The RGD71ALPA from Ibanez is a 7-string metal machine designed to meet the demands of down-tuning, which requires a specific responsiveness not found in “normal” guitars. To optimize for the rich, desirable thickness of tone that down-tuning produces, the Ibanez RGD71ALPA features an extended neck and a 26.5” scale. Longer-than standard yet not overly long, the neck is still considered a “fast” neck and ideal for speed soloing. Extra-deep cutaways grant easy access to the highest notes while hand-wound Bare Knuckle Aftermath pickups deliver an accelerated bass response for tracking high-speed staccato riffing, with super high-end articulation.