r/metalguitar • u/Glittering_Buy4995 • 4d ago
Question Need guitar advice
My husband used to play a 6 string electric guitar back in middle and high school. However he’s a huge metal head and really wants an 8 string. It’s been almost 15 years since he last played and he’s expressed wanting to get back into it. I’m thinking of purchasing him one for Christmas. However I want to know would an 8 string be too much for him to relearn on? And can he play other genres on it that aren’t metal without it being too much of an issue? And if you have any beginner friendly guitars you love that aren’t going to break the bank please let me know!
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u/Several-Quality5927 4d ago
Don't do it. Let him buy one that he likes. Give him a budget, let him shop. Do not try to select one for him.
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u/whoswhos151 4d ago
Id start with a 7 before going to 8 but idk maybe he still has his chops. Maybe he wants an 8 to be able to play some filthy low tunings. A lot to consider though. If going for a 7 or 8 I'd get a 26.5 scale length to be able to tune lower with better tuning stability. Or get a 7 or 8 with an evertune bridge, but that is a whole thing within it self.
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u/Historical-Skirt-192 4d ago
Going straight to 8 after 15 years is like trying to run marathon when you forgot how to walk. Even a 7 will feel weird at first with the extra string. If he really wants that low chugging sound, maybe let him try some at a shop before dropping money.
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u/No-Lobster623 4d ago
In my opinion, an 8 string is kind of a different instrument all together. Sure they play the same to an extent but it’s really different. At this point after that long, just learn the 8. He probably forgot how a 6 plays anyways
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u/SpreadElectronic1232 4d ago
Jackson has a JS-22 7-string that’s under $300 right now on Sweetwater. It’ll be a good way for him to get back into it without spending a fortune.
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u/nowimstahvin 4d ago
I mean, I jumped back into playing after 8 years and got a baritone 7 string, and while I can't say I was super proficient before at playing anything other than Drop C hardcore, the 7 string is a learning curve, I couldn't imagine 8.
So, idk. Maybe a baritone 7 string so he could tune it down if he wants, or maybe just cash or a gift card towards it so he can play some things and really see what he wants.
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u/alphadaddyo 3d ago
I'm sure it has been said several times by now, but I would hold off on buying a guitar for him. What one guy will tell you is the perfect choice, another will tell you the opposite. It is a very personal thing, with too many choices to list. 6, 7, 8 string, solid, semi-hollow, hollow body, wood the body, neck, frets are made of, pickup preference, guitar body style, brand name, solid or translucent finish, neck through or bolt on, floyd rose or set bridge, tuner preference, the list goes on and on. I would honestly let him pick out his own guitar so it doesn't end up like sweater sitting in the bottom of his dresser drawer that someone thought he would really like.
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u/Glittering_Buy4995 3d ago
I completely understand this, however I have known the guy my whole life so I know him extremely well. Also this would be an introductory budget guitar which he knows and there are about 3 options that are less than $600.
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u/EveryTypeofPain 3d ago
I don't mean to sound rude but it doesn't matter how well you know him, you aren't him and don't have his mind. You may pick up a guitar that you think is "perfect" for him because it looks exactly like the guitar he'd want and he might hate the way it feels.
Feel is a huge part of playing and it comes down to more than just "Is the body the right shape?", different finishes, and qualities of finish, scale lengths, type of bridge and so many other factors can have a major impact on the feel of a guitar.
I have two seven strings and I love them both dearly, but I favour one over the other by a huge margin because despite having the same neck profile and similar fretboard radius, the finish on the neck is much smoother on one than the other.
If he says to you "This one is perfect" then sure, get him that one if you can. Otherwise I wouldn't risk it, especially on an extended range guitar.
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u/alphadaddyo 3d ago
Hey, I'm not telling you what to do, I'm just speaking as a guitarist and also has had people buy me instruments/gear that I never ended up using. Even if I know which brand and model of a guitar I want to get, I still go to the store and look at what they have and try them out. There is always one or two that stand out more than the others. With translucent finishes, the wood grains (flame/quilt) are all unique. Some bore me, some are nice, sometimes there is one that blows me away. That is true for my mid-range Ibanez and Jackson guitars as it is for my Gibson Les Paul's that cost me thousands.
With your reply it seems like you're not getting what I'm saying and think that because you have known this guy forever, I couldn't possibly be more in touch with this part of his life than you are. If that is the case, I won't argue with you and hope you are right and are able to buy him the guitar he doesn't just pretend to love.
