Eight string guitars are a fascinating instrument, although often very expensive. This guide looks at the best budget 8-string guitars, to extend your playing range without overextending your bank balance.
Whilst low cost, many of these guitars compete with even the best 8 string guitars from across the industry. Many of these guitars are made by reputable brands and have a high quality so you can rest assured you’re getting a good bang for your buck.
I tested 6 products and found Ibanez RG8 8-String to be the best budget 8 string guitar.
Everybody knows that Ibanez makes some of the best 8 string guitars in the world. It’s common knowledge. The RG8 is an affordable guitar with an additional seventh and eighth string. Everything about this guitar feels miles above its price tag!
I’ve always loved playing 8 string guitars. Playing with more than six strings opens up a whole new range of playing techniques. It’s almost like playing a new instrument. Extended range guitars are a fascinating method to improve your musical technique, and bring a new flavor to your sonic output.
I’ve tried a few 8 strings in my time, so I can guarantee this list contains only the best eight-string guitars for players on a budget. This niche instrument won’t be for everyone though, some people are better off sticking to a standard guitar.
There are many styles of eight-string guitars around. We’ve included a whole range so you can find a solid choice. Whether you need a heavy metal beast or a refined virtuoso jazz guitar, we’ve listed a selection from across the spectrum.
We explain more at the end of the post, but there are several factors you should consider before buying an 8 string. One key element is whether you want to use active pickups or passive pickups. Generally, active pickups are more suitable for distorted types of music.
Keep reading for our full lineup of the best budget 8 string guitars.
Otherwise, check out my other post about the best guitars for beginners.
Need something a bit simpler? Have a look at the best budget 7-string guitars.
Best in our tests
- Gstyle 8 String
- Ibanez RG8
- Jackson X Series Soloist
- SLFDXDP Electric Guitar
- Schecter Damien Platinum
- Ortega Custom Double Neck Ukulele
6 Best Budget 8 String Guitar Reviewed in Detail
1. Gstyle 8 String
Description
The G-Style 8 String is a versatile instrument that can be played in many genres. It has a bright, punchy sound with enough clarity to cut through when needed. The neck profile is comfortable and fast, with just the right amount of depth to keep your hand in contact at all times.
This 8 String Guitar is the perfect solution for guitarists looking for that deep, rich, yet resonant tonal range. The Gstyle 8 String is made with a Composite Ebony Fretboard and features a Truss Rod for easier adjustments, which allows for more accurate string height adjustment. It also helps to maintain string tension correctly.
Effortless tonal range and playability, this 8 string beauty is perfect for any style of music. The Okoume Body Top/ and bolt-on maple neck gives the guitar a thick and strong tone, while composite ebony provides a smooth and beautiful surface for your fingers to glide along.
These affordable guitars are a fantastic entry into the world of eight strings. The Maple neck and compact scale length make this guitar feel comfortable to play, without needing to strain to reach the eighth string. It comes with a simple master tone and volume control, so you can sculpt your tone a little. All the hardware feels relatively decent, and there isn’t a huge difference between more expensive models.
Specifications
- Material: Okoume Body
- Neck Material: Maple Neck
- Pickups: 2 x Humbuckers
Pros & Cons
- Super Affordable
- Decent Sound
- Comfortable Neck
- Lightweight
- Average build quality
Summary
The Gstyle 8 String is a well-rounded guitar that can be used as a do-it-all guitar. It’s a perfect choice for those who want to learn the basics, as well as for those who have been playing for years. If you’re looking for an affordable 8 string guitar, this is a beautiful choice.
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2. Ibanez RG8 8-String
Description
Looking for a workhorse guitar to take your music to the next level? The Ibanez RG8 is your answer. If you’re serious about playing on an 8-string, then this is the only choice. From heavy rock to lush metal, you’ll find that playing will be easier than ever before, giving you time to focus on what matters most – your music.
The Ibanez RG8 8-string guitar is an excellent option for players who want to take their music to the next level. It has a mahogany body and neck, with a 5pc Maple/Walnut neck, and a fixed bridge. The Ibanez RG8 8-string guitar comes equipped with IBZ-8 pickups for both the neck and bridge pickup. These have low noise performance, which ensures this guitar sounds amazing no matter how hard you drive it.
The RG8 is the new kid on the block, redefining the RG lineup with 8 strings. RG8 is made with Ibanez’s new Acoustic Matrix technology for clarity and depth. The RG8 is also the first 8-string with their GSR4 Maple/Rosewood neck, making it a “must-have” for any player looking to experiment with different tunings or who needs an ultra-low string option.
