I would buy this . . . Gibson LP 7-string

[Winston Psmith]

A few months back, I was very excited to find a nice Epiphone 7-string Les Paul Classic, in my Favorite Local (Used) Music Store. I'd been thinking about an ERG, but hadn't seen anything I could afford that really appealed to me. The Epi looked really clean, and came with a nice HSC, so I grabbed it and considered myself a lucky man.

 

Then, a few days ago, I see this - Gibson Les Paul Classic 7-string

 

Like the old Fords, you can get in in any color you like, so long as it's Black, excuse me, Ebony. It's a little different from other LP models in other ways, with one Master Volume, a Boost switch and coil-splitting. It has four tuners on the Treble side of the headstock, whereas the Epi model has them on the Bass side. It's possible they did that to help foil counterfeiting, or people trying to pass Epi models as Gibsons. At any rate, if you've been thinking about an ERG, but didn't want a guitar made for Metal, here you go . . .

[whitefang]

I've always wondered---

WHERE is the 7th string on those things---

 

...on the TOP, or the BOTTOM?

 

And since SIX strings offer me enough of a challenge, I'll just STAY with six strings!

 

But it IS a nice looking axe...

Whitefang

[Larryz]

@ Winston, the Gibson ad/link says it has two volume controls and one master tone as opposed to one master volume...It's a very cool 7 string set up! Let us know if you pull the trigger!

 

@ Fang, the 7th string is an added bass string usually tuned to B...

[Dannyalcatraz]

Sexxxxxxxy!

 

And I have to say, it is nice to see a LP-bodied ERG that isn't some custom jobbie or the work of a luthier that most people will never hear of.

 

In that light, I feel of it like I do that Fender Baritone Tele: keep demonstrating you can innovate, boys! (It even had the Bill Kirchen mod!)

 

http://www.fender.com/series/blacktop/blacktop-telecaster-baritone-rosewood-fingerboard-classic-copper/

 

However, I am disappointed- but not surprised- at the price. Gibson aims at the high-end market, and prices accordingly. They leave bargains to Epiphone. Fender is a bit more catholic in their approach to their product line- not all inexpensive guitars are relegated to Squier.

[Winston Psmith]

@Whitefang, as Larryz said, with the modern 7-string guitars, you get a low "B" as your 7th string. The specs on this LP said that it was strung with a .009 - .059 set, which is pretty standard for the low "B" set-up; you really need a thick string with the Gibson scale. Jazz players like Lenny Breau and Tal Farlow tended to have a high "A' as a 1st string. (E-A-D-G-B-E-A, low to high). I'd love to try that tuning, but I'm not sure these guitars are set up for that increased string tension - I'd be tuning all the strings up a Fourth to get there.

 

@Larryz - sadly, while I would buy this in a moment, if I had $2500 to spare, for now, I'm happy with my Epiphone. It did surprise me to see this come out so soon after I'd found the Epi, though. Made me wonder if I was ahead of the curve, somehow.

[Dannyalcatraz]

Personally, I'd go with an extended NST, so that low note would be below C level.

 

Hmmm...perhaps I'd get a custom submarine pickguard.

[Caevan O'Shite]

A 7 or 8 string Gibson Firebird- a real one, with the through-neck and 'reverse' headstock, so that the low-strings would be longest, and the high-strings the shortest, would be particularly sweet... !

[Winston Psmith]

A 7 or 8 string Gibson Firebird- a real one, with the through-neck and 'reverse' headstock, so that the low-strings would be longest, and the high-strings the shortest, would be particularly sweet... !

 

That 6-in-line headstock might help with scale issues - some players don't feel that the standard Gibson scale is long enough to accommodate the low "B", in terms of string tension. Might be why Gibson chose a sort of hybrid string set for this LP. Most 7-string sets starting with a .009 have a .052 or .054 as the 7th string. FWIW, my DR set starts with a .010 and goes to a .056.

 

And I'd love a Firebird, period, 6, 7, 8 strings, I'll take it.

[hurricane hugo]

Is the scale length still 24-3/4"? If it is, that would explain the heavier set of strings. A .052 would be awfully floppy.

[Winston Psmith]

Is the scale length still 24-3/4"? If it is, that would explain the heavier set of strings. A .052 would be awfully floppy.

 

Yeah, standard Gibson scale length. There was some discussion of a Buckethead Les Paul model, with an extended scale length, but it appears to be a 6-string.