hydrogencynide
New member
i Think someone on this forum has an agile-7 think i saw it in the photo album before.
having said that. im keen on getting the spector 7 too. just not too sure on how online ordering works.
Walking the Talk - 8 String Content
- Thread starter ShredCow
- Start date
i Think someone on this forum has an agile-7 think i saw it in the photo album before.
having said that. im keen on getting the spector 7 too. just not too sure on how online ordering works.
astaroth
New member
Be the first.
hahaha alright shall aim for that! I did a checkout on one of the intrepids, shipping to SG is abt 85 USD. Shd range abt there i think.
Last edited:
hydrogencynide
New member
Oh you just bought one? which did you buy?
Sorry for the 3-year bump. I've done a search on Google (with operators, no less) and a search with the website's Google-powered search bar and they didn't turn up anything, so I figured it would be better to bump this thread instead of making a new one.
I'm currently looking at purchasing an 8-string guitar. I was so sure that the LTD H-208 would be pretty good, since it's pretty cheap, pops up every now and then on the marketplace (~$300-$400) and I was convinced the LTD brand is as good as ESP after a video that was pretty much propaganda for ESP's products, but now I'm not so sure. LTD's 200 and below series seems to be of the lower-end of the scale. It doesn't help that there's virtually no talk on the H-208 on Google.
I have a budget of $300+, and I'm looking to get something that is at least decent. I'd like to keep my budget within this range, as I'm not sure how much I would take to an 8-string. I could pay much more for a guitar, but I'm not comfortable doing that for what is essentially a hobby for me. I don't have any preference for scale lengths, but I'd be more comfortable with 25.5". I listen to djenty stuff, so I understand that scale length is an important consideration, but I'd like to rectify that with strings of larger gauge. How would this factor into the maintenance of the guitar in the long run?
I've been reading things about LTD and Schecter guitars and there seems to be differing opinions. Agile guitars look pretty cool, but they're out of my budget, even second-hand. How likely would I be in finding second-hand 8 strings by calling up the different shops?
Any advice?
I'm currently looking at purchasing an 8-string guitar. I was so sure that the LTD H-208 would be pretty good, since it's pretty cheap, pops up every now and then on the marketplace (~$300-$400) and I was convinced the LTD brand is as good as ESP after a video that was pretty much propaganda for ESP's products, but now I'm not so sure. LTD's 200 and below series seems to be of the lower-end of the scale. It doesn't help that there's virtually no talk on the H-208 on Google.
I have a budget of $300+, and I'm looking to get something that is at least decent. I'd like to keep my budget within this range, as I'm not sure how much I would take to an 8-string. I could pay much more for a guitar, but I'm not comfortable doing that for what is essentially a hobby for me. I don't have any preference for scale lengths, but I'd be more comfortable with 25.5". I listen to djenty stuff, so I understand that scale length is an important consideration, but I'd like to rectify that with strings of larger gauge. How would this factor into the maintenance of the guitar in the long run?
I've been reading things about LTD and Schecter guitars and there seems to be differing opinions. Agile guitars look pretty cool, but they're out of my budget, even second-hand. How likely would I be in finding second-hand 8 strings by calling up the different shops?
Any advice?
zesn
New member
If i'm buying a guitar. I'm more concerned about playability and workmanship.
Tone comes from the player's fingers,
but a bad guitar can't help me get the right tone out of it (bad as in can't be salvaged with a setup by a tech)
Well it's hard to tell what you'll like or not but I do recommend you to try them out instead of calling up the different shops. Check out how comfortable you are with the neck, your fretting for chords and lines, scale length, how your palm reacts to the bridge, etc.
Of course, if you're bent on getting a 8-string. You should just probably get one and get used to it.
I've tried a 8 string Schecter at that price range, the pickups are horrible. But playability is fine. Everything does sounds good in my friend's hands after he swapped to Bareknuckle pickups for that Schecter. He plays djent too.
Tone comes from the player's fingers,
but a bad guitar can't help me get the right tone out of it (bad as in can't be salvaged with a setup by a tech)
Well it's hard to tell what you'll like or not but I do recommend you to try them out instead of calling up the different shops. Check out how comfortable you are with the neck, your fretting for chords and lines, scale length, how your palm reacts to the bridge, etc.
Of course, if you're bent on getting a 8-string. You should just probably get one and get used to it.
I've tried a 8 string Schecter at that price range, the pickups are horrible. But playability is fine. Everything does sounds good in my friend's hands after he swapped to Bareknuckle pickups for that Schecter. He plays djent too.
