Before you leave a comment... These type of videos are meant to foster constructive discussion about a hobby we all love. I'm more than happy to hear from all you that disagree with me on any of the presented points - that's the fun in talking about these nerdy topics. Everyone has their preferences, and no one is right or wrong for that (hence the video's title: MY Top 5, NOT Your Top 5). This certainly isn't about labeling someone who shares a different viewpoint as inferior in any way. With that said, I will absolutely not tolerate any comments doing just that. If you are so insecure about your choice of guitar brand (which, I never say I prefer one over the other, because I truly don't - I own 10 different guitar brands), guitar aesthetics, or other features that you resort to name calling, inflammatory accusations, or any other childish garbage, this is the wrong comments section for you. Don't waste your energy with baseless insults and petty brand wars; this channel is still small enough that I can manage every comment individually. I've removed a couple comments already for some of the senseless word vomit RUclips comments are so notorious for, even with the video under 200 views. I make videos to participate in a larger discussion and learning environment, not a pissing contest.
About the inlay's, I think the dots look just silly on an extended range instrument, I don't mind having like a 12 fret marker of some sort, like an abalone style inlay, almost like framus does or Chapman, but even on my six string metal guitars I just want a nice ebony or rosewood fretboard, hell I barely look at the side dots even (not bragging I'm actually shite at guitar for how long I've been playing) but once u get to know the fretboard you don't need em. I can see maybe getting them if your not use to the scale length but once again, 8 strings are not a student instrument
i play quartertone guitar (42-fret strat, 24 frets in octave). the dot inlays got stripped off when it got re-fretted (i don't miss them). my new one has to be bolt-on to facilitate the re-fretting process (rip and replace fretboard), and i put glow-in-the-dark side dots. that's a situation where even when you are advanced, you really need good dot visibility on the side of the neck, because being off by one fret is nearly impossible to recover from; and counting 4 frets to find the wholetone slows you down noticeably.
I totally understand the desire for fanned frets. I would kill to have a 28.5-25.5 fanned fret 8 string for my open tuned material, because the bottom end is too loose on a short scale guitar, but the treble strings are impossibly tight on extended scales. Definitely not necessary for most players, but for lead guitarists that want to retain a good balance in tension, I totally support them.
The cliché that bugs me the most is the fact that most extended range guitars are superstrat styled guitars. I prefer different shapes (such as shapes BC Rich offers, but my annoyance with BC Rich is a different topic) to superstrats, and the only reason why I get a guitar shaped as such is because finding an affordable, oddly shaped extended range axe can be like searching for a unicorn. Usually when I do find a cool 7/8 string that isn’t a superstrat/LP/Tele shape it’s super expensive. I want to see more extended range guitars that are vulgar, and shaped so differently that if the guitar could spit in your eye, it would.
I hear you on the dot inlays. I prefer a cleaner look over just standard dots and haven’t felt like I relied on seeing them on the fretboard for a very long time. And there’s just something awkward about a small dot in the middle of such a massive fretboard. That’s why for my first run of my sig models with Chapman, no dots. But after a year or so playing that 8 string without any inlays (other then the twelve fret chapman infinity logo) I found that there actually were a few areas of my playing where I did really rely on them. Particularly tapping after the 14th fret or so, which I do really often for the more ambient stuff. And sometimes I’d have more difficulty in other genres when just fretting in that area too. The dots at the top of the neck don’t quite line up to the bottom portion of the neck where I’m playing with the angle I hold my guitar. Especially if I’m sitting in a “classical” style with the guitar on my left leg. The top dots don’t help at all after the 12th fret. So the only visual queues I have to know where I am there are the 12th and 24th frets. And I found that to bring an unnecessary added level of difficulty to playing in that area. So for the current run of the 8 strings, we have the dots 13th and above offset to the high side of the fretboard, right where I need them. And I think it looks pretty damn cool offset like that too! Certainly helps with playing in that area tremendously for me. I was so sure when we did the first run that I would never need them haha Anyway, thanks for making this! It’s really great to hear feedback in this niche I’m so passionate about. Especially in my hyper fortunate position where I do have a direct influence on a very small corner of the market. Cheers!
+Rob Scallon Wow, thanks for stopping by Rob! I would be happy with offset dot inlays on production models for those that want them for cases like yours. I look forward to see what you and Chappers come up with next to bring some much needed variety in ERGs!
Funny, I was JUST thinking about Rob Scallon while watching this video. I'm sure if the ML1-8 RS used some sort of locking system, he would've looked at that a little more closely.
I just stumbled on this video and I was thinking about how Rob's guitar the whole time. Had one of your sigs come through my local guitar shop, all I can say is that its one hell of a guitar. You and Chappers really killed it on that one!
+Evan Prowse You are correct ;) Rob's signature axe is a work of art, it just doesn't tick all my boxes. I would prefer not to play someone else's signature as well.
I have the same problem with no dot inlays. I am completely fine with the first 12 frets but after that I find it that my thumb covers the side dots and I get a bit lost. With tapping too, my right thumb would also cover the side dots and it's very hard to follow. I love the look of no dots and I thought I would get used to it. But after 1 year of playing, I still find myself getting lost in every fret beyond the 12th fret. I do love the idea of offset dots to the high side Rob gave! I would honestly sell this one I have and get something like that since I didn't expect this to be this frustrating Thanks for the video, Plague Scythe! I hope this makes a difference :)
Tobin Abasi uses inlays. Paul Gilbert admitted that he liked the larger inlays on his guitar because it was less confusing. They are both not beginners. I think the point is...even pros rely on the dots.
Yeah trust me, I'm no pro but I like the dots and don't think they're unsightly at all. I think it adds to the guitar. I hate the look of the blank necks.
Kinda like a professional skateboarder surveys a landing zone. Or a pro race car driver will walk the race track. Visual cues can greatly aid in execution of movement. Heck, may as well get rid of the markings on airport runways, they don't need it
Omg dude I thought I was the only one. Trapezoids, squares, birds, shark fins ... etc when there is a lot on the fretboard it confuses me, I get distracted... I rely on dots and what really has helped me so far is the angel vivaldi charvel dot style, they are small and some of them are at the top and the rest are located at the bottom of the fretboard... perfect for me
To quote Glenn Fricker: “The Strat is the AK-47 of guitars”, which from an industrial point of view, means that it is the easiest, cheapest object to manufacture. The tooling, machines and experienced builders are already there. Also, many companies offer upgrades/mods for the Strat since it’s a very modular design, allowing for lots of customization as well.
My mockingbird has diamonds, my douglas and my LTD have sharkfins. I have a hard time looking at dot inlays on anything other than a strat (especially gibson style guitars, since they've usually been standard with trapezoids.)
SAME, I like inlays that look pretty and/or classic, like the Gibson trapezoids, PRS birds obviously, Jackson fins, and even the ESP arrowheads and flags look cool to me.
Personally, I don't like the look of bare fretboards. I agree with you that they should have no inlays for those who don't want them, but I would prefer offset dots (I still use them sometimes)
+Xavier Jordan I've grown to like offset dots on some guitars, like Tosin Abasi's wave design and the upper/lower split on Keisels. I still prefer decorative inlays or none at all, but I wish there was more choice regardless (I'd probably settles with offset dots on a lot of instruments at this point).
I recently got the Bill Kelliher BK600 signature by ESP and the wave block inlays are simple but I really like them. It's a phenomenal guitar nonetheless
So agree on the shape thing! I'm just fed up by the superstrat design at some point. That's why my next guitar is going to be a Kiesel Vanquish. Most beautiful non-superstrat shape to this day in my opinion. Also, having the locking nut and a fine tuning bridge is such a breeze. I have an older Ibanez RGA8 and it's just a freaking beast in tuning stability. I wondered so many times: WHY does nobody offer this? It's such a simple and obvious solution. There are some things you say in this video that I don't quite agree with, but I respect your opinion. You're throwing out some interesting and very true thoughts here. Cheers!
I just bought a custom kiesel Vanquish 7. The shape is so comfortable and the fanned frets are so much more comfortable to play with. Sounds amazing and versatile.Definitely worth the buy!
I am not a beginner but i still rely on the inlays. Its helpful and I personally don't mind the look of them. Plus I have the bird inlays on my PRS which is beyond awesome.
I've been playing for over 30 years and I LOVE inlays. It adds to the artistic esthetic to the fretboard. It also makes it easier cop riffs from other players as yoiu can see exactly what fret they're on. Guitars aren't just utilitarian tools, they're functional art. There are some brands that make other body shapes, granted, they're custom jobs that might cost a bit more, Halo is one that comes to mind. I'm with you on the term systems in more 7-strings, only for different reasons. I wish production PRS 7-strings came with their trem system. They have awesome stability and simplicity. The locking tuners make tuning up very simple when required.
+Brett Marlar I'm all for decorative inlays when done well, as I've said in other comments (even sweeping dot inlays). My main gripe lies with metal-centric production guitars that are so utilitarian in nature, no binding or decoration anywhere else, yet have inlays that look so out of place. Les Paul customs with block inlays, PRS doves, Steve Vai's Ibanez vine inlays, all of those I love, and they are critical to the functional art of the instrument as you say. I'm merely baffled why manufacturers don't at least offer one production model with a no-bullshit aesthetic that, again, would be less work and cost on their part. Moreover, I personally feel out of place playing something so flashy - it doesn't fit the music I play nor my personal "image." Someone who's gig attire is cargo pants and black t shirts (like me) doesn't look right playing something with gold hardware, 3 layers of binding, pearl inlays, and a gloss finish. PRS isn't the only offender when it comes to underutilizing bridges. Ibanez's Edge III fixed bridge would be a perfect fit on so many of their extended range models, yet they offer them only on Meshuggah's sigs. But I would certainly consider a PRS 8 string with their tremolo.
Plague Scythe Studios You make a fair point about production cost, and allowing for the option. Despite the fact that there some 8 stringers whose playing I adore, I personally, don't have much use for 8-strings. Anything beyond 7 and I feel as if I should be playing a Chapman Stick. Not that I'm against anyone else playing them. If it works for you keep rolling with it.
As for the overall look of things is concerned, esthetics aren't as important as the comfort for the player. If it feels right in your hands, and produces the sounds you hear in your head, that is ultimately what is important. Image is so superficial, judge May a guitar by it's looks, but how it plays and sounds. I've heard guitars that don't look so ornate that blow away some of the fanciest guitars ever built. Of course that had more to do with the player than the instrument.
+Brett Marlar I'm all about form over fashion. It's why the SG I own is the least expensive of the line - it plain sounds and feels better than others I've tried. But, that leniency ends after a certain price point. There is absolutely no excuse to not love the look of a guitar I'm paying over a thousand dollars these days, which most 8 strings are that have the features I want. Neither feel, sound, nor image can be glossed over if you're not doing 2/3 of those amazingly well for cheal. I don't WANT an ornate guitar, I want LESS ornate guitars if anything, which is why these superfluous additions like dot inlays drive me up the wall. I love a good pawn shop find that looks rough but sounds great, but there is no way anyone should tolerate poor aesthetic design past four digit prices. As another commenter said, whether they are bare bones metal machines or Les Paul customs, guitars are functional art that personally reflect their player. I don't think anyone would really care about another $600 black super strat with a bolt on neck if it carries the goods, but we aren't even getting that. I simply refuse to pay any brand several hundred dollars more for a subjectively ugly 8 string than what it's equally spec'd 6 string equivalent costs.
