8 string guitars

Squonk

After listening to CAB's clip for review, it got me thinking about 8 string Acoustic guitars and all the possibilities that the extra 2 strings could give to your playing

Check these Wes Lambe 8 string Acoustics. There's even a Nylon model

this has got me gassing ?

http://www.wlguitars.com/8stringacoustic

aja

pffft...

8 is less than 10! ?

I would like one of these ?
http://maingardguitars.com/models/nylon-strings/10-string-guitars/

Mannemarak

sounds cool, but my neanderthal brain will never be able to understand how to even use the extra 2 or 3 or how many ever strings. Which is why I stay clear of those guitars.
isn't (for a normal guitar) six enough?????

Keira-WitherKay

Mannemarak wrote: isn't (for a normal guitar) six enough?????

well what is normal , and do you want to be normal , ?

Mannemarak

Keira WitherKay wrote: well what is normal , and do you want to be normal , ?

well no, but to be honest I won't be able to play an eightstring or sevenstring guitar within my lifetime...six is MORE than enough for me, not because of versatility but because any more than six will fry my brain

Keira-WitherKay

Mannemarak wrote:
Keira WitherKay wrote: well what is normal , and do you want to be normal , ?

well no, but to be honest I won't be able to play an eightstring or sevenstring guitar within my lifetime...six is MORE than enough for me, not because of versatility but because any more than six will fry my brain

? i sincerely doubt that , i would bet that if you had one to use , you would very quickly adapt to it , thats just human nature to be weary of the unknown , but i'd bet you'll be styling on an 8 string if you had one ?

ZarK

I've always been fond of Classical (Nylon) 10 string guitars... (Our local Tessa Ziegler was the first person I saw playing one...) My relatively recent acquisition of a decent 7 string has converted me from being only focussed on 6... (I used to subscribe to all the usual excuses why 6 was enough or that I'd prefer to master 6 first etc. etc.) The fact is you'll NEVER master the 6 string anyway... There'll always be something new to learn and discover which is one of the reasons many of us dig guitar so much. Therefore might as well think outside the box instead of limiting your approach, imo... The extra string(s) open up so many new patterns and is a liberation with regards to song writing... At this stage 7 is enough for me but I'd probably eventually try out an 8 as well. Don't disregard the extra string guitars straight off the bat. Get one when a decent example comes along and spend some time with it before you form an opinion... Was certainly worth it for me...

Nitebob

Mannemarak wrote:
Keira WitherKay wrote: well what is normal , and do you want to be normal , ?

well no, but to be honest I won't be able to play an eightstring or sevenstring guitar within my lifetime...six is MORE than enough for me, not because of versatility but because any more than six will fry my brain

:yup:

Being the amateur I am...anything more than 6 strings (12-string variety excluded) is to me like teats on a bull...

But that's just me... ?

Mannemarak

I guess it seems that any more than six would stuff up all I know regarding how a chord looks etc, plus, extra string to palm mute or whatever, heck, I think I will stick with my 6 string for now.....or maybe that one string boesman thing, seems easy enough ?

ZarK

It saddens me when someone is willing to limit him/herself without sufficient first-hand experience on the topic... :'( I'll get over it though... ? I'm thankful I've changed my mindset on this one...

Contrary to popular belief, you can actually play all your 6-string tunes on a 7+ string guitar. For an easy transition you can just start by playing your 6 string tunes on it and slowly start incorporating the other string(s) when you jam/improvise. The 7 didn't require nearly as much of an adjustment as I always expected -which is why I also stalled to give one a go... I've also found that the difference in feel and approach to the 6 and 7 benefits my 6-string playing as well...

To each his own... I just wish I'd given it a realistic/fair chance earlier instead of finding easily justifiable excuses why not to go there in the first place.

Mannemarak

ZarK wrote: It saddens me when someone is willing to limit him/herself without sufficient first-hand experience on the topic... :'( I'll get over it though... ? I'm thankful I've changed my mindset on this one...

Contrary to popular belief, you can actually play all your 6-string tunes on a 7+ string guitar. For an easy transition you can just start by playing your 6 string tunes on it and slowly start incorporating the other string(s) when you jam/improvise. The 7 didn't require nearly as much of an adjustment as I always expected -which is why I also stalled to give one a go... I've also found that the difference in feel and approach to the 6 and 7 benefits my 6-string playing as well...

To each his own... I just wish I'd given it a realistic/fair chance earlier instead of finding easily justifiable excuses why not to go there in the first place.

I am not willingly limiting myself, I can also guarantee that if you give me a 7 sting guitar now to play for a while that I will not change from 6 to 7 or even 8 or whatever soon if at all...I am content with where I am regarding gear, I was merely asking a question as it is one I was wondering about for some time. Asking the question does not mean I have an urge to go explore the route further at all...

BMU

Limiting oneself is also sometimes referred to as 'being focused', which is not a bad thing. Mr Vai Himself plays six strings almost exclusively it seems, so I doubt anyone has a soapbox from which to expound upon the necessity for more strings. ?

For me, 7 just always made sense. Not 6. Not 8. 7. It's just right. Stick with what's right for you. Or venture forth and explore. You know, whatever.

Malkav

I absolutely love 7 & 8 string guitars, way cool instruments and very different in terms of approach (well 8 string more than 7), I find they seem to make most things easier for me, perhaps not always the case ?

Here are some clips discussing the merits of 7 & 8 string guitars:
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Also acoustic guitar pron ?

Squonk

Gee ? I started this thread as a GAS Thread for an Acoustic 8 stringed guitar, not as a debate on the merits of 6,7 or 8 stringed guitars.

I have never played one, but with the possibility of the extra 2 bass strings even in standard tuning, it should provide easier access to notes(Lower) especially if you experiment with chord shapes further down the neck! It completely intrigues me ???

And the Fan Fretted fingerboard and the looks......

Bob-Dubery

Squonkster, you might also consider a baritone guitar. I've seen them at Andy's forum a couple of times, and they seem like a pretty useful thing to me.

Or try partial capos if you want to have something new to play with as a way to unlock new possibilities.

Instrumentalman

cool Stuff

But With No Soul

Squonk

Instrumentalman wrote: cool Stuff

But With No Soul

?????

ZarK

Squonk wrote:
Instrumentalman wrote: cool Stuff

But With No Soul
?????

+1 ???

P.s. My previous post was general in nature and not aimed at anyone specific. I'm not saying everyone should switch to 7 or more strings as I'm sure its not for everyone. I'm just sensing similar reasoning as I used to have that kept me away from giving it a fair chance... All I'm saying is that as a 6 string player who has only recently started exploring the benefits of having more strings, I just found that it opened up many new avenues to me, especially with regards to creativity in song writing. I'm just suggesting that you shouldn't dismiss more strings off the bat... When the opportunity presents itself, finances allow for it and you're so inclined, give it a go. Maybe your playing, creativity and song-writing will also benefit from it as mine has...

AndyInnes

8-string acoustic. A slightly different take on it, but I played this 8-string baritone http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/baritone-8 on this recording - the bari is panned left / 815 slide panned right.

Squonk

Good Stuff Andy - The piece sounds good and so do the guitars ?