You can't go wrong with that for a first 8. About 4 years ago I bought my first and still only 8 string and it was the RG2228. I wish they had made it in white back then! Only downside is those EMG 808's. I bought Seymour Duncan Blackouts as soon as they came out, because not many people were making 8 string pickups back then, especially for the soapbar sized route.