Stagemaster 7 Review

It has 24 jumbo frets, and a big but thin neck. The fingerboard is made out of rosewood. The neck is very good, and real fast.

Features:	8
Sound:	8
Action:	9.5
Reliability:	8.5
Impression:	8.5
Overall rating:	8.5
Users rating:	7.2
Comments:	7

overall: 9

Featured review by: travislausch, on november 24, 2006

Price paid: $ 237

Purchased from: Classified ad

Features: The guitar appears to be very modern and is a Chinese-built instrument. It has 24 jumbo frets, and small inlays. I'm not sure what types of wood make up the body. Being a 7-string, it's definitely a slightly heavier instrument than most other guitars (even outweighing a Les Paul). The controls are very simple: just a volume knob, a tone knob, and a 3-way selector Switch for the dual humbucker pickups. As far as I know, the pickups in it are stock. The bridge is a string-through body fixed bridge, and feels really stable with tuning, even despite its lack of locking tuners. The tuners are located on the bottom of the headstock, and were a little disconcerting to get used to at first, but after a while I got the hang of it. // 8

Sound: Because it uses humbucker pickups, it can be a little noisy when cranked. I like to back off the tone control a bit, and I run it through a DigiTech RP200A, directly into my Mac Mini for recording, or an ancient Yamaha VX65D amp on stage. It has a very big sound, which isn't surprising, seeing as it is a big guitar with a lot more wood than your typical Strat. My only gripe is that there aren't a lot of varieties of sounds. Every pickup setting sounds pretty much the same, and backing off the tone knob doesn't give me much tonal variety, except for cutting down on some noise, and some highs. But, since I mostly play progressive rock, I usually rely more on effects for variety of tones, so I don't mind not having much control on the guitar end. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: This is where the guitar shines. The action was a little high, but perfect for me anyways. Everything on the guitar seems solid and well-built. The knobs are smooth, the tuners are tight, but not too tight, the finish doesn't appear to have any problems, apart from a few self-induced chips here and there, and the strap buttons haven't given out on me yet. The pickups are adjusted a little wonky, but that may be a result of the previous owner's handiwork. // 10

Reliability & Durability: This guitar, being my only 7-stringer, has to be able to withstand a gig. I do believe that it will. The hardware on this guitar seems rather solid, and the strap buttons have held up remarkably well. I've slammed my guitar around a bit here at home, and haven't chipped the guitar more than once or twice, so I think the finish will stand up to the test of time on stage. I can depend on it enough to use without a backup, though I have no choice, since 7-string guitars are a rare breed around these parts. // 10

Impression: This guitar matches the style of music I play perfectly, as I like to play a lot of Dream Theater songs, some of which involve 7-string guitars. I've been playing for 10 years, and owned mostly cheap Strat knock-offs designed for beginners, and a budget ES-355 knock-off. My gripes with this guitar are very minor, and though I won't give it a perfect rating, I do feel it deserves a high one. If it were stolen, my heart would break, since I don't own another 7-string. The only thing that really irked me at first was the transition to 7-strings, as I've been used to bashing the low E string on songs typically played on 6 strings. With the low B in the way, I have to be more careful on it. However, this taught me to become a more precise, careful player, and I feel like my playing has improved since I bought it. The only features I wish it had were locking tuners and a whammy bar, so I can complete the Dream Theater picture. // 9

overall: 8

Reviewed by: Elvisz, on december 19, 2005

Price paid: $ 441

Purchased from: A friend

Features: I don't know in what year was it made, but I bought new, dosen't have a scratch or anything. It was made in China. It has 24 jumbo frets, and a big but thin neck. The fingerboard is made out of rosewood. The body is solid hardwood (believe me it's solid, but you only feel that in it's weight). The neck is very good, and real fast. It has a big neck but it's thin and you don't really will notice the difference, only when you bump into the 7 string if you played a 6 stringer). Mine has a double locking floyd rose, and 2 knobs one volume and one tone, with 3 way switching. My guitar has stock double pickups, gotta change them cause the pickups are not very good (lots of noise, or is it my multi effect). Comed with a tremolo, stolen of an Ibanez (now you think I doubled the price of my guitar). But you're wrong cause it' realy good, and worth buying, of course you wonder why I paid so much for it? I'm from Romania and to get an musical instrument you have to work a lot for it, and the instruments are the double of the price (to be honest, I got it way cheaper cause it was imported from Germany, and if you're looking for it in a shop it costs 400-480 euros. // 8