Hog Blockula I agree with that, conditionally. Some inlays and guitars go well together. I haven't seen an 8 string that looks worse without inlays though
To me, the annoying thing with the 7/8 market is just lack of diversity, practically every brand makes them to appeal to 15-year old metal players only. Strats, Teles and Les Pauls are the most popular guitars in the world, followed by a few semi-hollows etc. All unique sounding guitars from their different pickup types, bridges and constructions. Practically every big guitar company offers their take on these classics, as 6-strings. But when it comes time to make a 7 or 8, they all choose to make yet another black superstrat with dual humbuckers, 24 frets and a hardtail bridge. How hard is it for just ONE company to offer a regular damn 7-string strat and tele? Seriously?
John NT: I have a white LTD TE-417, which is a 7-string telecaster shaped guitar. I have had it for a few years now, and it is the successor to the 407 models that have been available for quite a time. It’s always fun to see the look on more traditional people’s faces when they see this guitar. Both LTD and Ibanez (at least) have some LP, SG and Tele shaped guitars, but from a practical standpoint, the superstrat shape is just more useful. This is the reason I got myself an 8-string superstrat.
Thanks, but you're missing my point I think. Many companies offer a Telecaster shape, but they still have dual humbuckers and 24 frets just like the rest of them. They don't sound like Telecasters at all, as they have nothing in common with a Fender besides the body shape.
Obviously not legally speaking. But any brand can put telecaster singlecoils and a telecaster bridge on a guitar and functionally have a telecaster sound, like the Ibanez Talman or Schecter PT Standard for example. What I'm getting at is we don't see that diversity in tone in 7/8-strings. No-one could tell a Schecter C-7 from an LTD-407 from a Jackson 7 or Ibanez 7 just from hearing them on a record, because they're all functionally the same thing in sound.
+krulty Like Kiesels? I can dig those because they have at least some decorative quality that matches the rest of the guitars aesthetic. Can't say the same for other production guitars.
You pretty much answered your first question on your own; The market for 8 strings is smaller and super strats are the most popular body shape. To not alienate additional customers it is reasonable to make the most popular body shape, especially if the market is small to begin with. Regarding bolt-on vs NTB - NTB is a lot more expensive because it's harder to work with and to maintain. It is much easier to acquire straight and workable pieces of wood in the length of a neck compared to in the length of the whole guitar. Neck work, fret dressing and so on is easier if the neck is a single part instead of the whole guitar. If something goes wrong during production or has to be reworked because of QC, it's easier to make another (or rework) neck or body compared to a whole new guitar and scrap the whole thing.
+Frank ILYY My frustration with the body shapes is exactly that though - it is a niche market, so why are we pretending otherwise? I truly think it would benefit everyone to have a greater selection in the higher end of more exotic designs, which I would expect a bigger price tag and higher quality anyway. Blandness is rarely the answer in these situations when you're dealing with such a small market.
Well, inlays give a great opportunity for aesthetic. If you look at Tosin's upcoming signature and Angel Vivaldi's new Charvel, the dots add a nice subtle beauty to them.
+Joshua Widmer As I've said in other replies, I like some decorative inlays (that is if they aren't too gaudy), and I've grown to like the sweeping dot inlays like on Tosin's guitars. My complaints mainly lie with the traditional dot pattern that give off a "sticker on a Lambo" vibe.
+Joshua Widmer As I've said in other replies, I like some decorative inlays (that is if they aren't too gaudy), and I've grown to like the sweeping dot inlays like on Tosin's guitars. My complaints mainly lie with the traditional dot pattern that give off a "sticker on a Lambo" vibe.
Fender Telecaster 8 string with a Floyd Rose and a Fender headstock, and don't forget 4 humbuckers. That's what I'll have if I get a signature model (dream on)
I'mma quote that one guy from that one helix demo "anyone who thinks I can't hold 100 lb, is obviously wrong." PS: maybe a complete stainless steel body, cuz it's not metal if the body is made of wood
"I don't understand why they don't utilise those shapes… This is such a niche…" - There you have it. Doing so would create a niche in a niche. This is the reason why lefty guitars mostly come in the most common colours, why the Ibanez many-string models are mostly black, and of course why they all go with the most popular shape. When most potential 8-string players are SG owners, you don't make them a Telecaster or a Flying V copy. Although, a pronounced V-shaped 8-string neck would be fun ;-)
Heyyyy 6 years later and it's still almost impossible to find a non-superstrat 7 string. I'd love to have a nice selection of Explorer and V shaped 7 strings, but there's like 2.
I actually like dot inlays because i use them all the time. For me, is not about looks, it's about playability. I rely on inlays to play properly and i'm not a beginner. But i understand your point, great video overall
One of the best 8 strings I've played was the Chapman Rob Scallion. Also I would suggest maybe start your own import guitar company offering the specs you like!
+B Thomas Haha, I'll get right on that... I would love to try Rob's signature. It's missing some features I would prefer but it looks and sounds like a great guitar for him.
+Ectoplasmic36 I would like to see sales figures personally, but given the vast selection of 6 string instruments (even Les Pauls and derivatives thereof) and their heavy promotion by media outlets and music superstores compared to 7+ stringers, I am confident extended range instruments are still comparatively niche overall. I'm sure there's a certain age group, like 18-25, where ERGs are pretty popular, but if the craze were truly widespread then we should be seeing more of them and more variety. Dont forget there are still plenty of older players who don't give a rat's ass about anything than a Les Paul or strat in standard tuning, and they have a lot of the market share haha
I think they are very niche. The majority of 8 string players, play them because of their influences. I don't listen to many bands that play 8 strings and the sound doesn't really appeal to me. As Plague Scythe Studios said, the 8 string will have a wider appeal to guitarists of a certain age. I personally don't think older guitarists (in general) are that interested in them, as they will have already formed their influences and won't be too interested in 8 string players and their style of play. I may buy one at some stage, but I doubt I would use it that much. I rarely touch my 7 string as it is.
8 Strings are still very much a niche section of guitars. Alot of older guitarists think having anything more than 6 strings is pointless and an even bigger group of guitarists has no use for the extended range. 8 Strings are predominately djent kids who either want to sound like meshuggah or tosin lol
They're still very niche. This is still a pretty new development in guitars. Even 7 strings weren't all that commonly used in most music, and those have been around forever.
I need to make a 7 or 8 string with an Explorer body with sharper edges, Shark Fin Inlays, an optional Locking Trem system, and passive pickups but an option of actives. It's called the Roberts Acampora.
doesn’t need to be dots, but i love having those inlays. gives a nice flavour to the fingerboard with no negative effect on the guitar. i like that extra flicker.
I’m building a custom 7 string right now. The customer wants a PRS style carved flame maple top with a 7 piece neck thru. Fanned 27.5-25.5 Purple Heart fretboard and emg pickups. I’ve been thinking about what to do for the inlays, and I think you just sold me on leaving it alone. Let the beauty of the wood make the statement
Very cool! Please stay tuned to the channel the next couple of weeks - I have a video regarding custom shop guitars I would love to have your feedback on.
I completely agree with the body shape. I'd love an eight string Tele like Stephen Carpenters. Also, you'll notice all his signature models are only black, yet the only finish he doesn't have in his vast collection, is black.
Dude really, enjoyed this, I share your sentiments, especially the EMG's. what's annoying is the Soap Bar route. so its actually more expensive to switch to Passives because you have to buy a soap bar version.
I'm done with factory made guitars. I can never find one anymore that just feels and looks right for me. I write down all the specs i'd like in a guitar and send it to a luthier I trust. Best decision i've ever made. My current favorite is a 7 string explorer made from swamp ash with BKP aftermath in the bridge and blackhawk in the neck. 25.5" scale, 24 frets with reversed headstock. Locking tuners with a tune o matic (I like my hand raised more from the body). Bone nut, no tone knob, killswitch, and topped off with a snow burst finish.
Totally agree. Seymour Duncan have some really kick-ass passive pickups made for 7 and 8 strings, like the Nazgul, Pegasus, Sentient, for less than the EMG's, just watch Keith Merrow's video about them. This is what I want in a mid to high end 7/8 string, and there is literally no guitar below 1200$ with these pickups, when you get good guitars with overpriced EMG's in the 500 to 800 $ range. Just ridiculous. Well, there is actually one exception, the Jackson SLATHX-M , and I think a lot of people are going to buy these (still, 800 euros is not the best, you can have better spec'd guitar with EMG's for that price).
My solution was buying Jackson's bottom-rung 7-string (shark fin inlays look so much better than dots) and replacing the pickups myself. Went that route because I wasn't sure how I felt about 7-strings when I got it, kinda wishing I'd bought something a bit better quality, but a Nazgul/Sentient-equipped 7-string for about $400 total ain't bad.
Wait till Music Man and Sterling do their version of the 8 string. I'm sure it'll be magic. The Petrucci model is due out sometime soon from what I've read.
+Alessandro Pallotta I made this video because we're not alone in this view, regardless of what others may say in this lord of the files comment section haha.
Great video! My 7- and 8-string guitars are both Agile and I absolutely LOVE them. Like you say, it's the only brand where I can find all the features I want on one guitar.
+WolfishGlitch I have done exactly that on my Epiphone Les Paul, and I'm okay with that on a $300 guitar I've had since I was 12 years old. Not so much on an extended range guitar.
you are soooo right. schecter had a 8 string V hellraiser. I would love a esp ex 8 string for example. sick of strats : ( i have japanese jackson dkmg btw
I'm a trem user, and it's a big part of my phrasing. The lack of 8 string guitars with some type of trem system has kept me from buying one for a while now.
Rudy Ayoub I thought it used a Schaller Fixed bridge, but I could be wrong. I think ESP is going to release a Horizon or M series with the 8 string Floyd which I may get.
(about the dot inlays) What about Strandberg Guitars or Ormsby Guitars with their off set dots? Personally, at home, the inlays don't do much for sure. But on a dark stage, the dots really matter. Bonus points for offset dots or "Z" pattern dots, and extra bonus points for glow in the dark inlays. And from a manufacturing stand point, theres probably not that much extra cost to putting inlays or not having them. You're probably talking pennies on each guitar because everything is done on such a high scale. Cool video my dudes! :)
Thanks! See my comments below. My main argument here is against traditional white dot inlay craze, not decorative inlays. I don't mind Strandberg's and Keisel's takes.
I just wanted to comment about learning on an 8 string. Years ago when I was in high school I started messing around on my dad's guitar which was a six string and I probably got some fundamentals down but I hadn't picked up a guitar and practiced since then. Now I'm 24 and I had a choice to make when I was looking for a guitar to buy. Being that I love metal and other styles I wanted a guitar that was versatile enough to get me started. I bought a Schecter Damien Elite 8 string. I don't regret buying that guitar at all. It sounds decent enough and I've learned a lot more fundamentals on it than I did with a 6 string. I guess all I'm saying is that I think people should learn on the platform that works best for them. I still want a 6 string for sure, it'd be nice to not have a huge neck to deal with. Would it have been easier to learn on a 6 vs the 8, probably? Maybe I just wanted a challenge. I completely agree however, that the dots look dumb on guitars like this, if there is anything I don't like about my guitar it's the plain dull looking fretboard because of the dots, I'd rather have nothing than be stuck with the dots.