Oh I'm definitely all about the playability as well. That's what I was worried about the most when I was researching. I'll definitely keep in mind your suggestion about the Schecter. By any chance, do you know which Schecter that is? Would it be the Omen 8? I think that's the only 8-string by Schecter in this range.
I thought about calling up the shops to see if there are any second-hand guitars that fit the bill, then going down to the shop and trying them out and see how everything goes. Thanks for the list on the things to look out for. I'll keep those in mind!
I thought about calling up the shops to see if there are any second-hand guitars that fit the bill, then going down to the shop and trying them out and see how everything goes. Thanks for the list on the things to look out for. I'll keep those in mind!
I like the Schecters - great value for money. I think I saw a bolt on 8 string Schecter for abou $500 bucks? Really fun guitar and construction was great.
Schecters have a 26.5" scale. That extra 1 inch does make you stretch a little more but I think that's easy to get used to. There's a bit more clarity with that extra inch so that helps with djent.
I think 8 strings are a lot of fun and I went from 6 to 8 to 7 and now back to an 8.
If it helps, I used a 9-42 set + .56 + .70 for my old Schecter in this thread.
Schecters have a 26.5" scale. That extra 1 inch does make you stretch a little more but I think that's easy to get used to. There's a bit more clarity with that extra inch so that helps with djent.
I think 8 strings are a lot of fun and I went from 6 to 8 to 7 and now back to an 8.
If it helps, I used a 9-42 set + .56 + .70 for my old Schecter in this thread.
Would that be a first-hand Schecter you're talking about?
That's what I thought about Schecter's scale too. I guess in the long-run the extra inch doesn't really affect playability that much.
The part about the string gauge definitely helps. Does Davis still carry the Schecter 10-74 8-string set? Or has that been discontinued? I'm playing around with a tension calculator and it seems that a .74 would work fine with 25.5" (in the event I do end up with a 25.5" guitar) if 0.7 works fine with 26.5".
That's what I thought about Schecter's scale too. I guess in the long-run the extra inch doesn't really affect playability that much.
The part about the string gauge definitely helps. Does Davis still carry the Schecter 10-74 8-string set? Or has that been discontinued? I'm playing around with a tension calculator and it seems that a .74 would work fine with 25.5" (in the event I do end up with a 25.5" guitar) if 0.7 works fine with 26.5".
Last edited:
Yeah, brand new. Was hanging in Davis on level 1. I think it's gone now but worth a look.
You can feel that extra inch, especially for stretched chords but it should be easy to handle.
I don't know if they still carry that 10-74 set. They do have d'addario's 9-65 which is stupid. If I recall correctly, even the 10s 8 string set is mismatched in terms of tension per string. It always gets too light/flubby on the low F#.
Alternately, go DR Strings. Davis does bring in DR Strings and DR has well put together .10 and .11 set.
Go to sevenstring.org for more information on string tension and stuff. I see you are interested in a high A string? They discuss that at length too.
You can feel that extra inch, especially for stretched chords but it should be easy to handle.
I don't know if they still carry that 10-74 set. They do have d'addario's 9-65 which is stupid. If I recall correctly, even the 10s 8 string set is mismatched in terms of tension per string. It always gets too light/flubby on the low F#.
Alternately, go DR Strings. Davis does bring in DR Strings and DR has well put together .10 and .11 set.
Go to sevenstring.org for more information on string tension and stuff. I see you are interested in a high A string? They discuss that at length too.
Would that be a reference to the talk about the tension on the B string before I edited that part out? I was testing the tension calculator when the 60 pounds jumped out at me, until I realized I made a mistake in the calculator. I'm sure a high A string has its uses, but I think it's more trouble than its worth for me personally.
Since you starting out 8 string, I strongly suggest omen 8 base on ur budget. I start from omen to ltd 308 to agile interceptor 8 than to ibanez rga8. I feel omen 8 is damn good for that price. The ltd as short scale - 25.5, cant dig heavy.
Thanks for the recommendation! I'll keep it in mind!
Did you make the transition from a 6-string or 7-string? Did you increase the gauge of the strings when you got the LTD H-308 or did you just live with the lower tension?
Godsmen
Member
I did not had problems moving from 6 to 7 string. To 8 string was not that easy due to the large fretboard. Basically its like shredding on a 5 string bass kinda feel hehe. On the 308, you can't really use too thick gauge due to the hole in the tuning machine heads. On the other hand, I actually prefer to have long scale for downtuning rather than using thicker strings.
