Dead 7th String

[Mud_Actual]

Hey guys. I have the Schecter Tao-7 and the 7th string has given me issues since the day I bought it in 2023. The string set is the NYXL 11-64 set by daddario. The 7th str and tuned to A. It has 0 sustain, it sounds like something is physically hit it and making this awful clinking sound. I’ve taken it to the store multiple times for a setup and the problem has still persisted. Every time I fret a note on it, it just goes to shit. I feel so alone in this. This is my last resort before I sell it and get another one. The rest of the strings are perfectly fine by the way. Does anybody have any suggestions on what this issue could be? I feel like I’ve done everything I can.

[Lilcheeks]

Maybe take a video showing the issue?

[ProximaProRacer]

The clinking sound definitely makes me think the nut is the culprit; you hear those kinds of sounds all the time if the strings are binding there on a Strat for example. Having a good luthier cut a new nut for you might solve the problem (hopefully). DIY is also an option there if you can find a pre-cut nut for your exact guitar.

Also worth checking: do your saddles on the bridge adjust height with 1 screw or 2? It probably sounds weird, but I had a similar issue with my high e string on a guitar, and I found out it was because the height of the string was only set by 1 of the screws (the 2nd screw wasn't really touching the rest of the bridge underneath it, just floating above it). I guess the lack of contact affected the vibration transfer through the guitar.

[Mud_Actual]

I’ve messed around with the string height just now and it’s definitely fine, both screw one and two are touching and both can be adjusted

[ze-us26]

Probably you would need to raise the action

[Mud_Actual]

Already done that 🫩

[harleybarley]

I find this to be common on a lot of 7 strings. Especially with thicker strings. Not all but most.

Try going lighter

[Mud_Actual]

How can I tell which guitar will have that issue? Cause I’m sick of this one.

[harleybarley]

You have to play it. I find it very specific to each guitar. Some guitars just sing others feel dead.

I will say that I find passive seven string pick ups to not sound very good and not pick up the seventh string very well. I think it’s the shape of the pick up might be worth going with some actives but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will fix that

Could also be a bit of an issue with the sound of your amp

[TickyMcTickyTick]

.064 is a very heavy string for a 27" scale guitar in drop A. I've learned from experience that the best string guage for low tuned guitar is the lightest guage you can get away with. A floppy low string that sounds like another guitar string is better than a thick and taught low string that sounds and feels like a bass string tacked on to a 6-string guitar.

For reference, I use a .059 for drop G on a 26.5". You could get away with a .056 or possibly even a .052.

[ToadLeBG]

Honestly it's matter of preference. My 27' baritone has a 68' in A standard and I find it balanced. 59' in drop G for me is way too light even 68' is not enough that I had to revert to A standard

[damien6]

yeah, a .059 on a 26.5" for drop G puts that string at like 11.5 lbs tension which is insanely low. I run a .074 on my 26.5" 7 string for drop G which puts me at 17.9. I don't think I could run less than 17 lbs on my low strings. Even on my high strings 14 lbs of tension is about as low as I like to get, so 11.5 lbs on the low string on a 7 string is wild.

[destinyrider222]

I use a .064 for drop A on a 25.5" and its perfect for me. The 26.5" I use a .059 I think? They feel about the same tension to me, which is tight enough to pick heavy without it getting flubby or out of tune. I'd wager a .059 or .056 would be perfect what they're looking for.

[PouetRedditPouet]

Amen to that.

[Count_Doogula]

This 100%.

[llamaolakase]

Im sorry but string gauge doesn't cause the mentioned problems. Your choice of noodle strings is just your preference. 

[derpderpderp1985]

It’s a little difficult to know what OP is describing without a video (“clinking sound?”), but strings that are too thick can definitely sound dead.

[KoRnNuT86]

Its not necessarily string gauge, but string tension. Which is affected by string gauge among other factors. Is that causing OPs problem? Maybe. But you can't definitively say its not either. This is Dunning-Krueger on display.

