This is really a topnotch 7 string guitar: first the looks - classic beautiful burst + flawless prestige craftsmanship; second the pickups - you have the power and density with the blaze bridge pickup but it is one of the few using a single coil in the neck, this really opens you to a broader range of tones than what you have with HxH active configuration on must 7 stringers; and last but not least the U bar - the bridge feels like a fixed bridge so you can riff as hard as you want without affecting the pitch and still go nuts with the U bar when you want to. All in all totally worth the investment, Ibanez APEX 100 is my first and last 7 string guitar. Once again thanks Gearhounds!