Yesterday I played one of the $1,000 LTD 8-string guitars in Sam Ash. I believe the 8th string was tuned to E, resulting in an added low octave.
http://www.samash.com/webapp/wcs/st...k_-1_10052_10002_-49958719_cmCategorySA-10001
Let me say that this was perhaps the most "pointless" musical instrument I have ever played. There was so much stuff wrong with this guitar. It's nothing like a 7-string with an added string... There is a slight "flare" on the separations between the strings, meaning that the strings are closer together at the nut & there is more space between them at the bridge. This doesn't really mean anything though, because the strings are extremely close together no matter where you are on the neck. Shredding is nigh impossible on this hunk of junk by both the right & the left hand. I don't even have big hands & I'm fretting two strings at once on this thing, almost as easily as you would on a 12-string for example. Picking with the strings so close together is something that one must relearn while playing on this "thing".
All this & I haven't even touched on the terrible sound of the guitar. Even the 5th & 6th strings sound like complete ass, not to mention the lower strings. There is no note definition when you're playing in this low of an octave on the guitar. Even if one "needed" to play in this low an octave I don't see why they wouldn't get a barritone modded 6-7 string. Hell, I don't even see that big of a problem with an 8-string concept, just put some fucking space in between the strings at the very least!!!
http://www.samash.com/webapp/wcs/st...k_-1_10052_10002_-49958719_cmCategorySA-10001
Let me say that this was perhaps the most "pointless" musical instrument I have ever played. There was so much stuff wrong with this guitar. It's nothing like a 7-string with an added string... There is a slight "flare" on the separations between the strings, meaning that the strings are closer together at the nut & there is more space between them at the bridge. This doesn't really mean anything though, because the strings are extremely close together no matter where you are on the neck. Shredding is nigh impossible on this hunk of junk by both the right & the left hand. I don't even have big hands & I'm fretting two strings at once on this thing, almost as easily as you would on a 12-string for example. Picking with the strings so close together is something that one must relearn while playing on this "thing".
All this & I haven't even touched on the terrible sound of the guitar. Even the 5th & 6th strings sound like complete ass, not to mention the lower strings. There is no note definition when you're playing in this low of an octave on the guitar. Even if one "needed" to play in this low an octave I don't see why they wouldn't get a barritone modded 6-7 string. Hell, I don't even see that big of a problem with an 8-string concept, just put some fucking space in between the strings at the very least!!!