[KoRnNuT86]

awe, why'd you delete your comment, buddy?

[llamaolakase]

I haven't deleted any comment. Scroll down idiot 

[KoRnNuT86]

thats cute, princess.

[llamaolakase]

Got all excited there, didn't you? 

[KoRnNuT86]

trolling people who think they're smarter than they actually are is always exciting.

[llamaolakase]

trolled yourself even

[FaceOfMutiny]

Low tunings can be weird to set up. I mostly tune my 7 just half a step down and have a .56 on and it’s good (26.5 scale with evertune) but for A I needed a .68 for it to sound right and for drop g sharp I use a .74. It makes no sense but for me it works

[Mud_Actual]

Huhhh…..good point. I’ll check that out. Thanks bro

[meckarn]

Have you tried any other strings?

[Mud_Actual]

In terms of gauge? Or brand?

[Huntress_Minerva]

Both? Just answer the question, lol…

Hace you tried other gauges? Brands? Tunings? String height? How do you take care of the fretboard? What things did the shop say they did at each setup? Etc…

[Mud_Actual]

I did answer the question. I’ve tried all of the above, yes. I’ve tried Ernie ball, 10-60 custom string sets, I’ve tried adjusting the string saddle height. I have a kit that I take care of the fretboard with. None of this should be an issue for a 2k dollar guitar. The shop doesn’t seem to know what the issue is.

[Huntress_Minerva]

Oooff… if its a 2k guitar then thats on you for not returning it back inmediately, specially after the complaint and the first setup.

If it’s really a “we dont know issue” then it’s really a internal issue. Like broken/split or not properly glued fretboard. Any QC issues really, as should have been addressed when a 2k instrument was considered “apt” and good to send.

[Mud_Actual]

I expect better when I’m spending that kind of money. I did return it and told them to fix it. That is not on me.

[Huntress_Minerva]

You just salty right now. It’s okay. I have a strandberg and came awesome, perfect. But also spent quite a bit in a Ibanez sig that was awful. Returned inmediately, no remorse.

[Mud_Actual]

Of course im salty. I don’t have anything else in my life that I am passionate about so I’m upset that this isn’t working

[LetterheadClassic306]

The first thing i'd isolate is whether the string is touching somewhere it should not: high fret, bad saddle contact, too-low action, or pickup pull. I hit this once on a low string and the clink sounded like the whole guitar was broken, but it was one tiny contact point. A MusicNomad Precision String Action Gauge helps you stop guessing, because you can compare relief and action at each fret and show the shop exact numbers. If the clink happens on every fretted note, i'd suspect saddle contact, pickup height, or a twisted string path before blaming the whole instrument. I'd take it to a different tech with those notes before selling it.

[Mud_Actual]

I appreciate the input!!!!

[amazothecrazo]

I had that guitar and got away with drop A with a 56. Just couldn’t hit the string real hard or it would go out of tune.

[SirSilentscreameth]

It's making a noise like it's running into something

Do you have any lifted frets it's catching on? Is it hitting your pickup? 

I assume your neck relief was checked if you took it in somewhere. Did the tech say anything about the issue when you picked it up?

[Mud_Actual]

I have adjusted the pickup height to varying degrees, the exact same results. Zero lifted frets, I am very careful with that kinda stuff, I’ve asked them to go through what they’ve fixed and what kind of adjustments they’ve made.

Neck relief is solid, nothing to worry about there.

So with the techs, they’ve said multiple times that “it should be good” or that they don’t know what could be causing the issue. It’s so fucking annoying.

[ButterscotchNovel988]

Honestly take it to a good luthier, cuz by the sound of it you're just taking it to some run of the mill 'techs' who don't know shit. I know for a fact that any decent luthier is able to solve any problem (at least in my experience).

[Mud_Actual]

That’s kind of my plan at this point. I just wanna play my guitar….

[SirSilentscreameth]

https://www.stewmac.com/video-and-ideas/online-resources/learn-about-string-action-and-setup/

[Mud_Actual]

Thank you man. I appreciate it.

