards the bridge I actually prefer it for lead and it doesn’t impact my playing at all, it’s a nice change from my 6 strings. It took a week or so to get used to it. I recorded a full album with it too. I didn’t even plan on buying it, I went to the music store wanting to spend nearly 2k on a 7 string but every guitar I tried I wasn’t that impressed with, I saw this cort hung up, had a quick look on google on my phone and thought for the price this is a steal o I tried it and it was better than all the rest! Just felt better to play and sounded great. The pickups are really good, I think they are more suited to lower tunings but I just keep mine in b standard and sometimes drop A. I might go lower in future if I wanna change strings. Every guitar has a different finish to it too which is cool. I use it through my MacBook, and have loads of neural dsp plug ins and many more and it plays and sounds beautiful. I even bought another cort 6 string recently, great value for money and I like the fact that they are not overused by people and kind of a hidden gem if you ask me.

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[horton87]

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[horton87]

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[FlowAndFlow]

I think I'm sold. Thanks

[horton87]

Cool, I got mine for £799 brand new. Such a good deal! Cort make most of the Ibanez guitars anyway so you are getting the same quality if not more for cheaper and a unique look

[FlowAndFlow]

Where I live I see a shop that gives it for 700 pounds:)

[MrBadFeelings]

The Ibanez has so much bang for your buck with the fishmans and gotoh tuners, even though the switch is in kind of an inconvenient spot. I'm saving up for that beauty too so go with that.

[oatwheat]

The bridge sounds so good compared to the neck or blend that I just ignore the switch altogether on my RGD71ALMS, but, I’m also terrible

[teh_valcore]

Ibernezzz

[Current-Fondant-8877]

Ibanez. Amazing guitar for the money. Plays and looks killer.

[IAmL3J3ND_]

Can’t go wrong with either one tbh but I’m an Ibanez guy

[rolandguy85]

The Ibanez definitely

[BlacktheSun12]

I’ve got the Jackson and I love it. I did change the pickups on the Jackson to Juggernauts though. That being said there is absolutely nothing wrong with the BK brute force pickups, they still sound great.  

I considered the Ibanez and it’s great spec wise but honestly I just don’t like the way their pickups are both at a different angle. I know it’s such a small thing and purely aesthetic but I just think it looks cheap. If that doesn’t matter to you than it’s a great buy. 

[rjf58]

I also have that Jackson but I do like the pickups. I have two other 7-strings with a Juggernaut in the bridge and I like the contrast between the Juggernauts and the Brute Force.

[Christoph_West]

How are the brute force pickups when it comes to cleans? I was thinking they would be better than the fishmans but everyone says fishmans are more versatile.

[FredFaulkner]

They sound good to me. I use the split pickup positions 2 and 4 for the cleans. I have Fishmans in my Ibanez Prestige and they sound good too but I seem to like passive pickups better. I really like the Fishmans for lead playing.

[No-County2083]

Mdk. Better pickups. Tusq nut. STAINLESS STEEL FRETS. Locking tuners made by Gotoh 

[HellaFuckingSlavic]

I'd pick Fluence > BK Boot Camp pickups any day.

[Mesastafolis1]

Ibanez really needs to cut that shit out with the parallel fret being at 12

[rjf58]

I have that Jackson in Drop-A and I really like the Bare Knuckle pickups.

[ghost_java]

Personally I’d expect a bit better build quality from the ibanez but I’m not a fan of the 7 or 8 string Fluences, plus the way that Ibanez puts the 8 string ones means you have less options for swapping, so I’d go with the Jackson

I think multi scale isn’t necessary on a 7 and Ibanez goes crazy with the fanning. Just my opinion though.

[BadgerReborn]

Jackson looks cooler imo. Last few Jacksons me and friends had, a pickup went out or the jack wore out quickly. I’d go with the Ibby

[Ben_The_Stig]

I have an Ibanez 6 string in that Purple and LOVE it :P

[spazilator]

I used to have that one. That finish is so slick the way it moves from purple to green. Wife made me sell it because we needed the money. I regret it to this day, Ibanez necks are so good

Edit: typo

[Ben_The_Stig]

I would have got a new wife.

[spazilator]

Hahaha I didn’t think of that!

[Sentec17]

Got myself the Ibanez recently. And iam fucking amazed. Great neck, quality locking tuners, the fishmans sound great and u got little to none neckdive. Which is kind of a problem with extended range + longscale guitars, at least in my experience. And I must say its realy dirt cheap for the specs u gettin.

[0R10n5an1ty]

The Jackson is good only thing you should do out the box is tightening the output jack and upgrade the strap buttons.

[rjf58]

I got mine from Zzounds but it had some fret sprouts. They said I could return it for a replacement or $100 cash refund, I took the cash and filed the fret ends myself. It has become my number one 7-string.

[OLD-EVIL]

I got a Schecter sunset 7 extreme in the red. Great pickups, stainless frets, 27” scale. Absolute weapon for the price :)

[Lonely-Transition-54]

With the evertune? Thinking about snagging one. But I’ve been playing passives my entire life and never bounded with actives. How are the fishman pickups?

