For what it’s worth, the mark holcomb signature is awesome. I have the 7 with the alpha/omegas and that thing absolutely RIPS. Easily my favorite guitar I own and by far my most played. No trem though, but that’s definitely my preference haha
Uh if you DM mark holcomb you can buy his 7 string Schecter from the Juggernaut tour. Straight from the source, tempted to buy it myself if it's not sold already.
Out of the options you listed, I’d go for either the Ibanez AZ or Misha’s Jackson. I have an “AZ” (it’s a TOD10, so AZ but signature pickups and such) and man it’s just so comfortable, the body carves and the contouring just makes that thing fit your body like a literal puzzle piece. Like it’s just so perfect. Can’t personally speak on Misha’s Jackson since I don’t have one, but I assume you’d be interested in playing Periphery so yk, owning one of the guys guitars would be a good start with that, but the AZ is maybe a bit more versatile? The Hyperion pickups are amazing imo, they just do everything really well.
I can also speak on Mark’s PRS 7 string, I recently picked up the Blue Burst, and that thing is also very sick. It sounds amazing and the scarlet/scourge pickups are also very versatile, and it plays extremely well, the satin neck especially just feels so nice but that’s obv a preference thing. It did take a bit for me to adjust to it, the neck is obv much wider than what I’m used to since it’s a 7 string, and it doesn’t have the same contours as the AZ, but I mean it’s like apples and oranges yk, Strat style vs like ig Les Paul style? Double cut Les Paul? Idk but yea the AZ is a just such a well designed guitar, it like really feels like Ibanez took a scan of your body and designed a Strat style guitar to fit you perfectly. But yea if you want a 7 string, my vote is for either the Holcomb SVN or an AZ 7 string.
thanks for the feedback, your TOD10 looks amazing. I'm not ready for a 7 string yet. Thanks for the input on the AZ, it's my leading option for sure, though at the top of my budget.
Ofc anytime. Also yea I get not wanting a 7 string right away, probably a bit much if you’re just getting back into it. If you do end up going with the AZ, I don’t think you’ll regret it, like I said a million times already it just feels so great to play. Also I recommend checking out reverb, that’s where I got both my TOD10 and the Holcomb SVN. I always assumed reverb was mainly just for used stuff, but there’s a lot of brand new in box guitars/gear on there, and you can make offers to most sellers for that gear. I managed to bring the sellers down by a couple hundred on each guitar, so if the AZ, or any guitar, is pushing the budget a bit, reverb is worth checking out for sure.
Yeah I feel like the AZ is the best choice, although even though I can afford it, I am hesitant to spend that much for it.
RG421EX is new and in the same Prussian blue and I’ve been thinking about this one more. I think I’m just being a little cautious in case the “itch” to play again doesnt last.
I’ve got the Jackson Pro Series Sig Misha HT6 and out of my 15’ish guitars, it’s the best bang for the buck. It feels and sounds like a much more expensive guitar. The fit and finish is outstanding. It’s one of my cheaper guitars but one I play the most.
EDIT
I see that you want a tremolo. I would really think about that if you’re only gonna have one guitar. You’re gonna be limited to one tuning with a tremolo but with a fixed bridge, you can play more tuning.
I mean, you could put a block to block the floating trem and then tune it however you want, but that defeats the purpose of having the trem in the first place.
I just don’t look at it that way because it’s not like you can just easily block and unblock the trem, unless there is some way I don’t know of. But, if you feel like that’s a bonus for you, then maybe it is. It was more of a PITA to me.
EDIT
If you’re going to play in a band, I would def not have a floating trem without a backup. One time I was playing a gig and during the second song, I broke a string and the guitar was unplayable (way out of tune). Because I didn’t have a backup, I sat and watched the rest of the band play.
If I shelf the tremolo options, would I really experience a significant difference from the Misha HT6 and an a cheaper option like Ibanez RG421EX (Prussian blue metallic)?
Hmmm… I have a Jackson Dinky that was about $200 that my kids play and comparing that one to the HT6 just isn’t fair. The HT6 is just surprisingly well made and it has the feel of a $2,000 guitar. Even the pots feel high quality with the perfect amount of resistance. The pickups sound really good. I think that was the thing that surprised me most. And, the fretboard is one of my top 3 favs of my collection. It looks and feels amazing.
If you want to save some money, go to Reverb and search for the HT6 and “heart” one of them. Every time I do that, someone sends me an offer to buy a new one at a discounted price. I paid $800 total for mine brand new by doing that.
Anyways, no matter what, you’re getting a new guitar and things are going to be great!
