Venture into uncharted tonal territory, where no note is out of bounds. The extended range of an eight-string guitar from AMS opens new sonic vistas for the adventurous player.
Earn rewards every time you shop at AMS. You'll collect points on eligible purchases that turn into promotional savings on future gear, with points typically available several days after your order ships. All you need is a free AMS account — no credit card, financing, or payment plan required.
The more you shop, the more you earn. Create a free account and start earning from your very first eligible purchase. Rewards are applied as a discount on future eligible purchases.
The 2025 John Petrucci Majesty is the result of John’s unwavering demand for high-performance, innovation, and playability. One of the most well-balanced and advanced instruments available, the Majesty features a ne...
Go Beyond the Standard — Explore the World of 8-String Electric Guitars
When six strings start feeling a little... limiting, it might be time to step things up. An 8-string electric guitar opens up a whole new level of low-end power, extended range, and creative freedom for players who are craving more. Whether you’re dialing in heavy riffs, complex chord voicings, or just chasing sounds that don’t exist on a standard setup, this is where things get interesting.
At American Musical Supply, we’ve pulled together a solid lineup of 8-string guitars from brands that define modern extended-range tone — Ibanez, Schecter, ESP, Jackson, and more. You’ll find multiscale necks, killer pickups, slick finishes, and tone options that hit way harder than your average axe. If you’re ready to stretch out and go deeper, your next 8-string electric is waiting.
What Makes an 8-String Electric Guitar Different?
There’s more to an 8-string electric guitar than just the two extra strings. 8-strings are engineered for serious range, precision, and clarity — especially when you're tuning down low and still need every note to punch through.
Extended Scale Length: Most 8-string guitars use a longer scale length to handle lower tunings without sacrificing tension. That means tighter low-end, smoother intonation, and fewer floppy strings.
Multiscale/Fanned Frets: A lot of modern 8-strings feature multiscale (or “fanned”) frets, which improve string tension and ergonomics. Each string sits at its ideal length while keeping your hand position natural.
High-Output Pickups: You’ll usually find active or high-output humbuckers designed to keep the low strings clear and defined. Whether you're chugging or soloing, every note stays tight and articulate.
Reinforced Necks & Bridges: With more strings comes more tension — modern 8-strings often use multi-piece necks, stronger hardware, and rock-solid bridges to take the pressure.
Some of Our Favorite 8-String Electric Guitars
Whether you’re stepping into extended range for the first time or upgrading to something worthy of your pedalboard, these are the 8-string electric guitars AMS players keep coming back to.
Ibanez RGDMS8 Multi-Scale 8-String Electric Guitar
Ibanez's RGDMS8 is a favorite for modern metal players. Its 26.7"–25.5" multiscale neck keeps low strings tight and highs buttery-smooth. The Fishman Fluence Modern pickups bring unmatched clarity and aggression, perfect for complex riffs that can cut through a dense mix. Add a sleek matte finish and ergonomic contours, and you've got a serious tone machine that feels as good as it sounds.
Schecter Omen Elite-8 Multi-Scale 8-String Guitar
Don’t let the price fool you — you don't want to take the Omen lightly. The poplar burl top gives it boutique looks, while the 25.5"–27.5" multiscale neck provides optimal string tension and intonation.
Schecter’s Heretic-8 humbuckers dish out balanced output across all eight strings, so you’re not sacrificing clarity for chug. It’s a go-to for players who want high-end performance without blowing their entire pedalboard budget.
Jackson DKAF8 Dinky Multi-Scale 8-String Electric Guitar
Jackson's DKAF8 is all about precision and speed. With a 26"–28" multiscale maple neck, you get rock-solid intonation and less string flop — even in drop-E territory.
The arched top, compound radius fingerboard, and lightweight mahogany body keep it fast and comfortable, while dual Jackson blade humbuckers bring the clarity you need when every note matters. Perfect for players blending technical playing with full-bodied tone.
Schecter C-8 Multi-Scale SLS Elite Evil Twin 8-String Electric Guitar
A high-performance machine made for players who demand the best. The C-8 SLS Elite features a swamp ash body with a striking satin black finish, a 25.5"–27" multiscale neck for flawless playability, and Fishman Fluence Modern pickups that switch between active crunch and vintage-style voicing. It’s got neck-thru construction, stainless steel frets, and a Hipshot bridge — because no detail was skipped.
Where 8 Strings Really Thrive
8-string electric guitars weren’t made for subtlety — they were made to shake the room. These extended-range beasts shine brightest in heavy genres like progressive metal, djent, and deathcore, where that extra low end adds serious depth to rhythm sections and breakdowns. Think Meshuggah, Animals as Leaders, and any band that makes your subwoofer beg for mercy.
But don’t box them in.
8-strings are also right at home in jazz fusion, experimental rock, and film scoring, where complex voicings and wide harmonic range are key. The added strings open the door for lush chords, piano-like layering, and deep drones that go beyond what six strings can handle.
Basically? If your music lives outside the lines — or in a lower octave — an 8-string guitar is for you.
Frequently Asked Questions: 8-String Electric Guitars
Curious about 8-string electric guitars? Take a peek at our helpful FAQs for more helpful information and insights.
Do I need to relearn the guitar to play an 8-string?
Not at all. The top six strings are usually tuned the same as a standard guitar, so everything you already know still applies. You’re just gaining two extra low strings — kind of like adding bonus material to your usual playing.
Is an 8-string electric harder to maintain or set up?
It can be slightly more involved, especially when it comes to intonation and string tension. But if you're used to doing basic setup on a 6- or 7-string, it's nothing wild — just a bit more fine-tuning.
Will a standard amp handle an 8-string guitar?
Most amps can handle it, but a setup with good low-end response (or a full-range modeling rig) will sound way better. If your current amp struggles with clarity below drop-D, it might be time to upgrade.
Your Next 8-String Guitar Is Waiting
Whether you're chasing brutal low-end riffs or exploring uncharted sonic space, an 8-string electric guitar opens the door to something bigger. AMS has the gear, the brands, and the flexible payment plans to make it happen — no stress, no hassle. Check out our entire selection today!
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. View our Privacy Policy.
Privacy Preference Center
Privacy Preference Center
Your Privacy
Your Privacy
When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.
More information
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Always Active
These cookies are necessary for our website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to your requests for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging into your account, or filling in forms. You can manually set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but it will prevent parts of our site from working as expected. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
Performance Cookies
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us identify which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around our site. All the information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies, we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to monitor its performance.
Functional Cookies
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Sale of Personal Data
Sale of Personal Data
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link.
If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.
Targeting Cookies
Targeting cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. These cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests to show you relevant ads on other sites. They do not store specific personal information but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device.
You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using the toggle switch in this menu. If you opt out of targeting cookies, we will not offer you personalized ads or share your personal information with any third parties. If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (e.g., Global Privacy Control), we will automatically opt you out of targeted advertising and the ads you see will not be personalized.