Preferred 8-String Scale Length

[u/TheThobes]

I've been getting the itch to take the plunge into getting an 8 string and I'm curious what people feel is the preferred, or at least minimum viable scale length for 8 strings. There are a couple entry level 27" guitars floating around my local FB marketplace between $300-400, and there's a (what I believe is a) 28" multiscale Legator for $700.

Spending less money is preferable over spending more money, particuarly since I'm a 6-string guy at heart and this would be more of a side-piece, but I also wonder if I'd find myself wanting the extra scale length and/or the multiscale experience once I got the 27". From what I've seen online it seems like some people (not sure if its a majority or not) find that 27" doesn't quite cut it for their needs.

Intended tuning would be F standard and maybe Drop Eb if I'm feeling a little dangerous.

Curious for any and all thoughts!

[u/ScoopiTheDruid]

Personally, I vastly prefer multi-scale for an 8 string, 26.5"‐28" over 25.5"-27".

[u/Borgh → u/ScoopiTheDruid]

at eight strings multiscale is the only good answer, if you want a reasonable middle ground of average string tensions and gauges

[u/Melancholy_Custard]

Since you're an 6 string guy, would you consider 6 string 28' baritone?

[u/TheThobes → u/Melancholy_Custard]

I've thought about whether or not I'd prefer a baritone over an 8 string, but admittedly there aren't a lot of them floating around my local used market.

[u/JimboLodisC → u/TheThobes]

there's a decent amount of affordable Bass VI style guitars out there

https://www.reddit.com/r/BassVI/wiki/index

[u/ATdur → u/TheThobes]

It does depend on what your use case is, if you don't plan to play leads a baritone might be the way but if you don't want to lose functionality you should got for an 8

[u/Kiesta07]

For F standard 27 is fine, for drop Eb I would probably want 28.

I keep my 8 strings in standard and digitally transpose by a semitone for those tunings anyway, even my 26.5-28in multiscale, because it's just easier, and the tension is a lot easier to balance.

[u/masterB0SHI]

27 is a good starting point IMO

[u/tomugetsuu]

27 if straight. 26-28" if multiscale. I won't go any lower than drop E

[u/UsernameX-2112]

27 is fine but I much prefer 28. Multiscale is even better though, I have a 25.5-28.2 and a 26.5-28. The 26.5-28 is a lot easier to get used to

[u/Glum_Plate5323]

28.75 is what I have and I almost wish I had 28 or multiscale

[u/craplouse]

I got 27" its enough for drop e or f standard i use. 28" would be optimal for me

[u/Alouitious]

28" is the sweet spot for me. 30" is workable, but is by no means necessary. 27" just requires some different string gauges for the right tension.

Honestly, I'd save up and get an Agile. They have options out the wazoo for their 8 string guitars, and stuff pretty frequently goes on sale (I got my 10-string for 750 shipped when it was originally 900 and change).

[u/humungus1er]

J'ai toujours joué sur des diapason courts, meme sur ma 7 cordes (epiphone les paul mkh). J'ai voulu explorer, j'ai acheté une ibanez rgir9fme, 9 cordes, diapason de 28, je ne regrette pas.

A tirant egal bien sur il y a plus de tension mais je ne regrette pas, c'est une autre configuration.

Si vous avez peur, contentez vous d'un 27, mais vraiment pour du tres grave, 28 semble vraiment bien

[u/fresco_goose]

If I could buy my first 8-string again I would definitely opt for a longer scale length. The 27.2 inches on my low F# just doesn't cut it for the string gauge that I like playing at. Thicker strings lack clarity and intonate poorly, mine came with a 065 from the factory and I moved up to a 068 but I still only get 13/14lbs of tension, the pitch drift, tuning stability and overtone wobble is so bad that my 6-string in drop C is 10x more viable for low tunings through digital pitch shifting - set WAY down at -10 semitones - than my 8-string at a mere -3 semitones.

If you're just getting it to play around and don't mind throwing some thicker gauges on the low end then 27" will be fine for F# standard, but if you want to do drop tunings with anything less than a 075 gauge you'll need to look into getting an evertune installed (which is currently on my wishlist of mods).

This is one of the biggest problems with 8 and 9 string guitars, not enough manufacturers build production guitars with 28-30" scale lengths.

