Eight-string electric guitars represent the next step in the evolution of the modern instrument. Designed to meet the needs of musicians seeking expanded sonic ranges and new textures, they have become established in genres such as djent, progressive metal, mathcore, and experimental fusion.
Iconic manufacturers
Several brands played a key role in popularizing the 8-string guitar:
Ibanez: Once again a pioneer, with its RG8 models and the signature guitars of Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders). Ibanez has succeeded in offering accessible and high-performance instruments, becoming a benchmark choice for 8-string guitarists.
Schecter: Very present in the metal world, Schecter has developed a wide range of 8-string guitars with meticulous finishes and ergonomics designed for powerful and technical rhythms.
Strandberg: An avant-garde brand, Strandberg designs ultra-light and ergonomic guitars, with hardened and multi-scale necks, highly prized by demanding modern guitarists.
Kiesel: An American manufacturer known for its custom guitars, Kiesel offers high-end 8-string models, often chosen for their sound quality and versatility.
The use of 8 strings has been popularized by a new generation of musicians who are pushing the boundaries of technique and sound:
Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders): Probably the most iconic of 8-string guitarists, with a style blending progressive metal, jazz, funk, and fingerstyle. His mastery of the instrument and his innovative compositions have greatly contributed to the popularity of the 8-string guitar.
Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah): One of the pioneers of the djent sound, Meshuggah used 8-string guitars as early as the 2000s to create heavy and hypnotic polyrhythmic riffs.
Javier Reyes (Animals As Leaders): Partner of Tosin Abasi, he complements the duo with a more textured and rhythmic style, exploring the moods and extended harmonies of the instrument.
Stephen Carpenter (Deftones): A guitarist with a heavy and deep sound, he incorporated the 8 strings to add new sonic dimensions to the group's compositions, influencing in turn an entire generation.
The 8-string electric guitar is much more than simply adding strings: it expands the creative spectrum, allowing for a blend of depth, rhythmic complexity, and harmonic expression. Thanks to the innovations of luthiers and the daring of musicians, this unique instrument has become an essential playground for the most adventurous guitarists.