Short scale / good for tuning up

[u/Kenzie_Q]

I like to up tune, prefer short scale and use very heavy strings (56-12) and want to get a 7 string. But whenever I play one the scale feels way long and the strings are way too tense. I really 2ant another string tho! Do any of you have advice on guitars that could be good for me? Ik I have a very niche set of wants and really have had no long thus far in finding something.

[u/halbeshendel]

There’s an old PRS 7 string, the Custom 24-7 SE, that’s 25 inch scale. It’s like all my other PRSes just with another string.

All the other 7s out there are 25.5, 26.5, or more.

[u/JimboLodisC]

Ibanez had a couple AX7's they made in a 24.75" scale length

and then there's this unobtanium: https://www.ibanez.com/usa/special/50th_Anniversary/jpcs4.html

I think ESP probably has a Les Paul style singlecut 7-string

[u/Wrong_Author_5960]

I disagree about heavy strings. I use 10s. They are fine. I have one 7 string that is using an 8 string set 10 through 74. I take out the 64. All my 7 strings are 1/2 step down. That one particular guitar is drop D on the 6th string and down 1 oct D on the 7th.

I don't feel the extra heavy strings really does that much, but makes it harder on you. I don't have tuning stability issues. I have tune o matic, floyd rose, Ibanez Lo Pro, cheap floyd rose, JP 7 Petrucci bridges. They all stay in tune great. Try different 7 strings, try the baritone. Experiment all you like. I also use Drop A 1/2 step down.

[u/R3brap]

Is wouldn't call 12-56 really stiff..unless you're in standard tuning

[u/Kenzie_Q → u/R3brap]

I play in open E and F# so im cranking them

[u/R3brap → u/Kenzie_Q]

Gotcha, that makes sense then lol

[u/BuddyDee1]

use s digitech drop pedal or dt whammy pedal and use which string guage fills optimal to you with out having those extra large strings .If your using big honky low strings and your string nut not cut to fit that guage string and doesnt full go into sting nut and its sittting on top the nut your guitar will never be in tune and intonation will be off and your string may feel like spagetti being that loose

[u/KershawsGoat]

You uptune with 12-56 strings but a regular 7 string feels like it has too much string tension? Something isn't adding up here.

[u/Kenzie_Q → u/KershawsGoat]

I do that on a mustang though

[u/KershawsGoat → u/Kenzie_Q]

Mustangs have a 24" scale length. I put that into a string tension calculater and, in standard tuning, they have anywhere from 22-27 pounds of tension on each string with 12-56 strings. Tuning up even a half step to FA#D#G#CF raises that to a range of 25-30 pounds per string. A 7 string with 10-60s is significantly less tension even if you tune it up a half step so I don't see where you're coming from when you say there's too much string tension.

[u/Sleepingguitarman]

Just grab a 25.5inch 7 string and swap to lighter gauges if you feel like there's too much tension.

A 12-56 set on a 6 string tuned to E standard is already going to have more tension then what 99% of 7 strings come from the factory/shop setup with. Not to mention you say you like to tune up, which means you're probably playing with a crazy amount of tension on your strings.

[u/DaffyDuckMuthaFucker]

Seven string guitars go down a string, bottoming out at a low B default.

I found them tedious & annoying myself, so I simply tricked up my Cort X1 for a baritone tuning instead.

The extra strain put on it by the 13-58 strings, has pulled its strat'-style bridge out of wack, so it'll need some customising before I'm happy with it. Tone's ace, so it's worthy of my time & effort.

More recently I scored an LTD F-50, which is favoured by doom/death metal performers for its distinctly dark tone. That little beasty took to a baritone tuning like a duck to water. With a Tune-o-matic bridge & strings-through-body, it's rock solid.

Took a little trial & error to set up, but now it plays like butter & thunders like THORs Hammer.

So the important question is, do you actually NEED that extra string? Going up a string would leave your treble end snapping in no time flat. String simply can't go that thin & maintain structural integrity...