The 8-string guitar has been used by some of the most influential and important guitarists to ever play, like Randy Rhoads, Dimebag Darrell, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Porl Thompson. But, an 8-string guitar is not only for these heavy-handed shredders. It’s also an option for players who want more bass and a fuller sound, as well as those who like to play chords more than they do single-note runs.
With so many 8-string guitars to choose from, we thought it would be helpful to round up the best 8-string electric guitars for players of all levels.
Our Editor’s Best 8-string Electric Guitars Reviews
Ernie Ball Extra Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings – 8-38 Gauge
Key Features:
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The Ernie Ball Slinky 8-string electric guitar is a versatile and powerful instrument that is perfect for shredding and metal styles of playing. With its two extra strings, the Slinky provides a wider range of notes to work with, giving you more options for creating complex and interesting sounding riffs and solos. If you’re looking for an electric guitar that can help you take your playing to the next level, the Slinky is a great choice.
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The 8-string electric guitar is a great choice for shoppers who are looking for a light tension guitar that is easy to play. This guitar is perfect for those who want to experiment with different sounds and styles.
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The 8-string electric guitar is a great choice for the shopper who wants a guitar that will last a long time. The element shield packaging protects the strings from damage and keeps them sounding fresh.
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An 8-string electric guitar is a guitar with eight strings instead of the standard six. They are typically used in metal and rock music. These guitars have a bright, balanced tone and are great for shredding and soloing.
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The 8-string electric guitar is made in California, USA with the finest and freshest materials. This guitar is perfect for the shopper who wants a high-quality and durable instrument.
D’Addario Guitar Strings – NYXL Electric Guitar Strings – NYXL0980 – Unrivaled Strength, Tuning Stability, Enhanced Mid-Range – For 8 String Guitars – 09-80 Super Light 8-String
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The 8-string electric guitar is a great choice for the shopper who wants a premium guitar string. The NYXLs are uncoated electric strings that deliver unrivaled strength and tuning stability. Plus, the enhanced mid-range makes this guitar sound great.
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The 8-string electric guitars have a premium nickel-plated steel wrap wire that provides accentuated frequency response in the 1 – 3.5 kHz range. This gives the shopper more presence and crunch to cut through the mix.
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The 8-string electric guitar has a Fusion Twist technology that assures the strings will stay in tune 131% better than standard strings. The NY Steel core wire makes them up to 40% stronger—bent two whole steps higher. NYXL strings are still at less than 75% of their breaking point.
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The 8-string electric guitar has a code which you can register to earn Players Circle points.
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The 8-string electric guitar is a great choice for the shopper who wants a guitar that is both stylish and practical. This guitar is made in the USA from high quality materials, and it features a comfortable design that makes it easy to play. The 8-string electric guitar is an affordable option that is sure to please the shopper.
Ernie Ball Extra Slinky Classic Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings, 8-38 Gauge (P02255)
Key Features:
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The 8-string electric guitar is a guitar that has eight strings instead of the usual six. The extra strings allow for a wider range of notes to be played, and give the guitar a richer, fuller sound. These guitars were popular in the 1950s and 1960s, and were typically strung with pure nickel strings.
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The 8-string electric guitar produces a warm, vintage tone that is perfect for the shopper who wants a classic sound. This guitar is perfect for those who want to play classic rock or blues.
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The 8-string electric guitar is a great choice for shoppers who want a fast and easy play across the fretboard. The Extra Slinky brings extra light tension to the guitar, making it even easier to play.
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The 8-string electric guitar has a signature slinky feel that is perfect for the shopper who wants a guitar that is easy to play. The guitar has a sleek design and is made of high-quality materials that make it durable and long-lasting.
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The guitar is made in California, USA with the finest and freshest materials. It is an 8-string electric guitar that is perfect for any shopper.
D’Addario Guitar Strings – ProSteels Electric Guitar Strings – Round Wound – Brighter, Crunchier, Increased Sustain – EPS530 – Extra-Super Light, 8-38
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The 8-string electric guitar is a great choice for the shopper who wants a bright, clear sound. The strings are made of high-quality materials and are designed to produce a bright, clean tone. The guitar has a solid body and a comfortable neck that makes it easy to play. The guitar also comes with a hard case that protects it from damage.
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An 8-string electric guitar with stainless steel wrap wire that produces an enhanced interaction with magnetic pickups, creating an extraordinarily bright tone that will cut through any mix.
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The 8-string electric guitars have a Hex-Core, which ensures perfect intonation, consistent feel, and reliable durability.
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The 8-string electric guitar is a great choice for the shopper who wants to earn rewards points. The guitar has a code on the recyclable VCI bag which can be registered to earn Players Circle points.
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The guitar is made in the USA and the strings are made to the company’s specifications.
Ernie Ball 8-String Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings, 9-80 Gauge (P02624)
Key Features:
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8-string electric guitars are precision manufactured to the highest standards and most exacting specifications to ensure consistency, optimum performance, and long life.
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This is an 8-string electric guitar. It is made from nickel-plated steel wire wrapped around a hex-shaped steel core wire. The plain strings are made of specially tempered tin-plated high-carbon steel, resulting in a bright and well-balanced tone.
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The 8-string electric guitar has a signature slinky feel to it that makes it a great choice for the shopper. It has a great sound and is very versatile.
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The 8-string electric guitar is a great choice for the shopper who wants a versatile instrument. With eight strings, this guitar can be played in a variety of styles, from rock to metal to jazz. The gauges on the strings vary from .009 to .080, so the shopper can choose the right tension for their playing style.
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The 8-string electric guitar is a high-quality instrument made in the USA with only the best materials. It has a powerful sound and is perfect for any rock or metal genre.
