Tune a standard guitar down to drop A and the low string flaps like a rubber band. A multiscale fixes that by fanning the frets, so the low strings ride a longer scale while the high strings stay short and slinky.
You get two real wins from the angle. Intonation tightens across the whole neck, and the slanted frets sit your fretting hand in a more natural position once it clicks.
These five guitars span the range, from a refined LTD six-string to a budget-friendly Ibanez seven. We rank them on build, pickups, hardware, and how well the fanned design serves real playing.
New to extended range? Read our take on the fanned fret guitar pros and cons first, since there’s a short learning curve.
Quick Comparison Chart
| # | Product | Our Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale | ★★★★★ | Check Price |
| 2 |  |
Schecter C-7 MS SLS Elite | ★★★★★ | Check Price |
| 3 |  |
Jackson X Series Soloist SLATX7Q MS | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 4 |  |
Schecter Reaper-7 Multiscale | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 5 |  |
Ibanez RGMS7 | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
Fan Angles and Fret Metal
The Jackson Soloist publishes its geometry, a 25.5 to 27 inch fan, while the Schecter SLS Elite pairs its fan with stainless steel frets and Fishman Fluence pickups, the full modern-metal spec sheet.
The Ibanez RGMS7 makes multiscale attainable, putting the fanned-fret experiment within reach before you commit flagship money.
1. ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale
ESP LTD M-1000 Multi-Scale
Slim mahogany-body 6-string with a multi-scale ebony fingerboard, maple top, and twin humbucking pickups.
Pros
- Refined mahogany body with figured maple top
- Multi-scale ebony fingerboard for clean intonation
- Maple and purple heart neck feels fast and stable
- Two humbuckers cover everything from cleans to high gain
Cons
- Six-string only, no seven-string option here
- Premium price for the LTD M series
The LTD M-1000 is the most polished instrument on this list, built around a mahogany body with a figured maple top and a multi-scale ebony fingerboard. The maple and purple heart neck feels fast and stays stable, which is exactly what you want when you’re leaning on a fanned fret layout.
Two humbucking pickups give it real range, handling clean passages as comfortably as high-gain riffing. It’s a six-string rather than a seven, but for players who want one refined fanned fret guitar that does it all, this ESP is the easy top pick.
2. Schecter C-7 MS SLS Elite
Schecter C-7 MS SLS Elite
SLS Elite 7-string with Fishman Fluence Modern pickups, stainless frets, and a Hipshot hardtail bridge.
Pros
- Fishman Fluence Modern active humbuckers sound huge
- 24 X-jumbo stainless steel frets resist wear
- Schecter locking tuners hold tuning rock solid
- Ebony fretboard and Hipshot bridge for stability
Cons
- Active pickups need a 9V battery
- Aggressive voicing leans heavily toward metal
The C-7 MS SLS Elite is Schecter’s high-end take on a 7-string fanned fret guitar, and it’s built for metal. Fishman Fluence Modern active humbuckers in the bridge and neck deliver a massive, focused tone, while 24 X-jumbo stainless steel frets shrug off wear over years of playing.
The Hipshot hardtail bridge and Schecter locking tuners keep everything locked in tune even under heavy bending and drop tunings. Pair that with an ebony fretboard and you’ve one of the most stable, aggressive multiscale platforms you can buy.
3. Jackson X Series Soloist SLATX7Q MS
Jackson X Series Soloist SLATX7Q MS
Multi-scale 7-string Soloist with blade humbuckers, a 25.5 to 27 inch fan, and staggered saddles.
Pros
- 25.5 to 27 inch multi-scale keeps low strings tight
- Jackson 7-string blade humbuckers with exposed magnets
- Staggered individual saddles for precise intonation
- Sealed die-cast tuners and slim Soloist profile
Cons
- Three-way switching limits tonal options
- Transparent finish shows every handling mark
The X Series Soloist SLATX7Q MS brings Jackson’s shred pedigree to the multiscale world with a 25.5 to 27 inch fan that keeps the low B tight and defined. The Jackson 7-string blade humbuckers with exposed magnets push a hot, articulate signal that suits fast technical playing.
Staggered individual saddles handle the angled scale length cleanly, and the sealed die-cast tuners hold pitch well. The three-way switch keeps the controls simple, so this is a focused metal and prog machine rather than a do-everything guitar.
4. Schecter Reaper-7 Multiscale
Schecter Reaper-7 Multiscale
Swamp ash 7-string with a poplar burl top, multi-scale ebony fingerboard, and twin humbuckers.
Pros
- Lightweight swamp ash body with striking poplar burl top
- Multi-scale ebony fingerboard plays smooth and even
- Two humbuckers deliver an aggressive, punchy output
- Maple and walnut neck balances brightness and warmth
Cons
- Fixed pickups, no locking tuners at this tier
- Satin finish needs care to stay clean
The Reaper-7 Multiscale is the value sweet spot here, with a lightweight swamp ash body topped by a genuinely striking poplar burl. The multi-scale ebony fingerboard plays smooth and even, and the maple and walnut neck balances brightness with a bit of warmth.
Two humbuckers give it an aggressive, punchy output that works well for modern metal and heavier styles. You give up the locking tuners and active pickups of the SLS Elite above it, but for the money the Reaper-7 punches well above its price.
5. Ibanez RGMS7
Ibanez RGMS7
Affordable 7-string multi-scale RG with a nyatoh body, jatoba fretboard, and twin humbuckers.
Pros
- Most affordable way into a multi-scale 7-string
- Fast RG body shape with easy upper-fret access
- Five-piece maple and walnut neck adds stability
- Two humbuckers handle modern and heavy styles
Cons
- Stock pickups are the first thing players upgrade
- Jatoba board is a step below ebony tiers above
The RGMS7 is the most affordable way into a multiscale 7-string, and it earns its budget pick on value alone. It uses the familiar fast RG body shape, so upper-fret access is excellent, and the five-piece maple and walnut neck adds welcome stability to a guitar at this price.
A nyatoh body and jatoba fretboard sit a tier below the premium woods above, and most owners eventually swap the stock pickups. Even so, the twin humbuckers handle modern and heavy styles capably, making this the obvious starting point for anyone testing the fanned fret waters.
Final Thoughts
The ESP LTD M-1000 is our overall winner. Its mahogany body, figured maple top, and multi-scale ebony fingerboard add up to the most refined fanned fret guitar in this group, and its two humbuckers make it genuinely versatile rather than a one-trick metal machine.
If your priority is extended-range metal, the Schecter C-7 MS SLS Elite is the one to beat. Fishman Fluence Modern pickups, stainless frets, locking tuners, and a Hipshot bridge make it a stable, hard-hitting 7-string that holds up to years of heavy use.
The Jackson Soloist is a close call right behind it for shred-focused players who want that tight 25.5 to 27 inch fan.
On a tighter budget, the Schecter Reaper-7 delivers the most guitar for the money, and the Ibanez RGMS7 is the cheapest honest entry into multiscale playing. Whichever you choose, the fanned frets will keep your low strings tight and your intonation cleaner than any straight-fret guitar in the same tuning.
