I designed the AM7 for my close friend, Adam. He grew up playing metal in the 90s and early 2000s, a period that popularized heavy riffs only made possible by grafting an extra bass string onto a guitar.

Traditional seven-string guitars can be bulky and heavy. A resurgence of the headless guitar design grew in popularity during the 2010s for good reason. Ditching the headstock, where the turners rest on a traditional guitar, saves plenty of weight and provides better balance. This is why I used my "comfy bass" design as a starting point. Adam and I agreed that this guitar should be deceptively simple and ergonomic.

Simplicity

Regarding simplicity, the guitar has a single volume control. For added versatility—the "deceptive" part—the volume knob is a push/pull switch that toggles between two of the Fishman Fluence pickup's voicings. Paired with a five-way toggle, these controls offer more than enough range to cover the Jazz and Technical Death Metal Adam loves to play.

Ergonomics

As for ergonomics, we focused on comfort and playability:

• Lightweight: The AM7 weighs only 5.6 lbs. For reference, a standard Fender Stratocaster typically weighs between 7 and 9 lbs.
• Upper Fret Access: The neck-through construction (where the neck wood runs the full body length) allows for a smooth, unobstructed heel for easy access to the upper frets.
• Seated Positions: The unique body shape near the controls allows Adam to play comfortably in both standard and classical seated positions.
• Recessed Jack: The output jack is recessed in the rear of the guitar, which keeps the cable out of the way and allows it to be securely wrapped around a guitar strap.

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