Best 8-String Guitar Guide — Extended Range Complete Buyer's Guide
The 8-string guitar sits at the furthest edge of mainstream extended-range guitar — an instrument whose additional low F# string extends into bass guitar territory, enabling compositional approaches that overlap guitar and bass registers in ways a standard 6 or 7-string cannot achieve. This guide covers the 2026 8-string market comprehensively, from entry-level instruments to professional touring models, with the technical context and artist examples that explain why 8-string guitars exist and who they serve.
The Case for 8-String: Why the Extra String Matters
An 8-string guitar adds a low F# string below the 7-string's B — extending the instrument's range downward by a musical fourth. In practical terms, this means:
- Sub-bass riffing: Rhythmic patterns on the low F# string produce fundamentals in the bass guitar range (41Hz at open string), creating a guitar-bass overlap that characterises djent and technical metal's characteristic low-register density
- Extended chord voicings: Eight-string guitarists can create chord voicings that span ranges previously requiring guitar and bass simultaneously
- Tapping patterns: Tosin Abasi's signature two-handed tapping technique exploits the 8-string's full range to create piano-like chord-melody arrangements
The 8-string's wider neck and lower tunings make it unsuitable for most traditional guitar applications. It is specifically designed for players who have mastered 6 and 7-string technique and want compositional range that exceeds what those instruments provide.
Ibanez RG8 — The Entry Point
Price: approximately £500
The Ibanez RG8 is the most accessible production 8-string on the market. The basswood body and Wizard 8 neck profile (Ibanez's established thin, flat cross-section extended to 8 strings) provide a functional starting point for players exploring extended range. The 27" scale length (compared to 25.5" for standard 6-string) maintains adequate tension on the low F# string without requiring extreme string gauges.
The stock Quantum humbuckers are the primary limitation — they lack the output and definition for serious metal playing on the low strings. Most players replace them with EMG-808 (active 8-string) or Seymour Duncan Nazgul/Sentient 8 (passive high-output) within the first year.
The RG8 is an exploratory instrument — it allows players to assess whether 8-string playing suits their compositional goals before investing in a professional-tier instrument. The low price makes the experiment low-risk.
Schecter Hellraiser C-8 — The Professional Mid-Range
Price: approximately £1,000
The Schecter Hellraiser C-8 uses an all-mahogany construction with an EMG-81-8 / EMG-85-8 active pickup set — the correct specification for metal playing on 8-string. The 27" scale length provides tight string response, and the set-neck construction provides better upper-fret access than the Ibanez bolt-on design.
The mahogany body's warm character is balanced by the active EMG pickups' consistent output. For players who want an 8-string that covers both aggressive metal riffing and cleaner, more melodic playing, the mahogany/active combination delivers broader tonal range than basswood alternatives.
The Schecter's build quality at £1,000 is significantly higher than the Ibanez RG8 — fret dressing, tuner quality, and hardware precision are all noticeably better. For players who have confirmed they want to commit to 8-string playing, the Hellraiser C-8 is the correct first serious instrument.
ESP LTD MH-1008 — Active Precision at Mid-Range Price
Price: approximately £950
The ESP LTD MH-1008 brings ESP's construction expertise to the accessible mid-range 8-string market. The through-body neck construction provides superior sustain compared to bolt-on and set-neck alternatives. The EMG active pickup set (EMG-808 or similar 8-string actives) delivers consistent high-output response.
The 27" scale length and ESP's established neck profile (thinner than Schecter's Hellraiser, slightly thicker than Ibanez's Wizard) suit players who find Ibanez necks too thin or Schecter necks too substantial. For players whose 6-string preference is ESP LTD or main-line ESP guitars, the MH-1008 is the natural 8-string extension of their existing ergonomic preference.
Ibanez M8M — The Professional Reference
Price: approximately £1,400
The Ibanez M8M (a reference to Meshuggah's Fredrik Thordendal and the band's 8-string development work with Ibanez) represents the highest-tier production 8-string Ibanez offers outside custom shop work. The mahogany body and fixed bridge (no tremolo, for maximum tuning stability) suit Meshuggah-style rhythmic playing where sustain and stability matter more than pitch manipulation.
The 27" scale length and Wizard 8 neck profile combine the Ibanez neck feel with the additional scale length required for 8-string B standard / F# standard playing. The Bare Knuckle Aftermath pickup set (installed in some M8M configurations) is among the highest-quality 8-string pickup options available.
Multi-Scale 8-String: Fanned Fret Options
Multi-scale (fanned fret) 8-string guitars give each string its individually optimised scale length — the low F# string at 27.7"–28.6" for tight tension, the high E string at 25.5"–26.5" for comfortable upper-register playing. The result is the clearest, most uniform tension across all eight strings.
Kiesel Delos 8 (£1,800–2,500 depending on configuration) — custom-built in San Diego, multi-scale with extensive option customisation. The best multi-scale 8-string value in the market.
Strandberg Boden Metal 8 (£1,800) — headless design with EndurNeck profile and multi-scale. Used by players who prioritise ergonomics alongside extended range.
The adjustment period for multi-scale 8-string is longer than for standard-scale — the angled frets require technique recalibration, particularly for barre chord and legato playing.
Amplification for 8-String Guitar
The low F# string's fundamental frequency (41Hz open) requires amplification that can reproduce sub-bass content without distortion. Standard guitar amplifiers are designed for 6-string range (82Hz at low E open) — the additional octave below this challenges conventional speaker design.
Best amplifiers for 8-string:
- Peavey 6505+ with bass control at 3–4 (reducing sub-bass content)
- Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Modern channel (tightest low-end response)
- Neural DSP Quad Cortex (FRFR — full-range flat response — speakers handle all frequencies cleanly)
FRFR speaker systems (Headrush FRFR-112, £400; Line 6 Powercab 112, £450) are increasingly preferred for 8-string live use — they reproduce the extended low-frequency content without the frequency roll-off inherent in standard guitar speakers.
Internal Links
- Best 7-String Guitar Guide
- Best Guitar for Progressive Metal
- Extended Range Amp Settings
- Best Multi-Effects for Prog
FAQ
Q: What notes does an 8-string add? A: A standard 8-string adds a low F# string below the 7-string's B string — extending range into bass guitar territory. The open F# string produces F#1 (approximately 46Hz). Some players tune this string to E (41Hz), giving a range from E1 to E6 across all eight strings — a full five-octave span on one instrument.
Q: Do I need a multi-scale (fanned fret) 8-string? A: Multi-scale necks compensate for the tension difference between the high and low strings with a longer scale for the bass strings. For standard F# tuning, a 27" fixed-scale 8-string (Ibanez RG8, Schecter Hellraiser C-8) works adequately. For very low tunings (E1 or below), or for players who want the most uniform feel across all strings, multi-scale design improves playability significantly.
Q: What amp sounds best with an 8-string? A: An amp with tight low-end response and controlled bass — Mesa Dual Rectifier Modern channel, Peavey 6505+, or a Neural DSP modeller through FRFR speakers. Full-range response (FRFR) is increasingly preferred for 8-string live use, as standard guitar speakers struggle with the sub-bass fundamentals the low F# string produces.
Q: Is an 8-string for beginners? A: No — the additional string complexity, wider neck (typically 54mm–58mm at the nut compared to 43mm for a standard 6-string), lower tuning demands, and specialised technique requirements all require a foundation of 6 or 7-string technique. Players who have not first mastered 6-string guitar will find 8-string a frustrating rather than productive instrument. Build technique on 6-string first; progress to 7-string before 8-string.