First of all, GREAT video! While you make great arguments, I would like to offer my respectful counterpoints to some of your rants: Rant #1: Schecter and Kiesel currently make non-Super Strat 7 strings (Kiesel also has 8 strings). Rant #2: While I also shy away from bolt-on necks, it is more cost effective to replace a neck as opposed to the entire guitar should a neck crack due to a fall, for example. Rant #3: I prefer inlays as long as they are NOT dots. Regarding beginners and expensive guitars: If a cheap guitar is not well made, they will not want to continue playing it, period. Also, if they want to play like Animals as Leaders or Meshuggah, I feel starting on a 6 string is pointless. Rant #4: I would give my right arm for a 8 string Floyd bridge again. Wait a minute...then I wouldn't be able to play!!! Rant #5: I absolutely LOATHE active pickups. Give me a passive set of Dimarzios or Seymour Duncans any day. My fantasy guitar would be a neck through Kiesel X Series shape 8 string with PRS bird inlays and a Floyd. I CAN DREAM, CAN'T I?!?!?!
I Agree Completely = I am SO SICK of the SAME guitar shape year after year - I can't even watch a NAMM video anymore = Look it's the same shit we do EVERY year and hope you never notice as we use words like CLASSIC, VINTAGE BLABLABLA =/ 1953 will never DIE
I don't mind the strat shape, but when looking for my 8 string, I made sure that it was set or neck through. I ended up on a Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C8 with the ultraviolet finish and I really like it. It has different kind of Dot inlays where the inlays are off to the very side. It has locking tuners and it's got active pickups, EMG 57 8H, and EMG 66 8H. It pretty much met everything I wanted in a guitar
+Beng B I think it's an awkward guitar. I would much rather pay another 250-300 bucks for a neckthrough and ebony fretboard to match Marten's and Frederik's real M8M models. Its probably one of the best utilitarian 8 strings out there, but I feel the price doesn't justify the sacrifices they made.
Yep, you nailed it.... /s I think its awkward because for $500 more you can get Frederik's signature stoneman that has another Lundgren M8 on the neck, a neck through design, and a more unique shape. At the time of release it was the best 8 string on the market IMO, but not now.
Sorry to miss this one. As I said below: I think its awkward because for $500 more you can get Frederik's signature stoneman that has another Lundgren M8 on the neck, a neck through design, and a more unique shape. At the time of release it was the best 8 string on the market IMO, but not now.
The reason that I like EMG actives is that they're very dynamically flat as they're jazz pickups. You have the base tone from the guitar, and you can just shape it with the amp. I personally like that. A lot of people want the tone to come more from the guitar, that's fine. It just isn't me. And another thing with actives is that you can crank the gain while retaining low noise, but it's really not necessary to crank it. I find both of these to be a plus. I can up it if I need to without noise, but I don't NEED to up it. My amp has a warm/hot and a compressed/dynamic switch on the gain channel. So if I'm going to switch to my 7 string (which has EMG 807s) I switch the hot switch off and I still have clarity in the bottom end, and I can compress it a little bit to retain sustain in the mid to high end. It's not the most ideal setup. I feel, however, that this only works with my amp. I haven't found any other manufacturer to make an amp like mine at all. And it probably would be better to just switch out the 807s for something else. But it works for me, and I'm just a 21 year old kid in a small town in Wisconsin. I don't always have money to throw at these things. Great video though!
+KingNothingIII That's a great use case for active pickups. My gripe is that the marketing of these guitars and their features don't match. They try to sell these barebones, all black 7 and 8 strings to metal-centric people with high gain amps or software emulation where passives are what 90% of those players would need. A 7 string super strat or another traditional shape with EMGs and decorative features I don't usually go for is right up the alley of players like you, yet these brands don't recognize it.
I actually think it's better to learn on an 8 string vs a 6 string. I played a 6 for years before trying an 8 and it felt very odd to switch over. I kept wanting to play something that should have been on the E on the 8th string.
+Mott Bot I never really had that problem since I treat 8's as different instruments entirely. To be fair, I had played bass for years at that point as well, so it's easier to switch around. I would still recommend 2-3 years on a 6 before even considering more strings.
Going from 8 to 6 will feel also feel odd. That's the nature of change. The reason why it is not recommended to start with an 8 is because many beginners and pros alike fall for the 0000 11111 djent djent djent disorder rather than developing actual musicality.
I just wish more companies made 7/8 string V shapes. I’ve always been a huge fan of flying V’s, especially one winged V’s. If a company comes out with a 7 string 1 Wing V, I’d throw them my money faster than they can say, “We got these in for sale”. I definitely agree on all the points you made except the dot inlay one. I personally couldn’t care less about whether or not a guitar has inlays. Great video!
I think the reason for active pickups is that relatively few guitarists know the pros and cons. They just "know" from their friend that active pickups are good and decide, they absolutely need it. So they sell better. The goes for many features.
If you're tired of most of the clichès in 8 string guitars, check out the Chapman ML1-8 RS and the upcoming Ghost Fret 7 probably the most versatile and unique extended range guitars ever under 1200$
+Bar Goldstein I would like to try one of Chapman's extended range models, but to be honest I'm really waiting to see what Ola Englund's Solar models have to offer.
Literally all of these things is the reason I haven't bought an 8 string yet I can't find anything that isn't an everyday basic ass white or black string-through Ibanez with a bolt-on neck and EMGs
Super Strats CONSTANTLY. That’s my gripe. I want all the classics in 7 string form, but with the correct scale length and the big classic companies just don’t make them. It’s really frustrating.
Please🙏 do a review on the fishman fluence I just got a legator 8 string and I think I’m gonna buy them but there no good quality vids of the 8 string pick ups
+Julian Medina I will, but it will take some time. There's a small wiring mistske that disables one of the voicings on the bridge, but I haven't had time to take it back in. I would solder it myself if I still had the space.
I think the dot inlays are good for when you're showing another guitarist a riff. It's easier for THEM to see what you're doing and grasp it more quickly. But aesthetically, no dots all the way.
+Ectoplasmic36 You're 100% right about that, and others have pointed it out as well. Admittedly, I'm so used to song writing and tracking all the guitars on my own that I don't even think of that sort of thing anymore since I'm not teaching someone else parts. I also got my guitar teaching certification from a guy who played a nylon string classical guitar without fret markers, so I really only used them as a copy cat tool in school jazz bands.
Check out Jericho guitars, they do have a super strat esque 7 and 8 strings but they also have a Prs style body and a strat style body with their own unique twist to them. They are sub 1k, some are set neck, some are neck through, your choice of pickups and come in different scale length. They'll also try to do anything else you might want with a small upcharge. Plus they're made in the same factory as LTDs, PRS SE etc. And set up and completed in the US.
I know I'm commenting more than once but I have a tech question. I have the emg 808 pickups in mine as well. I love the way they sound for practicing tapping and getting some screaming bends up high. However, when I try to dial in a djent tone or just chuggy, I can't get that definition you are talking about. Should I lower the pickups on the low end of the strings? How do you have yours adjusted? I just know when I am djenting along and then I do a run on the lower strings, there just isn't the definition of each of the notes as much as I'd like.
+Shrednarok This is exactly the problem I and most players have with EMGs. They're great for leads, but you don't get the dynamics of a passive for rhythm work. Lowering the pickup height never seemed to do much for me, at least nothing that tweaking the amp gain couldn't achieve. I usually roll off on the volume knob to 8-9 if you're looking for a bit more headroom, though that trick works better on Fishmans in my experience with them so far. The 18 volt mod may help slightly as well, but I'm afraid there's not much you can do to get rid of the undesirable compression effect actives have.
Thanks man! I appreciate the feedback. I'll try those couple of things. I guess hindsight is 20 20. I wish I would have looked for an 8 string with passives looking back. I think this is the first video I've seen from your channel, I'm watching some other ones as well, I'm really liking your stuff man. I subscribed before I made my last comment. I hope your channel continues to grow.
+Shrednarok I appreciate it man! Unfortunately it looks like the fastest growth is coming from videos where 20% of the audience disagrees with me, but oh well haha
That's not a bad thing. I like finding different opinions to compare and contrast with. It helps me figure out how to get the sound I want and maybe introduce some new ideas to my regiment that I haven't thought of before. If we only had people with all the same opinion and ideas then we'd get bored from all of the blandness. Keep rockin!
my annoying design bug are headstocks. ibanez came out with a cool les paul style 7 string, (finally a break away from the super strat) a cool modern LP body, nice blank fingerboard but the headstock is terrible. i do like how ibanez added the iceman headstock to some of their 7 & 8 string super strats though. the agile headstock like the yours on the video is cool and original. i used to own an agile 8 string with that headstk design. schecter makes really good guitars but the headstock is generic looking to me. that's the reason i can't buy a schecter although the keith merrow guitars are really amazing and even he's trying to change up the headstock a bit. moving on to pickups - i have a jackson 7 with bare knuckle aftermaths that sound fucking great live with my band playing loud. i also have another jackson 7 with emg 707's that sound small and compressed when playing at band volume. on the recording side when i record direct with an amp modeler the emg 707's sound huge and the bare knuckles sound ok but not as narley. pickups drive me crazy cause theirs so many options. where's the "go to" all purpose pick-up? i guess that's the fun of owning a few guitars.
Hey PSS, I agree with you on some of these points. I enjoyed this video. This is off topic, but do you happen to own an ESP H208 or 308 or 338? I feel like I saw one on your guitar rack in a previous video. If you do own one and haven't done a vid about it, please do so! It would be interesting bc a 25.5" 8 string isn't very common. Do a review of it and some demos through the ax8. Would be awesome. Thanks again for the interesting and entertaining videos!
+Matt Saadidin Thanks! Good eye, I do own a 338. The 25.5" scale is definitely too short for most contemporary stuff, but works really well for what I use it for. I only bought it because it was the first 8 string I found in 2011, and it was on sale. I wouldn't recommend it today, but at the time it was a pretty good buy.
I’ve heard some very good luthiers here in Italy they all said that the best construction for a better stability is only provided by the bolt on construction.. so I guess there are technical reasons for your questions.
I'm glad someone said that about dot inlays. I think they're ugly. I have 3 kiesels and went with no fret dots on 2 of them. The 3rd has offset inlays. About the Neck, Headless for an 8 string is much more balanced.
I'm buying an RGAIX-7FM, the Iron Label carved top RGA. A couple of the big selling points were locking tuners, passive pickups (that don't suck, apparently), a lovely blank, bound EBONY fretboard. I'm putting up with the bolt on neck since I'm trying to be open minded having never played one, but I'd happily pay 200-300 more for a neckthrough.
I wish more companies offered Hipshot string through set ups.. the tune o matic bridges have a ton of issues as far as hindering tuning stability and comfort of playability etc
(I know this is an older video and I’m super late, but...) I absolutely agree with almost all of what you stated(especially the super strat complaint), minus the fret markers. As someone who likes to see what other players are doing in terms of where they are on the fret board, having fret markers as a guide is great. That’s me personally, but I understand the aesthetic of why you don’t like them. I recently got a Legator Opus 8 string guitar. It’s basically an 8 string telecaster and I absolutely love it. It does have the bold on neck and fret markers, but given it’s the tele shape, it fits personally. It has passive pickups that sound incredible compared to my Schecter Omen 8 string, and good tuning stability (normal tune-o-matic style bridge, I’ll probably get locking tuners in the near future). I’d love to see ESP follow suit with something more along those lines.
I've gone through more guitars than imaginable with basically every combination of fingerboard wood and inlays and I'd have to say, I actually really like offset dot inlays on modern superstrat designs. not sure if that counts as "dot inlays" as I find standard dot inlays out of place on most superstrat designs not counting vintage styled ones, but I'm definitely a fan of offset dots.
