First 7-string, to floyd or not to floyd ?

[shikamaru]

Hi there,

I’ve been watching this forum for several months now but this is my first post. As the title says I’m about to get a 7-string but I’m not sure if I should go with a floyd or not.

Some background about me: I’ve been playing on an Ibanez ART-320 for 4 years now and I just love the Tune-o-matic bridge on it but at the same time I’ve always wanted a floyd. I stayed away from them because I was told they weren’t recommended on a low-end/mid-range guitar.

Right now I have the opportunity to get a Apex 2 which has a TOM bridge and I’m pretty sure it will be a great guitar to start in the 7-string world. I’ve been eyeing on the ibanez RG927QMZ on the internet for quite some time but I’m certainly not going to buy a guitar without testing it first and 7-string are nowhere to be found in music stores where I live…

I tried a 6-string ibby with the edge zero II bridge and from what I can tell it seems to be pretty stable with regards to tuning, but very stiff, so maybe the ZPS can mitigate the issues traditionally associated with floyds, even on a 7-string ?

So, here is my question: shall I satisfy my GAS with that Apex ?

If floyds on 7-string are not too much of a hassle I may be tempted to wait.

Of course there are other things about that one, since it’s got dimarzios pups and not ibz pups, mahogany body vs basswood, but no quilted maple top, and no floyd.

Also, shall I ask you in your answer to detail if you play on a fixed bridge or tremolo 7-string ?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[ElCid]

I'm more of a casual player and more rhythm than lead, so I prefer hard tail to trem.

 

[Kreml]

Floyds on 7-strings isnt really much of a hassle when you learn to set it up properly, but it takes some time to figure out how it works, but if you think its too much of a hassle to setup, you could just block the bridge, which still gives you the tuning stability the floyd offers

As for the Apex vs. RG 7 question, id go for the RG927QMZ, especially if you liked the 6 string Ibanez. The Premium is probably also better built, and has a "normal" 7 string neck width, where the Apex is more like a 6-string width

 

[Daf57]

I can say I just got an Apex 2 and love it. I see NO quality issues or drastic differences in quality from the MIJ line. My Apex 1 and K7 are a better quality for sure but there is nothing wrong with the MII Apex 2. It's a fine guitar and perfect for the 1st time 7 stringer in my opinion.

When I got the K7 it was my first time with a FR system - gave me fits on the set up at first. They are very finicky with setup and if you change gauge or tunings. But once set up they are very reliable.

If you are used to the ToM bridge and like it - go Apex for the first 7 stringer so you can concentrate on learning it. Add the FR system later.

Daf

 

[teamSKDM]

Go apex, the quilt tops are veneers on the premiums, not tops.

 

[edsped]

I don't see the big deal about quilt top vs. veneer. Most people are buying it for the looks anyway, not the minimal change in tone it would give.

7 string Floyds aren't any different from 6 string Floyds. I say go for the Floyd if you really want one. The RG itself is also very nice and looks nice to boot, much more so than the Apex IMO. The EZII is a good bridge and should stay in tune just fine when its set up correctly, which isn't hard to do, especially with the thumbscrew adjustment for the spring tension. I would actually suggest taking the ZPS unit out, it can help it return to the zero point more accurately but the bridge should stay in tune without it. It's also makes oblique country style bends possible but the trade off of the way stiffer feel and inability to do flutters isn't at all worth it to me.

 

[Azathoth43]

Unless you're willing to learn how to properly setup a Floyd type bridge please get the TOM. There are a lot of tutorials out there.

Just realize that instead of 5 minute string changes it may be 15-20 minutes.

Good luck.

 

[7stringDemon]

Floyd. For all uses and musical types!

Once you're used to setting it up, it feels as easy as a fixed bridge. You end up developing your own little tricks to make it go easier and faster.

Also, for a guitar, I'd recommend the Schecter Blackjack C7 ATX (SLS if you need a thinner neck). They make a TOM and FR model.

I usually love Ibanez's the very most of them all but the black and white ATX FR-7 just look and feel sooooooo good!

 

[shikamaru]

Thanks a lot for all your answers. I’m still undecided at this point, I guess when I try the Apex I’ll take it if it clicks, or I’ll take the RG if it doesn’t

I love the green colour of the apex, I would just love a figured wood instead of something uniform.

That schecter looks nice but is much more expensive than what I can afford atm.

 

[edsped]

Setting up Floyds has never been a big deal to me. If you use something to temporarily block the term when you take all the strings off it makes everything way easier. I stick a AAA battery underneath the Floyd in my RG premium when I change strings and it's pretty much the perfect size. You could also change strings one at a time instead of blocking the trem but that takes too long IMO and it doesn't let you clean the fretboard. The only other difficult thing about Floyds is getting used to overcompensating and undercompensating when tuning since loosening one string will make the others go sharp and tightening it will make them go flat.

