7-string guitar

[KarenB]

Anyone play these? Thoughts, suggestions, company recommendations? There don't seem to be too many out there, at least from doing a search.

[zombywoof]

I brought home one of the McGuinn Martin 7 strings for my wife to test drive a year or two back. The double G in the midrange did what it was supposed to. The guitar really came into its own when strumming. Sounded all the world like a 12 string. At the same time a fine 6 string picker when you want it to be.

[fazool]

I've been alternating with drop-D songs and thought a custom 7-string would be convenient to have a D and E both

[Bax Burgess]

Being comfortable with a classical neck, the steel 7 is a breeze with its added benefit of the extra string.

[ship of fools]

Had a very old friend who has since passed a ways back who use to play 7 string guitars and would try to teach me how to use the extra string and I tried but couldn't get use to it and man did he get ticked at me the guy was one of the best at that time but me I could only handle the 6 so much for my talent.
But he made it magical so I'm sure you would find it so also good luck on your search. ship

[L20A]

It's a novelty instrument of sorts in my opinion.
I played the McGuill model and liked the sound but it would never be my main guitar.
I like 12 string so that is my choice.
If you want a bit of sparkle, the 7 string may be right for you.
Hard to find so that tells me that they are not very popular.

[bluesfreek]

The only 7 string guitar I know of is this kind.

[charles Tauber]

I've made 7-string classical and arch top guitars as well as 10-string classical guitars.

Mostly, they are used by those who want to extend the range of the instrument, to play bass notes not below those found on a regularly-tuned 6 string.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT2ufaDRSGQ

Some use them to reduce or eliminate having to retune the bass string(s) of a 6 string, but otherwise play them with the same notes as a 6 string with a lowered bass string.

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by ship of fools

Had a very old friend who has since passed a ways back who use to play 7 string guitars and would try to teach me how to use the extra string and I tried but couldn't get use to it and man did he get ticked at me the guy was one of the best at that time but me I could only handle the 6 so much for my talent.
But he made it magical so I'm sure you would find it so also good luck on your search. ship

Spider John Koerner is known for playing a 7 string guitar. His first was some old Gibson on which he threw a banjo tuner.

[B3N]

Originally Posted by Antaren

Anyone play these? Thoughts, suggestions, company recommendations? There don't seem to be too many out there, at least from doing a search.

Hi,

I've been seeking informations about these for almost 2 years.

7-strings nylon are quite popular in Brazil, since they are at the heart of Choro and Samba. Have been imported from Russian immigrants inthe 19th century. You can find a lot of brands but hard to import, and the humidity factor has to be taken into account.
They usually tune to a low C, sometimes B or even A.
Here is a wonderful choro guitar player, Douglas Lora : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWXqlJ0Zydc
Listen to Yamandu Costa, Rafael Rabello, Dino Sete Cordas, Marcello Gonçalves, etc... wonderful musicians.

Not so used in classical repertoire. 8-strings or 10-string seem to be the way to go in classical. 8-strings are tuned usually with a low C and low A, the 10, don't know...

7-strings archtops are quite popular in the jazz scene, made popular by George Van Eps, Buck Pizzarelli, and more recently Howard Alden. Quite easy to find I think. Eastman, Benedetto, and a few more...usually tuned to a low A.
One exception here is Lenny Breau, he's the only one I know who put a high A on a 22.75" guitar : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctDDLzUbT3o (it is a solidbody but who cares :-) )

7-strings flattop acoustics...Well, they are rare beasts. A few brands had a model in their production some time ago (Ibanez, Dean, Agile) but they all happen to stop it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13jz-bCrIq4

In Russia, a few luthiers and brands have steel 7 to offer, quite cheap but I don't know how good it is. DOn't remember any brands or good video...

On a historical note, Russian is where the 7 is born, they even had composers dedicated to it (don't remember the names sorry). Here is a wonderful Russian player, Sergei Orekhov. Nylon were used by trained classical players, steel strings by russian gypsies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h04-K-7Z18U
on that video the tuning is actually an open G tuning : D G B D G B D. Covers the same range as a standard tuning, but tuned in 3rds (except a 4th from 7 to 6)

You could check Emerald guitars, if you don't mind carbon fiber. They even do wood veneers on their tops now. I tried a 7-string fan fret, it is good. A bit cold sounding, but they are good stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8VQqd7JUG8

And then there are custom shop luthiers : Greenfield, Beneteau, Beauregard, Lowden, Serracini...
You will find a Greenfield video on www.dreamguitars.com :
https://www.dreamguitars.com/shop/in...-7-string.html

Craig d'Andrea has played a Beneteau a few year ago but sold it and got Beauregard to build him one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDk-SkdWmS8

Bernard Revel play a Lowden, and he is a true specialist of the 7-strings :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRpWqV9zQN0

Lucas Stricagnoli plays a Serracini :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kbv1OpIpaA

Egan, played by himself :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vM-rC-vB4o

As you can see a lot of these are multiscale, for steel strings. It seems to be the way to go, although Craig d'Andrea went from multiscale to standard scale length...very happy with it.

From the personal side of things, I bought a 7-string nylon brazilian guitar (Rozini, imported from Brazil in Belgium through Germany), a cheap one but I liked the concept a lot and got into a commission since I just can't find any one on the market.

That commission has just took life two weeks ago, you can follow the build in the Custom Shop section.
The luthier is Thomas Féjoz, he is French, skilled, and never made a 7 before.

It will be a multiscale, modified dreadnought. Should be ready mid june.

I know there are a few people in here owning 7-strings acoustics. They will eventually show up :-)

If you have any questions, just ask !

Welcome in the strange world of the mighty 7 !

Ben

[ship of fools]

There was no greater 7 string player then Lenny Breau
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRQ6SIQT0w4

[s2y]

I have a few. Multi-scale is strongly suggested, almost required. There are a few entry level acoustics out there and high end builders, with little in between.

[Sonics]

[THart]

Anyone know what Ry Cooder is playing in this new video?


Not getting the youtube to work, here's a link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lACZ_VUl4I

[lfoo6952]

I too have played the Roger McGuinn 7-string model and agree that it does sound like a 12-string guitar. However, I think Martin may have discontinued this model.

I also played an 8-string model marketed by Taylor about 4 years ago. It too sounded great, but it also may have been discontinued.

John Pearse sells a kit that will convert any 6-string guitar to a 7-string. It's called "Addstring". Here is the link to their website:
http://jpstrings.com/addstring.HTM