ICWH

So Ibanez is doing things a little differently this August, releasing this new model in the middle of the month instead of doing so at the start of the month. This here is ICWH727; Iceman Wes Hauch 7-string. A signature 7-string model - meaning - it would manifest a niche appeal. It's beyond reach for most of us so I won't state the price here. Do you even know Wes Hauch?

Pic: Ibanez

In brief: Ibanez A527

This 2026, Ibanez did a radical move away from its conventional guitar outlines when it unleashed the Alpha. While the talk of town suggested a subliminal reprisal with regards to a certain defunct project between the manufacturer & a well known 8-string guitar maestro, we should appraise this guitar, the Alpha A527, in its own right.

LIKES

• well-made
• responsive tuners
• functional, no frills electronics
• overall playability
• body ergonomics

DISLIKES

• neck dive
• poor upper fret access (B/E/A strings in particular)
• tone

The Alpha's outline is definitely aimed at the contemporary guitarist. It sure as heck won't be embraced by a blues aficionado any time soon. Despite that rather heretical body outline, the guitar is downright comfortable played strapped on (virtually sticks to the body with extra comfort when it comes to an elbow rest) but it's simply repulsive when played sitting down. No number of positioning permutations could solve that acute neck dive issue. This is compounded by the multi-scale, fanned frets which made upper fret access a struggle, especially for the lower strings. Consolation - the asymmetrical neck profile is actually very addictive & would supplement fast playing.

Tone-wise, you either embrace what the Fishman Fluence Modern pickups has to offer or make plans to replace them with your preferred alternative. On that note, be informed that these are actually 9-string pickups that were slanted to maximize the sonic capacity of the instrument. Good luck in finding ready replacements for these. If you observe a percussive playing style, these pickups would give you an immaculate high gain crunch tones with very good individual notes definition. Do not get upset, after extensive tinkering with effects, amps & EQs, if you fail to conjure your preferred, heavy distortion tone because the Fishmans were not conceived to serve such manifestations.

We won't see a 6-string version any time soon because, according tot he Ibanez officials at the recent NAMM event, this design doesn't quite work for 6-strings.

Overall rating: 76%

Ibanez A527 ($2,399)

• Available at Swee Lee
• Bag included

PS: Thanks Aryadni, (Swee Lee CQ) for letting me try the guitar! 

 

777

Solar guitars had just released a trio of 7-string guitars. This black one here is perhaps the least vibrant of them all. The sparkle finish is barely visible. That single knob feature is a winner in my books (AB2.7BSG).

Flame top version (AB2.7FPBG). Both guitars feature a pair of in-house Modern Alnico pickups. 

This is the most attractive among the three featuring a sparkling flip-flop finish; you know, the type that switches colour depending on your viewing angle (AB2.7BSG). All three guitars feature a bolt-on neck-body attachment.

Pics: SOLAR

Canibalismo... flushed

Looks like the SOLAR camp is enticing us with this slightly revised canibalismo finish; it's now sporting  a darkened SOLAR label at the headstock. Ditto the brand logo on the fretboard (12th fret area). This gives a very flushed look, less distracting in fact. Side note, wish the Duncan SOLAR pickups are made available separately. These are awesome pickups for distortion.

Pic: SOLAR

7 extended

If you are familiar with a 7-string in terms of feel & tone but wish for a lower, detuned performance - perhaps rivalling an 8-string - this one might be it. The Solar A2.7W-29 is an extended scale (29") 7-string with simple appointments. 

This is a neck-through model, so upper fret access is impressive. 

Pics: SOLAR

Warrior Dave

Jackson & Dave Davidson continued their collaboration into the Warrior zone. Many conformists out there would find this outline a little repulsive but it's compulsory consideration for all those dwelling in the metal zone.

Those of us who are not into maple fretboards, it's available in ebony as well but with a reverse headstock. Specs are decent; DiMarzio Pickups (Occult) & an FR1000 bridge. This is a Pro Series model FYI.

Pics: Jackson

Horizon BOSS

The Edwards camp released a Horizon 7-string with a BOSS GK synth pickup. Not quite obvious here as it sits between the bridge humbucker & the FR bridge. The pickups on board are ESP's in-house Custom Lab models. Currently only offered in black. 

