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Pros:
- Affordable
- Great Output
- Flexible Sound
Cons:
- Soft Body
- Bolt on neck joint
- Cheap Nut
In the world of affordable 7 string guitars, there are not many that can stand up in terms of quality and make. After all it is very hard to make a 7 string guitar and making an affordable one is even harder. The pressures exerted by the extra string, the requirement for a balance between sturdiness and a lightweight build need a lot of planning. Still, there are some that do a great job at each of the aspects. Let us take a look at the Dean C750X MRD Custom Series 7-String and figure out if it fits the bill.
Body Quality
The design of the guitar is made with a single thought in mind – simplicity. When designing an affordable guitar, the manufacturer does not have the luxury of affording a unique or even an interesting design. Still, here the manufacturer achieved a nice balance between simplicity and beauty. The imitation of the Stratocaster is done well enough to warrant applause, with the solid coloring of the body and the nice slant towards the wings of the guitar. The guitar is easy on the eyes.
The body of the guitar is made of basswood. This tonewood is known to be on the cheap side and has a lot of qualities that make the manufacturers love it (price being the main reason). It is often used in affordable 6 string guitars and the manufacturer does not go wrong here either. The hardwood is known to be very light, meaning the guitar will not be a burden to hold or play.
The effect on the tone of the guitar is also very nice, providing a very thick, warm bass tone resonance for the instrument. The only drawback is that the tonewood is rather soft in its nature, which results in the instrument being easy to dent and scratch. It also makes me think about how long the guitar will be able to handle the extra pressure from the seventh string.
The neck of the guitar is made of maple. This hardwood is known to be warp-resistant and rather sturdy, which is good, especially for a 7-string guitar. The extra pressure doesn’t seem to phase the neck at all. The joint between the neck and the body is bolt on, which I do not find to be optimal in most 7-string guitars. The fretboard of the guitar is made of rosewood.
Hardware
The guitar comes with the Tune-o-Matic-designed bridge. This bridge does a great job of providing the instrument with some great action and good string stability. Always happy about those.
The nut of the guitar is made of plastic, which is not really an optimal choice. It lets through some string buzz, but thankfully the guitar has a nice set of humbuckers to get rid of it.
The tuning machine of the guitar is where the annoyance starts. The guitar has some stability issues and needs retuning every once in a while. Nothing to cry about, but still a little annoying.
Electronics
The guitar come with a two set of humbuckers. The DMT design humbuckers do a great job of supplying the instrument with some lovely tones. The humbuckers have a good output, as well as a nice sound. The sustain is definitely enjoyable as well. These stock pickups do a decent job for a guitar this affordable.
The controls on the instrument are standard and nice. You get one knob to control the volume of the guitar and another to control the tone. You also get a nice little lever to control pickup configuration.
Dean C750X Sound
The sound of the guitar is one of the best in the price range it is located in. It provides a nice set of low tones, while also retaining integrity at the mid and high tones. The pickups are able to handle the extra demand from the 7th string. The sound is detailed and the power output is definitely something anyone can enjoy.
Conclusion
Definitely a good guitar, especially for beginner 7 string guitar players. The affordability of the instrument is a great benefit to have. The only thing I am unsure of is the basswood body, but it has yet to show itself wrong, so, a good choice among affordable guitars.
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