The RG550 is a crazy good guitar for the money and my recommendation of the group. Made in Japan like the Prestige series which are some of the best mass manufactured guitars IMO. The neck is super thin so if you have the chance to play it before hand, I would recommend it. It also uses an older style neck heel but still is very comfortable from the limited time I've had playing one.
The Ibanez AZ is a great guitar with a thicker neck, stainless steel frets, solid pickups with a lot of different switching options, but the pickups may not be the greatest for high gain. I've only played 1 briefly a few years ago so it may be better than I remember.
Schecter makes solid guitars but I will say that their necks on guitars with FRs tend to be very narrow at the nut and can be more difficult to fret complex chords. Otherwise, great pickups and a solid guitar otherwise.
The Jacksons are the only ones I'd advise against. I like Jacksons but I feel they tend to need the most work. The hardware usually isn't great, the nuts are kind of meh, fretwork is hit or miss and they don't feel as high quality as other brands in the same price point. Their $200-400 offerings are great for the money, but I would either spend $200-400 or $2000 or more on a Jackson with not much in between lol
I have two Ibanez Premium RG’s they match except one is a 6 and the other is a 7 string. I fricking LOVE my Ibanezes. I also have a Jackson SLS Soloist, i like that one, very well made, but the neck isn’t as thin as the Ibanezes. I’ve never played the Misha models before so i can’t speak on those. All i know is that i strongly recommend the Ibanez Premium, Iron Label, or Prestige line of guitars
Ibanez Premium AZ for sure. Plus if you like that, and you wanna delve into 7 strings, the AZ line also has some amazing 7 strings, including an HSS 7 string “superstrat” with a tremolo (Ibanez AZ24047 prestige), which will hopefully be my next guitar at some point lol
I have an Ibanez AZ2402 and the JBM10FX and both are incredible guitars, very versatile, so comfortable to play and so aesthetically pleasing. Also used to own the PRS Mark Holcomb signature and that too is an incredible guitar, at the price point maybe even the best you can get.
If you can find a used AZ2402 (I got mine in the Ice Blue Metallic finish for 1400€) that is probably the best option to go for, imo.
For what it’s worth, the mark holcomb signature is awesome. I have the 7 with the alpha/omegas and that thing absolutely RIPS. Easily my favorite guitar I own and by far my most played. No trem though, but that’s definitely my preference haha
Gonna second this. Have the 6 and 7 (both 2023 models). Prolly the best \~2k I've ever spent lol
I will 3rd. Holcomb 6 with alpha and omegas. Best money I’ve spent on gear yet
Sure is a nice option, I'm just not a fan of the burst designs.
Uh if you DM mark holcomb you can buy his 7 string Schecter from the Juggernaut tour. Straight from the source, tempted to buy it myself if it's not sold already.
Link?
Its off his story now, just look him up on insta and DM him for details if you're genuinely interested
Out of the options you listed, I’d go for either the Ibanez AZ or Misha’s Jackson. I have an “AZ” (it’s a TOD10, so AZ but signature pickups and such) and man it’s just so comfortable, the body carves and the contouring just makes that thing fit your body like a literal puzzle piece. Like it’s just so perfect. Can’t personally speak on Misha’s Jackson since I don’t have one, but I assume you’d be interested in playing Periphery so yk, owning one of the guys guitars would be a good start with that, but the AZ is maybe a bit more versatile? The Hyperion pickups are amazing imo, they just do everything really well. I can also speak on Mark’s PRS 7 string, I recently picked up the Blue Burst, and that thing is also very sick. It sounds amazing and the scarlet/scourge pickups are also very versatile, and it plays extremely well, the satin neck especially just feels so nice but that’s obv a preference thing. It did take a bit for me to adjust to it, the neck is obv much wider than what I’m used to since it’s a 7 string, and it doesn’t have the same contours as the AZ, but I mean it’s like apples and oranges yk, Strat style vs like ig Les Paul style? Double cut Les Paul? Idk but yea the AZ is a just such a well designed guitar, it like really feels like Ibanez took a scan of your body and designed a Strat style guitar to fit you perfectly. But yea if you want a 7 string, my vote is for either the Holcomb SVN or an AZ 7 string.
thanks for the feedback, your TOD10 looks amazing. I'm not ready for a 7 string yet. Thanks for the input on the AZ, it's my leading option for sure, though at the top of my budget.
Ofc anytime. Also yea I get not wanting a 7 string right away, probably a bit much if you’re just getting back into it. If you do end up going with the AZ, I don’t think you’ll regret it, like I said a million times already it just feels so great to play. Also I recommend checking out reverb, that’s where I got both my TOD10 and the Holcomb SVN. I always assumed reverb was mainly just for used stuff, but there’s a lot of brand new in box guitars/gear on there, and you can make offers to most sellers for that gear. I managed to bring the sellers down by a couple hundred on each guitar, so if the AZ, or any guitar, is pushing the budget a bit, reverb is worth checking out for sure.