Pic: ESP Japan

 

Y & Y

This year's NAMM announcement saw the resurgence of the Korn-endorsed Ibanez guitars. Unlike its previous iteration, the models this time round are RGD-based despite featuring a 25.5" scale length. The Yin model comes in an all black finish, a pair of DiMarzio Blaze pickups (a very Universe vibe) & an ebony 'board. The body being nyatoh might be the obvious cost-cutting indicator since these instruments are not Japanese but we wonder how much more a mahogany body would add to cost for it to be excluded. The U-Bar whammy is an obvious nod to its roots.

The Yang model, living up to its contrasting symbiosis, comes in a white finish, featuring a rosewood 'board instead. This model features a fixed Evertune bridge, the pickups are also a pair of DiMarzio Blaze but is devoid of a tone control. 

I see the Korn act as being over & done with. It's making a return riding on a generous dose of nostalgia, the guitar brand being a large part of this resurgence. Do you see nu-metal making a come back, am I missing this? So the obvious implication here is that players won't lose their mind & rush to acquire these guitars come Summer. There is also the danger of these guitars being a pair of overpriced non-Japanese signatures & the fact that these are 7-string models mean they would only appeal to a certain cohort of players in guitardom. If there is a real interest in re-booting the Korn affair, then the guitars should be RG-based, not RGD. Further cost-cutting could be observed by re-instating the DiMarzio PAF 7s instead of the more costly Blaze; the PAFs were indeed the original pickups back in 2001 when the K7s were unleashed to the world.

Lest we forget, Brian Welch left Ibanez prior to this Yin Yang introduction & his LTD 7-string was awesome to say the least. We can see why the RGD was chosen for this come-back owing to the LTD Horizon's curved body top & chamfered cutaways. The forces that be at Ibanez might have seen something coming by facilitating the K7 return which we, the lay people at the buying end, do not. There's nothing to be too excited about these instruments as they are not in the upper tiers of the manufacturer's catalog. 

Goodbye, January...

Pics: Ibanez / L&M

F 7

There's a 7-string revival of sorts in the Fender camp. It seems that they're beta testing a proto model 7-string & they are hyping things up by saying it's been perfected in time for regular production soon. Soon here might be Winter NAMM '25 considering it's already the tail end of the year & Fender don't usually release new stuff in November / December. 

Fender had dabbled with the 7-string idea before, this revival might be hoodwinking us into re-accepting a 7-string with the Fender name at the headstock. As it was, players rather go with a non-Fender 7-string. The attempt to make a Fender more accessible by subverting it into the Squier offerings didn't bode well for the manufacturer. There had been no 7-string models in both the Fender & Squier camps for a while & they should keep it that way.

Since Fender owns Jackson / Charvel / EVH - these names possess a stronger pulling power when it comes to 7-strings. Ideally, these names should handle the 7-string domain. Then again, we do not have details to see the bigger picture. The grand scheme of things might be to conceive a semi-unaffordable 7-string Fender & pushing players to buy the watered down Mexican versions of even Squiers. Ibanez, ESP, Solar are staple names when it comes to the 7-string appeal. Trying to dislodge them from the 7-string market would require a tremendous amount of inside knowledge / effort that would most likely lead to a misallocation of resources / funds. 

Pics: Fender YT / Richtone

Manson @ SG

Folks, Swee Lee is now distributing Manson guitars. Some models are already available in store (one bass included), including the Oryx 7-string model you see above. Do keep in mind that these are no entry level instruments, prices are in the boutique brackets. This Oryx lists for $5,199.

 

Pic: Manson GWKS

7 again

Every now & then, I will be yearning to hear lower tunings or play a 7-string guitar. Many people are of the opinion that it requires a re-learn when dealing with an extra string on the guitar. As for me, I see the 7-string as a 6 with an extra. I tend to isolate the 7th string's existence. It's like an extra kid in the team with a special need & will be treated as special from start to end but he's still part of the team. That's the reason my mind don't get messed up with chords & stuff with an extra string on board; just play the 6 stuff, ignore the 7th.