The RG8 is one of the most affordable 8-string guitars but doesn’t trade off anything in terms of quality. It’s perfect for players who want the benefits of having a low B string with the added benefit of a neck that players can’t get enough of. The stock pickups are more than enough to get you going and come with master volume and tone controls for fine-tuning. The bridge pickups on these guitars are really something to behold.
Specifications
- Material: Mahogany and Basswood
- Neck Material: Maple
- Pickups: 2 x IBZ Humbuckers
- Other Features: Super strat shape for reaching all the notes. Refined dot inlays. High-quality headstock tuners.
Pros & Cons
- Renowned Ibanez Guitars quality
- Feels great across the fretboard
- Slightly shorter scale length for agility.
- Works for all kinds of playing style
- Factory tuning needed tweaking
Summary
Overall, the RG8 is easily one of the best 8 string guitars for those on a budget. The Basswood body provides a sweet, full resonance that carries your playing through the air. These electric guitars have a classic super strat body shape, with a thin U shape neck for increased comfort. We would like to see some extra features like locking tuners or multi-scale length capacity, but for the price, you will be very pleased.
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3. Jackson X Series Soloist SLATXF8 QM MS
Description
The Jackson X series 8-String is a super versatile instrument, perfect for all styles of music from metal to blues. This guitar uses a unique fanned fretboard, which some players may not fully understand. Although if you know what you’re looking at, this guitar will make you very excited.
The multiscale fretboard lets you express more than one scale at a time. This is truly an instrument for virtuoso guitar players. The body shape is perfectly balanced and makes it super easy to reach all the notes, even on the high E string. This electric guitar uses a fixed bridge which increases sustain and tuning.
The staggered individual saddles offer a quick and accurate setup, while the sealed die-cast tuners offer a lifetime of smooth tuning. Thanks to the multi-scale design you can use more than two scale lengths at a time, which gives you an extended range like never before. This particular model comes with both a humbucking neck pickup and bridge, like the best electric guitars. These are passive pickups, although you do find models using active pickups too.
The Jackson X Series Soloist Archtop SLAT8 MS sports a thin profile that is nicely balanced with a comfortable hand-rubbed oil finish, powerful Seymour Duncan SH-10 Custom TB4 humbuckers, and Schaller hardware. It’s equipped with recessed Floyd Rose tremolo, locking nut, Grover tuners, 24.75″ scale length, and Dunlop strap locks for better security. This guitar is perfect for the techy players out there.
Specifications
- Material: Poplar
- Neck Material: Maple
- Pickups: 2 x Humbuckers
- Other Features: Fanned Frets
Pros & Cons
- Unique Multi-scale design
- Fanned Fret Board
- Punchy tone
- Complex to play
Summary
Overall, the Jackson X series is a fantastic virtuoso guitar. It’s not every day you see multi-scale designs like this, but it sure is exciting. This guitar features a bolt-on neck with a dark quilted maple topped body. We love the wood choice all around.
This guitar is going to be too complicated for many players, so I only suggest buying it if you know how to play one, and understand why the fretboard is the way it is. If you just need a guitar with an eight-string, look somewhere else. But if you want a cutting-edge modern guitar that is capable of the most expressive, forward-thinking performances, this is a great choice.
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4. SLFDXDP Electric Guitar 8 String
Description
SLFDXDP is a compact-sized guitar with an 8-string neck. This high-quality guitar delivers the same sound quality, durability, and design as any high-end guitar on the market. It’s perfect for all types of music styles and is even tuned to E standard. This guitar comes at a budget-friendly price and will shock you for the high level of quality.
The SLFDXDP 8-String Guitar offers an extended range of sound and is comfortable playing action. The guitar features a mahogany back and sides with rosewood and maple in the body, a gloss finish, and a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard.
This is the culmination of years of engineering and design. The best materials are used to make it simple, stable, and reliable. It is strung with an ultra-low tension string set, making it perfect for beginners or any musician looking to explore new sounds. It doesn’t offer multiple scale lengths like the above electric guitar, but this is probably better for most players.
Get a professional-sounding guitar with the 8-string SLFDXDP. This has a contoured neck and is professionally designed for precise positioning. It’s perfect for those who want to go beyond the norm and get a true, professional sound. The eight-string is easy to use, and the fretboard doesn’t feel cramped. We would like to see some dot inlays, but you can get by without them
Don’t deal with pain in your hand anymore. This guitar is specially designed for optimal comfort, which will not affect your playing. With new features like the relaxed string tension, you will have a better experience while playing. You can practice longer with fewer distractions or injuries while having fun with this beautiful instrument!