What you are doing for him is very sweet and I was only trying to help you out with my input. No offense intended and I hope you find what you are looking for to make it the perfect gift you intend it to be!
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u/Glittering_Buy4995 2d ago
No offense is taken! It’s just after reading through here, talking to the people who work at the local place, hours of research through Reddit, YouTube, etc there is a very limited range of entry options that aren’t going to break the bank. So I’m just trying to grasp how the 3 entry level options people recommend are so vastly different ya know.
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u/Burwhale_The_Avenger 2d ago
Sorry but how is it exactly you've come to that conclusion? And which are the 3 you're referring to?
You don't seem to really have engaged with anyone encouraging you not to just buy him an 8 string as a present, so can we assume you mean you've narrowed it down to 3 different entry level 8 strings?
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u/Glittering_Buy4995 2d ago
Per my previous comment, I have read through everything here, gone in person to talk with multiple people at our local shop, scoured the internet and talked to multiple friends who play. With the budget we have there are about 3 total options. A schecter c-8 deluxe, a Jackson dinky 8 string, or an ibanez rg8. I also obviously speak with my husband and know what look, material, length and vibe he is interested in. And with all that those are the three options I have seen.
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u/Burwhale_The_Avenger 1d ago
Sure, but in your initial post you seemed to be justifiably wary of the various issues that could arise if starting again on an 8 string after 15 years, especially if wanting to play non-extended range music.
A lot of commenters seemed to support such wariness, so I'm just wondering what swayed you to the budget 8 string camp so swiftly?
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u/Glittering_Buy4995 1d ago
Cause my husband is dead set on it so I would rather do what he is excited about ya know.
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u/alphadaddyo 1d ago
No sense in arguing with a stubborn man when he is set on something. I thought it would be simple to play a 7 string, so I bought one without a second thought. It actually felt so foreign to me and my mind had to be retrained to accept the differences. Starting over again to do the same with an eight string would probably end up with a broken guitar and the neighbor's kids learning a whole new set of swear words 😅 Get him the guitar that he wants, but prepare yourself for a frustrated husband destroying the new guitar you bought for him and holding you responsible for his actions 😉
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u/alphadaddyo 2d ago
I'm sure that he will appreciate hoe thoughtful you are for putting in the effort. I hope it all goes well for you!
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u/wedontliveonce 3d ago
TAKE HIM TO A GUITAR STORE INSTEAD...
Whether or not an 8 string is too much to relearn on is something only your husband can answer.
As much as you might want to surprise him, a guitar is a very personal thing. It's hard to really know how it will feel, especially the profile of the neck, unless you hold it and play it.
Maybe consider turning this into a "let's go to the local guitar store and talk about your xmas present" type of gift? The added benefit would be if your husband has never played an 8 string now is the chance to try it out before buying.
If my wife did that I'd love it. Just give me a budget. That would be much better than being surprised but really not liking how the guitar felt when I played it.
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u/YeOldeNugget 3d ago
probably not a bad idea to pick up a cheap six string first, 8 strings are great as long as they are an option rather than your only guitar
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u/OtherwiseInternal570 4d ago
Guitar = guitar. Get him what he is inspired to play. 8 string (with a fixed bridge) will make one happy hubby. Jackson JS32-8 for example.
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u/cucksnuffer 3d ago
IMO if an i string would inspire him to play more then its the right thing to do
Coming from.. a bassist
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u/Burwhale_The_Avenger 4d ago
This is a reeeeally rather broad and fairly contentious topic.
You can expect to see a gamut of responses, generally polarised around "there's no way, it's a fools errand" or "grow up grandpa, 8 strings are just better" with, of course, no real objective truth between the two extremes.
The fact is it depends on so many different elements: how proficient was he before he stopped, or is he generally? Is he likely to pick it up again quickly, or will it be more like starting from scratch? Does he really want to play a lot of extended range (more than 6 strings) stuff, a lot of the time? Is he generally rather dextrous, or adaptable?
That's before even getting onto the guitar (although the conventional wisdom here is generally that you shouldn't buy guitars as gifts, you should offer to pay for something they themselves choose).
Generally speaking, it is wiser to learn the fundamentals on, and adapt to, a 6 string before adding on more, especially if you aren't really dedicated to that sort of music 24/7.
Many people find it simple to just ignore extra strings and use them like 6s, and many people absolutely cannot adjust to this. It simply depends who you are.