Guitar for tuning to A1 Standard

[cvinos]

Hello,

I am looking for a guitar again. I need one now for tuning as low as A1. (That A1 is just one octave lower than the A on the 5th string in Standard tuning.) The music I want to create with is is mostly in the metal domain.

I need some proper suggestions, that is why I am writing in this forum. Here are some criteria:

Price: between 400 and 1400 Euro. Suggestions with higher prices are welcome though.

Number of strings: open, whatever does the job.

Tunings:

6-string: A1 D G c e a
7-string: A1 D G c f a d1
possibly 8-string: F#1 B1 E A d g b e1

Fixed bridge.

Pickups: Left open. Active or passive. I like the sound of Stephen Carpenter on the records of 1997 and 2000. So I do like the sound of passive pickups. But I know that sometimes, with the lower tunings, active pickups come in handy. I also like the sounds of Meshuggah and Car Bomb.

All the other criteria one might think of I leave open on purpose.That is to prevent that a cool guitar is not suggested because it does not have neck through or something like that.

 

[ZeroSignal]

As far as tension goes, any guitar will work fine provided you use the correct strings. I have a 24.75" scale AX7221 in A standard with D'Addario .010 - .059 strings.

 

[Rick]

I, of course, would say Agile. But since they're not easily accessible across the pond, maybe a Schecter Hellraiser or Loomis model would be good for you.

I use .10-.56 for A standard on my Ibanez.

 

[cvinos]

Thanks. But I could use more suggestions to compare more guitars. I think I have to come out of my hut so this thread is not gonna die just so. So the first thing I did was to update my profile. Now what else...

I have to say that I enlisted in the Blackmachine waiting list already. But the thing is, I need another guitar for A1 soon. So I am looking for an additional one.

I have looked at a few guitars already. I tried the Stephen Carpenter baritone 7-string models, but they have the disadvantage of a middle pickup, which you hit with the pick so often, some have stupid inlays or they are too expensive (like the mighty Stef B7 and B8).

I also happen to know the Ibanez MMM, but I think it does not suit me with the pickups it has.

I once tried the RG7321. Not to bad, but I do not like the bridge on it.

Well but I definitely need a fixed bridge. And what is very important is the intonation.

 

[supertruper1988]

try and Apex if you dont mind the color and it comes tuned in A standard stock IIRC plus its a TOM which are better than flat mounts IMO