MC Tang 7-String Handmade Electric Guitar – Full Review

Can a Sub-$1000 Handmade Guitar Compete with High-End Models?

In a world where boutique guitars can cost thousands of dollars, MC Tang is changing the game by offering handmade, independently designed electric guitars at a price point that seems almost too good to be true. I recently got my hands on the MC Tang 7-string, a stunning fanned-fret instrument crafted with precision and attention to detail. The big question: Can it hold its own against guitars twice its price? Let’s find out.

Unboxing & First Impressions

Straight out of the box, the guitar was almost perfectly in tune, which speaks volumes about the stability of its setup and hardware. The North American ash body with a sandblasted matte finish looks stunning in person. Because these guitars are handmade, each one has a unique grain pattern, adding a custom-shop feel right from the start.

One small detail I noticed was that the nut edges were slightly sharp, but that’s a minor issue easily fixed with some light sanding. Otherwise, the guitar felt incredibly well-constructed, with smooth fretwork, a comfortable neck profile, and a solid, well-balanced weight.

Build Quality & Craftsmanship

Materials & Construction

Body: North American Ash (bookmatched), known for its bright and resonant tonal characteristics.
Neck: Carbonized Maple & Maple (5-piece construction), ensuring stability and enhanced sustain.
Fretboard: Artificial rosewood, offering a smooth feel while being environmentally friendly.
Frets: 2.7mm 304 stainless steel, providing durability and effortless playability.
Bridge: Custom-designed by MC Tang, ensuring solid tuning stability.

Neck & Playability

One of the most impressive aspects of this guitar is its neck design. It has a 19mm thickness at the 1st fret and 20mm at the 12th fret, offering a slim, shred-friendly profile. The fanned-fret layout ensures balanced tension across all strings, making lower tunings clearer while keeping the higher frets easy to play.

Tone & Sound Performance

Clean Tones

Plugging into a clean amp setting, the McTang pickups deliver a rich, full-bodied sound with clear articulation. The 16-inch fretboard radius allows for smooth chording and expressive bends.

Distorted & High-Gain Tones

This is where the guitar truly shines. The pickups handle high-gain exceptionally well, producing tight lows, aggressive mids, and clear highs—perfect for metal, hard rock, and shredding. The push-pull knob, while functional, doesn’t make a drastic impact on the tone, likely because the pickups are pure humbuckers without coil-splitting capabilities.

Electronics & Controls

3-Way Switch: Provides quick access to bridge, neck, or blended tones.
Volume & Tone Knobs: High-quality components, though some fine-tuning might enhance usability.
Push-Pull Knob: Works as expected but doesn’t significantly change the tone.

Strengths

What This Guitar Excels At:

✅ Premium build quality at an affordable price.
✅ Incredible playability with smooth frets and a well-balanced neck.
✅ Unique aesthetics, thanks to the sandblasted finish and bookmatched ash body.
✅ Tuning stability and well-crafted hardware.
✅ Pickups that handle high-gain exceptionally well for metal and rock.

Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?

Absolutely. The MC Tang 7-string is an outstanding instrument for its price, punching well above its weight class. It delivers a custom-shop feel at a fraction of the cost, making it a fantastic choice for metal guitarists, shredders, and anyone looking for a premium extended-range guitar without breaking the bank.

For under $1000, this guitar competes with models priced at $2000 or more, proving that “Made in China” no longer means low quality—it means innovation, craftsmanship, and serious attention to detail.

I’m excited to add this to my collection, and if I can get a fully custom MC Tang built to my exact specs in the future, that will be the ultimate game-changer.