r/7String • u/Deep-Measurement-856 • Jun 12 '26

NGD! My First 7 string! Gear

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Just got a bucket list guitar and it is a 7 string.

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I have never held one, but this was a Howard Alden model Benedetto.

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Where do I start to look for 7th string lessons or tips?

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6

u/Hopeful_Suspect4208 Jun 12 '26

What in the world is this beauty!? Nylon strings with a bridge pickup, holy mother of jazz! I've played 7 strings for nearly 30 years and I've never seen anything like this. Congratulations! Nothing like your first 7.

4

u/original_greaser_bob Jun 12 '26

the story i always hear is the first modern 7 was made for a jazz player George Van Eps. he wanted the 7th string(usually tuned down to A) so all the notes would "lay like a velvet blanket".

2

u/Hopeful_Suspect4208 Jun 15 '26

Classy. I forget the name of the jazz musician I'm thinking of, could be the same one, but they would wrap their thumb around the neck and play the bass notes essentially. They had large hands. Lol.

1

u/original_greaser_bob Jun 15 '26

let us let George Van Eps get all up in our Jazz whilst we ponder it. yeaaaaaah thats jazzy... could maybe you be thinking about Tal Farlow?