I recently sold an LTD H3-1007 Baritone. The LTD was a fantastic guitar, but just too big to be comfortable for me. I am considering buying an Ibanez RGA71AK-IAF Axion. I think the 25.5" scale will be more comfortable than the baritone's 27". I generally play in B standard so that scale length should be fine too. I play mostly post-metal, and melodic metal type stuff.

The specs on the guitar look great, and they seem to have a good reputation, but I am buying it sight unseen. Can anyone talk about their experiences with an Ibanez RGA71AK-IAF Axion? If so, what did you like, not like, etc? Thanks.

Photo from my recording studio in Tokyo.

L: Fusion Blacktop with Nazgul pickups

R: Fusion Walnut with Evertune bridge

Hey friends,

I am looking to upgrade a few components on my 2024 Ibanez RG7421EX that I picked up on marketplace. Looking to upgrade the following:

- Pickups: I tried to like the Quantum but I think I hate them, so likely doing a Seymour Duncan Nazgûl 7 in the bridge and haven’t made up my mind on the Neck.

- Bridge: specifically, are there any good drop in, no drill options to replace the Ibanez F107 bridge? If it requires drilling or routing, in am not going to consider. The bridge feels fine but I have heard that swapping the bridge on these guitars can make a huge improvement.

-Nut: going to a graph tech nut burning anyone know the specific model, that would be super helpful. The plastic nut is whatever.

- Tuners: the tuners are bottom of the list because the current ones work. But they do suck. And similar tot the bridge, does anyone know the specific models that will drop in without drilling? Doesn’t have to be the standard brands if there is something good out there but a bit cheaper.

And the only other things I am considering is deleting the tone knob, putting the volume where the tone is and filling the hole. I have a killswitch on my 8 string and have yet to use it so I am not sure interesting in installing one. I might replace the switch and pots while swapping the pickups. And then maybe seeing if the shielding could use some updating because this guitar is noisy as hell under gain.

Thanks so much for the advice!!!

I play a lot of dropped 7 string stuff and I love a Floyd and I do a lot of technical leads as well, so I’m just really wondering what would catered more to my style of playing.

Should I grab this and route an Evertune in it?

Any problems with fanned fret guitars with floating trems? (I.e. Strandberg, Kiesel)?

Opinions on solar guitars?

Here’s my Jackson rrxt 24-7 with dimarzio John Petrucci rainmaker and dreamcatcher pickups 🤘🏻

Is this worth it as a first 7 string? I’m in love with the way it looks, and I love the fluence and sustaniac that it has. I’m all in for the features, and looking for an axe with a sustaniac, split coil and a floyd. Is this a good option, or are there any better alternatives. Looking to spend no more than 2000!

Been wanting this one since I first saw it on the 2026 ESP NAMM video. Even prettier in person.

Using same preset in Archetype Gojira X Comparing these 3 headless guitars
- Strandberg pickups Humbucker soapbar 8 String OEM custom .strandberg*
- Vimana Custom Bare Knuckle Stormy Monday 7 String
- Vos pickups Seymour Duncan set Nazgûl & Sentient 7 String

Hope you enjoy!

im deadset on buying a 7 string with a floating bridge but i don’t know which to buy so i just want some recommendations.

I’m looking for a good quality 7 string for some heavy metal. Are there any specific brands I should look for or avoid?

Edit: I also should’ve included my budget is around $1000-1200 USD

Need some review about this guitar, I found one for $152 which is pretty average in my country.

i want something that’s not too expensive, but feels pretty good. i’m debating if i even need this since i have an evertune guitar coming in, but there’s some songs that has some weird tunings, like g#, yet the low string is tuning to f. could my evertune even do this? and if not, what are some good recommendations

willing to be at around $500, prefer used, if it’s worth it, i’ll stretch it

Hello, I have found a pretty good deal on the Jackson Mark Heylmun signature and I'm not sure if I should pull the trigger. It looks very cool to me but I am wondering if anyone has any first hand experience on how it plays.

Looking specifically for info about how it feels, how heavy it is, neck dive, and how the neck feels. I am used to my BC Rich Ironbird Extreme 6 string in terms of neck profile, but I have small hands so find some necks (specifically on Schecters) to be a bit too bulky and chunky for me. I love Fluence Moderns but don't know how good Mark Heylmun's signature Fluences sound.

I also love the Floyd Rose system but have heard some things about it being very tight on the 7 string, so any info on that would be much appreciated.

Thanks to anyone that can help and I'd be happy to hear about anything you have to say about the guitar, it is quite a big purchase so I am hoping to get as much information as possible as I cannot physically try it before I buy it.

After trying several different 7 strings over the last six months, I finally decided to give a 7 string Strandberg a shot, and now I wish I’d gotten one sooner.
It was basically perfect right out of the box, had a little issue with the 5 way switch switching between pickups but it resolved on its own. I have the 6-string Boden Essential, and somehow the EndurNeck on the 7-string feels even more comfortable and natural.
The POWR D pickups have also been a pleasant surprise. They’re clear, articulate, and tight, with plenty of output for heavier styles. I feel like they’re a mix between Tosins signature fishmans and the fishman fluence moderns.
I know these are a little pricey for an Indonesian made guitar, but the build quality, fit and finish, and overall feel are excellent. For me, it’s absolutely been worth it.

Love my Jackson 7 strings

Hey y'all, looking to upgrade from my Dean Avalanche and I tried out a KX507 at a music & arts and absolutely loved it, I did a little bit of research and I saw that the KX307 was a few hundred less than the 5.

If anyone has any experience with these Cort 7 strings I would appreciate knowing if the 307 is in the same ballpark as the 507.

If anyone has any other cheaper alternatives, ideally with active pickups, definitely with multiscale fretboard I would like to here that too.

Picked up another Artificial and man do we need more of them stateside.Mike is cool as hell and doing solid things... Support the underdog from down under... #ArtificialGuitars

https://www.artificialguitars.com/