D’Addario Guitar Strings – XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings – EXL130 – Perfect Intonation, Consistent Feel, Reliable Durability – For 6 String Guitars – 08-38 Extra Super Light
Key Features:
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The BESTSELLING SET – XL Nickel are electric guitar strings that have been revered by players since 1974.
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The 8-string electric guitar is a versatile instrument that can be used for a variety of genres. The nickel-plated steel wrap wire provides a bright, versatile tone that is great for a variety of musical genres.
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The 8-string electric guitar is perfect for those who want the ultimate performance. The strings are made with a proprietary Hex-Core, ensuring perfect intonation, consistent feel, and reliable durability.
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The 8-string electric guitar has a code on the recyclable VCI bag, which you can register to earn Players Circle points.
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These 8-string electric guitars are made in the USA, and are drawn to exacting specifications at a New York production facility.
Ernie Ball Extra Slinky Cobalt Electric Guitar Strings, 8-38 Gauge (P02725)
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The 8-string electric guitar is made with a cobalt alloy that produces a stronger magnetic relationship between pickups and strings. This results in better sound quality and tone. The guitar is also equipped with a tremolo bar, making it easy to create vibrato and other effects.
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The Cobalt electric guitar strings are perfect for those who want an extended dynamic range, incredible harmonic response, strong low end, and crisp, clear highs. These strings will provide you with everything you need to create beautiful music.
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The 8-string electric guitar has Ernie Ball’s Cobalt alloy wound around a tin-plated high-carbon steel core wire. This makes the strings last longer and gives them a brighter sound.
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The 8-string electric guitar is a great choice for shoppers who are looking for a guitar with extra light tension for easy play across the fretboard. This guitar is also equipped with extra strings for added versatility and style.
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This 8-string electric guitar was made in California, USA with the finest and freshest materials. It is a high-quality guitar that will provide you with a great playing experience.
Elixir Strings 8-String Electric Guitar Strings with Optiweb Coating, Light (.010-.074)
Key Features:
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The 8-string electric guitar is perfect for the shopper who wants a durable and reliable instrument. The strings are constructed with nickel-plated steel wrap wire, making them resistant to wear and tear.
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If you’re looking for an 8-string electric guitar that will give you the same crisp tone as an uncoated string, this is the perfect option for you. This guitar has a sleek design and is built to last, so you can enjoy your playing for years to come.
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The Optiweb Coating provides a natural feel to this 8-string electric guitar, making it a great choice for the shopper looking for a guitar that feels good to play.
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This 8-string electric guitar has a coating technology that protects against common corrosion and debris buildup. This makes the tone life of the guitar longer than any other brand’s coated or uncoated strings.
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This set of 8-string electric guitars has anti-rust plating on the plain steel strings, which ensures longer tone life for the entire set.
Ernie Ball 2225 Nickel Extra Slinky Electric Guitar Strings Gauge 8-38 3 Pack
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Ibanez RG8 8-String Electric Guitar White
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The guitar has an 8-string model neck type with a Wizard II-8 5pc Maple/Walnut neck. The body is made of Mahogany and the fretboard is Rosewood with a White dot inlay. The guitar has Jumbo frets and a Fixed bridge. The neck pickup is an IBZ-8 (H) neck pickup (Passive/Ceramic) and the bridge pickup is an IBZ-8 (H) bridge pickup (Passive/Ceramic). The guitar is tuned to 1D#, 2A#, 3F#, 4C#, 5G#, 6D#, 7A#, 8F. The case is sold separately.
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The RG8 Electric Guitar is an Ibanez 8-string guitar that is designed to be affordable.
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The Ibanez RG8 is an 8-string electric guitar that offers the same advantages as the Ibanez RG series, including the famous slim, fast, and ultra-playable Wizard neck. This makes it a great choice for those who want to add an extra string or two to their guitar playing.
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The Ibanez 8-string electric guitar is a great choice for the musician who wants a wide range of sound. The basswood body and fixed bridge provide great sustain, while the specially designed humbucking pickups reproduce all the wide frequencies of the 8-string.
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The Ibanez GRX70QA is an 8-string electric guitar that is both reliable and affordable. It is a great option for beginners or those looking for a budget-friendly 8-string guitar.
8-string Electric Guitars FAQs
1. What is the difference between an 8-string electric guitar and a regular guitar?
The main difference between an electric guitar and a regular guitar is that an electric guitar uses electricity to amplify the sound, while a regular guitar does not.
2. What are the benefits of playing an 8-string electric guitar?
Some benefits of playing an electric guitar are that they are relatively easy to learn how to play, they are portable, and they can be used in a wide range of genres. Electric guitars can also be played without an amplifier, which makes them ideal for practice and travel.
3. How do you tune an 8-string electric guitar?
The easiest way to tune an electric guitar is by using an electronic tuner. You can also tune your guitar by ear, although this can be more challenging for beginners. To tune your guitar by ear, start by playing the low E string and tuning it to the note of E on a piano or another reference note. Once the low E string is in tune, you can then tune the other strings by referencing the low E string. For example, the A string should be tuned to the fifth fret of the low E string.
4. What kind of music is best suited for an 8-string electric guitar?
There is no definitive answer to this question as different people will have different preferences. Some people might prefer classical music or jazz, while others might prefer rock or metal. Ultimately, it depends on what the player is most comfortable with and what sounds best to them.
5. What are some of the best 8-string electric guitars on the market?
Some of the best string electric guitars on the market include the Fender Stratocaster, the Gibson Les Paul, and the Ibanez RG.
Conclusion
There are many great 8-string electric guitars on the market. Our list of the best 8-string electric guitars will help you save time researching and choosing the best one for you.