Jeff Loomis's guitar strings: the Arch Enemy / Nevermore 7-string rig, sourced
Arch Enemy / ex-Nevermore · reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
Jeff Loomis plays Schecter Jeff Loomis signature 7-string guitars with heavy 7-string gauges (typically .010–.060 or heavier) for Nevermore / Arch Enemy-era B standard and Drop A material. Known for neoclassical-meets-death-metal lead vocabulary across his catalog, Nevermore's Dead Heart in a Dead World and Dreaming Neon Black, Arch Enemy since 2014, and solo releases Zero Order Phase and Plains of Oblivion. Specific string brand affiliation on his current set is uncited as of this page's review.
What's on the guitar
Jeff Loomis's rig is built around his Schecter Jeff Loomis signature:
- Guitars: Schecter Jeff Loomis 7 signature (primary 7-string). 25.5-inch scale.
- Strings: Heavy 7-string sets, typically .010–.060 or heavier. Current brand affiliation uncited as of this page's review.
- Tuning: 7-string B standard (primary); Drop A on specific material.
- Pickups: Seymour Duncan Blackouts (older signature era) or Seymour Duncan Nazgul / Sentient (more recent).
- Amps: Various tube and modeling rigs across the catalog.
Loomis is one of the most technically accomplished lead guitarists in the post-2000s metal lane. His Nevermore catalog documents the neoclassical-meets-death-metal vocabulary that defined his playing; his Arch Enemy work since 2014 extends that vocabulary into the melodic-death-metal mainstream. His solo albums Zero Order Phase and Plains of Oblivion are instrumental showcases of his lead technique.
Endorsed vs. verified use
Loomis is a documented Schecter signature artist: his signature 7-string has been an active product line since the mid-2000s. Seymour Duncan pickup endorsement is also documented across his Blackouts and Nazgul/Sentient eras. Current string-brand endorsement is uncited as of this page's review, Loomis's string affiliations have shifted over the years, and a current primary-source quote on the 2026 set is not on file.
Why heavy gauge for technical 7-string
The low B string on a 25.5-inch 7-string is the most context-sensitive string on the instrument. For rhythm players, the decision is between firm articulation (heavier gauge) and palm-mute punch (moderate gauge). For lead players like Loomis, the firm articulation matters, fast legato sequences and sweep-picked arpeggios on the low string need the string to respond cleanly to hammer-ons and pull-offs without flapping under the attack.
Loomis's heavier 7-string gauges are a lead-player's preference, adjacent to but distinct from the djent-lane rhythm-player gauges that cluster at .010–.059 or .010–.062. Where Mark Holcomb runs .062 for Drop G# rhythm articulation, Loomis's heavier sets support the neoclassical-shred vocabulary that defines his lead playing.
Sources
- Schecter Guitar Research artist page, Jeff Loomis. https://www.schecterguitars.com/artists
- Seymour Duncan artist page, Jeff Loomis signature pickup coverage.
- Arch Enemy Premier Guitar Rig Rundown coverage (post-2014).
- Nevermore / Jeff Loomis solo interview archive (Guitar World, Premier Guitar, Guitar.com).
Re-dated on each Arch Enemy album cycle or Schecter signature refresh.
If you want this rig
Slinky Cobalt 7-String (.010–.062)
Why this one: A firm 7-string set that fits the Loomis gauge profile. The Cobalt wrap's defined attack works for both his technical lead vocabulary and the rhythm contexts in Arch Enemy. For even heavier feel, step to .010–.064 or custom.
Next steps
- Full 7-string lane: 7-string gauge guide, Top 10 7-string players.
- Adjacent 7-string rigs: John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Mark Holcomb (Periphery), Keith Merrow.
- Tuning guides: B standard, Drop A.
- Producer context: Andy Sneap (produces adjacent melodic-death-metal lane).