A good 7 string axe for me?

[ratspeak]

Hey all. When I was looking for the right pups for my ESP I got a lot of info and support here (yeah, I know, BKP forum knows pickups.... holy cr@p!).

Anyway, I'm starting a new band with a dude who plays 7s, and he's partially responsible for my current epic gas. On the more practical side, the stuff I'm writing for the group would be way better on a 7. I don't have a whole lot of cash on tap right now because of my C-pig set that's on the way, so I'm getting rid of the old SG and looking for a good 7 that I can pick up for under $1000 USD. Mahogany is better than basswood, fixed bridge is better than floyd, but I'm fairly easy about that.

What say you?

[Stevepage]

Jackson COW7.


One of the best 7 strings for under $1000.

[DimeZakk]

Schecter C-7 Blackjack (Sh-4/sh1) Hellraiser (emg 707) or Blackjack ATX (Duncan Blackout)

[Sifu Ben]

Agile Septor 727. I've got one and it's great. Gonna wire some BKPs in it this week.
http://www.rondomusic.com/7string.html

[Madsakre]

Emperion, agile. Maybe a Ibanez Rg7321 <- Epic axe for its pricetag

[Lew]

I've been looking at the Agile 7 strings on and off for a while, bloody tempting at those prices!

[ratspeak]

I'm liking the Schecters and Agiles. Of course, at the price of a Septor I would be able to get a set of BKPs very soon after getting the axe itself. How does the neck feel? I've heard good thigns about Agile, but what it comes down to is that I'll be using it for a long time, and I'm a biotch when it comes to feel.

I also can't see what wood the neck is made from (Septor). Is it a maple neck-thru? EDIT: Never mind, saw a picture. That's the tone I'm used to, though. Same construction on my ESP.

[ratspeak]

So I read a few reviews on the Septor. Looks like the only real negative review it got was just some guy who was angsty because the stock pickups weren't that great. Some people said they thought the neck was better than an Ibanez prestige (which I personally like, although I prefer my ESP's thin-U). I'm pretty sure I'm going to ditch my SG for one of these. I can't keep holding onto it just because it's a gibson. Maybe if it was a LP I'd think differently, but I really need a 7. Not 100% decided, but close.

So since I don't want to make a new thread in Pickups, what pups would you get for one of these. I play hardcore-ish stuff with a proggy edge, and since I already have a C-Pig on the way I wanna try something else.

[Nadz1lla]

Schecter C7 ATX Blackjack hands down. Ditch the Blackout and put a BKP in instead = best 7 string ever.  :D

[Sifu Ben]

I've gone with a nailbomb in the bridge and a cold sweat neck, which seems to be a popular combo for 7s.

[ratspeak]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. The organic sound of the NB is probably perfect for a bridge pickup for a 7, and I love the CS neck in any application. Gotta sell something to afford it though. 

How does the Blackjack compare to the other models (C-7 standard, custom and hellraiser). There's one for sale on my local craigslist for $500, but I have literally no money right now. If I manage to sell the axe I'm selling before it goes, I'll jump on it, but otherwise I wanna know my options.

[Sifu Ben]

I played the C1 blackjack and just plain didn't like it. Didn't get on with the neck, found the fingerboard edges sharp and didn't like the sound. I eneded up buying a Dean Vendetta instead, which now it has a Cold Sweat in the bridge I would say is a far superior instrument.
For another $75 you can get a new Agile (which is made in the same factory as Schecter) which is a neck through with an ebony board and a figured top.

[ratspeak]

Thanks for the input. I'm going to try out the Schecter soon. I'm going in with the mindset of "I'll be playing this guitar a lot". If I sell my SG I'll definitely be getting a set of BKPs right away, though, regardless of the guitar. I'd rather have it right now, so if I go in, like the axe, and have the cash I'll definitely do it.

For the tight/snarly/organic sound a la Periphery whom I'm digging lately a Nailbomb sounds pretty appealing, although I'm not sure weather to go with a ceramic magnet or not. Does anyone have an opinion on weather it'd be that big a deal? I feel like since I have a C-Pig and I've been using ceramics in the bridge position for so long I could use a change.

Also, neck NB versus neck CS. Opinions? Magnet-type isn't as big of a deal in this regard.

[Nadz1lla]

If you're looking for that "Djent" sound a-la Periphery, Meshuggah etc, then I reckon Painkiller bridge would be a better choice than the Nailbomb to be honest. The mids of the PK are better suited to that style.

[ratspeak]

Well, I ended up getting the Schecter. I personally didn't find anything wrong with it at all. The neck is basically the 7 string equivalent of my ESP's (not quite fender-sized). It does all the little things: stays in tune, awesome action, comfortable. It sounds pretty good considering I'm not a fan of the JB/59 combo. It's the first 7 that I've owned, and the low-B string (I have it dropped to A) has a very magnetic quality in the sense that I want to wail on the low A and E constantly.

I'm gonna go against my logical mind. I decided to definitely order a set of BKPs for it once I actually have the 'pigs destined for my Horizon. Pickups are better than spare cash, I think. So I'm hearing NB or PK for bridge and CS for neck. I give myself about a week to decide.

Pics when I get on my own computer. Soundclips to prove it happened when I get BKPs for it.