It's perfectly fine to play metal on a six-string guitar. But when you want expanded range and seemingly endless tonal potential, an 8-string electric guitar might be the better choice. There aren't as many 8-string guitars out there compared to 6-string guitars, but if you take your time looking, you can find the perfect instrument to level up your playing game. Here are our selections for the best 8 string guitars.
Our Picks for the Best 8 String Guitars
Best Value
Schecter Omen 8
Best Playability
Schecter C8 Multiscale
Most Versatile
Ibanez RG-8
Strandberg Boden Metal 8 Sarah Longfield Edition - Best for Metal
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This stunning 8-string is the signature guitar of Sarah Longfield, a metal guitarist who got her start on YouTube. She has been named one of the best 7-string and 8-string guitarists in the world by Guitar World magazine.
This guitar has an unusual body for a metal instrument -- it's a chambered basswood/maple body that gives you an impressive balance between warmth and bright clarity. It features Strandberg's patented EndurNeck, a neck whose trapezoid profile lets you play with a relaxed grip.
When it comes to tonal versatility, this guitar is a beast. It's equipped with two active Fluence Modern humbuckers. Both are coil-tap equipped, and a dual-voicing switch lets you effortlessly change the guitar's tonal profile. The 3-way pickup selection lets you use one or both of the pickups.
Our Star Rating
We think the electric guitar is the best instrument for metal on the list, and we give it five stars out of five.
Schecter C-8 Multiscale Silver Mountain - Best Playability
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Schecter is a giant when it comes to producing electric guitars for rock and metal, and the Schecter C-8 is the perfect instrument for fast-playing shredders. Thanks to its extremely thin slim-C neck profile and the especially slick ebony fingerboard, it's easy to play fast.
The C-8 is also made with what's perhaps the most popular tonewood for metal -- mahogany. This wood offers an incredible mix of sustain, bite, and tonal thickness. The neck is also made of mahogany, which adds even further depth to the tone.
And in terms of pickups, this 8-string is very well equipped. Its Schecter USA Sonic-Seducer humbuckers give you a high-gain tone that manages to be remarkably articulate, too. Individual volume controls and a 3-way pickup selector switch make it easy to quickly tweak your tone.
This eight-string is also designed to be a standout on stage. The striking silver mountain finish is accented by black hardware for the perfect rock/metal look.
Our Star Rating
We think the Schecter C-8 has the best playability of all of our selections. We give it 4.5 stars out of five.
ESP LTD EC-258 -- Best Budget Option
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Many 8-string electric guitars are somewhat expensive. But if you don't have a lot to spend or just want to try out an 8-string electric guitar, then this offering from ESP is the way to go.
Considering its price range, the EC-258 has some high-end touches. The body and neck are both made of mahogany, and most guitars in this price range come with a basswood body or a body of similar wood. The EC-258 also has a set neck that offers great sustain compared to bolt-on necks.
This guitar is also a great choice if you like a somewhat non-traditional aesthetic. Rather than the more common double-cutaway body, it has a single-cutaway body similar to that of a Les Paul. And in terms of electronics, the two ESP humbuckers offer a decently powerful tone. The volume and tone controls give you great options for sonic sculpting -- each pickup has its own volume control, and both are controlled with one master tone knob.
The neck on this 8-string is not multiscale, which may be an issue for players who often use drop tunings. However, this neck does make it an easier transition from a traditional six-string.
Our Star Rating
We think the ESP LTD EC-258 is the best affordable guitar out of all of our selections. It gets four stars out of five.
Ibanez RG8 -- Most Versatile
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The Ibanez RG Series is a collection of fast-playing electric guitars perfect for a range of genres. They blend affordability, quality construction, and versatility. The Ibanez RG8 is a great example of an affordable guitar that offers plenty of value. Like most affordable 8-string guitars, this one does not have a multiscale neck. However, it's made with the acclaimed Ibanez Wizard II neck shape. This extra-thin neck is ideal for shredding, but it gives you playability that makes any genre a breeze. The five-piece maple and walnut neck is a surprising high-end touch.