I got an Ibanez RG752 about four years ago and although it's taken a bit of adjusting from using a six string Strat, I really love playing it now. The bolt on neck was never an issue for me, and I've always taken visual cues from the fretboard dots, so that's not an issue, but, I did have to put a one and a half pound weight on the strap at the end of the guitar to get the heavier neck to be at a better playing angle. I thought I'd miss having a whammy bar on my guitar, but with the extra 2 frets on the top and the extra 5 notes on the bottom (from the low B string), I found I didn't miss having a bar at all eventually, even though I do sometimes bend the neck for a vibrato effect.
Ok so I am going to say that I am learning electric guitar on a 9 string. Before you crucify me I have 4 years musical background and know plenty of music theory. I believe that if someone wants to learn an instrument they should play that instrument.
My $400 seven stringed Ibanez is single cut, set neck and has nice block inlays. It doesn't have a locking nut, which is fine since I don't need one, and it has EMGs which I'm looking around for alternatives for. Overall it's just what I wanted except the pickups, which are exchangeable so I consider myself lucky for finding it! Really wish brands would make more Les Paul shaped ones. It's a classic shape, people clearly want it!
Bridge pickup placement is the main thing that drives me nuts. Sometimes its too damn far from the saddles and in extended range guitars it leads to that muddy “neck”-like bass heavy sound thats sounds like fuzz when distorted
Awesome video man. I've been wanting a seven string for a while now and will make the jump soon, You've just confirmed everything I was thinking and I couldn't agree more with your statements. I guess I've got some research to do to find a neck thru/no inlay/Evertune/passive pick up guitar haha. Subbed!
+CWM ESP will have some evertune models this year, and I believe Solar guitars already has a superstrat version of exactly what you're looking for (probably out of stock until March through). Thanks!
Completely agree with this list man! Got an Ibanez artist series 7 string neck thru with a sharpened up Les Paul style body and no fret dots for these very same reasons and after seeing all the other ERGs on the wall it just stood out. Although now you got me thinking I need to get some fine tuning adjustment capabilities.
Lots of interesting ideas and well spoken commentary. Speaking as a fan as well as a player, I like the board inlays. I remember an instructional video I was watching and the guy had no inlays. I thought, "What kind of a person does this?" I had to keep pausing the video to count where his position was. When I had EMGs put in my 7s it cost around 500 dollars. I appreciate the factory installs. As you said, the compression is helpful as picking becomes faster and lighter. One can turn down the gain on the amp, but can't adjust the guitar so passives behave like actives. EMGs have a scooped sound. Some folks poo poo the scoop, but it's a great way to bring out palm mutes and split harmonics as well as cut down on noise. Since you have a decent guitar to play for now, you might want to save up some cash and invest in a custom that has exactly what you want. I think it would be worth it for you. My 2c. Great video! :D
I bought an Agile Intrepid Pro 828 a few years ago and I love it, but I love my new Schecter Banshee Elite-8 even more. They both have neck-thru bodies and passive pick-ups, but the Schecter's neck isn't near as deep, it's 2 lbs lighter, and the mid's stick out a bit more. However, it did cost a lot more. For under $1000, it's really hard to beat an Agile, in my opinion.
Dot inlays are helpful when you play in a dark venue or when your band is doing a session because the other bandmates are able to see what you are doing with just one look.
I have 3 six stings , an ibanez rg, ibanez is and a Jackson dinky. I've been thinking of getting a 7 or 8 string but don't know if I want to commit a lot of money towards one, so are the cheaper ones any good? Because I've been under the impression the big brands just take their budget guitars and slap another string on
+Kristian Milan Your assumption is pretty spot on. I personally think what's being offered for $500 and under new for a 7 or 8 string nowadays is pretty pitiful. If you want one just for curiosity, it's not that big a deal. If you're at all serious about it though, I would recommend saving your pennies for a while
Thanks man, your input helps, sorry for the constant questions but you wouldn’t happen to know any decent more average priced 7/8 strings? (Maybe 600/700 dollars )
+Kristian Milan I would check on Jackson's, Schecter's, and LTD's 2018 offerings. LTD has an 8 string eclipse with evertune coming, and I know schecter has a number of ERGs in their new lineup.
I agree on the more interesting shapes part, I have a 7 string iceman and love it. Sadly though that one got discontinued in the extended range version because nobody was buying them 😣
I agree with you on everything you said, except for that Agile. I used to own a 7 and an 8 Agiles in the past and eventually the lack of quality in the build, loss of tune, string buzz in the fretboard simply got to me and I went straight back to Ibanez. Again, everything you mentioned about the pickups, necks, dot inlays... Etc, I agree with you 100%. I just hope that some day more companies will wake up and make some of the changes you've mentioned to show people that they don't have to settle for an agile and still get all those cool features we all want or don't want. Also, dot inlays don’t always look good, but they are still a necessity in many cases, especially on stage when the lighting isn’t all that great.
You know what I could probably get behind? Something like an a la carte semi-custom model. Import a few neck-through bodies, and have a bunch of drop-down boxes for pickups, elex, strings, the like. Then, toss it all in a box and let the end user put it together. Save on labor, save on setup, etc. Just cut/build/paint the bodies and toss the rest of the guts in the box and send it off. I like the EMGs in my Schecter, but I was wary about ordering an Agile with passives because I didn't want to end up paying for body routing (battery box) later if I changed my mind. I can't be the only one, can I?
I like my Schecter C8 Blackjack. It's got offset inlays. I roll-back the volume on my guitar which cleans up the note definition in it's Seymour Duncan Blackouts. Schecter's own locking tuners have kept my guitar in tune for a week without needing to re-tune it. Its honestly a great guitar. I bought it used for about $600. My 'end-goal' is for a headless fan-fret 8-string. Until then, my Schecter is just fine.
I agree with this. I was lucky that just as I was looking to buy, Jackson came out with a neck-through, locking tremolo, passive pickup, no dot inlay guitar (The Soloist SL-7). Now, it's a superstrat, but as you say, there's a rationality to that body shape which I understand. But it was a godsend. I totally agree with the fact that choice seems so limited.
I actually got my Schecter Hellraiser C-8 with Floyd Rose the year this video came out. Took some time to arrive, but better late than never. 😊 And I think they are available again now?
At least scale length is something that manufacturers are paying attention to now. Years ago when I got my first 7 you couldn't find anything besides a 25.5" scale length.
+Ironhorsie True, as I said in another comment it would have been in my Top 5 three or four years ago. My LTD is 25.5", great for open tuning and not much else.
Yeah, too bad a major manufacturer didn't offer something cool like a 27" scale 7 string about 16 - 17 years ago. Oh...what's that? Ibanez did? No one bought it so it only lasted two model years? Well, it was only available in one color and a bolt on so...those grapes are sour anyway.
Lawsuits are the ONLY reason why they don't or can't utilize those particular body styles you mentioned... which is why the only thing that changes from brand to brand is the shape of the headstock. Bottom line is this: Fender and Gibson were the first original body styles available and without Gibson Guitars then we wouldn't have the LP style ESP/LTD Guitars and without Fender Guitars then we wouldn't have Ibanez Guitars. Food for thought and great video.
+followfornothing Thank you! I agree to a point, but these same brands have used "lawsuit" body designs on 6 strings in recent times as well. Not to mention there are a number of original body styles that the likes of ESP, Ibanez, and Jackson have developed. As long as super strats sell though, I doubt much will change.
I disagree. Honestly, there are only so many ways to cut a block of wood. If you start with the "traditional" shape of an acoustic guitar (or essentially any stringed instrument, i.e. violin, cello, etc), do your single cut for higher fret access, do your body/belly relief, and soften the hard edges (archtop), everybody ends up making the same body. It is essentially the natural evolution of the instrument, and the fact that anything thinks it *should* be patented is silly. U.S. patent law requires that an idea be novel (new/unique) and non-obvious. The SS shape, as I've outlined above, is essentially inevitable and therefore obvious IMO.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Before you leave a comment...
These type of videos are meant to foster constructive discussion about a hobby we all love. I'm more than happy to hear from all you that disagree with me on any of the presented points - that's the fun in talking about these nerdy topics. Everyone has their preferences, and no one is right or wrong for that (hence the video's title: MY Top 5, NOT Your Top 5). This certainly isn't about labeling someone who shares a different viewpoint as inferior in any way.
With that said, I will absolutely not tolerate any comments doing just that. If you are so insecure about your choice of guitar brand (which, I never say I prefer one over the other, because I truly don't - I own 10 different guitar brands), guitar aesthetics, or other features that you resort to name calling, inflammatory accusations, or any other childish garbage, this is the wrong comments section for you. Don't waste your energy with baseless insults and petty brand wars; this channel is still small enough that I can manage every comment individually. I've removed a couple comments already for some of the senseless word vomit RUclips comments are so notorious for, even with the video under 200 views.
I make videos to participate in a larger discussion and learning environment, not a pissing contest.
About the inlay's, I think the dots look just silly on an extended range instrument, I don't mind having like a 12 fret marker of some sort, like an abalone style inlay, almost like framus does or Chapman, but even on my six string metal guitars I just want a nice ebony or rosewood fretboard, hell I barely look at the side dots even (not bragging I'm actually shite at guitar for how long I've been playing) but once u get to know the fretboard you don't need em. I can see maybe getting them if your not use to the scale length but once again, 8 strings are not a student instrument
i play quartertone guitar (42-fret strat, 24 frets in octave). the dot inlays got stripped off when it got re-fretted (i don't miss them). my new one has to be bolt-on to facilitate the re-fretting process (rip and replace fretboard), and i put glow-in-the-dark side dots. that's a situation where even when you are advanced, you really need good dot visibility on the side of the neck, because being off by one fret is nearly impossible to recover from; and counting 4 frets to find the wholetone slows you down noticeably.
Plague Scythe Studios What is your opinion on Fanned Frets?
Overrated or Necessary... based solely upon the buyer/users personal preference? And why?
I totally understand the desire for fanned frets. I would kill to have a 28.5-25.5 fanned fret 8 string for my open tuned material, because the bottom end is too loose on a short scale guitar, but the treble strings are impossibly tight on extended scales. Definitely not necessary for most players, but for lead guitarists that want to retain a good balance in tension, I totally support them.
The cliché that bugs me the most is the fact that most extended range guitars are superstrat styled guitars. I prefer different shapes (such as shapes BC Rich offers, but my annoyance with BC Rich is a different topic) to superstrats, and the only reason why I get a guitar shaped as such is because finding an affordable, oddly shaped extended range axe can be like searching for a unicorn. Usually when I do find a cool 7/8 string that isn’t a superstrat/LP/Tele shape it’s super expensive. I want to see more extended range guitars that are vulgar, and shaped so differently that if the guitar could spit in your eye, it would.
I hear you on the dot inlays. I prefer a cleaner look over just standard dots and haven’t felt like I relied on seeing them on the fretboard for a very long time.
And there’s just something awkward about a small dot in the middle of such a massive fretboard.
That’s why for my first run of my sig models with Chapman, no dots.
But after a year or so playing that 8 string without any inlays (other then the twelve fret chapman infinity logo) I found that there actually were a few areas of my playing where I did really rely on them.
Particularly tapping after the 14th fret or so, which I do really often for the more ambient stuff. And sometimes I’d have more difficulty in other genres when just fretting in that area too. The dots at the top of the neck don’t quite line up to the bottom portion of the neck where I’m playing with the angle I hold my guitar.
Especially if I’m sitting in a “classical” style with the guitar on my left leg. The top dots don’t help at all after the 12th fret.
So the only visual queues I have to know where I am there are the 12th and 24th frets. And I found that to bring an unnecessary added level of difficulty to playing in that area.