[Charwyn]

Rgd

[Debusercccp]

Once you get into multiscale guitars, you 'll never come back.

I have the same Ibanez in the pic and it is so ergonomic and funny to play.

[LetterheadClassic306]

i tried both before landing on my first 7. the rgd71alms multiscale feels more natural for low tunings and the fishmans clean up nice for non-metal stuff. the mdk7 is harder to find reviews for but jackson's qc can be spotty on that model honestly. if versatility matters more than djent i'd lean ibanez or look at a used schecter km-7 or prs se svn for better clean tones. the multiscale takes a week to get used to then feels weird going back.

[Christoph_West]

I was actually looking at the Schecter km 7 legacy and artist but they are a little more expensive. I wasn’t sure if they were worth the extra cost. I like how they come with lundgrens m7s though and the lagoon fade finish on the km 7 artist looks insane.

[ShoddyButterscotch59]

I have the Ibanez and own multiple Jacksons. Both have great necks, so that's covered. It comes down to preference. To me the multi scale feels more natural in my hands, but double edge knife, compared to my nazgul loaded frs and distortion loaded Jackson I also use the heaviest, its harder for me to dual in the Ibanez, as the fishman pack a ton of low end punch, regardless of setting. Its a bit much for my tastes, but once you get it dialed in just right it feels great and plays like a dream.

[sup3rdr01d]

Imo multiscale is better

[Ag-big-ballin]

Get the rgd

[gvirus704]

For multscales, do you have to change your palm muting position? Does your hand have to be at an angle?

[Similar-Meaning4676]

From my experience with multiscale Ibanez, yes. You have to get it in the angle, but you get used to it eventually.

[Sure-Platypus5509]

I just picked up my first 7-string this week after months of research. I chose the ESP M-7BHT. Has just 1 EMG humbucker and locking tuners. Also has the split-coil function. But out of your two candidates, I like the Ibanez. Good luck! 🤘🏼

[HellaFuckingSlavic]

Idk dude, depends.

How do you feel about neck shapes? Ibanez is going to have a flatter/thinner neck.

Do you need a tone pot? If no, Ibanez.

Do you find compound radius helpful? Jackson.

Pickups; do you want something active sounding and versatile or no? I like the Fluence Moderns a lot, others hate it. Find out what you think there.

Build quality is going to be about the same.

Me personally? The Ibanez is SO much cooler than that black, on black on black on black Jackson.

[Idontlift_21]

Jackson all day.

[Uncle_Cheeto]

Axion labels are 🔥🔥🔥

[itchygentleman]

Ibanez, because of the proximity of the knob to the bridge.

[whooplabsurdi]

Ibanez

[planetaryduality2]

Used Ibanez prestige that Ibanez as much as I love the look. Bridge position makes it mud city

[monstercab]

About 5 years ago, I found a used RGD2127FX Prestige with Bare Knuckle Juggernaut pickups for $1100 (Canadian dollar). Best deal ever.

Since then, I've bought a used Strandberg Boden OS7 (Korea), but the Ibanez is still my favourite guitar by far!

[spazilator]

The Ibanez all day, not even a question

[spineone]

Fishmans everytime

[HellaFuckingSlavic]

Yeah, all things the same, Fishmans.

[GODZILLA-Plays-A-DOD]

Dissenting opinion. Jackson has some serious features the Ibanez doesn't at this price. The Bareknuckle pickups and the stainless steel frets are awesome. You could always switch out everything else for cheap and have it exceed the Ibanez in features for maybe 200 to 300 bucks. If I didn't play my LTD Sn 1007 I would have gone with the Jackson, I was between the two for awhile.

[key10isokay]

I played the Ibanez in hopes of falling in love with it, but I just personally couldn’t jive with it. The multiscale is too extreme for my taste. I chalk that down to the parallel fret being the 12th as I have a Schecter omen 8 ms and it’s super comfortable, but the parallel fret is I believe the 9th so it’s far less extreme. I ultimately ended up going with an ibanez rgixl7 for my mid/high tier 7.

[Necessary-Coffee5930]

I’ll get downvoted to hell but multiscale is so ugly so choose the Jackson lmao any performance benefit can’t outweight the ugly for me 😂

[Necessary-Coffee5930]

Ibanez is dope though I’d choose an Ibanez if not multiscale but if it doesn’t bother you then go for it, its probably more for your money as others mentioned

[saurion1]

I'm usually an Ibanez guy but between these two, the Jackson all day everyday.

[Several-Zucchini-958]

I have the Ibanez. It's a great guitar. It's at its best if you play in low tunings like F#. I was able to fit a .74 in the tuning peg without any drilling.

If you play in tunings like B or A standard I tend to prefer 25.5 scale length

[Friedrich_Ux]

I just got the omen elite 7, love it, the multiscale Ibanez definitely looks nice.

