Why?

[Zaned]

It's not about needing, it's about wanting ;) If it helps one create and be/get inspired, then all the better. We guitarists are often a very tradionalist bunch; I find myself often guilty of that too. We create our own boundaries, even if we really shouldn't.

Me myself I'm sorta lusting for a baritone guitar, much more than for a 7-string. Why baritone? With the longer scale you can use thinner strings in the lower tuning, have that sort of 'twang' also in the lower strings. I went down from 10-52 to 10-46 in strings a while back, for tonal reasons. I did like the tension of the thicker strings, but I like the firmer and sort of twangier tone of the thinner bottom strings better. I grew  to dislike that 'thud' of the thicker bottom strings. Now I can use a bit more bottom from the amp, the tone feels a more flexible and because of the amp settings, also the higher strings sound a bit fuller.

-Zaned

[MrBump]

I don't have any problem conceptually with >6 string guitars, it's just like others I don't see them being used too creatively. 

Take that Charlie Hunter clip above - undeniably a talented chap, and I would definitely listen to his stuff.  But all he's doing is accompanying himself with the bass strings on his guitar - no different to any blues guy, only in a different register.

I'm sure there must be >6ers out there doing innovative stuff...  low register chord inversions, multi-octave legato runs etc.

[dave_mc]

The other thing that slightly concerns me about them is I'd be scared of them putting me off the six string (because of the different neck size etc.). Having recently got a bass (which I was also worried about for a similar reason) I suspect that's more paranoia than anything based in reality, though. :lol:

I was talking to Philly about that earlier. 6strings with shallow neck profiles like a Fender modern C or IbbyRG are really uncomfortable to me now but would've been my preference pre 7. A thick 1" plus 59 style neck on a 6 feels great now, though!

For reference my 7s neck is 0.708" with no taper  :lol:

haha

The other thing that slightly concerns me about them is I'd be scared of them putting me off the six string (because of the different neck size etc.). Having recently got a bass (which I was also worried about for a similar reason) I suspect that's more paranoia than anything based in reality, though. :lol:

I was talking to Philly about that earlier. 6strings with shallow neck profiles like a Fender modern C or IbbyRG are really uncomfortable to me now but would've been my preference pre 7. A thick 1" plus 59 style neck on a 6 feels great now, though!

For reference my 7s neck is 0.708" with no taper  :lol:

I still find it weird that you like a skinny 7 string neck but a fat 6 string neck.  :lol:  I guess maybe the overall circumference of the two is similar.

Going back to Dave's point, I always found when I tried to play bass that it made the regular six string seem really easy to play, in comparison (for a while...).  I guess it would be similar with a multi-string or baritone guitar.

yeah that's what I've been noticing with bass.

[Lew]

It was nu-metal - specifically Korn - that made extended range (7 string) guitars popular though, bands like Suffocation just followed the lead of Tony Iommi in tuning down a six-string and most old death metal guys still do that.

Yea and actually it was the nu-metal image that stopped me playing a 7 for the longest time.

[AndyR]

I have to admit that I find myself wondering "why" as well. I wonder the same thing over basses with more than 4 strings.

But that "why" is only because I don't see myself getting into more strings, and btw I'd never even have considered the possibility of more strings if the instruments didn't exist already... and therefore I end up wondering what other people see in them.

Personally, I don't find them as "pretty" as their 6 and 4 string counterparts. And I love the restrictions imposed by 6 and 4 string.

BUT!! Obviously enough folks do like them, and can use them to make the musical statements they want to make, so... it's all fine with me :D

[keith]

I don't have any problem conceptually with >6 string guitars, it's just like others I don't see them being used too creatively. 

Take that Charlie Hunter clip above - undeniably a talented chap, and I would definitely listen to his stuff.  But all he's doing is accompanying himself with the bass strings on his guitar - no different to any blues guy, only in a different register.

I'm sure there must be >6ers out there doing innovative stuff...  low register chord inversions, multi-octave legato runs etc.

I'm sure there must be >6ers out there doing innovative stuff...  low register chord inversions, multi-octave legato runs etc... Yeah the old guy on the Wonga advert......brilliant

[Slartibartfarst42]

I have to admit that I find myself wondering "why" as well. I wonder the same thing over basses with more than 4 strings.

But that "why" is only because I don't see myself getting into more strings, and btw I'd never even have considered the possibility of more strings if the instruments didn't exist already... and therefore I end up wondering what other people see in them.

Personally, I don't find them as "pretty" as their 6 and 4 string counterparts. And I love the restrictions imposed by 6 and 4 string.

