That prototype Alex Gregory Signature 7-string model is for sale at Buffalo Bros. Guitars.

They don't list a price, it's a "call me" kind of thing. If you call 'em, please let us know what they want for it!

BTW, I believe it is legal/contractual problems with Alex Gregory which keep Fender from offering a 7-string model. Gregory holds a patent on it too.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Ah, a guitar only needs six strings, nothing more nothing less. It's like a five or six string bass, its just not necessary.

I think Squier already did it.

Going out on limb here and risking "hate".

Real players don't need 7 strings to make their point. It's a flipping gimmick.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

Right, there was a "Stagemaster" Squier 7 string.

If Fender made one, I'd buy one. I took the first steps towards buying one back in 1991, but the price I was quoted was crazy. It'd be considered crazy today, 17 years later!

Rock n Roll can tolerate gimmicks. It has for decades.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

The most likely reason for there not being a 7-string strat is because they dont want to ruin the classic feel and look of the Stratocaster guitar line. Now if you went to the custom shop with alot of cash, yeah they'd make you one, but just for a wide release not likely. Unless of course some big named artist gets a signature made by fender.

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If blues is the devil's music, then satan must be pretty proud.

The 7 string craze has come and gone --- that's a big reason why we may never see an official Fender 7-string.

If they get popular again and Fender can work out it's problems with Alex Gregory, you can bet they'd like to sell a few!

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

There was indeed a Squier 7-string "Stratocaster". It pretty much reatined the look of a regular Strat save for the extra string (it was available in either H/S/S or H/H configurations) and had a standard 2-point trem per Squier specs. BTW, the Alex Gregory prototype looks a little different than a normal Strat. The pickups are spaced closer together due to it having 24 frets and the pickguard shape is also a bit different. The Squier Stratocster VII unfortunately did not sell well enough to remain in production, but I would have loved to have one. The thing is that the 7-string "craze" just didn't fit the traditional Fender image so the Stagemasters came along and took advantage of that market...while it lasted. Seven-string guitars have been somewhat popular in jazz and while you can certainly play jazz on a Strat, it's just not as common as the requisite "jazz box".

That 7 string strat looks sick

I wanted a single coil 7 string model, but of course its hard to get and pretty much next to nil when looking for one. So....I bought a Jackson Christian Olde Wolbers 7 string model, took the EMG 707 out, and bought a split coil version. EMG's "split coil" version claims that its actually not split and they have an extra single coil in there to switch along with a humbucking coil packed in 1 pickup. I installed it and wired it with the single coil on (pretty much at all times) and humbucking when I lift the volume knob up..and boy were they right! Single coil tone! I'm assuming it sounds like their single coil line up, but it is not a vintage super twangy single coil sound yet I am very pleased with it. Oh yeah, no hum!

There are some jazzers out there who use 7 strings--they generally play big hollowbody jobs with a single humbucker in the neck position... such as this Bill Moll John Pizzarelli model:



I've played a few solid-body 7 strings--they can be cool for more than just metal and goth; one evening I tuned one to open G, with one extra string on the deep end (GDGDGBD, fat to skinny) and played slide all night long with a blues/rock band.

...but truth be told, it was kind of a gimmick and I wouldn't want to do that all the time.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

7 strings wouldn't just be terrible. I myself mostly play clean single coil tones with my Strat and DRRI. However, the 24 fret neck is a deal killer for me. The placement of the neck pickup at the 2nd octave is crucial for that awesome harmonically rich Strat tone. 24 frets makes that impossible. I may be wrong, but I think that there are some guitars out there with 24 frets that either a single coil pickup or a piezo pickup is mounted into the neck at the 24th fret. Can anyone else confirm or despell this?

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI

Ibanez makes 7 strings. I'm not sure if they're "strat-ish" enough.

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I tried to think of something clever to put here but- OH! Something shiny!!!

Hello all,

I have rad and have to dis agree with a LOT of you who think the 7-string is stupid, or trash-talk it for the awesome guitars they are... If you really stop and think about it, the 7-string - REGARDLESS OF WHICH MAKE/KIND - IS ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE GUITARS EVER MADE. If you get one with a fixed bridge, or a tune-o-matic like the Les Paul 7, you can do altered tunings with great ease to play certain songs, and then tune it back up or down when your done. And because it comes with that low B, you can do just about everything and then some with it. I have been playing guitar for over 15 years and blasted thru 40 guitars in that time. And I'm glad to say that I have had and owned more 7-strings than 6's. I understand that the 7 is not for everyone, but don't shit-talk it for those of us who DO love it and think it's the best thing ever... Because we can trash talk the Strat too ya know... Different strokes for different folks!

Getting back to the topic of Strat 7's... I have been searching for YEARS to find a Strat 7, the H/H model specifically, like this one... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0516002853

I have owned Jacksons and hated them with a passion. I've had too many Ibanez's including a Universe, an S7420, and countless RG7's, I've owned 2 Les Paul 7's - 1 Classic and 1 Gothic, and I've owned so far 8 ESP 7's, including my Kamikaze 4-7 and my Stephen Carpenter 7 Custom. I still want to get a Strat 7 like the one on Ebay right now, just because of the fact that YES, THEY ARE RARE TO FIND NOW! Even the StageMaster/Showmaster 7's are tough to find now. And when they DO pop out of the woodwork, they tend to get decent to good money. But then again, what good, rare axe doesn't???

In MY opinion I think Fender and ALL the other companies should offer more 7's like they used to. The 7-string craze MAY come in waves, but for guys like me, the 7-string ain't going anywhere. Too many people love that low end growl, while others love the clean chord patterns and bass accompanyment that a 7-string is great for. I can say for a fact that if Fender came out with more and new 7's I'd be one of the first to buy one... Even if I had to beg, borrow or steal the money for it!

LONG LIVE LOW END... LONG LIVE THE 7!!!
Josh in RI - RI7stringer

http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=1144700302

The Custom Shop has launched a 7-string Showmaster with dual Duncan humbuckers and a fixed bridge in 1999. This model lasted one year then discontinued.



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