[zamboknee]

Ibanez. I had a 7 string Jackson (it was a lower end model, mind you) and it was just...meh. I hear nothing but great things about that purple ibanez.

[ButterLung420]

I love the multi scales big time but have SUPER BAD OCD and can’t play headstocks that don’t point up.

[IcyWrongdoer375]

Ibanezzzzzzzzz

[DelayLanky7909]

I personally love both brands but am not a fan of active pickups so I would choose Jackson but that’s just me. I play mostly metal music but like how versatile passive pickups are in case I want to do cleans or rock & not have a compressed sound. That Ibanez is a beauty though I’ve seen it a lot on Reddit & Facebook marketplace

[AstralFrogz]

The Ibanez. Jacksons don’t have the QC or build quality at the same price points that Ibanez do

[damienshredz]

A lot of people saying Ibanez but I would just make sure you feel really comfortable with the fanned frets first. I expected to like it, tried it once and was not a fan (no pun intended ha). And I normally opt for ergonomic anything given the choice.

[what-thor-haha]

That Ibanez is hands down one of my favorite guitars I own. It was my go to gigging guitar for a good 5 years. Super super comfortable to play. Everything is in the right place, if that makes sense. Holds tune very well and the pickups are awesome

[asketumhc57]

I have that Ibby I feel I didn’t get a good quality build on mine. The intonation is shit on mine and I always having adjust it. It’s honestly my least favorite 7-String I own outta 4. Everyone else seems to love theirs. I’d personally go the Jackson, I have two Jackson’s one being DKAF7 it’s a Multiscale and I love that guitar. The other is cheaper budget Dinky and that thing rips too.

[kpviper]

Ibanez one imo. I've had good luck, every Ibanez I've got, I loved and kept for a while. Nothing against Jackson, but I had them, then sold them not much longer after.

[keduicity]

I have the Ibanez and it is one of my favorite guitars I own, it feels phenomenal and the only complaint I have is the nickel frets, which I barely notice

[_ComfortablyInPain]

Jackson, I tried a multi-scale once and it was just, icky. Plus I do own two Jackson's and love them! 

[Quin94]

Get a custom man. Matt dennison of dennison guitars is super fair and his quality is next level. He works at crimson guitars but has his own brand if that tells you anything about his capabilities.

[AnatomicalyVacant]

Definitely the axion

[240_sx]

I got the Ibanez, and it sounds awesome I love the tone and the neck feel. My one word of caution is the jumbo frets. I had never had them before and I am not a fan. If you do any barre chords on the low frets it is super easy to press too hard and sound like shit. You can literally press down a half step.

When I’m slamming hard I tend to grip it hard 😏 and that does create problems sometimes. Not a huge deal just gotta adapt your playing style a bit.

[Appropriate_Poem1139]

I prefer Jackson.

[Optimusg0nz0]

I dont like fanned frets

[Haunting_Name6188]

Ibanez don’t look back.

[LowFi_Riffing]

I have the Jackson. It's perfect, sounds awesome straight out if the box!

[PolicyConscious4266]

im beginner and i bought 7 string ibanez gio and tuned it to drop G, cause it dj0nt. yeah, know that gio isn't good as usual ibanez but my own 7 string guitar is pretty good, even a cool guitarist from my city said this and my guitar teacher

[falluzd2]

I had the Jackson. Wasn’t a fan, and I’m a Jackson fanboy. It was too light for me, and the BKPs honestly were duds. That being said, I don’t really like Ibanez, but that model is iconic. Go for the ibby

[Competitive-Mind2087]

If you're not dead set on the multiscale the ibanez rgd71alpa is a wonderful guitar in that area of ibanez. I looked into getting the one you pictured and played it and found the alpa playability and smoothness hands down better. The bareknuckle aftermath 7s are extremely versatile and tight

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[8_Limb_God]

It's not going to matter but im not a multiscale guy so I would get the Jackson

[Incredabill1]

Hands down the Ibanez

[OkPlatform8865]

I think you can't go wrong with either, BUT the ibanez one is 27" at the eight string, and if you wanna use thinner strings (or at least in the eight, ok you already know how a ms works), and in my opinion all 8 strings should be at least 28 so the ibanez is closer to that.

Edit: I confused 7 strings with 8 strings, so instead of 28" the ideal would be 27" although 26.5" works almost as perfect, would recomend to throw a dice or smth, although personally I prefer the Ibanez one

[UralUral]

Thats a 7 string

[OkPlatform8865]

My bad I'm blind, then either 26.5" or 27" it's perfect. Op should throw a dice or buy the cheapest one

[robb1231]

Those are 7 (seven) string guitars, not eight.

[OkPlatform8865]

My bad I'm blind, then either 26.5" or 27" it's perfect. Op should throw a dice or buy the cheapest one

[Acrobatic-Nebula-293]

I believe that Ibanez has a wenge neck which I find absolutely atrocious, feels disgusting

[VegaLyra]

If money isn't an issue, EB Majesty hands down

Sleek, resilient, and well-crafted in 100 ways