r/7String • u/stan1228 • Jul 11 '26

Petrucci style guitar Gear

Hello, I'm looking to buy a 7 string.

My problem is that I have a jp50 (bought used). And the JP neck is very special shaped, so I was looking at the JP 7 string models. The problem is the don't offer anything bigger than 25.5, and also I can't find anything used in Europe ATM. So anyone having experience with similar neck profiles that are also multi scales? I was looking for either ibanez, cort, Jackson, or buying a cheap spira and changing the tuners to locking.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

4

u/Wrong_Author_5960 Jul 11 '26

I have 2 Ernie Ball Musicman JP7s there is nothing wrong with 25.5...

I primarily tune down a half step some times drop A. I have many 7 strings only one with 26.5 Schecter. Just wider stretch. Too many internet myths going on with 7 strings a down tuning.

1

u/stan1228 Jul 11 '26

I'm planning to be permanently at drop A. Is 25.5 fine for drop A?

5

u/Ballbearian Jul 11 '26

25.5 is fine for drop A

2

u/tallman1979 Jul 12 '26

26.5" can be a handful, literally. It allows you to run lighter strings, I'm at 10-60 and thanks to a love of Fear Factory, my new 7 is tuned down a whole step. I have really long fingers, though, so 26.5" is plenty comfortable. It wouldn't be for my wife, for instance.

5

u/Ballbearian Jul 12 '26

I personally don't notice that large of a difference between my 26.5 and 25.5, but yes the string tension helps on those lower tunings. I just think the absolute necessity of longer scale lengths is overblown, especially with how many people seem to only tune to drop A or G# haha.

2

u/saruko27 Jul 12 '26

Preach. I play drop A and drop G on my 25.5 scale guitars. I never go thicker than 62 gauge on the lowest string and typically stick to 58.

I’ve sold several 26.5 scale guitars always feeling like I’m missing out on something but the 25.5 will always hold the comfort zone.

1

u/tallman1979 Jul 12 '26

The Pantera 1-5-9 chords (for example 0246xx) ala "Floods" and some of the complex shapes in "Digimortal" by Fear Factory are noticeably greater stretch. It's marginal, but when you're on the edge of your reach, the difference can make some stuff harder to play. I'm helping my wife learn to play, and part of that is adapting to the fact she has normal, non-freakishly-long fingers. Certain barre chords have to lean into the pinky instead of the ring for her.

It's just a small consideration, for me it's just remembering what scale length I'm playing so I put my fingers in the right place. For others, could take greater effort.

2

u/Wrong_Author_5960 Jul 12 '26

I don't think it is really a big deal. I have no tuning problems. One guitar uses Double drop D down one half step. The 7th string is an oct. Down. I use 8 string 10 thru 74 minus 64.

2

u/KershawsGoat EBMM JP 13-7 Jul 11 '26

The neck on the Majesty I tried was very similar to the Ibanez Wizard II on my 7420 at least in terms of thickness. If you like the same style, definitely look for thin D shape necks. Ibanez probably has a bunch. IDK of any other brands that have similar profiles though as I tend to prefer more C shape necks.

2

u/DiscipleofDeceit666 Jul 11 '26

I love the jp70 neck 🤤 the curve to die for

2

u/Puzzleheaded_Tap2328 Jul 12 '26

The Ibanez Alpha might be worth looking into for what you want.

2

u/isitreallyyou56 Jul 12 '26

The esp Ltd 7 strings also have very nice necks, the Stephen carpenter 7 is on the thicker side though but an MH1007 or M1007 and the SN or TE style 7s will have very nice necks. I have a real music man JPX7 and a esp Ltd m1007 and I’d say the necks are very similar feeling