7 string and low watt high gain amp suggestions

Not posted in awhile. I'm looking at getting a 7 string, tempted by the Epiphone Matt Heafy signature model as I really like Trivium and I think it seems like a great guitar, to me. Also looking at esp ltd models and schecters etc. Not into tremolos. I have no experience with 7 strings so just wondering on peoples suggestions and also what low watt high gain tube amps do you guys recommend, I'm thinking a Laney iron heart and then use the channel switching on it. What other low watt tube amps do you guys think that have channel switching

7 strings.... I think you are pretty much looking at the Ibanez Universe in that department, its what steve vai and korn use and when I was a kid they owned 7 string, so they are the be all end all

how low wattage and how high gain?

Do you mean don't wake the baby low and manowar atop a pile of skulls gainy?

15-20watts probably and pretty high gain, probably like Metallica's and justice for all album. I could try a 5-10watt too but I'd rather have a bit more power than that

and justice for all is a heavy duty amount of mesa studio pre driving a marshall 800 power amp thru the FX loop input

similar tones might be achieved with one of the lower wattage mesa caliber heads

Ibanez, Schector, Jackson, and Earnie Ball make a good number of them. I see a lot of artists using Kiesel 7 strings now.

http://www.kieselguitars.com/catalog/guitars/am7

A friend of mine bought a Tosin Abasi signature 8 string Ibanez last year and has touted that it is the best guitar he's ever owned.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ibanez-tam10-tosin-abasi-signature-8-string-electric-guitar?rNtt=tosin%20abasi&index=1

I'll check out all the brands now. Ideally I'd rather a 24.75" scale but happy to play a 25.5" as I don't think there's many 24.75" but I could be wrong

See if you can try the difference in person.