Questoin 8-String players

[ddawson2012]

ALL - we had a survey up last week and got a ton of 7-string players responding - thanks to those of you that participated. We're extending the survey but we'd like to hear from 8-string players exclusively if that's possible. We'd like to know what works for you and what doesn't. The goal would be to release a set later this year, that works for the largest number of players.

We'll also be giving away a custom NYXL 8-String set to a random player -

http://www.daddario.com/8stringsurvey

Thanks

Don Dawson
Product Marketing Specialist
D'Addario

 

[Noxon]

Done! If you guys could make a 9-46 with a 60 and 80 set, I think you would make a lot of us happy. Building sets from singles kinda sucks. Oh, and if you could make them just a hair longer for us baritone, reverse headstock 8 players, we would love you forever.

 

[lewis]

ALL - we had a survey up last week and got a ton of 7-string players responding - thanks to those of you that participated. We're extending the survey but we'd like to hear from 8-string players exclusively if that's possible. We'd like to know what works for you and what doesn't. The goal would be to release a set later this year, that works for the largest number of players.

We'll also be giving away a custom NYXL 8-String set to a random player -

http://www.daddario.com/8stringsurvey

Thanks

Don Dawson
Product Marketing Specialist
D'Addario

I too would love what the poster above me is after gauge wise but I would be interested in something thicker than 80 IMO on the bottom. But interms of balance what is suggested would be great.

 

[bostjan]

When you say 8-string players exclusively, to be clear, you mean you only wish to hear from people who play eight strings, not that you wish to hear from people who only play eight strings, right?

In other words, if I play seven and eight string guitars, should I take the survey?

Thanks

 

[AxelKay]

The survey is intended for US citizens only.

 

[Noxon]

The survey is intended for US citizens only.

It doesn't say that anywhere...

 

[Zhysick]

The survey is for everyone. The contest/prize is for US citizens.

Done.

The bigger problem I have with the Ernie Ball set (9-80) is that the 80 isn't long enough (the tappered section starts in the middle of my second fret... my guitar have a 31" scale lol)

If D'Addario solve this, I would start buying D'addario stings again... I prefer them ofer Ernie Ball but I bought this ones because of the "right" string gauges (never thought the thicker string won't be long enough because my guitar is headless so no string thru body but... anyway...)

 

[sevenstringj]

They differ a bit from the string tension calc someone provided here awhile back. Now I get (for 28" scale):

0.0090 in. 15.84 lbs
0.0120 in. 15.81 lbs
0.0160 in. 15.77 lbs
0.0240 in. 18.96 lbs
0.0320 in. 18.69 lbs
0.0440 in. 18.82 lbs
0.0590 in. 19.14 lbs
0.0800 in. 18.99 lbs

Still very well balanced in the wounds (I prefer lighter plains), but I'll definitely use your calculator for your strings from now on.

Fwiw, for E-flat I use Circle K or Labella wounds (with an .082 or 0.84 on the bottom).

 

[Hertz32]

Make some thicker strings than .80, and make a 9 string set please!!!
Also, if you could wind the strings longer that would be amazing. I had a long converation with your PR department about how I was unhappy with the length of the string and the guy couldnt help me.
I play with a string through, reverse headstock 30" scale 8 string and my bottom 80 only JUST fits. I dont have to cut it at all.

 

[Hertz32]

Don't do the whole balanced tension thing, have heavy on the bottom and light on top. 90-9 if you could do it! Balanced tension is a classical concept that is misapplied to guitar.

 

[HanSulu]

Done!!!


I agree with Noxon, my set differs slightly from his but the same general idea is what I would like to see.

Building a set from singles isn't too fun

 

[Explorer]

I currently use the Ernie Ball 2837 set for 6-string bass for my lowest strings, as it fits my tension requirements *and* has a .090 with a guitar ball end, but I use D'Addario strings on every other instrument (including acoustic guitar, mando family instruments, banjo, and even hammered dulcimer).

I'd happily use D'Addario strings for my five 8-strings, both 25.5" and 28.625, if a .090 with a guitar ball end was available, and would be even more thrilled if a .125 was available for my future 10-string.

 

[teamSKDM]

Definitely length as many 8s have scale lengths of even 30 inches, like the popular meshuggah model so length is a huge factor. As far as guages go there should be 2 sets, one for the shorter scale guys (27" , 10-50 with a 62 and 84) and then for the guys with longer longer scales making sure the string is long enough, id say maybe do a 9-46 with a 56 and 78. I wish i had the calculator for tension butbut this sounds good in my head right now, might change it around once i pull up a tension calculator. For tonality if the strings in an ideal world, the thicker wound strings should be as bright as possible and higher strings as sweet and smoothe sounding as possible Since tge scale lengths make them brittle in tonality.

 

[luca9583]

ALL - we had a survey up last week and got a ton of 7-string players responding - thanks to those of you that participated. We're extending the survey but we'd like to hear from 8-string players exclusively if that's possible. We'd like to know what works for you and what doesn't. The goal would be to release a set later this year, that works for the largest number of players.

