Tone Authority – Guitar & Bass Gear Reviews

Best 7-String Guitars for Metal Under $600 (2025 Buyer’s Guide)

Crushing riffs, tight low-end, and modern metal tone — without paying boutique prices.

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Quick Verdict

If you want the best all-around 7-string under $600, get the Schecter C-7 SGR — it’s comfortable, stable, and built for modern metal.
For the tightest low-end, grab the Jackson JS22-7 DKA HT.
If you want the best value overall, the Ibanez GRG7221 wins for price-to-performance.

Top 7-String Guitars for Metal Under $600 (2025)

1. Schecter C-7 Deluxe

Best All-Around Budget 7-String

Schecter’s build quality at this price is almost unfair. The C-7 Deluxe comfortable, stays in tune, and handles low tunings better than most guitars in this range.

Why It’s Great for Metal

  • Solid tuning stability for drop A or drop G
  • Hot Schecter Diamond Plus pickups
  • Thin C neck = fast riffs, tight chugs
  • Great fretwork for the price

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2. Jackson JS22-7 DKA HT

Excellent Low-End Tightness for Modern Metal

Jackson keeps the JS22-7 insanely affordable while still giving you a fast neck and surprisingly tight low-end response — perfect for djent, metalcore, or anything down-tuned.

Why It’s Great

  • Super stable fixed bridge
  • High-output Jackson humbuckers
  • Compound radius fretboard = fast leads + easy chording

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3. Ibanez GRG7221

The most popular beginner 7-string on Amazon. It’s not a boutique machine, but for the price? It absolutely slays. Great mod platform, too.

Why It’s Great

  • One of the cheapest 7-strings that’s actually playable
  • Fast Ibanez GRG neck profile
  • Lightweight, comfortable body

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4. Schecter Omen-7

Excellent Pickups in this Price Range

The Omen-7 pushes right up to the top of the budget but is worth every penny. Strong, punchy pickups and excellent metal playability.

Why It’s Great

  • Powerful Schecter Diamond pickups
  • Quality control is consistently excellent
  • Handles high-gain tones without muddiness

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5. Jackson Dinky JS32-7

Fantastic Neck for Speed

A fan favorite for shredders who want to transition from 6-string speed to 7-string brutality. The neck is one of the fastest in this price category.

Why It’s Great

  • Ultra-fast satin neck
  • Sharp, aggressive Jackson tone
  • Great ergonomics for high-speed metal

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Which 7-String Should You Buy?

Best Overall: Schecter C-7 SGR

Balanced, stable, and metal-ready out of the box.

Best for Speed: Jackson Dinky JS32-7

Fast neck, aggressive tone.

Best Budget Pick: Ibanez GRG7221

Great for first-time 7-string players.

Bonus: Look out for when they are on sale: Ibanez RG7421

One of the best-feeling 7-strings in this entire category.

FAQ: Best 7-String Guitars for Metal Under $600

Are cheap 7-string guitars good for metal?

Yes — brands like Schecter, Jackson, and Ibanez excel in this price range. Their pickups and neck designs are tailored for modern metal.

Can these guitars handle drop tunings?

All models listed here work well for Drop A, Drop G, or standard B tuning, though you may want heavier gauge strings for maximum stability.

What pickup type works best for metal?

High-output humbuckers. Every guitar on this list includes them.

Are fixed bridges better than tremolos for 7-strings?

For metal and low tunings, yes. Fixed bridges stay in tune better and make setup easier.

Is a 7-string good for beginners?

If you’re already comfortable on 6-string, 7-string is an easy upgrade — especially for metal players who want extended low-end range.

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