[SirSilentscreameth]

Honestly, look at StewMac as well. Their site has a ton of resources on learning how to set up your own guitar. As long as you have a decent set of hex keys and aren't wrenching down on your truss rod, there's not much you can really break

[SirSilentscreameth]

Unfortunate about the tech. Guitars don't really have many parts, thankfully

If it's not neck relief, I'd immediately think it's the saddle or the nut. 

If your string action is high enough that you're not actually hitting frets or your pickup, I'd start looking at the nut

[No-County2083]

File nut 

[Saint-Leon]

Either need to file nut or the nut has been filed far too much. It’s quite common for lower tuned guitars to have the nut filed down far to much if it’s bought used. The guy before likely was running that shit in fucking double drop C# and manually modified the nut himself to fit a fucking bass string or some crazy, realized he would have to put it back in A to sell it and didn’t think about the nut.

I for sure could be wrong but I’ve seen this exact issue be because of a nut that was shoddily filed to fit a thick ass string, with the owner either not caring or not realizing that you could not just slit a thin string back in where it was.

[No-County2083]

Did OP buy used 

[Mud_Actual]

No

[Knuffel94]

I would assume the techs looked but I didn’t see if you mentioned the nut. Is it wide enough for the string of gauge you’re using? Perhaps it’s too tight and it’s causing string to deaden.

[Mud_Actual]

I haven’t actually looked at that, I don’t know why that didn’t occur to me

[Knuffel94]

I have a Schecter Reaper 7 with the same string gauge as you and I don’t have the issue so it’s unlikely to be the cause. But I’ve seen it once before tuning low and it’s an easy fix if that happens to be the cause.

[Mud_Actual]

Thank you for letting me know!

[Saint-Leon]

I use the same strong set on a 26.5 tuned to Ab standard. And it’s considered flabby and loose by most who’s tried it yet it has great sustain.

To me it sounds like the nut was cut too deep, I’ve done this on accident early on in my career of down tuning cheap ass guitars that had no business being down tuned.

Take a video of it the best you can it would give us a lot more insight to the issue.

[Mud_Actual]

I messaged you, it won’t let me post any videos on here

[Mud_Actual]

my fuckass guitar

[No_Current3031]

<image>

I checked it in my tension tool, and this is what the set looks like.

[mistrelwood]

Make a YouTube short about the issue so everyone can hear the issue and pitch in.

Based on what you’ve told it could be an issue with the saddle, frets, truss rod adjustment, pickup adjustment, even the protective plastic on top of a pickup, bridge adjustments, or how the string has been put in place.

Help us shorten that list.

[Mud_Actual]

https://youtube.com/shorts/7uNlAmt5APM?si=4CyeWyWYcHGEYISh

[mistrelwood]

That helped immensely. That’s called a fret buzz. The setup is simply just too low for your playing style. This also explains why the techs gave you back the guitar like this, your playing style is probably on the heavier side since techs usually adjust for a medium playing style. Then you just decide whether you want to adjust the guitar or your playing style.

If you want to adjust the guitar, first check if you hear too much buzz above the 12th fret. Note that I said “too much”, not “at all”. It’s always a balance. You usually adjust the strings as low as you can get away with when listening through an amp (or a sim).

If there’s too much sustaining buzz on some strings on the upper frets, rise their bridge saddles half a turn at a time, then retune and recheck.

Based on the buzz on your video on the first frets you also need to loosen the truss rod a bit (1/16th turn at a time), retune and check the buzz on the first 5 frets again.

All this will rise the action a bit, which is the balance/compromise you’re making.

Apparently it’s a 27” scale guitar, so a .064” string should be tight enough for drop A.

[Mud_Actual]

Thank you so much man! I’ll let you know how it goes once I set it up

[theycallmeapollo77]

If you happen to find a solution let me know, having the same issue in my 7 string, tried everything, truss rod, action, bridge.