We'll also be giving away a custom NYXL 8-String set to a random player -

http://www.daddario.com/8stringsurvey

Thanks

Don Dawson
Product Marketing Specialist
D'Addario

Hi Don, in addition to releasing whole string sets for extended range guitars, it would be great for D'Addario to expand the guitar singles to heavier gauges than .080. For example, going up to .120 for guitar strings would be awesome, considering that there are several 9 string guitars in the market now. This would also be sonically beneficial to maintain tonal consistency for all strings, rather than, for example, using a mixture of string brands (each with their own tonal qualities) all on one instrument

Longer string length, as mentioned in other posts above, would also be a great addition for instruments with scale lengths of 30" or longer.

 

[Alice AKW]

Done the survey.

I agree with the concerns of length as mentioned above.

As for gauges, variety is a lot of the reason I'm gravitated toward a certain other brand of guitar strings. Being able to pick any gauge from .007 or .008 all the way up to .125 even is something I value a lot when looking for strings for my extended range instruments. There are so many tunings, scale lengths, and tension preferences, that an individual having to tailor their instruments and play style to their strings as opposed to tailoring their strings to their instrument and play style seems only logical to me.

 

[Chokey Chicken]

Length is always great. Not sure how D'addario's are, but I have an inline 7 headstock on a 28 5/8 scale length and I'm worried to venture away from the EB's I use because they just barely fit. It'd be nice knowing that scale length wouldn't hinder my choice in strings if I decided to get a long scale 8.

As far as gauges, I'm a black sheep I guess. I use pretty light gauges for whole step down tuning on a 26.5. I like the sound of brand new sorta-floppy strings. I'm guessing I'm not the target of this info-harvest. Haha.

 

[SilentCartographer]

Done!

 

[Ian_yay]

Currently I've been using 11-80, so I'd want something like that or maybe an 11-85.

 

[that short guy]

And submitted

Nifty little calculator. Here's what my set came out at

D# 0.0100 in. @ 16.200 lbs
A# 0.0130 in. @ 15.370 lbs
F# 0.0170 in. @ 16.560 lbs
C# 0.0280 in. @ 21.090 lbs
G# 0.0380 in. @ 20.930 lbs
D# 0.0500 in. @ 19.660 lbs
A# 0.0660 in. @ 19.770 lbs
F 0.0900 in. @ 19.550 lbs

 

[7stg]

Must make longer strings, especially for the thicker strings as the double wrap comes up short often before the nut.

A set starting with an 8.5 would be awesome.

9 and 10 string sets would be good too, add a C#1 .090/.092/.094 and G#0 .125 @~17.2lbs



This should be close, but may need a little tweaking for feel and tonal balance.
29.4 inch scale
standard tuning
Gauge – Unit weight – Tension
68 - 0.00084614 - 16.19459687 – or - 70 - 0.00089304 - 17.0922339 - or - 66 - 0.00079889 - 15.29026106
52 - 0.00048109 - 16.40637277 – or – 53 ? ? - or - 54 - 0.00053838 - 18.36010512
38 - 0.00026471 - 16.08477251 – or – 39 - 0.00027932 - 16.97253091
28 - 0.00014666 - 15.8786869 - 30 is 18.6lbs
21 - 0.00008293 - 15.9982655
14 - 0.00004342 - 14.92482966 – or – 14.5 ? ? - or - 15 - 0.00004984 - 17.13158707
11 - 0.0000268 - 14.62315293 – or - 11.5 - 0.0000293 - 15.98725302
8.5 - 0.00001601 - 15.56524244

64 - 0.00074984 - 14.35147436
49 - 0.00043014 - 14.66885029
36 - 0.00023964 - 14.56142528
26 - 0.00012671 - 13.71872643
20 - 0.00007495 - 14.45882068
13.5 - 0.00004037 - 13.87644803
10.5 - 0.00002442 - 13.32452965
08 - 0.00001418 - 13.78607981


30 inch scale
standard tuning
Gauge – Unit weight – Tension
68 - 0.00084614 - 16.86234577 – or - 70 - 0.00089304 - 17.7969949 – or - 66 - 0.00079889 - 15.92072164
52 - 0.00048109 - 17.08285378 – or – 53 ? ? - or - 54 -0.00053838 - 19.11714402
38 - 0.00026471 - 16.74799304 – or – 39 - 0.00027932 - 17.67235622
28 - 0.00014666 - 16.53340994 - 30 is 19.4 lbs
21 - 0.00008293 - 16.65791909
14 - 0.00004342 - 15.54022247 – or – 14.5 ? ? - or - 15 - 0.00004984 - 17.83797071
11 - 0.0000268 - 15.22610676 – or - 11.5 - 0.0000293 - 16.64645254
8.5 - 0.00001601 - 16.20704128

64 - 0.00074984 - 14.94322612
49 - 0.00043014 - 15.27368834
36 - 0.00023964 - 15.1618339
26 - 0.00012671 - 14.2843882
20 - 0.00007495 - 15.05499863
13.5 - 0.00004037 - 14.44861311
10.5 - 0.00002442 - 13.87393758
08 - 0.00001418 - 14.35451876