Something else you have to take note is that using long scale will actually improve your tone clarity as compared to a 25.5 inch scale guitar. Which I think the in between would be a 27 if u planning to use a standard f# b tuning for ur 8th and 7th string.
Something else you have to take note is that using long scale will actually improve your tone clarity as compared to a 25.5 inch scale guitar. Which I think the in between would be a 27 if u planning to use a standard f# b tuning for ur 8th and 7th string.
Yeah, a 7 string feels like an extension of a regular guitar - it's still pretty familiar and all that. An 8 string feels quite alien probably because of the fretboard size, as Godsmen said, and having to deal with another string.
I do think you need to spend time working with an 8 string before saying no to it.
And Godsmen has a point about scale length. Read up about the differences in tone between the standard les paul scale and a standard strat scale - you'll find that luthiers/people/musicians understand that tone is affected by scale length.
Then there's the tone differences between string gauges - which is why I prefer to use .09s over .10s.
Then figure out why djentlemen like to have long scales and thinner strings. Meshuggah uses a .70 (if I recall correctly) for a low F on their 29.4" signatures. And that string goes up to .74 for their newer 27" custom firebird/iceman guitar. See the Premier Guitar rig rundown on YouTube for the facts.
Or go for fanned frets.
Oni 8 by Shredcow, on Flickr
I do think you need to spend time working with an 8 string before saying no to it.
And Godsmen has a point about scale length. Read up about the differences in tone between the standard les paul scale and a standard strat scale - you'll find that luthiers/people/musicians understand that tone is affected by scale length.
Then there's the tone differences between string gauges - which is why I prefer to use .09s over .10s.
Then figure out why djentlemen like to have long scales and thinner strings. Meshuggah uses a .70 (if I recall correctly) for a low F on their 29.4" signatures. And that string goes up to .74 for their newer 27" custom firebird/iceman guitar. See the Premier Guitar rig rundown on YouTube for the facts.
Or go for fanned frets.
Oni 8 by Shredcow, on Flickr
Hm I didn't really consider the size of the machine heads for some reason.
I have been reading up on scale lengths and I can't find anything on scale length vs string gauge other than the tension and flub. Is it still a tone issue?
I don't think fanned frets are really possible because that's going into custom territory, no? The only production model with fanned frets seems to be the Agile Pendulum. I'm also not sure how I'd take to fanned frets. One step at a time, I think.
Last edited:
Actually, don't worry about whether the string fits. You can remove the outer wrap and it will fit into a regular guitar tuner.
You can also drilled out the hole, enlarging it, at the risk of weakening or destroying it... but if it works, it works.
As for scale length - here. This is generally true. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_length_(string_instruments)#Electric_guitar
Fanned frets is quite fun... I like it now but it does make returning to conventional "straight frets" a little difficult.
You can also drilled out the hole, enlarging it, at the risk of weakening or destroying it... but if it works, it works.
As for scale length - here. This is generally true. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_length_(string_instruments)#Electric_guitar
Fanned frets is quite fun... I like it now but it does make returning to conventional "straight frets" a little difficult.
And I'd be removing the outer wrap on just the small part before the nut? I'm actually leaning towards this instead of drilling the hole if need be. Modifying guitars leads to heart pain
Sorry you had to link me to Wikipedia. Didn't think to look there lol. So basically anything that requires precision like tech death would be more suited with a guitar of longer scale for the "cleaner" sound?
Sorry you had to link me to Wikipedia. Didn't think to look there lol. So basically anything that requires precision like tech death would be more suited with a guitar of longer scale for the "cleaner" sound?
Before nut? You mean at the tuner? Just string it as usual, then leave a bit of excess length, clip the string and wind off some of the outer winding.
In general, the longer scale gives a clearer tone. So does the thickness of the string, EQ settings, amount of distortion, picking technique, etc... all contribute towards clarity.
But you can imagine that a standard, typical blues player wouldn't be inclined towards long scale lengths ya? Takes the guitar sound further away from the traditional sounds of blues.
So you win some, lose some.
In general, the longer scale gives a clearer tone. So does the thickness of the string, EQ settings, amount of distortion, picking technique, etc... all contribute towards clarity.
But you can imagine that a standard, typical blues player wouldn't be inclined towards long scale lengths ya? Takes the guitar sound further away from the traditional sounds of blues.
So you win some, lose some.