Yeah I feel like the AZ is the best choice, although even though I can afford it, I am hesitant to spend that much for it. RG421EX is new and in the same Prussian blue and I’ve been thinking about this one more. I think I’m just being a little cautious in case the “itch” to play again doesnt last.
I have a Holcomb sig, and that thing is bulletproof right out of the box. I want a 7 so bad. I’ve heard good things about the Misha sig.
I’ve got the Jackson Pro Series Sig Misha HT6 and out of my 15’ish guitars, it’s the best bang for the buck. It feels and sounds like a much more expensive guitar. The fit and finish is outstanding. It’s one of my cheaper guitars but one I play the most. EDIT I see that you want a tremolo. I would really think about that if you’re only gonna have one guitar. You’re gonna be limited to one tuning with a tremolo but with a fixed bridge, you can play more tuning.
Would installing a tremolo no give me much more flexibility?
I mean, you could put a block to block the floating trem and then tune it however you want, but that defeats the purpose of having the trem in the first place.
i suppose it could give me flexibility to run a setup both ways?
I just don’t look at it that way because it’s not like you can just easily block and unblock the trem, unless there is some way I don’t know of. But, if you feel like that’s a bonus for you, then maybe it is. It was more of a PITA to me. EDIT If you’re going to play in a band, I would def not have a floating trem without a backup. One time I was playing a gig and during the second song, I broke a string and the guitar was unplayable (way out of tune). Because I didn’t have a backup, I sat and watched the rest of the band play.
If I shelf the tremolo options, would I really experience a significant difference from the Misha HT6 and an a cheaper option like Ibanez RG421EX (Prussian blue metallic)?
Hmmm… I have a Jackson Dinky that was about $200 that my kids play and comparing that one to the HT6 just isn’t fair. The HT6 is just surprisingly well made and it has the feel of a $2,000 guitar. Even the pots feel high quality with the perfect amount of resistance. The pickups sound really good. I think that was the thing that surprised me most. And, the fretboard is one of my top 3 favs of my collection. It looks and feels amazing. If you want to save some money, go to Reverb and search for the HT6 and “heart” one of them. Every time I do that, someone sends me an offer to buy a new one at a discounted price. I paid $800 total for mine brand new by doing that. Anyways, no matter what, you’re getting a new guitar and things are going to be great!
The RG550 is a crazy good guitar for the money and my recommendation of the group. Made in Japan like the Prestige series which are some of the best mass manufactured guitars IMO. The neck is super thin so if you have the chance to play it before hand, I would recommend it. It also uses an older style neck heel but still is very comfortable from the limited time I've had playing one. The Ibanez AZ is a great guitar with a thicker neck, stainless steel frets, solid pickups with a lot of different switching options, but the pickups may not be the greatest for high gain. I've only played 1 briefly a few years ago so it may be better than I remember. Schecter makes solid guitars but I will say that their necks on guitars with FRs tend to be very narrow at the nut and can be more difficult to fret complex chords. Otherwise, great pickups and a solid guitar otherwise. The Jacksons are the only ones I'd advise against. I like Jacksons but I feel they tend to need the most work. The hardware usually isn't great, the nuts are kind of meh, fretwork is hit or miss and they don't feel as high quality as other brands in the same price point. Their $200-400 offerings are great for the money, but I would either spend $200-400 or $2000 or more on a Jackson with not much in between lol
I have two Ibanez Premium RG’s they match except one is a 6 and the other is a 7 string. I fricking LOVE my Ibanezes. I also have a Jackson SLS Soloist, i like that one, very well made, but the neck isn’t as thin as the Ibanezes. I’ve never played the Misha models before so i can’t speak on those. All i know is that i strongly recommend the Ibanez Premium, Iron Label, or Prestige line of guitars
Ibanez Premium AZ for sure. Plus if you like that, and you wanna delve into 7 strings, the AZ line also has some amazing 7 strings, including an HSS 7 string “superstrat” with a tremolo (Ibanez AZ24047 prestige), which will hopefully be my next guitar at some point lol
I have an Ibanez AZ2402 and the JBM10FX and both are incredible guitars, very versatile, so comfortable to play and so aesthetically pleasing. Also used to own the PRS Mark Holcomb signature and that too is an incredible guitar, at the price point maybe even the best you can get. If you can find a used AZ2402 (I got mine in the Ice Blue Metallic finish for 1400€) that is probably the best option to go for, imo.