Havin some trouble with deciding between the...

-Ibanez Xiphos XPT707
-Rustey Cooley RC7G Dean
-Jeff Loomis 7FR Schecter

and im looking for Quality, not looks. If you respond have a good reason to respond. Not "the Xiphos cause it looks sick" (even though it does)

The Xiphos does look sick, but Ibanez also happen to make sick-ass guitars in terms of quality, too. I have to wonder if the looks of the Xiphos would eventually just become annoying to look at, as in novelty wearing off ("ooh the Chameleon changes colors, it R trippy..."). I dunno. Overall it does seem sweet as candy made by elves on coke. though.

Nothing to say on the others, just wanted to reply/discuss the Xiphos/make weird joke. Achieved!

The Loomis gets great reviews, the other two, not so much.

I played with a guitarist who played a Loomis and it sounded absolutely incredible through anything he plugged it into. The Ash body and Maple fretboard really make it happen. If you want something that sounds incredible, I would recommend it without a doubt. He had replaced the EMG's with Seymour Duncan Blackouts, though.

I hear of lots of trouble with the Xiphos's trem.

Given those choices, I would go with the Schecter.

I own a C7 Hellraiser, and having never really played a seven-string guitar prior to owning this, I must say it was a very comfortable adaption from using a regular six-string electric guitar. That being said, I trust Schecter's craftsmanship enough in this particular guitar to go ahead and recommend you get that Loomis signature model.

Go with the Loomis. Trust everyone that will post in this thread and go with the Loomis, I implore you greatly.

Normally Schecters are cheap rubbish, but I would go with the Loomis model in this case as well. Personally I would take an RG7620 over any of them but that's just my opinion. The Xiphos has the Edge III trem which just plain sucks, to be honest. The Cooley model is over 3000$ list (due to being built by Dean USA) and therefore overpriced.

I'll say the Loomis as it has a better trem and overall better balance interms of weight distribution between the body and neck, which I know Xiphos' and generally star shaped guitars, especially 7 strings, are grudged against for.

I've tried none, but from second-hand info and specs...

Schecter Loomis - Pro: Good solid build, good pickups, good reviews
Cons: 26.5 scale might turn you off

Rusty Cooley Dean - Pro: Sweepy goodness (apparently), good pickups
Cons: Dean have an incredibly bad rep for some

Ibanez XPT707 - Pro: Thruneck
Cons: The 6-string version I tried was horrible. D-Activators sound scratchy to me too.

They're quite different price ranges, really.



The 7-string version is a hardtail

Get the Schecter, I've never heard of the Rusty Cooley thing, and the Xiphos guitars lick butt crack.

FYI the Rusty Cooley model is a USA Dean and should be top of the line. The issues are generally with the East Asian made Deans, as far as I know.