A quick google seems to have many good things to say about 7 string, and the answer to “whether someone should buy a 7 string” is majority “yes”, without stating possible issues. And objectively it make sense: 7 string is just 6 string with addition of low B, so on songs that don’t use that string, just don’t pick/strum it. Yet, to my knowledge, artist that use majority of 7 string are few. Aside from a few metal bands, the only other new groups I can think of that utilize 7 string is Babymetal; much less so in Blues or Rock or Pop. Even Steve Vai seems to play less on 7-string nowadays. So why isn’t 7-string guitar used more in practice? Specifically, are there some issues on 7 string (especially those on 25.5 inch scale) that a 6 string is more benefical?
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I used to play 7-string exclusively and eventually fell out of it over the years. I still have one, but almost always use my 6-string. It’s all about vibes for me – playing the 7 string gives me a certain heavy/weighty feeling that influences the sounds that come out, whereas playing the 6 string feels nimble and versatile, which causes me to play more interesting parts (to me, at least). The extra few notes that the 7th string offers aren’t enough benefit to sacrifice that.
EDIT: Oh, and another consideration is that if you have too many instruments adding low-end on a song, there isn’t going to be room in the mix for all that. I’m often working with pretty fat bass synths and kick drums which fill up the low-end really quickly on their own. Even when that’s not the case, I like to let the bass guitar do its job and keep the guitar in its own range.
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