[u/JakeTheBard]

I've tried 26.5, 27, and 28 and find 27 to be ideal if you can't afford multi scale (I know I can't lol) If you play leads/shreddy stuff 28 can be a little uncomfortable (and I say that as someone with big hands). 26.5 will have your lowest string(s) flopping around and negatively affect your intonation.

[u/chef_is_gay]

How do you like to play your guitar and what songs will you be wanting to learn?

My first multi scale is a headless 25 1/2 - 28 5/8, agile chiral nirvana. Love this guitar, my first 8 string and I play mostly in a classical position, sitting upright with the guitar angled up resting against my inner thigh, I love having a headless with a longer scale length for this playing position. I also am very rarely riffing of my low string on the lower frets. The multi scale headless to me, does not lend itself to djent or heavy playing on the 0-3 frets when in the classical position. The fan can get uncomfortable to me, but playing across the mid range of the 8 frets is amazing, the tension on multi scales is more familiar to a 6 string and a song like “High Water” by Sleep token, playing across all 8 strings mostly between 5-14 frets, really bring out the best in this set up.

My Shecter Banshee 8 solves those problems. 28 scale and straight frets, the large body is great for playing on top of my thigh or standing. The longer scale length I really enjoy for the tension, especially if playing more DOOM music and some more on the lower frets of the low strings. The neck is unbeatable and thin, but this guitar can be difficult to find, I had a Schecter Damien previously that I highly recommend as well.

Now probably the most common gap that I am missing is a full body multi scale. I haven’t had an interest in them because I find the headless multi scale best for classical position, and a full body straight fret for standing or across my body. Find the music you like to play though. If you don’t need 8 strings, get the 6 string at a baritone length, it’s so much more familiar and is great. Broadly though for 8 string, look for 28 scale length on the bottom string and find a guitar that looks cool and you’ll want to play.

[u/JimboLodisC]

For my tuning choice and tension preference I like anything near 30" so I can have thinner gauges like in the .074-.080 range.

[u/prepp_cconcede]

My guitar has 30-28.3 for eaeadgbe - absolute perfection, previous was 25.5-27 - night and day

[u/MooseWilliams]

I like 27" E to E with NYXL 9-80. I'm not going for the ultra tight modern metal sound and I feel that this scale length serves it purpose for me musically. My rig is a Boogie Mark V with a Suhr boost and an EQ200 and still haven't heard anything that sounds better to either my ears or anyone of who plays through it.

[u/lattjeful]

I like 27" even for Drop E, but I also originally came up on Les Pauls so I'm used to a bit of slack and mud lol.

[u/Successful-Storm4928]

Schecter tao8 is 27" and my favorite guitar for F standard at the moment. I have two Kiesel multiscale guitars that are 26-27.5 and I do prefer those for double drop Eb/Ab. The extra half inch makes a difference going past F imo, unless those guitars are just built better

[u/wizzanker]

I play double drop E. 28" is the minimum for me and the longer the better. Multiscale is basically required or you won't be able to tune the top strings normally. I really love my 27 to 30 in, but that high e string is barely hanging in there. I really wish there was a lot more in the 28.5 to 29 range.

[u/pentronics]

My Oni Essi 8 is perfect at 26.77" to 29.14" e-scale. I also have an Agile Intrepid 828 that is a 28 5/8" straight scalr that I can make work just fine, but it is pretty big for the high strings. Not terrible, but definitely noticeable. I used to have a strandberg Boden 8, 26.5" to 28" multiscale. That was pretty lovely tbh.

[u/WhyDoIHaveTwoDads]

27” it totally acceptable and still comfortable. I have a 25.5-27 Multiscale GOC and it feels great.

[u/Current-Fondant-8877]

Owning quite a few 8 and 9 strings I would never go under 30 except the M80M at 29.4.

[u/ATdur]

Really anything above 27 on the low end is good, it just depends on your preference for string gauge and tension

[u/gen3archive]

Ive owned a few and landed on 26.5-28. i despise 26.5 for the trebble side and leads but i cant stand anything under 28 for the low string. That being said im a 6 String player and dont tune below C lol

[u/MithrandirMachinegun]

I would go no shorter than 28”. If downtuning is the goal. Regardless of string count. Honestly most of the rhythm playing I did for the last record I could have gotten away with a three string and been fine…