Sound: I'm Korn fanatic! But I think you already knowed that by the 7 string. But I use it for all kind of rock and metal (Dream Theater, Megadeth, the new James LaBrie album, and lots). It's noisy oh yeah it's noisy, but through the tones of pedals I'm not shure that the guitar or the effects try to make me angry. It has a rich sound! It sounds very good, and the B makes you're amp blow! I had lots of guitars wich had the tone knob only for design, but on this guitar you hear the tone change real quick! The weakness of this guitar it's his pickups, but you can change that real quick (I just need money). I'm using it with an Fender Frontman 75, and some effects like Marshall Distortion 1, Boss Digital Delay 3, Zoom 510 multi effect, Boss Chorus, Arion Chorus\Flanger, Ibanez Delay, I think that's it and I use Jim Dunlop and Fender picks, and D'Addario strings, and D'Addario cables. This guitar was made for nu-metal fans that looking for a cheap guitar, but you get more than a nu-metal guitar, just use you're brain, and you'll be really satisfied! whatever kind of music you are into (but okay it's not an Ibanez). // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: The factory settings, not the greatest but works. I'm only dissapointed by the pickup settings and the electrics are a bit messy, but you can fix that with a hairbrush! But it's built real good, and I didn't see any factory defects (so if you don't consider the pickups it's great). // 9

Reliability & Durability: This has to withstand live playing! And until now I never had any problems and it's always with me, even at work. You will not have any problems with the hardware for a long time that's for shure. The strap buttons? Good question, 'cause the guitar is real heavy (in weight) and could be problems, but until now nothing bad happend (okay the wood is solid, but who knows). I can depend on it! Never had problem with it, and I hope I never will. The finish is lasting I play lots and it's lasting, but I answer to this question in 2010 okay? // 7

Impression: As I said before I play all kind of metal, and rock, and it suits me well yuo can play almost everything with it (but all you Korn freaks get this). I play guitar about 9-10 years and I got this guitar about a year and a half, and I play this guitar the most. If it were stolen I would hunt the the motherf--ker and I would beat up him\her so bad that he would regret that he lives (or I would have to work real hard to buy another one). I love the whole guitar so that's that! Mine is a metalic black so it rocks! I'm pleased with it and I can't complaine about it maybe you can. // 8

Comments

[punkMETALskater]

i jus bought one of these of ebay, i hope its worth it,mine has a fixed ahrdtail bridge tho...id like to have a floyd rose those, but hey,i dont need it yet, i cant solo..i bought it for koRn purposes also...but i like to play heavy sometimes and need taht low b...(or a for whoever uses that tunning)

[chilis-fan]

yea i got one of these guitars a few months back from the Rockshop NZ. cost $800, doesnt have a floating bridge. i love this guitar thought, great value for money, has an awesome sound, worth buying definately.

[ivan_2894]

Definetly worth buying!

[ivan_2894]

travislausch seemed to read my mind when writing the text.it answered all my questions

[enraged monkey]

i bough one of these guitars for approx £200 from my local music store. it was pretty good condition, being pretty much brand new!

mine came with a floyd rose, and i can get some pretty decent sounds with that.

ps, looks amazing in black!

[enraged monkey]

pps, travislausch is right, i find it difficult to hit the strings if im thrashing about playing powerchords on the e a and d strings, the b does get in the way a bit, but ive now learnt how to adapt to it

[canor81]

i bought it for 222$ on ebay, hardtail bridge and X2n bridge pickup, neck PU is stock but its really great i can go fat sound. this guitar is really nice, and this is my 3rd guitar, i have ibanez 470 custom dmarzio PU's and s540LTD, v-amp 2 effects dunlop535Q wah. i love behringer effect cheap and great sound...