New Guitar Finally

[jgcable]

I am finally looking for a new guitar.
I am more of an amp guy and I only own 2 guitars that I play live over the last 5 years.
1st year Ibanez RG550 and a 1st year Washburn N2
Both are beat to crap, worn out, rebuilt and they both play and sound great.
I need to add a 3rd guitar to my fleet and I have been tossing around either a 7 string or a scalloped necked guitar.

I have owned at least 10 of them in the past over the years. Malmsteens, Blackmores, customs, etc...
I have been looking at those Italian Malmsteen clone EKO's. They are very reasonably priced and they have been making guitars for a very long time.

Regarding 7 stringers, I have owned just about everything on the market. The ones I liked the most were the Ibanez RG7620/7621. I also owned a few Jem Universe's many Carvins, Washburns, Schecters, etc...
The only thing I require for the 7 string is a fixed bridge. I will be experimenting with a fair amount of alternate tunings and I don't want to mess around with a floating trem.
Anything out there I should be looking at that I don't know about already?
Cosmetics aren't an issue. I am rough on my guitars because they are mainly used live.
I am also not into expensive guitars because again.. I use them live and I am fairly rough on the handling of them. Chips, color, scratches, nicks, none of that stuff matters to me.
Playability and tone are the only things I am interested in.

[Grandturk]

I would go with what works and get a beater Universe or other Ibanez 7 string. I don't think anyone does a better 7 - certainly not a better looking 7.

[BenoA]

I would go with what works and get a beater Universe or other Ibanez 7 string. I don't think anyone does a better 7 - certainly not a better looking 7.

+1

RG7620 comes to my mind. Check out for these ones.

[Mazrim]

J Custom RG8527
About as good as 7 strings get in my opinion.







RG7
Another awesome 7 string and very similar

[DonP]

I only own 2 guitars that I play live over the last 5 years.
1st year Ibanez RG550 and a 1st year Washburn N2

I think we need to take away your J/C mancard

Here's a thought - start a relic service. People loan you their guitars and you wear them out for them in exchange.

[jgcable]

I think we need to take away your J/C mancard

Here's a thought - start a relic service. People loan you their guitars and you wear them out for them in exchange.

I hear you. I have owned a ton of Charvel and Jackson guitars but they never lasted too long with me.
Theguitars I actually feel comfortable playing every day are Ibanez RG550's, Washburn N2's and N4's and Peavey Wolfgang's. I am looking for another guitar strictly for inspiration. I need to start writing a new album worth of songs. I figured a 7 string or a scalloped neck'd guitar would help the cause.
I want to go cheap though. I am not into the high end guitars anymore. As long as it has strings on it and it stays in tune I am cool with it. I am way more picky with amps than I am with guitars.

[BenoA]

As long as it has strings on it and it stays in tune I am cool with it.

I hear ya. I feel quite similar regarding my guitars these days!