So for the current run of the 8 strings, we have the dots 13th and above offset to the high side of the fretboard, right where I need them. And I think it looks pretty damn cool offset like that too! Certainly helps with playing in that area tremendously for me.
I was so sure when we did the first run that I would never need them haha
Anyway, thanks for making this! It’s really great to hear feedback in this niche I’m so passionate about. Especially in my hyper fortunate position where I do have a direct influence on a very small corner of the market.
Cheers!
+Rob Scallon Wow, thanks for stopping by Rob! I would be happy with offset dot inlays on production models for those that want them for cases like yours. I look forward to see what you and Chappers come up with next to bring some much needed variety in ERGs!
Funny, I was JUST thinking about Rob Scallon while watching this video. I'm sure if the ML1-8 RS used some sort of locking system, he would've looked at that a little more closely.
I just stumbled on this video and I was thinking about how Rob's guitar the whole time. Had one of your sigs come through my local guitar shop, all I can say is that its one hell of a guitar. You and Chappers really killed it on that one!
+Evan Prowse You are correct ;) Rob's signature axe is a work of art, it just doesn't tick all my boxes. I would prefer not to play someone else's signature as well.
I have the same problem with no dot inlays. I am completely fine with the first 12 frets but after that I find it that my thumb covers the side dots and I get a bit lost. With tapping too, my right thumb would also cover the side dots and it's very hard to follow.
I love the look of no dots and I thought I would get used to it. But after 1 year of playing, I still find myself getting lost in every fret beyond the 12th fret.
I do love the idea of offset dots to the high side Rob gave! I would honestly sell this one I have and get something like that since I didn't expect this to be this frustrating
Thanks for the video, Plague Scythe! I hope this makes a difference :)
Tobin Abasi uses inlays.
Paul Gilbert admitted that he liked the larger inlays on his guitar because it was less confusing. They are both not beginners.
I think the point is...even pros rely on the dots.
Yeah trust me, I'm no pro but I like the dots and don't think they're unsightly at all. I think it adds to the guitar. I hate the look of the blank necks.
EVH him self said he wouldn't know what to do with dots. I agree i love dotless guitars but I go much fast with dots
Preference...
Kinda like a professional skateboarder surveys a landing zone. Or a pro race car driver will walk the race track. Visual cues can greatly aid in execution of movement. Heck, may as well get rid of the markings on airport runways, they don't need it
Omg dude I thought I was the only one. Trapezoids, squares, birds, shark fins ... etc when there is a lot on the fretboard it confuses me, I get distracted... I rely on dots and what really has helped me so far is the angel vivaldi charvel dot style, they are small and some of them are at the top and the rest are located at the bottom of the fretboard... perfect for me
I don't play anything but 6 strings but I've always wondered why companies only want strat shapes as well.
Adrn Amrfs it sells
To quote Glenn Fricker: “The Strat is the AK-47 of guitars”, which from an industrial point of view, means that it is the easiest, cheapest object to manufacture. The tooling, machines and experienced builders are already there.
Also, many companies offer upgrades/mods for the Strat since it’s a very modular design, allowing for lots of customization as well.
Kiesel makes some nice 7 and 8 strings. Plus you can get it custom to fit your needs.
+Glassic Gamer They are among the brands I'm considering for my next 8 string. The VM8s are killer guitars.
Awesome brand, but I think their scale length on 8 strings is a bit inadequate. Imo you really benefit from having 29+" scale length. Just my 2 cents
Strandberg 8 strings
I absolutely love mine.
If Aviator Guitars and Ran Guitars wasn't so expensive... They look good to me
I don't care about the dots, but I do prefer it when there are interesting patterns. I've always loved the PRS 'bird' type fret inlays.
Andrew Southworth I like Jacksons spikes
I really love the fret markers in my Schecter... they look so majestic 🤤🤤
My mockingbird has diamonds, my douglas and my LTD have sharkfins. I have a hard time looking at dot inlays on anything other than a strat (especially gibson style guitars, since they've usually been standard with trapezoids.)
At least offset dots would be good
SAME, I like inlays that look pretty and/or classic, like the Gibson trapezoids, PRS birds obviously, Jackson fins, and even the ESP arrowheads and flags look cool to me.
Personally, I don't like the look of bare fretboards. I agree with you that they should have no inlays for those who don't want them, but I would prefer offset dots (I still use them sometimes)
+Xavier Jordan I've grown to like offset dots on some guitars, like Tosin Abasi's wave design and the upper/lower split on Keisels. I still prefer decorative inlays or none at all, but I wish there was more choice regardless (I'd probably settles with offset dots on a lot of instruments at this point).
I like my mother of pearl skull n crossbone inlays on my 94 ESP KH2...still mean after 23 years
I recently got the Bill Kelliher BK600 signature by ESP and the wave block inlays are simple but I really like them. It's a phenomenal guitar nonetheless
Offset squares, though.
So agree on the shape thing! I'm just fed up by the superstrat design at some point. That's why my next guitar is going to be a Kiesel Vanquish. Most beautiful non-superstrat shape to this day in my opinion.
Also, having the locking nut and a fine tuning bridge is such a breeze. I have an older Ibanez RGA8 and it's just a freaking beast in tuning stability. I wondered so many times: WHY does nobody offer this? It's such a simple and obvious solution.
There are some things you say in this video that I don't quite agree with, but I respect your opinion. You're throwing out some interesting and very true thoughts here. Cheers!
+Soulhenge Thank you! If only every commenter was able to separate a different opinion from a personal attack lol
Kiesel is garbage
I just bought a custom kiesel Vanquish 7. The shape is so comfortable and the fanned frets are so much more comfortable to play with. Sounds amazing and versatile.Definitely worth the buy!
Scotty Ritchie Kind of overrated by fanboys? Yes. Garbage? Absolutely not.
Soulhenge honestly all I want from someone like ESP is a 7 string “jazzmaster”, then I can die happy
I am not a beginner but i still rely on the inlays. Its helpful and I personally don't mind the look of them. Plus I have the bird inlays on my PRS which is beyond awesome.
Yeah but the bird inlay also offer a good cosmetic choice, like how the JEM have the tree of life
I've been playing for over 30 years and I LOVE inlays. It adds to the artistic esthetic to the fretboard. It also makes it easier cop riffs from other players as yoiu can see exactly what fret they're on. Guitars aren't just utilitarian tools, they're functional art.
There are some brands that make other body shapes, granted, they're custom jobs that might cost a bit more, Halo is one that comes to mind.
I'm with you on the term systems in more 7-strings, only for different reasons. I wish production PRS 7-strings came with their trem system. They have awesome stability and simplicity. The locking tuners make tuning up very simple when required.
+Brett Marlar I'm all for decorative inlays when done well, as I've said in other comments (even sweeping dot inlays). My main gripe lies with metal-centric production guitars that are so utilitarian in nature, no binding or decoration anywhere else, yet have inlays that look so out of place. Les Paul customs with block inlays, PRS doves, Steve Vai's Ibanez vine inlays, all of those I love, and they are critical to the functional art of the instrument as you say. I'm merely baffled why manufacturers don't at least offer one production model with a no-bullshit aesthetic that, again, would be less work and cost on their part. Moreover, I personally feel out of place playing something so flashy - it doesn't fit the music I play nor my personal "image." Someone who's gig attire is cargo pants and black t shirts (like me) doesn't look right playing something with gold hardware, 3 layers of binding, pearl inlays, and a gloss finish.
PRS isn't the only offender when it comes to underutilizing bridges. Ibanez's Edge III fixed bridge would be a perfect fit on so many of their extended range models, yet they offer them only on Meshuggah's sigs. But I would certainly consider a PRS 8 string with their tremolo.
Plague Scythe Studios You make a fair point about production cost, and allowing for the option. Despite the fact that there some 8 stringers whose playing I adore, I personally, don't have much use for 8-strings. Anything beyond 7 and I feel as if I should be playing a Chapman Stick. Not that I'm against anyone else playing them. If it works for you keep rolling with it.
As for the overall look of things is concerned, esthetics aren't as important as the comfort for the player. If it feels right in your hands, and produces the sounds you hear in your head, that is ultimately what is important. Image is so superficial, judge May a guitar by it's looks, but how it plays and sounds. I've heard guitars that don't look so ornate that blow away some of the fanciest guitars ever built. Of course that had more to do with the player than the instrument.
+Brett Marlar I'm all about form over fashion. It's why the SG I own is the least expensive of the line - it plain sounds and feels better than others I've tried. But, that leniency ends after a certain price point.
There is absolutely no excuse to not love the look of a guitar I'm paying over a thousand dollars these days, which most 8 strings are that have the features I want. Neither feel, sound, nor image can be glossed over if you're not doing 2/3 of those amazingly well for cheal. I don't WANT an ornate guitar, I want LESS ornate guitars if anything, which is why these superfluous additions like dot inlays drive me up the wall. I love a good pawn shop find that looks rough but sounds great, but there is no way anyone should tolerate poor aesthetic design past four digit prices.
As another commenter said, whether they are bare bones metal machines or Les Paul customs, guitars are functional art that personally reflect their player. I don't think anyone would really care about another $600 black super strat with a bolt on neck if it carries the goods, but we aren't even getting that. I simply refuse to pay any brand several hundred dollars more for a subjectively ugly 8 string than what it's equally spec'd 6 string equivalent costs.
Duuuuude, every 8 string manufacturer should see this.
And fuck inlays.
Hog Blockula I agree with that, conditionally. Some inlays and guitars go well together. I haven't seen an 8 string that looks worse without inlays though
@@emilandersen8628 do you look at your fretboard all the time when you perform?
To me, the annoying thing with the 7/8 market is just lack of diversity, practically every brand makes them to appeal to 15-year old metal players only. Strats, Teles and Les Pauls are the most popular guitars in the world, followed by a few semi-hollows etc. All unique sounding guitars from their different pickup types, bridges and constructions. Practically every big guitar company offers their take on these classics, as 6-strings. But when it comes time to make a 7 or 8, they all choose to make yet another black superstrat with dual humbuckers, 24 frets and a hardtail bridge. How hard is it for just ONE company to offer a regular damn 7-string strat and tele? Seriously?
John NT: I have a white LTD TE-417, which is a 7-string telecaster shaped guitar. I have had it for a few years now, and it is the successor to the 407 models that have been available for quite a time. It’s always fun to see the look on more traditional people’s faces when they see this guitar.
Both LTD and Ibanez (at least) have some LP, SG and Tele shaped guitars, but from a practical standpoint, the superstrat shape is just more useful. This is the reason I got myself an 8-string superstrat.
Thanks, but you're missing my point I think. Many companies offer a Telecaster shape, but they still have dual humbuckers and 24 frets just like the rest of them. They don't sound like Telecasters at all, as they have nothing in common with a Fender besides the body shape.
A 7 or 8 string guitar with a Tele shape wouldn't be a Tele either by your reasoning. Fender didn't make 7 & 8 string Teles.
Obviously not legally speaking. But any brand can put telecaster singlecoils and a telecaster bridge on a guitar and functionally have a telecaster sound, like the Ibanez Talman or Schecter PT Standard for example. What I'm getting at is we don't see that diversity in tone in 7/8-strings. No-one could tell a Schecter C-7 from an LTD-407 from a Jackson 7 or Ibanez 7 just from hearing them on a record, because they're all functionally the same thing in sound.
I just got a 7 string Warlock 2 days ago. Because I'm annoying.
I like off set dot inlays. especially the ones that switch after the 12th fret.