 

[Shredderboy1658]

Setting up a guitar with the edge zero trem is sooo easy compared to an og floyd rose. My first seven was a RG1527, I wanted a floyd for my first 7 because I wanted to stay in one tuning and not be going all around. I'd say go for the RG. Fantastic axes.

 

[XxStatiX]

Yup.As the guys said earlier,go for the floyd only if you WANT it!

Don't get it if you're going to be changing your tunings around casually,cause it gets painful if you don't know how to go on adjusting the tension.

(Have an Ibanez RG,got a wood block on its Edge III)

 

[EcoliUVA]

Floyds aren't that bad after a few setups. However, they ARE a pain if you only have one guitar and want more than one tuning. If you're going to need to tune up or down a half step from, say, A standard, then get the hard tail.

If you plan on switching between B standard and drop A, you could get one of these and block/tremol-no the trem:

(Edit: This picture is kinda misleading. From my experience, if you set up the D-Tuna like that, you'll scrape the finish every time you switch over. You need some space with it. And it's kinda rickety. I sorta hate it, now that I think about it, but it's an option.)

Edward Van Halen Drop D D-Tuna Tuning System at zZounds

So in that case you could get by with a floyd. But if you want to have trem-sex, this is a bad option.

TL;DR: Get the trem if you know your tuning and want to jiggle rods. Get the hard tail if you don't, and/or prefer to stroke instead of jiggle.

If you can't answer either of these, meditate until you find your true self, then ask him what to do. Also ask him why you were so awkward as a kid, and maybe punch him a few times for being a pretentious dick. Then, flip a coin.

 

[shikamaru]

Hi,

Thanks all for your reply

I had the occasion to try the Apex today.

It didn’t occur to me that the TOM bridge was actually recessed. So action is just perfect, I think I’ll go for that one. The neck is very comfortable it has quite a flat profile so it’s even thinner than my ART-320 ! So yeah as far as playabity is concerned, I think that one fits my needs
The pickups are quite good, at least way better than the ibz I would get on the RG. I just find the neck pickup too bright, so I may replace it with a liquifire or an air norton one day or another, but as a bridge pickup it’s very nice !
It comes with a fly case while the RG has a soft case.

It’s not flawless, because it has a slight finish flaw on the bottom of the body, but IMHO it’s not worth spending 300 euros more to get a brand new RG with a floyd.

Thanks again for your answer, at least now I’m reassured about floyds reliability on 7, I may get a guitar with one in the future, I just don’t feel I need one badly now

 

[XxStatiX]

If you would still want the guitar having the Floyd,you could get it,and then you could wood block the bridge if you didn't like it!
Like this!

But hardtail FTW man!

 

[shikamaru]

If you would still want the guitar having the Floyd,you could get it,and then you could wood block the bridge if you didn't like it!
Like this!

But hardtail FTW man!

TBH I don’t see the point of having a floyd and block it since having a floyd usually leads to less sustain, of course you get the tuning stability of a double locking system but for me this less important.
Yesterday I just let a note ring on the apex. It would not die lol I ended up muting the strings because it was still ringing while I was speaking with the guy selling it

 

[leechmasterargentina]

I've always owned guitars having tremolos. Floyd Roses are the best tradeoff between having a tremolo and keeping a stable tuning. In fact, I've always felt I benefit more in that area by having a locking nut.

You mentioned the RG927QMZ. I own an RG827QMZ (Same guitar, except it came with Ibanez stock PUs instead of DiMarzio's stock). What's good about this guitar is that it has the Zero Point System which is something that makes is simpler to set up the guitar overall. I own an RG470 with a simple Floyd and it's a pain to make the Floyd straight with the body.

Somebody mentioned that with fixed bridges you can play more with tunings. Being a perfectionist as I am, you'd still have to re-setup your guitar everytime you do that.

I'm not a tremolo freak. In fact, I was never using it until I started playing with my actual band and some songs started asking for it.

My oppinion is that it's better having it and not using it that not have a Floyd and one day wanting to use it. Of course, it's up to you, but even if you'd changed tunings every week, you wouldn't benefit that much from a hardtail since you still have to re-setup the whole guitar.

One last thing; Floyds look great on guitars

 

[sweepingDemon]

well those newer ibanez trems have that ZPS which allows you to hardtail it or keep it floating, but if you dont get an ibanez you can all ways purchase a tremel-no, Trems are only needed if you are going to be staying in the one tuning and you play lead guitar.

 

[edsped]

The ZPS doesn't really make it a hardtail, it just stabilizes it by basically putting more spring tension on the trem. You wouldn't even be able to use drop A without the other strings going sharp as usual unless maybe you set it up for drop A initially and then tune it up to B with the fine tuners when the nut is locked. Also you can't use Tremol-nos with any of the ZR type trems.

 

[monstermanoxar]

Don't buy a fucking floyd rose if you plan on changing tunings.

I myself will never be buying one