Considering the price, this 8-string has an impressive build quality. Its body is solid mahogany, and the string-through-body and hardtail bridge gives it excellent sustain. It's equipped with two Ibanez humbuckers, and a volume and tone control lets you customize your tone. These humbuckers are specially designed for 8-string guitars, and the combination of startlingly deep low-end, and bright highs make it an ideal choice for metal, rock, and even fusion music. The affordable 8-string guitars in the Ibanez RG Series make it easy to achieve sounds like the band Animals as Leaders, a band featuring Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes playing Ibanez 8-string guitars.
Our Star Rating
Thanks to the versatility of its electronics and its incredible playability, we think the Ibanez RG8 is the most playable instrument on the list. We give it four stars out of five.
Jackson X Series Dinky Arch Top DKAF8 MS -- Best Neck
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This 8-string guitar comes from the Jackson X Series. And as 8-string guitars go, it's fairly affordable, especially for one with a multiscale neck. This Dinky model has a slim maple neck that's reinforced with graphite. These two features make it extremely resistant to warping. A maple neck is typically harder than a neck made of another wood type, and the graphite reinforcement makes it less likely to experience bowing.
Especially considering its somewhat low price, this is a beautiful 8-string electric guitar. The arched top both adds visual interest and makes it more ergonomically playable, and the natural mahogany finish contrasts beautifully with the black hardware. And the combination of a multiscale neck with a scale length of 26"-28" and a compound radius fretboard makes it highly playable, both in terms of drop tuning and in playing string bends.
Our Star Rating
We think this eight-string has the best neck on the list. We give it 3.5 out of five stars.
Schecter Omen-8 -- Best Value
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You already know that Schecter has made a name for itself producing quality 8-string guitars. And part of the brand's appeal is the fact that it makes both six-string and 8-string guitars for every price range.
Still, even though the Schecter Omen-8 is an affordable 8-string guitar, its build quality is surprisingly good. The bolt-on maple neck has a beautiful and durable rosewood fingerboard. The body is lightweight basswood, which may not be right for every player. However, if you prefer an 8-string guitar with a slightly brighter sound, a basswood body is a great choice.
The Omen-8 has Diamond Plus humbuckers that are controlled by a three-way pickup selector, a single volume control, and single tone control. While it may not be as versatile as some 8-string guitars, we think the Schecter Omen-8 is an excellent first 8-string.
Our Star Rating
We think the Schecter Omen-8 is the best value 8-string guitar on the list. We give it four stars out of five.
ESP LTD Javier Reyes Signature JR-608 -- Best Signature Model
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We've already mentioned Animals as Leaders, a band led by accomplished progressive metal guitarist Javier Reyes. Reyes worked steadily with ESP to develop this beautiful and great-sounding 8-string guitar. the JR-608 has a comfortable offset body with a somewhat unusual build. It has a solid swamp ash body, and the maple top is quilted. This combination gives this eight-string incredible versatility, and it always remains articulate.
The five-piece walnut, padauk, and maple neck run through the body, maximizing the transfer of energy from the strings to the body. The thin U shape of the neck makes it extremely comfortable to play.
Somewhat surprisingly, this 8-string guitar does not have a multiscale neck. But it does have another advantage -- the 27" baritone scale length gives you an exceptionally extended range. When you play the lower strings, you get a stunningly deep, growling bass response.
Our Star Rating
This 8-string guitar is arguably the best signature model of our selections. It gets four stars out of five.
Schecter Banshee Elite-8 -- Best Midrange
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Schecter makes some of the best 8-string guitar models out there, and the Banshee Elite-8 is an outstanding midrange option. The longer 28" scale length gives you an impressive range, and the ultra-thin C walnut and maple neck is incredibly playable.
This eight-string also has a somewhat uncommon build --a swamp ash body is crowned with a maple top. Swamp ash offers a tone that's a little brighter than mahogany, and the maple top imparts a crispness and a sharp attack to your sound. And like many Schecter guitars, it has excellent appointments including a compensated melamine nut, locking tuners, and black hardware. Its two humbuckers are controlled by a master volume and master tone, as well as a five-way pickup selector.
Our Star Rating
We think the Schecter Banshee Elite-8 is the best midrange 8-string guitar on the list. We give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Jackson X Series Soloist ArchTop SLAT8 -- Best for Down-Tuned Playing
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This is another guitar from Jackson's X Series. And despite its affordable price, this eight-string is a metal machine. Its multiscale neck has a scale length ranging from 26" to 28", and its compound radius makes it comfortable to play, too.