+krulty Like Kiesels? I can dig those because they have at least some decorative quality that matches the rest of the guitars aesthetic. Can't say the same for other production guitars.
I like guitars that have in lays that create an awesome graphic sue me 😂
Offset dots can be kinda sexy. As can blocks or prs birds. It’s the center Normal dots that I find kinda ugly as well
I cannot handle the fact the John Petrucci's signature is a fucken bolt on.
I gots me an 8 string agile, for less than 300 bucks and all I needed to do was lower the action and raise the pick ups and it’s perfect
You pretty much answered your first question on your own; The market for 8 strings is smaller and super strats are the most popular body shape. To not alienate additional customers it is reasonable to make the most popular body shape, especially if the market is small to begin with. Regarding bolt-on vs NTB - NTB is a lot more expensive because it's harder to work with and to maintain. It is much easier to acquire straight and workable pieces of wood in the length of a neck compared to in the length of the whole guitar. Neck work, fret dressing and so on is easier if the neck is a single part instead of the whole guitar. If something goes wrong during production or has to be reworked because of QC, it's easier to make another (or rework) neck or body compared to a whole new guitar and scrap the whole thing.
+Frank ILYY My frustration with the body shapes is exactly that though - it is a niche market, so why are we pretending otherwise? I truly think it would benefit everyone to have a greater selection in the higher end of more exotic designs, which I would expect a bigger price tag and higher quality anyway. Blandness is rarely the answer in these situations when you're dealing with such a small market.
Well, inlays give a great opportunity for aesthetic. If you look at Tosin's upcoming signature and Angel Vivaldi's new Charvel, the dots add a nice subtle beauty to them.
+Joshua Widmer As I've said in other replies, I like some decorative inlays (that is if they aren't too gaudy), and I've grown to like the sweeping dot inlays like on Tosin's guitars. My complaints mainly lie with the traditional dot pattern that give off a "sticker on a Lambo" vibe.
Plague Scythe Studios True, didn't read other comments 😂 my bad
+Joshua Widmer As I've said in other replies, I like some decorative inlays (that is if they aren't too gaudy), and I've grown to like the sweeping dot inlays like on Tosin's guitars. My complaints mainly lie with the traditional dot pattern that give off a "sticker on a Lambo" vibe.
That blue guitar looked good with them
Fender Telecaster 8 string with a Floyd Rose and a Fender headstock, and don't forget 4 humbuckers. That's what I'll have if I get a signature model (dream on)
Lol I would love to see that built. Extra points if you can actually play that 20 lb monstrosity for more than 5 minutes.
Kappa Chino 16:57 Good luck, that's all I can say.
I'mma quote that one guy from that one helix demo "anyone who thinks I can't hold 100 lb, is obviously wrong."
PS: maybe a complete stainless steel body, cuz it's not metal if the body is made of wood
Javier Reyes has a gorgeous esp custom fender style model and it’s incredible
Too Many Strings I have Jav's jr608 model and it is incredible. I prefer it to my les Paul, both in string amount and in feel and looks
"I don't understand why they don't utilise those shapes… This is such a niche…" - There you have it.
Doing so would create a niche in a niche. This is the reason why lefty guitars mostly come in the most common colours, why the Ibanez many-string models are mostly black, and of course why they all go with the most popular shape.
When most potential 8-string players are SG owners, you don't make them a Telecaster or a Flying V copy.
Although, a pronounced V-shaped 8-string neck would be fun ;-)
Heyyyy 6 years later and it's still almost impossible to find a non-superstrat 7 string. I'd love to have a nice selection of Explorer and V shaped 7 strings, but there's like 2.
So sick of EMGs in “metal” guitars
EMG’s sound like aggressive Fishman Fluence pickups to me.
I actually like dot inlays because i use them all the time. For me, is not about looks, it's about playability. I rely on inlays to play properly and i'm not a beginner. But i understand your point, great video overall
One of the best 8 strings I've played was the Chapman Rob Scallion. Also I would suggest maybe start your own import guitar company offering the specs you like!
+B Thomas Haha, I'll get right on that... I would love to try Rob's signature. It's missing some features I would prefer but it looks and sounds like a great guitar for him.
Who in 2017 thinks 8 strings are niche? They're probably more bought than 2017 model Les Pauls.
+Ectoplasmic36 I would like to see sales figures personally, but given the vast selection of 6 string instruments (even Les Pauls and derivatives thereof) and their heavy promotion by media outlets and music superstores compared to 7+ stringers, I am confident extended range instruments are still comparatively niche overall. I'm sure there's a certain age group, like 18-25, where ERGs are pretty popular, but if the craze were truly widespread then we should be seeing more of them and more variety. Dont forget there are still plenty of older players who don't give a rat's ass about anything than a Les Paul or strat in standard tuning, and they have a lot of the market share haha
I think they are very niche. The majority of 8 string players, play them because of their influences. I don't listen to many bands that play 8 strings and the sound doesn't really appeal to me. As Plague Scythe Studios said, the 8 string will have a wider appeal to guitarists of a certain age. I personally don't think older guitarists (in general) are that interested in them, as they will have already formed their influences and won't be too interested in 8 string players and their style of play.
I may buy one at some stage, but I doubt I would use it that much. I rarely touch my 7 string as it is.
8 Strings are still very much a niche section of guitars. Alot of older guitarists think having anything more than 6 strings is pointless and an even bigger group of guitarists has no use for the extended range. 8 Strings are predominately djent kids who either want to sound like meshuggah or tosin lol
mitch mitchelson lets be honest here, who doesn’t want to play like Tosin?
They're still very niche. This is still a pretty new development in guitars. Even 7 strings weren't all that commonly used in most music, and those have been around forever.
I need to make a 7 or 8 string with an Explorer body with sharper edges, Shark Fin Inlays, an optional Locking Trem system, and passive pickups but an option of actives. It's called the Roberts Acampora.
doesn’t need to be dots, but i love having those inlays. gives a nice flavour to the fingerboard with no negative effect on the guitar. i like that extra flicker.
I’m building a custom 7 string right now. The customer wants a PRS style carved flame maple top with a 7 piece neck thru. Fanned 27.5-25.5 Purple Heart fretboard and emg pickups. I’ve been thinking about what to do for the inlays, and I think you just sold me on leaving it alone. Let the beauty of the wood make the statement
Very cool! Please stay tuned to the channel the next couple of weeks - I have a video regarding custom shop guitars I would love to have your feedback on.
I completely agree with the body shape. I'd love an eight string Tele like Stephen Carpenters. Also, you'll notice all his signature models are only black, yet the only finish he doesn't have in his vast collection, is black.
somebody finally said it about super strats finally
@@fredriksvard2603 i like that stuff if used tastefully. i think steve vais new pia is a good example of how to make it look classy and uniqe
Dude really, enjoyed this, I share your sentiments, especially the EMG's. what's annoying is the Soap Bar route. so its actually more expensive to switch to Passives because you have to buy a soap bar version.
+Riffs And Chugs TV I didn't even consider that, so few pickup models are consistently priced between the two mounting standards.
In the case of seven string soapbars and my extended scale fret board, I had to buy the Fishman 8 string pick-ups
I'm done with factory made guitars. I can never find one anymore that just feels and looks right for me. I write down all the specs i'd like in a guitar and send it to a luthier I trust. Best decision i've ever made. My current favorite is a 7 string explorer made from swamp ash with BKP aftermath in the bridge and blackhawk in the neck. 25.5" scale, 24 frets with reversed headstock. Locking tuners with a tune o matic (I like my hand raised more from the body). Bone nut, no tone knob, killswitch, and topped off with a snow burst finish.
Bet that must have cost a fortune.
VivaLasPingas about $2,300
Totally agree. Seymour Duncan have some really kick-ass passive pickups made for 7 and 8 strings, like the Nazgul, Pegasus, Sentient, for less than the EMG's, just watch Keith Merrow's video about them. This is what I want in a mid to high end 7/8 string, and there is literally no guitar below 1200$ with these pickups, when you get good guitars with overpriced EMG's in the 500 to 800 $ range. Just ridiculous. Well, there is actually one exception, the Jackson SLATHX-M , and I think a lot of people are going to buy these (still, 800 euros is not the best, you can have better spec'd guitar with EMG's for that price).
Flexprog some older schecters banshees had the Nazgul sentient Duncan’s in them too.
For me the best pickups are Fishman.
This is being said a lot at the moment but I can't find any guitars locally that have them fitted.
My solution was buying Jackson's bottom-rung 7-string (shark fin inlays look so much better than dots) and replacing the pickups myself. Went that route because I wasn't sure how I felt about 7-strings when I got it, kinda wishing I'd bought something a bit better quality, but a Nazgul/Sentient-equipped 7-string for about $400 total ain't bad.
Did you notice much improvement over the standard pickups?
Wait till Music Man and Sterling do their version of the 8 string. I'm sure it'll be magic. The Petrucci model is due out sometime soon from what I've read.
I love you man, you voices literally all the same frustration that i have when i purchase any instrument
+Alessandro Pallotta I made this video because we're not alone in this view, regardless of what others may say in this lord of the files comment section haha.
Now imagine being a lefty and looking for a good 8string.
Great video! My 7- and 8-string guitars are both Agile and I absolutely LOVE them. Like you say, it's the only brand where I can find all the features I want on one guitar.
I found your comment on dot inlays interesting. Maybe this is just me, but I thought you could use fret stickers to cover the dots.
+WolfishGlitch I have done exactly that on my Epiphone Les Paul, and I'm okay with that on a $300 guitar I've had since I was 12 years old. Not so much on an extended range guitar.
hm idk if that would make sence if u had a really nice fretboard wood ^^
They're great if you play with other people in a group so you can pick up on riffs quickly by eye.
I think you should just know the song. lol
I have played for 25 years and I love my fret markers. The only time I use the side dots is when I stand.
Your packing a lot of wisdom, I'm digging your channel bro. Thanks for the hard work and great insights.
you are soooo right. schecter had a 8 string V hellraiser. I would love a esp ex 8 string for example. sick of strats : ( i have japanese jackson dkmg btw
I'm a trem user, and it's a big part of my phrasing. The lack of 8 string guitars with some type of trem system has kept me from buying one for a while now.
Ryan Kirby what about the javier reyes signature?
Rudy Ayoub I thought it used a Schaller Fixed bridge, but I could be wrong.
I think ESP is going to release a Horizon or M series with the 8 string Floyd which I may get.
(about the dot inlays)
What about Strandberg Guitars or Ormsby Guitars with their off set dots? Personally, at home, the inlays don't do much for sure. But on a dark stage, the dots really matter. Bonus points for offset dots or "Z" pattern dots, and extra bonus points for glow in the dark inlays. And from a manufacturing stand point, theres probably not that much extra cost to putting inlays or not having them. You're probably talking pennies on each guitar because everything is done on such a high scale.
Cool video my dudes! :)
Thanks! See my comments below. My main argument here is against traditional white dot inlay craze, not decorative inlays. I don't mind Strandberg's and Keisel's takes.
I just wanted to comment about learning on an 8 string. Years ago when I was in high school I started messing around on my dad's guitar which was a six string and I probably got some fundamentals down but I hadn't picked up a guitar and practiced since then. Now I'm 24 and I had a choice to make when I was looking for a guitar to buy. Being that I love metal and other styles I wanted a guitar that was versatile enough to get me started. I bought a Schecter Damien Elite 8 string. I don't regret buying that guitar at all. It sounds decent enough and I've learned a lot more fundamentals on it than I did with a 6 string. I guess all I'm saying is that I think people should learn on the platform that works best for them. I still want a 6 string for sure, it'd be nice to not have a huge neck to deal with. Would it have been easier to learn on a 6 vs the 8, probably? Maybe I just wanted a challenge. I completely agree however, that the dots look dumb on guitars like this, if there is anything I don't like about my guitar it's the plain dull looking fretboard because of the dots, I'd rather have nothing than be stuck with the dots.
