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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No expert here but I have had a couple of 7-strings and I do enjoy them.
I think for the most part the low B is just too low for most genres of music, you might be competing with the bass guitar/other low-end instruments. It’s even common on a standard-tuned 6-string to play stripped down chord voicings without even touching the 5th and 6th strings as opposed to full barre chords, and that’s to allow the guitar to sit in the mix better.
Jazz is pretty much open for a musician to do whatever they want so having the extended range of a 7+ string guitar could be useful but you still don’t see that very much.
For the rock/punk/players who take after Kurt Cobain, having to think about not hitting the low B when you’re strumming away is not ideal. I don’t play any of those genres, but still when I play thrash metal I go for my 6 string so I don’t have to confine the movement of my picking hand as much since I’m galloping away on the low E string so much of the time.
Lots of guitarists like to keep their thumbs up over the neck especially when playing the open position chords because it feels natural but with a 7-string, particularly an Ibanez with a Wizard neck profile, doing so is really uncomfortable.
Even in heavier/metal contexts you’ll commonly see people **not** recommending a 7 string if a player is not going to use all of the range offered. I don’t fully agree with that argument, but the overall sentiment is that you don’t *need* a 7 string to play in a low tuning, and that much is true. A properly set up 6-string or a baritone will do just as well or better in some contexts.
7s are kind of passe now anyway now that Meshuggah has gone and dominated the progressive metal scene; ever since the early 2010s every other metal band is out there playing 8 strings. 7-strings had their moment of fame in the 90s with Steve Vai and bands like Korn.
7-strings do have the advantage of being able to play massive chord voicings especially if you drop-tune to AEADGBE and there’s space in the mix for those low notes to not get lost in the mud. Overall though, I think they’re just kind of out of style now that 8 and 9 strings are mainstream. I still think 7-strings are cool as hell and I’ll always have one in my collection. I imagine most players who play 7-strings think so as well, and they’re likelier to recommend 7-strings to other guitarists hence why you’re seeing them recommended so often.
I’m sure some of it is just guitarists being set in their ways as well, there’s lots of tradition and superstition influencing the opinions you’ll see out there in the guitar community.
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