Specifications
- Material: Maple and Rosewood
- Neck Material: Maple
- Pickups: 2 x Humbucker
- Other Features:
Pros & Cons
- Super Affordable
- Great pickups
- Cool Appearance
- Average quality
Summary
This is one of the best 8 string guitars for those on a budget. This has all the features you need at a fantastic price. This guitar looks feels, and sounds great, without any major criticisms. It’s made relatively simplistically, with only a basic volume and tone control, and no locking tuners. But This is a true workhorse guitar that will get you to buy. If you need a basic 8 string guitar, this is a great choice.
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5. Schecter Damien Platinum 9-String
Description
OK, I know this is technically a 9-string guitar rather than 8, but it’s so cool I had to include it. From Schecter Guitar Research, this is a truly one-of-a-kind instrument with more than just an eighth string!
The Damien Platinum is the perfect choice for players who want an aggressive and ready-to-rock guitar with luxurious appointments. The Damien 9 is designed with 9 strings, for players looking to expand their tonal palette. It features an ES Standard body, EMG pickups, Grover tuners, and custom Schecter Synapse bridges.
The Schecter Damien 9-String is for players who are looking to take their playing to the next level. The guitar’s design was based on the popular Damien 6-string, with its sleek body style, smooth curves, & high gloss finish. This guitar has a powerful sound through its active pickups. With a set mahogany neck and mahogany body, the wood choice in this electric guitar is fantastic. The inclusion of Schecter Locking Tuners makes this guitar keep in tune better than any others on this list!
Schecter Guitar’s newest addition to the Damien family is here! I’m in love with this 9-string Damien-9, with EMG Guitar’s 909 pickups. The Cutting-edge design and features, combined with Schecter’s precision craftsmanship and quality, create a rock/metal guitar that will stand out on any stage. This is a real Schecter diamond! Some people may find the extended nut width too fat for their hands, but what do you expect? This is a 9 string!
Specifications
- Material: Mahogany
- Neck Material: Maple
- Pickups: 2 x EMG909 Active Humbuckers
- Other Features: Cool fret inlays
Pros & Cons
- 9-strings for maximum expression
- Powerful EMG Pickups for fat heavy tones
- Carbon Fiber Reinforcement rods and locking fretboards for proper tension.
- Large nut width due to extra strings, too large for some players.
Summary
With a Schecter Damien 9-String Construction Set-Neck, you can get a quality guitar without spending a fortune. You get the precision and stability of a set-neck construction, the comfort of an Ultra Access cutaway, and the sustain and volume of EMG pickups. All at an amazing price that we’re sure you’ll agree is hard to beat.
I can’t get away with saying this is one of the best 8 string guitars (because it has 9) but this is truly a next-level instrument. If you are up for the challenge, an electric guitar has 50% extra strings than your typical 6 string. Playing this electric guitar is sure to improve your skills!
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6. Ortega Custom Double Neck Ukulele
Description
Again, this isn’t quite an 8 string guitar, but I had to include it on this list of oddities! With the Hydra Double Neck Ukulele, you can play both a 4-string and an 8-string simultaneously. When you add the bag to this package, you will have a complete setup for Hawaiian music, songwriting, or performance.
The Ortega Double Neck Ukulele is the perfect instrument for music lovers who want to take their playing to the next level. The Ovangkol top, back, and sides produce a warm and rich tone. The open-pore finish is smooth and delicate to the touch. This ukulele offers a great balance between playability and tone.
A perfect ukulele for the beginner, intermediate, & advanced player. A versatile ukulele that can handle all styles of music.
The Ortega Double Neck Ukulele is a great instrument for those who want to play two different instruments at the same time. This is a hybrid ukulele. One with a standard ukulele neck, and the other with an 8 string uke. This comes with strings in pairs, which gives it a bright, harmonic resonance. This is really a unique sounding instrument, and fascinating to play!
This ukulele comes fitted with a built-in preamp/pickup system for amplification and recording. This system is designed to be an easy-to-use all-in-one solution that includes a built-in tuner, with the ability to switch between two sound sources with one button. This means you can use this guitar with more electronic gear, increasing your creative potential and volume capacity.