First of all, GREAT video! While you make great arguments, I would like to offer my respectful counterpoints to some of your rants:
Rant #1: Schecter and Kiesel currently make non-Super Strat 7 strings (Kiesel also has 8 strings).
Rant #2: While I also shy away from bolt-on necks, it is more cost effective to replace a neck as opposed to the entire guitar should a neck crack due to a fall, for example.
Rant #3: I prefer inlays as long as they are NOT dots. Regarding beginners and expensive guitars: If a cheap guitar is not well made, they will not want to continue playing it, period. Also, if they want to play like Animals as Leaders or Meshuggah, I feel starting on a 6 string is pointless.
Rant #4: I would give my right arm for a 8 string Floyd bridge again. Wait a minute...then I wouldn't be able to play!!!
Rant #5: I absolutely LOATHE active pickups. Give me a passive set of Dimarzios or Seymour Duncans any day.
My fantasy guitar would be a neck through Kiesel X Series shape 8 string with PRS bird inlays and a Floyd. I CAN DREAM, CAN'T I?!?!?!
I physically, mentally and verbally can't agree more with all 5 points you made. Amazing video dude!
I Agree Completely = I am SO SICK of the SAME guitar shape year after year - I can't even watch a NAMM video anymore = Look it's the same shit we do EVERY year and hope you never notice as we use words like CLASSIC, VINTAGE BLABLABLA =/ 1953 will never DIE
I don't mind the strat shape, but when looking for my 8 string, I made sure that it was set or neck through. I ended up on a Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C8 with the ultraviolet finish and I really like it. It has different kind of Dot inlays where the inlays are off to the very side. It has locking tuners and it's got active pickups, EMG 57 8H, and EMG 66 8H. It pretty much met everything I wanted in a guitar
What is your opinion om the M80M considering price point and specs?
+Beng B I think it's an awkward guitar. I would much rather pay another 250-300 bucks for a neckthrough and ebony fretboard to match Marten's and Frederik's real M8M models. Its probably one of the best utilitarian 8 strings out there, but I feel the price doesn't justify the sacrifices they made.
M8M is not 250-300 bucks extra cost, it's 3 times more expensive than M80M
Nanogon even more if I'm not mistaken. But I believe plague scythe was referring to an alternative to m8m. Not the actual sig
Yep, you nailed it.... /s
I think its awkward because for $500 more you can get Frederik's signature stoneman that has another Lundgren M8 on the neck, a neck through design, and a more unique shape. At the time of release it was the best 8 string on the market IMO, but not now.
Sorry to miss this one. As I said below:
I think its awkward because for $500 more you can get Frederik's signature stoneman that has another Lundgren M8 on the neck, a neck through design, and a more unique shape. At the time of release it was the best 8 string on the market IMO, but not now.
Dot inlays is the reason why I bought a PRS as my first guitar. Best decision ever. I bought a Custom Se 24. What a versatile guitar.
It’s all good my dude looking forward to it 🤘
The reason that I like EMG actives is that they're very dynamically flat as they're jazz pickups. You have the base tone from the guitar, and you can just shape it with the amp. I personally like that. A lot of people want the tone to come more from the guitar, that's fine. It just isn't me.
And another thing with actives is that you can crank the gain while retaining low noise, but it's really not necessary to crank it. I find both of these to be a plus. I can up it if I need to without noise, but I don't NEED to up it.
My amp has a warm/hot and a compressed/dynamic switch on the gain channel. So if I'm going to switch to my 7 string (which has EMG 807s) I switch the hot switch off and I still have clarity in the bottom end, and I can compress it a little bit to retain sustain in the mid to high end.
It's not the most ideal setup. I feel, however, that this only works with my amp. I haven't found any other manufacturer to make an amp like mine at all. And it probably would be better to just switch out the 807s for something else. But it works for me, and I'm just a 21 year old kid in a small town in Wisconsin. I don't always have money to throw at these things.
Great video though!
+KingNothingIII That's a great use case for active pickups. My gripe is that the marketing of these guitars and their features don't match. They try to sell these barebones, all black 7 and 8 strings to metal-centric people with high gain amps or software emulation where passives are what 90% of those players would need. A 7 string super strat or another traditional shape with EMGs and decorative features I don't usually go for is right up the alley of players like you, yet these brands don't recognize it.
I actually think it's better to learn on an 8 string vs a 6 string. I played a 6 for years before trying an 8 and it felt very odd to switch over. I kept wanting to play something that should have been on the E on the 8th string.
+Mott Bot I never really had that problem since I treat 8's as different instruments entirely. To be fair, I had played bass for years at that point as well, so it's easier to switch around. I would still recommend 2-3 years on a 6 before even considering more strings.
Going from 8 to 6 will feel also feel odd. That's the nature of change. The reason why it is not recommended to start with an 8 is because many beginners and pros alike fall for the 0000 11111 djent djent djent disorder rather than developing actual musicality.
I agree, this way you don’t need to get used to 7s and 8s when you learn 😉
I just wish more companies made 7/8 string V shapes. I’ve always been a huge fan of flying V’s, especially one winged V’s. If a company comes out with a 7 string 1 Wing V, I’d throw them my money faster than they can say, “We got these in for sale”. I definitely agree on all the points you made except the dot inlay one. I personally couldn’t care less about whether or not a guitar has inlays. Great video!
LTD is doing a 8 string eclipse in 2018
+Obigrobi666 I'm looking forward to their 2018 releases, especially the extended ranges!
Totally agree about the active pickups. Just extra expense which you'll only replace anyway.
Seems like Ibanez watched your video with their Axion Label Series
I think the reason for active pickups is that relatively few guitarists know the pros and cons. They just "know" from their friend that active pickups are good and decide, they absolutely need it. So they sell better. The goes for many features.
If you're tired of most of the clichès in 8 string guitars, check out the Chapman ML1-8 RS and the upcoming Ghost Fret 7
probably the most versatile and unique extended range guitars ever under 1200$
+Bar Goldstein I would like to try one of Chapman's extended range models, but to be honest I'm really waiting to see what Ola Englund's Solar models have to offer.
Dude you have some serious insight on what is practical and what isn't. You are the kinda person I want selling me a guitar in the shop
Literally all of these things is the reason I haven't bought an 8 string yet
I can't find anything that isn't an everyday basic ass white or black string-through Ibanez with a bolt-on neck and EMGs
no why blame string-throughs?
Whats wrong with that
Update - I have an 8 string now and have for a while
Also most of this still applies for the most part
Especially EMGs
Fuck EMGs
Super Strats CONSTANTLY. That’s my gripe. I want all the classics in 7 string form, but with the correct scale length and the big classic companies just don’t make them. It’s really frustrating.
Please🙏 do a review on the fishman fluence I just got a legator 8 string and I think I’m gonna buy them but there no good quality vids of the 8 string pick ups
+Julian Medina I will, but it will take some time. There's a small wiring mistske that disables one of the voicings on the bridge, but I haven't had time to take it back in. I would solder it myself if I still had the space.
I can otherwise recommend Lundgren M8 if medium output is your thing :)
I think the dot inlays are good for when you're showing another guitarist a riff. It's easier for THEM to see what you're doing and grasp it more quickly. But aesthetically, no dots all the way.
+Ectoplasmic36 You're 100% right about that, and others have pointed it out as well. Admittedly, I'm so used to song writing and tracking all the guitars on my own that I don't even think of that sort of thing anymore since I'm not teaching someone else parts. I also got my guitar teaching certification from a guy who played a nylon string classical guitar without fret markers, so I really only used them as a copy cat tool in school jazz bands.
if jesus was djent
+Flix Born of Bethlehem
Djesus
EggCore I burst out in laughter 😂
Check out Jericho guitars, they do have a super strat esque 7 and 8 strings but they also have a Prs style body and a strat style body with their own unique twist to them. They are sub 1k, some are set neck, some are neck through, your choice of pickups and come in different scale length. They'll also try to do anything else you might want with a small upcharge. Plus they're made in the same factory as LTDs, PRS SE etc. And set up and completed in the US.
It’s a niche so why don’t they make something harder to sale? Basically what ur saying.
jbrosupra no he is saying making a “me too” product is boring. Standing out is what niche is all about.
I know I'm commenting more than once but I have a tech question. I have the emg 808 pickups in mine as well. I love the way they sound for practicing tapping and getting some screaming bends up high. However, when I try to dial in a djent tone or just chuggy, I can't get that definition you are talking about. Should I lower the pickups on the low end of the strings? How do you have yours adjusted? I just know when I am djenting along and then I do a run on the lower strings, there just isn't the definition of each of the notes as much as I'd like.
+Shrednarok This is exactly the problem I and most players have with EMGs. They're great for leads, but you don't get the dynamics of a passive for rhythm work. Lowering the pickup height never seemed to do much for me, at least nothing that tweaking the amp gain couldn't achieve. I usually roll off on the volume knob to 8-9 if you're looking for a bit more headroom, though that trick works better on Fishmans in my experience with them so far. The 18 volt mod may help slightly as well, but I'm afraid there's not much you can do to get rid of the undesirable compression effect actives have.
Thanks man! I appreciate the feedback. I'll try those couple of things. I guess hindsight is 20 20. I wish I would have looked for an 8 string with passives looking back. I think this is the first video I've seen from your channel, I'm watching some other ones as well, I'm really liking your stuff man. I subscribed before I made my last comment. I hope your channel continues to grow.
+Shrednarok I appreciate it man! Unfortunately it looks like the fastest growth is coming from videos where 20% of the audience disagrees with me, but oh well haha
That's not a bad thing. I like finding different opinions to compare and contrast with. It helps me figure out how to get the sound I want and maybe introduce some new ideas to my regiment that I haven't thought of before. If we only had people with all the same opinion and ideas then we'd get bored from all of the blandness. Keep rockin!
my annoying design bug are headstocks. ibanez came out with a cool les paul style 7 string, (finally a break away from the super strat) a cool modern LP body, nice blank fingerboard but the headstock is terrible. i do like how ibanez added the iceman headstock to some of their 7 & 8 string super strats though. the agile headstock like the yours on the video is cool and original. i used to own an agile 8 string with that headstk design. schecter makes really good guitars but the headstock is generic looking to me. that's the reason i can't buy a schecter although the keith merrow guitars are really amazing and even he's trying to change up the headstock a bit. moving on to pickups - i have a jackson 7 with bare knuckle aftermaths that sound fucking great live with my band playing loud. i also have another jackson 7 with emg 707's that sound small and compressed when playing at band volume. on the recording side when i record direct with an amp modeler the emg 707's sound huge and the bare knuckles sound ok but not as narley. pickups drive me crazy cause theirs so many options. where's the "go to" all purpose pick-up? i guess that's the fun of owning a few guitars.
I like the Schecter headstock personally. I typically try to avoid inline headstocks, though, especially for ERGs.
I don't give a shit what the headstock looks like as long as the string pull is straight.
