jforsythe
jforsythe
I've been recording a demo over the last few months using my Les Paul Standard and UV777BK, which I've had since 1998. Everything is coming out fine, however, the music will be impossible to pull off live without a 7-string guitar. Some of you are probably saying right now, "Well, you've already got a 7-string guitar." True, but I don't like playing the UV live. The body contour is does not fit my playing style very well, I don't like using locking tremolo bridge systems live, and I don't like the overall tone of the guitar. My Les Paul, however, feels (body contour-wise) and sounds PERFECT. What I've been trying to do for the last few weeks is find a solution to where I can have a 7-string with some very specific specs in a Les Paul/ESP Eclipse type body. The thing is, I love my UV neck. The thickness, width, feel, intonation, etc are perfect. The following specs are what I am looking for:
-Singlecut body based on Les Paul/ESP Eclipse
-Mahogany back/Maple top
-Mahogany neck/Rosewood fingerboard
-25.5 scale neck
-22 frets /w large frets
-Extra Thin "U" neck contour
-48mm nut width
-EMG 81-7 Bridge p/up
-EMG 707 Neck p/up
-Sperzel Locking tuners
-Non-tremolo bridge (Stop Tailpiece and Tune-o-matic)
I've spoken to a Custom Shop representative at ESP and he said that it would be an estimate of $5500-6000 for this guitar ($3000 minimum for any ESP custom, $1000 more for any 7-string, plus the features that I listed). There is no way I am willing to pay that much for a guitar, considering I would be using this for a touring situation and the thing could get damaged or stolen. It would be irreplaceable. I was hoping he'd say no more than $4000-4500. Even though that's alot of money, it's more manageable for me. So now that that option is probably out of the question, I'm considering a few more options:
-Buy an Epiphone Les Paul 7 and have a luthier build me a neck to my specs
-Have Abyss guitars build me what I'm looking for (I'm sure it's not going to be much cheaper than ESP)
-Have ESP build me the guitar anyway and get a really good insurance plan for the instrument
What would you guys suggest, especially those with touring experience? If you have any suggestions other than what I've listed, please tell. Thank again. You've all been so much help to me in the past.
-Singlecut body based on Les Paul/ESP Eclipse
-Mahogany back/Maple top
-Mahogany neck/Rosewood fingerboard
-25.5 scale neck
-22 frets /w large frets
-Extra Thin "U" neck contour
-48mm nut width
-EMG 81-7 Bridge p/up
-EMG 707 Neck p/up
-Sperzel Locking tuners
-Non-tremolo bridge (Stop Tailpiece and Tune-o-matic)
I've spoken to a Custom Shop representative at ESP and he said that it would be an estimate of $5500-6000 for this guitar ($3000 minimum for any ESP custom, $1000 more for any 7-string, plus the features that I listed). There is no way I am willing to pay that much for a guitar, considering I would be using this for a touring situation and the thing could get damaged or stolen. It would be irreplaceable. I was hoping he'd say no more than $4000-4500. Even though that's alot of money, it's more manageable for me. So now that that option is probably out of the question, I'm considering a few more options:
-Buy an Epiphone Les Paul 7 and have a luthier build me a neck to my specs
-Have Abyss guitars build me what I'm looking for (I'm sure it's not going to be much cheaper than ESP)
-Have ESP build me the guitar anyway and get a really good insurance plan for the instrument
What would you guys suggest, especially those with touring experience? If you have any suggestions other than what I've listed, please tell. Thank again. You've all been so much help to me in the past.