BUT!! Obviously enough folks do like them, and can use them to make the musical statements they want to make, so... it's all fine with me :D

I'm with you on a lot of that but I'm far from convinced that there's much in the way of 'musical statements' being made and certainly not 'innovative' ones. I've heard nothing so far from a 7+ string guitar or 5+ string bass that I see as a revolutionary step forward from what my 6 string guitar heroes from years ago were doing. All that 10 string bass that was mentioned earlier did was basically take over a guitar part because it went so high and by the same token, a guitar does much the same thing in reverse. I've listened to all of the arguments and I agree there's a market for them but I suspect that a lot of people buy them because it's trendy to do so and certainly not because they've exhausted the possibilities of 6 strings. It must be my age because, like most computer games, I just don't see the point.

[Lucas]

Well, I was thinking about it and to be honest found few reasons why these days people are making/playing sucha guitars like 8-9 strings. On the other hand I personally find 9 string as a total exaggeration but as I mentioned aboved there`re few reasons:

1) Nowadays everything tends to be intense, intensive and totally in-your-face giving more experiences to people at short amount of time. It applies to movies (compare eg. horror movies from 80s and modern ones), TV advertisements and it also applies to music as well. That`s why these days we can find extreme styles as dub step and all super uber low tuned metal, nu metal, core styles.
In modern 'metal' music guitar doesn`t plays as important role as it used to lets say 15-20 years ago. Riffs are not as sharp, flamboyant, complicated, complex and sophisticated. You cannot see much difference in the mix between guitar and bass as you could those 20 years ago. Nowadays riffs are blurry, more focused as background rather than first thing that strikes people ears.
These days thanks to low tuning guitar is more connected with bass than ever. Plus lack of solos proves that idea as well.
Let`s compare some metal from 80`s with modern playing, djent, low tuning ect. Extra strings helps with it a lot.
PLUS Dub step is found being mixed in more music styles even in metal these days and dub step is an extreme sounding style. Look at new Korn feat Skrillex.

2) Second reason is MARKET. People have seen 6,7,8 string guitars so why not move it further and see if that extreme can fulfill someone`s needs and make some money at the same time especially that circumstances mentioned above help a lot.

3) When people can make a good use of those extra strings and actually make music why not? I wouldn`t even go as far as 8 string to be honest but take a look at this guy Fracionado. He plays 8 strings (I know it`s only 8, not 9 :D) but he does brilliant job in my opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpi0w3wPE3M

So why not? Guitars are nearly an ancient instruments, for most people (including myself) they will stay the same for another 10000 years without going crazy with 10 strings and coffee making machines built-in, but if some people fancy going that route, let them do it  :D

[Toe-Knee]

3) When people can make a good use of those extra strings and actually make music why not? I wouldn`t even go as far as 8 string to be honest but take a look at this guy Fracionado. He plays 8 strings (I know it`s only 8, not 9 :D) but he does brilliant job in my opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpi0w3wPE3M

Oh the memories of a commodore64 game loading.

[gwEm]

3) When people can make a good use of those extra strings and actually make music why not? I wouldn`t even go as far as 8 string to be honest but take a look at this guy Fracionado. He plays 8 strings (I know it`s only 8, not 9 :D) but he does brilliant job in my opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpi0w3wPE3M

Oh the memories of a commodore64 game loading.

Loved that!

[gwEm]

So tell me, with these 8 string guitars do you tune:

GBEADGBE

Or

F#BEADGBE ?

[Lew]

So tell me, with these 8 string guitars do you tune:

GBEADGBE

Or

F#BEADGBE ?

F#BEADGBE is standard tuning for an 8

[gwEm]

So tell me, with these 8 string guitars do you tune:

GBEADGBE

Or

F#BEADGBE ?

F#BEADGBE is standard tuning for an 8

That seems like quite a cool tuning in fact. If anything this thread makes me actually want to try a long scale length, multi stringed, drop detuned br00tal axe ;)

[Lucas]

Oh the memories of a commodore64 game loading.

so at least we have figured it out, where dub step is coming from!  :lol:

By the way, while 9 string guitar will surely give you at least sore back, that thing will brake it in half!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAZdiJGWdfI

[Toe-Knee]

8 strings are so 2013



Septor 10 String!

Double cutaway, light weight, mahogany, arch top body with gloss finish
30" scale, 5 piece neck-thru body design with 24 jumbo frets
Rosewood fretboard with no markers - position markers are located on the side of the neck
Cepheus 10 passive pickups
Cepheus high mass extended range bridge
Grover die-cast sealed tuners with 18-1 ratio
Measurements

Scale length: 27"
Width of the neck at the nut: 2 3/4”
Width of the neck at the 12th fret: 3 1/4"
Width of the neck at the 24th fret: 3 1/2"
Thickness of the neck at the 1st fret: 13/16"
Thickness of the neck at the 12th fret: 15/16"
Radius: 15”
Labella String gauges: .009, .012, .015, .022, .030, .040, .054, .074 .090, .110

Utter madness. All those strings just so someone can chug one lower... Reminds me of spinal tap.