Hey PSS, I agree with you on some of these points. I enjoyed this video. This is off topic, but do you happen to own an ESP H208 or 308 or 338? I feel like I saw one on your guitar rack in a previous video. If you do own one and haven't done a vid about it, please do so! It would be interesting bc a 25.5" 8 string isn't very common. Do a review of it and some demos through the ax8. Would be awesome. Thanks again for the interesting and entertaining videos!
+Matt Saadidin Thanks! Good eye, I do own a 338. The 25.5" scale is definitely too short for most contemporary stuff, but works really well for what I use it for. I only bought it because it was the first 8 string I found in 2011, and it was on sale. I wouldn't recommend it today, but at the time it was a pretty good buy.
Hi Jesus. You should become a politician. Bye Jesus.
I’ve heard some very good luthiers here in Italy they all said that the best construction for a better stability is only provided by the bolt on construction.. so I guess there are technical reasons for your questions.
I'm glad someone said that about dot inlays. I think they're ugly. I have 3 kiesels and went with no fret dots on 2 of them. The 3rd has offset inlays. About the Neck, Headless for an 8 string is much more balanced.
I'm buying an RGAIX-7FM, the Iron Label carved top RGA. A couple of the big selling points were locking tuners, passive pickups (that don't suck, apparently), a lovely blank, bound EBONY fretboard. I'm putting up with the bolt on neck since I'm trying to be open minded having never played one, but I'd happily pay 200-300 more for a neckthrough.
I wish more companies offered Hipshot string through set ups.. the tune o matic bridges have a ton of issues as far as hindering tuning stability and comfort of playability etc
(I know this is an older video and I’m super late, but...) I absolutely agree with almost all of what you stated(especially the super strat complaint), minus the fret markers. As someone who likes to see what other players are doing in terms of where they are on the fret board, having fret markers as a guide is great. That’s me personally, but I understand the aesthetic of why you don’t like them.
I recently got a Legator Opus 8 string guitar. It’s basically an 8 string telecaster and I absolutely love it. It does have the bold on neck and fret markers, but given it’s the tele shape, it fits personally. It has passive pickups that sound incredible compared to my Schecter Omen 8 string, and good tuning stability (normal tune-o-matic style bridge, I’ll probably get locking tuners in the near future). I’d love to see ESP follow suit with something more along those lines.
I've gone through more guitars than imaginable with basically every combination of fingerboard wood and inlays and I'd have to say, I actually really like offset dot inlays on modern superstrat designs. not sure if that counts as "dot inlays" as I find standard dot inlays out of place on most superstrat designs not counting vintage styled ones, but I'm definitely a fan of offset dots.
I got an Ibanez RG752 about four years ago and although it's taken a bit of adjusting from using a six string Strat, I really love playing it now. The bolt on neck was never an issue for me, and I've always taken visual cues from the fretboard dots, so that's not an issue, but, I did have to put a one and a half pound weight on the strap at the end of the guitar to get the heavier neck to be at a better playing angle. I thought I'd miss having a whammy bar on my guitar, but with the extra 2 frets on the top and the extra 5 notes on the bottom (from the low B string), I found I didn't miss having a bar at all eventually, even though I do sometimes bend the neck for a vibrato effect.
Ok so I am going to say that I am learning electric guitar on a 9 string. Before you crucify me I have 4 years musical background and know plenty of music theory. I believe that if someone wants to learn an instrument they should play that instrument.
My $400 seven stringed Ibanez is single cut, set neck and has nice block inlays. It doesn't have a locking nut, which is fine since I don't need one, and it has EMGs which I'm looking around for alternatives for. Overall it's just what I wanted except the pickups, which are exchangeable so I consider myself lucky for finding it! Really wish brands would make more Les Paul shaped ones. It's a classic shape, people clearly want it!
Bridge pickup placement is the main thing that drives me nuts. Sometimes its too damn far from the saddles and in extended range guitars it leads to that muddy “neck”-like bass heavy sound thats sounds like fuzz when distorted
Hello!
Great video! Can you please tell me exactly what Agile model you are holding there? Can I find it anywhere? I love the way it looks.
Thanks!
This is the model I have, but I swapped out the EMGs for Fishman Fluences Moderns.
www.rondomusic.com/intereceptorpro828ebblkflm.html
Awesome video man. I've been wanting a seven string for a while now and will make the jump soon, You've just confirmed everything I was thinking and I couldn't agree more with your statements. I guess I've got some research to do to find a neck thru/no inlay/Evertune/passive pick up guitar haha. Subbed!
+CWM ESP will have some evertune models this year, and I believe Solar guitars already has a superstrat version of exactly what you're looking for (probably out of stock until March through). Thanks!
Plague Scythe Studios I thought about Solar straight after I Posted this! Love Ola, man. Definitely feeling a Solar. Thanks for the reply!
You are right about inlays dots on 8th string guitars I don't own a 8th string yet but when I do got one No inlays for me. Troy Frost
Completely agree with this list man! Got an Ibanez artist series 7 string neck thru with a sharpened up Les Paul style body and no fret dots for these very same reasons and after seeing all the other ERGs on the wall it just stood out. Although now you got me thinking I need to get some fine tuning adjustment capabilities.
my comment is a bit unrelated, but i was just wondering how easy was it to change your actives for the fishmans?
Lots of interesting ideas and well spoken commentary.
Speaking as a fan as well as a player, I like the board inlays. I remember an instructional video I was watching and the guy had no inlays. I thought, "What kind of a person does this?" I had to keep pausing the video to count where his position was.
When I had EMGs put in my 7s it cost around 500 dollars. I appreciate the factory installs. As you said, the compression is helpful as picking becomes faster and lighter. One can turn down the gain on the amp, but can't adjust the guitar so passives behave like actives. EMGs have a scooped sound. Some folks poo poo the scoop, but it's a great way to bring out palm mutes and split harmonics as well as cut down on noise.
Since you have a decent guitar to play for now, you might want to save up some cash and invest in a custom that has exactly what you want. I think it would be worth it for you.
My 2c. Great video! :D
I bought an Agile Intrepid Pro 828 a few years ago and I love it, but I love my new Schecter Banshee Elite-8 even more. They both have neck-thru bodies and passive pick-ups, but the Schecter's neck isn't near as deep, it's 2 lbs lighter, and the mid's stick out a bit more. However, it did cost a lot more. For under $1000, it's really hard to beat an Agile, in my opinion.
Dot inlays are helpful when you play in a dark venue or when your band is doing a session because the other bandmates are able to see what you are doing with just one look.
I have 3 six stings , an ibanez rg, ibanez is and a Jackson dinky. I've been thinking of getting a 7 or 8 string but don't know if I want to commit a lot of money towards one, so are the cheaper ones any good? Because I've been under the impression the big brands just take their budget guitars and slap another string on
+Kristian Milan Your assumption is pretty spot on. I personally think what's being offered for $500 and under new for a 7 or 8 string nowadays is pretty pitiful. If you want one just for curiosity, it's not that big a deal. If you're at all serious about it though, I would recommend saving your pennies for a while
Thanks man, your input helps, sorry for the constant questions but you wouldn’t happen to know any decent more average priced 7/8 strings? (Maybe 600/700 dollars )
+Kristian Milan I would check on Jackson's, Schecter's, and LTD's 2018 offerings. LTD has an 8 string eclipse with evertune coming, and I know schecter has a number of ERGs in their new lineup.
Thanks man, I’ll definitely check the evertune one out, you are great !
I agree on the more interesting shapes part, I have a 7 string iceman and love it. Sadly though that one got discontinued in the extended range version because nobody was buying them 😣
Unfortunately iceman is rubbish
What is the guitar you're holding called? It looks awesome!
great review (I'm in the market for an 8 string guitar). What amps do you suggest?
I agree with you on everything you said, except for that Agile.
I used to own a 7 and an 8 Agiles in the past and eventually the lack of quality in the build, loss of tune, string buzz in the fretboard simply got to me and I went straight back to Ibanez.
Again, everything you mentioned about the pickups, necks, dot inlays... Etc, I agree with you 100%.
I just hope that some day more companies will wake up and make some of the changes you've mentioned to show people that they don't have to settle for an agile and still get all those cool features we all want or don't want.
Also, dot inlays don’t always look good, but they are still a necessity in many cases, especially on stage when the lighting isn’t all that great.
You know what I could probably get behind? Something like an a la carte semi-custom model. Import a few neck-through bodies, and have a bunch of drop-down boxes for pickups, elex, strings, the like. Then, toss it all in a box and let the end user put it together. Save on labor, save on setup, etc. Just cut/build/paint the bodies and toss the rest of the guts in the box and send it off. I like the EMGs in my Schecter, but I was wary about ordering an Agile with passives because I didn't want to end up paying for body routing (battery box) later if I changed my mind. I can't be the only one, can I?
I like my Schecter C8 Blackjack. It's got offset inlays. I roll-back the volume on my guitar which cleans up the note definition in it's Seymour Duncan Blackouts. Schecter's own locking tuners have kept my guitar in tune for a week without needing to re-tune it. Its honestly a great guitar. I bought it used for about $600.
My 'end-goal' is for a headless fan-fret 8-string. Until then, my Schecter is just fine.
Ibanez makes an 8 string Iceman - Solar makes a 7 string explorer and V's with a floyd or an evertune - njoy
I agree with this. I was lucky that just as I was looking to buy, Jackson came out with a neck-through, locking tremolo, passive pickup, no dot inlay guitar (The Soloist SL-7). Now, it's a superstrat, but as you say, there's a rationality to that body shape which I understand. But it was a godsend. I totally agree with the fact that choice seems so limited.
Same thing goes for 7string! It took me forever to find a non strat body style without dot inlays. I went with esp eclipse 7 string.
I actually got my Schecter Hellraiser C-8 with Floyd Rose the year this video came out. Took some time to arrive, but better late than never. 😊 And I think they are available again now?
At least scale length is something that manufacturers are paying attention to now. Years ago when I got my first 7 you couldn't find anything besides a 25.5" scale length.
+Ironhorsie True, as I said in another comment it would have been in my Top 5 three or four years ago. My LTD is 25.5", great for open tuning and not much else.
Yeah, too bad a major manufacturer didn't offer something cool like a 27" scale 7 string about 16 - 17 years ago. Oh...what's that? Ibanez did? No one bought it so it only lasted two model years? Well, it was only available in one color and a bolt on so...those grapes are sour anyway.
Lawsuits are the ONLY reason why they don't or can't utilize those particular body styles you mentioned... which is why the only thing that changes from brand to brand is the shape of the headstock.
Bottom line is this: Fender and Gibson were the first original body styles available and without Gibson Guitars then we wouldn't have the LP style ESP/LTD Guitars and without Fender Guitars then we wouldn't have Ibanez Guitars.
Food for thought and great video.
+followfornothing Thank you! I agree to a point, but these same brands have used "lawsuit" body designs on 6 strings in recent times as well. Not to mention there are a number of original body styles that the likes of ESP, Ibanez, and Jackson have developed. As long as super strats sell though, I doubt much will change.
I disagree. Honestly, there are only so many ways to cut a block of wood. If you start with the "traditional" shape of an acoustic guitar (or essentially any stringed instrument, i.e. violin, cello, etc), do your single cut for higher fret access, do your body/belly relief, and soften the hard edges (archtop), everybody ends up making the same body. It is essentially the natural evolution of the instrument, and the fact that anything thinks it *should* be patented is silly. U.S. patent law requires that an idea be novel (new/unique) and non-obvious. The SS shape, as I've outlined above, is essentially inevitable and therefore obvious IMO.
Any thoughts on the jackson slathxq3-8? Neckthru. Nazgul/sentient. 26.5 scale. 750 us.