With two necks, the Ortega Double Neck Ukulele is perfect for the musician who plays both tenor and baritone ukulele. The bamboo top and back add a lush sound, balancing out the mahogany body. This instrument is tuned to G-C-E-A or Gg-cC-EE-AA with Aquila strings–a gold standard for ukuleles.
Specifications
- Material: Ovangkol
- Neck Material: Ovangkol
- Pickups: Internal Acoustic Preamp/Pickup
- Other Features:
Pros & Cons
- Unique double-neck uke design
- Works acoustically or electronically (built-in pickup)
- Great tonewood choice
- Relatively affordable
- Complex for some players
- Not a true guitar
Summary
If you are looking for a fun new instrument to play, this double-neck ukulele could be an exciting challenge. I know it isn’t an 8 string guitar, but this is just as cool to play. These can create a huge range of sounds and have a tone unlike anything else.
If you are into acoustic instruments and ukuleles, this instrument could be a great investment. I’d say the main reason to buy it would be its uniqueness, how fun it is to play, and the conversational factor. Imagine playing one of these at an open mic? People would be obsessed!
It isn’t an electric guitar, so it’s definitely not for everyone. But if you are in the world of ukuleles, this would be a sweet instrument to own!
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What Exactly is an 8-String Guitar and Why do People Like Them?
An 8-string guitar is a type of guitar that has eight strings instead of the standard six. The extra two strings are usually tuned higher and lower than the original. Therefore they have a wider range of notes.
There are many reasons why people like 8-string guitars. They are often used for playing bass lines, and they can produce a richer sound than a 6-string guitar.
People like them because they have a fuller sound and can be tuned to give different types of sounds. The extra strings also allow for more complex chords, which can often be difficult on a 6-string guitar.
Another reason why people like 8-string guitars is because they produce a richer sound than 6-strings. This is because the extra two strings allow for more variation and complexity in the chords and notes you can play.
The second reason is that an 8-string guitar often has a greater range than a 6 string, which means you can play higher notes with less effort or use different tunings to get different sounds out of it. They can open up more options in your playing, which increases your expressive range. It can take some practice, but when you learn these instruments you will feel like a master of the guitar.
Best Budget 8 String Guitar Buyers Guide
What to look for when buying this type of product
There are many styles of 8-string guitars out there. This short section will help you to work out what is the best type for your needs.
Consider the following topics to help you refine your search for the perfect instrument.
Body Style
You can find all kinds of body styles when it comes to an 8-string electric guitar. Many use a more modern, metal-style body, somewhere along the lines of a super strat body. These are great for players of heavy genres, although don’t necessarily suit other genres like jazz and pop.
Body style can have an effect on the sound, although typically it has more to do with aesthetics and posture comfort.
Pickups and Sound
8 strings come with a variety of pickup options. Generally, you will see that most come with humbuckers, although the odd model uses single coils.
The main choice is whether you want active or passive pickups.
Passive pickups are the standard type. Active pickups work in a different way, they use a battery to boost the preamp signal. This achieves a louder output with a more dynamic range. Actives are regarded as a better choice for anybody who plays with a lot of distortion and gain.
FAQs
Who makes the best 8 string guitars?
The most popular 8 string guitars are from brands such as Ibanez and ESP. They have been around for a long time and they know what they are doing. These companies make high-quality guitars for people who want to play hard rock or metal music.
If you have a lower budget, there are some good options from brands such as Dean Guitars or Jackson Guitars. They offer more affordable 8 string guitars that still sound great and will last a long time. The best 8 string guitars are made by companies like Ibanez, Schecter, and ESP.
Who plays 8-string guitars?
Conclusion
Overall I thought the best budget 8 string guitar was the Ibanez RG8 8-String.
This is a high-quality 8-string guitar at a budget-friendly price. This guitar has all the features you need for a fantastic 8 string beast.
The build quality itself is excellent. Both the neck and body feel incredibly well made, and refined to a smooth degree. The pickups used are great and achieve a wide, full sound with high expression and articulation. Functionally this guitar does it all. It retains excellent tuning, the neck feels great and the action is sweet.
It’s generally more suited to heavier styles of music, although it will perform well for any genre! This guitar is available in either a black or white finish! I love the look of the white.
View the Ibanez RG8 8-String online today!
Interested in more guitars? Check out our guide on the best resonator guitars. These are the perfect guitar for blues and folk players!
Noah is an accomplished audio engineer with several years of experience producing music for major companies and independent artists. He enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of audio engineering topics to help musicians and music producers create great music.