Also, there is this psychology of easier playing. Many players feel the strings are located closer to compensate the overall spacing on the neck, hence the 'easier' feel. I don't really buy into this belief but I tend to agree because I'm not the type who hooks the thumb over the edge so I don't feel the wider neck impeding play; my hand wasn't stretched out to begin with.

S&S

An interesting release - Scarlet (n) & Scourge (b). Honestly, I'm not into Periphery but I love Mark Holcomb's Alpha & Omega after trying them out in one of my Ibanez guitars. Seeing these pickups dedicated to 7-string means Seymour Duncan had successfully made a name for themselves or at the very least, created an impression based on what worked before. Also, good to see these pickups come covered but this would mean it's not a guaranteed fit for pickguard mounting so keep that in mind, please.

Pic: SD

LTD 2022: 7s

Still on single pickup guitars, actually - the LTD Black Metal Series are seeing a couple of 7-string models, this one is one of them; the EX-7.

This is the other; the Phoenix -7. By the way, both are baritones, sporting a 27" scale length. You get stainless steel frets with these guitars. The EX has EMG & the Phoenix, a Fluence, so the intention is clear - all out metal assault, no compromise. Also, these come with form fit cases, so that's value for money for both instruments. These are not high end LTDs, unlike the Deluxes but they are spec'd out well. Due to the single pickup nature, these will be a niche appeal. 
 

Pics: ESP international

It's Miller time

Listen to what Martin Miller has to say about his new signature 7-string guitar. The significant thing to note here is the fact that, despite being a 7 with a wider neck, the strings are spaced out slightly closer for maximum playability.

Pic: Ibanez

Ibanez 2021

 

This confirms the rumour that a 7-string AZ model would dominate proceedings in 2021. Seen above is the Martin Miller version.

For those of us who are not interested in signature models (like yours truly), it's offered in this HH pickup configuration (AZ24027)...

And the HSS version (AZ24047). Unlike previous years where official announcements of new models were done post-NAMM, this year, Ibanez did a new year number which makes a lot of sense since Winter NAMM 2021 is not happening.

Jackson's Summer (2)

Jackson joins the sandblasted camp this Summer. Not a Floyd Rose fan but this one is a looker with a simple but attractive monochrome theme. Duncan JB/59 pairing gets my vote. (DK2 Ash)

Jackson also joins the Evertune camp with this 7-string Dinky. It's fair to say that the Evertune bridge solves tuning headaches for the performing professionals. (DK2 Modern Evertune 7)

S71AL

There is now the 7-string version of this- seen here S71AL.

I'm attracted to the panga panga/ walnut neck. It's a different kind of smoothness coming from the darker wood types. After trying the 6-string version, it got kinda addictive but the Fishman Fluence Modern pickups are not my thing. 

Selling: RGDIX7MPB [SOLD]

Alright, next to clear on my list is this Ibanez Iron Label RGD7. That's right, it's an extended scale guitar (26.5"), do take note. This model had been discontinued & it sports an ash body, not mahogany.

• Ibanez RGDIX7MPB (Iron Label, 26.5") 
• Condition: 8.5/10
• Mod: Coil split switch
• No reservations/ testing/ trades
• Self-collect: CCK mrt stn
• Confirmation/ queries: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $800 (final)

KX7

Cort just released this, a baritone 7-string (27" scale length). If there'a any market for such guitars, then it's a sluggish one at best. However, we know Cort makes good stuff.  (Cort KX257B, available now).

PIC: Cort homepage

Mader's metal

Flashback 1990s- grunge era. Life for metal heads was particularly difficult; nobody was interested in being angry, everyone wanted to be emotional & spend time playing guitars while looking down at their shoes. As such, good metal acts from State-side were numbered. Logan Mader (pictured center) was with Machine Head, one of the very few American acts genuinely interested in metal. A couple of albums with the band, some Soulfly stints & a production mastery under his belt, Mader now has Once Human. A 3-pronged guitar band, all sporting Ibanez 7-strings & more importantly, good music with lots of guitar considerations. One worthy track to note:

I usually don't pay attention to such acts for a simple reason- there's an over-bearing need for attention, instead of music focus. A good metal act, in my opinion, is one that gets totally immersed in their music first & foremost, leaving the world behind. In fact, the world catches up much later when it's either ready or has exhausted their palatable references.