The SLAT8 comes with active pickups, which is somewhat rare for more affordable eight-string guitars. It has an EMG 909 Treble pickup and an EMG 909 Bass pickup. There's a 3-way pickup switch and a master tone and master volume control.
Our Star Rating
Thanks to its multiscale neck and longer scale length, this one is the best 8-string for down-tuned playing. We give it 3.5 out of five stars.
Strandberg Boden True Temperament 8 -- Most Innovative Design
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Strandberg is already known as an innovator in the 8-string guitar world, but this guitar has a unique design that can overhaul your sound. It's made with True Temperament frets. That means that the fret spacing is optimized for each string in order to make them sound more in tune with each other. It's an ideal setup if you frequently play chords with complex voicings.
Our Star Rating
We think this is the best 8-string guitar when it comes to innovative design, and we give it five out of five stars.
Ibanez Meshuggah Signature M80M -- Best Single-Pickup Design
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Most of the best 8-string guitar models we've covered have two humbuckers, but this signature model is unique in that it only has one. However, the M8P humbucker was specifically designed for this guitar. It's a low-output design that places special emphasis on the low end, making it ideal for drop-tuned playing. And the longer 29.4" scale length is similarly suited for down-tuned metal.
Jumbo frets give you plenty of space to play, and a unique locking nut makes sure you stay in tune. The five-piece neck is reinforced with titanium rods to maintain optimal tension.
Our Star Rating
We think this is the best 8-string guitar made with a single pickup. We give it four stars out of five.
Ibanez Standard RG80F -- Best Low-Noise Guitar
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Any high-gain guitar is going to produce some amount of noise. However, if you're someone who wants to minimize the amount of noise the pickups on your guitar generate, you'll need to choose your guitar carefully. The Ibanez Standard RG80F is a newer 8-string guitar, and its Fishman Fluence Modern humbuckers result in virtually no unwanted noise.
However, this guitar has an unusual body -- it's made of meranti. Meranti is a strong wood that isn't particularly known for its tonal properties. That's somewhat surprising in a guitar at this price range. But the five-piece maple and walnut neck is sleek and fast-playing, and the fixed bridge gives you great sustain.
Our Star Rating
We think this is the best low-noise guitar on the list. We give it three and a half stars out of five.
Value Editorial and Buying Debates
As with buying any guitar, buying an 8-string guitar requires you to consider many different aspects of the instrument. Here's what you need to keep in mind.
Multi-Scale Or Standard?
Since the neck of an 8-string is wider than that of a 6-string, some manufacturers opt to make the neck a multi-scale. This means each string has its own scale length. Multi-scale guitars have an advantage when it comes to drop-tuning -- they keep enough string tension on the lower strings so your technique isn't affected. They also improve intonation. These necks can take some getting used to, but they're ideal for serious metal players.
Tonewood Choices
You may already know that plenty of metal players prefer the dark, thick sound of mahogany. But mahogany isn't your only option. If you like a slightly brighter sound, basswood has an advantage. It's also lightweight enough to not cause you undue stress on stage.
Poplar is also a popular choice when it comes to metal guitars. It doesn't have quite the tonal darkness of mahogany, but it still has plenty of bite and decent sustain.
Pickups And Sound
Many guitarists want instruments with excellent tonal versatility. And due to the high-gain nature of metal, most prefer humbuckers. Some 8-string guitars (usually higher-end ones) come equipped with a coil tap, which effectively lets you split the pickup into two.
Some guitars also have a voicing switch. This switch lets you slightly change the tone of your guitar, although it's a relatively uncommon option. Most do come with at least three-way pickup switching, which lets you use the neck pickup, bridge pickup, or both.
In Conclusion
So what is the best 8-string guitar? There's no single best option, but our top pick is the Strandberg Boden True Temperament. This guitar combines a multiscale neck, a compound radius fingerboard, and unique frets designed to keep all strings in tune with one another. We also think the Strandberg Boden Metal 8 Sarah Longfield Edition is a worthy runner-up, as it offers unparalleled playability with a beautiful finish.
And if you're looking to spend a little less, we also like the ESP LTD Javier Reyes Signature JR-608. This ESP model is one of the most comfortable playable guitars on the list, and the unique swamp ash and maple body give you a beautifully balanced tone.
