NGD! My First 8 String!

[RLG167]

I just picked up my first ERG, a Jackson JS32-8Q, got it for a steal at $250. just wanted to get some general knowledge of ERG's. Obviously I'm familiar with 6 and 7 strings, but just if you have any advice to throw at me, go ahead. I just have one question; what is a typical 8 string scale length? This is about the same as my LP, about 24.5". I thought they had a longer length for the extra strings.
thanks guys

 

[Daunicornslayer]

It has a 26.5 inch scale length. My rg8 has a 27 so you should be alright to tune to f# with the right strings but you'll run into issues going lower. Typical scale length on an 8 isn't really established. Most commercial brands throw out 27in guitars but a lot of people insist that its too short.

 

[RLG167]

here's a pic

 

[RLG167]

the pic doesn't do it justice, the red quilt maple is gorgeous. It was used, but mint. The last owner probably had it for a few days. No chips, dings, dents, scratches, or even fingerprint smudges.

 

[Eclipse]

the pic doesn't do it justice, the red quilt maple is gorgeous. It was used, but mint. The last owner probably had it for a few days. No chips, dings, dents, scratches, or even fingerprint smudges.

Then post a few more pics! It's hard to capture the beauty of guitars in a picture sometimes anyway. Especially if you are like me and don't have a super nice camera.

HNGD though!

 

[Hachetjoel]

hngd, welcome to the world of eight

 

[RLG167]

thanks guys! I'm really liking it so far. Earlier today I had band practice and in one of our songs there's a short bass only part and while we were playing through it during that part I stepped on my distortion pedal and flicked my pick away and played the bass part on just the F# and B strings and everyone cracked up the bassist said "what the f***?" And I swear he was laughing so hard I thought he was going to puke!!! This is definitely one of my favorite guitars!

 

[RLG167]

a small shop about 30min. from me has an Ibanez RG8 used in great condition for $249. Is that a good deal? I don't know if any of you guys have played them and think I should save up for a better one? They also have an Agile 8 with neck-through and active pickups used for $650. Its in okay shape, just a few dings and chips

 

[Ibanez RG7321]

I picked mine up BRAND NEW for 250 shipped. Id say keep looking for a new one

 

[RLG167]

another small shop around here is a Dean dealer and they can get me a Custom 850X for $399, but I have $300 in store credit there so I would only have to pay $100+tax. Has anyone used one before? Is it a gigging or more practice guitar?

 

[vick1000]

If you are digging the jackson, why are you lokoing for another 8? I can only recommend Jackson and Ibanez guitars from Indonesia at those prices. The RG8 has one of the best necks ever put on a "budget" guitar, but as with all of these Indo-China guitars, you need a good return/swap policy, or be able to live with some defects.

 

[RLG167]

I've had very good luck with Dean guitars and since I had $300 worth of credit at the store I had them order me the Custom 850X. If I don't like it, I will at least use it for modding. New pups, re-contour the neck, make it a set-neck, maybe even a Floyd Rose if I can find one that comes in an 8 string model. So thanks for your input guys, I appreciate it. And if the other store still had the used RG8 I may get that at some point. I don't know what it is, but ever since I got this 8-string Jackson I haven't even touched any of my 6 or 7 strings. All I play now is the 8 string. There's just something about it that I love. Hell, I would even go as far as to say its my favorite guitar, out of my two acoustics, my four 6 string electrics, and my two 7 strings. They range from Epiphones to top-of-the-line Deans, to vintage Martins, but for some reason I love this 8 string the most. Even though its actually my cheapest guitar lol

 

[RLG167]

but since i started this thread as a kind of "im new to ERG's' sort of thing, i was going to ask, and this is a total noob question lol, what are some basic chords on an 8-string? I have it tuned F#, B, E, A, D, G, B, e. Maybe if there is already a thread about this could someone point me to it? I couldn't find anything.
thanks

 

[vick1000]

Your chords are the same as on a 6 string, unless you mean "new" chords, which is up to your imagination and what you like to hear in a chord. Just because it's extended range, does not mean it alters the fundimentals of music.

 

[RLG167]

I asked because I tried normal chords and it just sounded weird when I did them down near the F# and B strings. First, I adjusted the pickup height, what a difference that made! Then I realized that I tuned it wrong. For some reason I tuned it F instead of F# and I did it by ear from there so it got completely messed up. I finally used my electronic tuner and fixed everything! It sounds absolutely fantastic now! I also ordered a Dean C850X that just got here a couple days ago and I love that one too. I actually modded it, I painted the fretboard, sanded down the neck near the higher frets a little bit and most importantly, I took out those stupid bolts and glued the neck in. I'm so happy with my 8's, I think I'm going to get another. I'm looking at the BC Rich Warlock Lucky 8. I know BC Rich guitars with bolt-on necks aren't the best, but I have experience with taking cheap guitars and making them solid gig'ers. I'm trying to sell my old Epi Les Paul to fund the BCR 8. I'm in a Metalcore band so a traditional old-school LP doesn't fit in very well lol. Thanks for your help everyone!

 

[sevenstringj]

NGD! My First 8 String!

I just picked up my first ERG, a Jackson JS32-8Q.

2 days later...

I had them order me the Dean Custom 850X.

 

[Go To Bed Jessica]

Look at this guy go - he's unstoppable!

Sounds like you're a convert to the 8 string, man. It is a great instrument and can be used in so many different ways.

Since you were asking about chords - the simple route for me was drop E tuning (EBEADGBe). Having that low string as another E just makes so much more sense to my tiny guitar player brain than having a damn F# there.

Since you're going hog-wild buying 8 string guitars, do check out something with a longer scale at some point. A lot of the newer Schecter stuff is 28" and there are a heap of affordable Agiles at 28+" scales. The longer scale does a lot for the clarity of the low string/s and brings back that snappy response which can be hard to achieve with shorter scales (unless you are a light string kinda guy).

Sounds like you're having a lot of fun with it though.

 

[RLG167]

2 days later...

Damn right it did! 8 string guitars are so much fun, I can't believe in my seven years playing this is the first time I've gotten one. And I just got the dean in so naturally I took the neck off, shaved down the heel, and glued the neck back on. And somehow it still works