Best 8-String Guitars for F# Standard and Drop E: 4 Picks by Budget
Written with AI help · Updated
The Ibanez RGMS8 is the best 8-string for most players. Per Ibanez, its multiscale neck runs 27.3 to 25.5 inches and it ships with a .009 to .080 set, so the low F# stays firm and the top strings stay easy. Spend less on the Ibanez RG8. Want a fixed 28-inch scale? Pick the Schecter C-8 Deluxe. Want active pickups? Try the RGDMS8.
The short answer
Pick the guitar by scale length first. Then pick the strings for your tuning. Most disappointment with 8-strings comes from a slack low F# string, not from the guitar.
We checked four 8-string electrics against each manufacturer's own product page. Specs below are per the manufacturer. We have not tested these guitars hands-on, so treat the opinions as a buying read, not a review.
| Best for | Scale length | Factory gauge | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibanez RGMS8 | Best overall, multiscale | 27.3 to 25.5 in | .009–.080 | $$$ |
| Ibanez RG8 | Best budget | 27 in | .009–.065 | $$ |
| Schecter C-8 Deluxe | Best 28-inch scale | 28 in | .009–.080 | $$ |
| Ibanez RGDMS8 Axe Design Lab | Best active multiscale | 27.3 to 25.5 in | .009–.065 | $$$ |
The Ibanez RGMS8 is our pick for most players. Ibanez lists a Wizard III-8 multiscale neck, a mono-rail bridge and Array 8 MS passive humbuckers. The bass strings get the longer scale. The treble strings stay close to a standard feel. It also ships with a heavy .080 low string, which is the right starting point for Drop E.
RGMS8 8-String Multiscale
Why this one: Our overall pick. A 27.3 to 25.5 inch multiscale neck and a .080 low string out of the box.
How to choose an 8-string
Three things matter more than the logo. Scale length, the bridge and the strings.
Scale length. A longer scale means more tension at the same pitch and gauge. That is why every guitar here is 27 inches or longer on the bass side. Our scale length explainer walks through the effect on feel and gauge.
Bridge style. All four are fixed-bridge designs, as far as the manufacturer pages show. Ibanez lists an F108 bridge on the RG8 and a mono-rail on the RGMS8 and RGDMS8. Schecter lists a string-through Tune-O-Matic on the C-8 Deluxe. Fixed bridges hold tuning well when you tune low and pick hard, and they avoid the tension swings that a floating tremolo can add. Our 8-string high-tension setup guide covers saddle travel and nut slots.
Strings. The standard 8-string tuning is F# standard, low to high: F# B E A D G B E. Ibanez lists that as the factory tuning on all three of its models here. The low F# is a fourth below a 7-string low B, so string choice matters a lot. Read our 8-string gauge guide before you buy a replacement set.
If you live in F# standard, any guitar on this page works with a matching set. If you live in Drop E, favor the guitars that ship with a .080 low.
Best overall: Ibanez RGMS8
The RGMS8 is the guitar to buy if you do not know which scale you want. Per Ibanez, the neck runs 27.3 inches on the low side and 25.5 inches on the high side. That is the multiscale idea in one line.
The rest of the spec sheet is simple. A five-piece maple and walnut Wizard III-8 neck. An okoume body. A jatoba fretboard with 24 jumbo frets. Array 8 MS passive humbuckers. Ibanez lists the factory strings as a D'Addario EXL120+ with a .009 to .080 gauge: .009, .011, .016, .024, .032, .042, .059, .080.
That low end is the point. A .080 low string on a long bass-side scale gives you Drop E headroom without a restring. The jump from .042 to .059 to .080 on the bottom three is steep, so it will feel firm.
The tradeoff: a multiscale neck feels different for the first few days. Your hand has to adapt to the angled frets. Some players love it right away. Others take a week. If you are unsure, try one in a store first.
Best budget: Ibanez RG8
The Ibanez RG8 is the simplest way into the category from a major brand. Ibanez lists a 27-inch scale, a five-piece maple and walnut Wizard II-8 neck, a meranti body and a jatoba fretboard. The pickups are IBZ-8 passive humbuckers. The bridge is an F108.
Factory gauge is .009 to .065. That is a medium-light 8-string set, tuned to F# standard per the Ibanez spec. It is comfortable and easy on your fingers. It is not meant for Drop E and below. Plan to restring if you want to go lower.
The tradeoff: you give up the multiscale neck and the premium hardware. The spec page lists a case as a recommended accessory, not an included one. But the shape, the neck and the 24 frets are the same RG idea as the pricier models. For a first 8-string, it is hard to argue with.
RG8 8-String
Why this one: The budget pick. A 27 inch fixed scale and IBZ-8 humbuckers, with a .065 low you may want to upgrade for Drop E.
Best 28-inch scale: Schecter C-8 Deluxe
If you tune low, a longer scale is easier to live with. The Schecter C-8 Deluxe is a fixed 28-inch scale per Schecter, one inch longer than the RG8.
The listing shows a bolt-on maple neck with a rosewood fretboard, a basswood body and 24 narrow X-jumbo frets. The bridge is a string-through Tune-O-Matic. Pickups are Schecter Diamond Plus humbuckers. Schecter lists the factory strings as a D'Addario NYXL0980, .009 to .080 for a 28-inch scale. The hardshell case is sold separately.
That mix of long scale and heavy low string is built for low tunings. Our high-tension setup guide notes that Tune-O-Matic style 8-string bridges can run short on saddle travel with very heavy low strings, so check intonation if you go heavier than the factory set.
The tradeoff: a bolt-on, flat-top body is more basic than the Ibanez multiscales. You get the long scale without paying for the fan.
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C-8 Deluxe 8-String
Why this one: The 28 inch pick. A longer fixed scale and a .080 low string for lower tunings.
Best active multiscale: Ibanez RGDMS8 Axe Design Lab
Want a multiscale with active pickups? The Ibanez RGDMS8 is the one. It is an Axe Design Lab model.
The specs: a five-piece maple and walnut Wizard III-8 multiscale neck, an okoume body and a Macassar ebony fretboard with step off-set dots. Ibanez lists jumbo frets, a mono-rail bridge and Fishman Fluence Modern humbuckers. The neck pickup is Alnico and the bridge is ceramic, both active. The scale is 27.3 to 25.5 inches. The factory set is a D'Addario EXL120-8, .009 to .065.
Active pickups give a tighter, more consistent low end at low tunings. That helps an 8-string, where a passive pickup can sound loose on the bottom string. The Fluence voicing switch also adds a third voice, per Ibanez.
The tradeoff: it is the priciest guitar here, and the stock set has a .065 low. If you want Drop E, restring with a heavier set.
RGDMS8 Axe Design Lab 8-String
Why this one: The active multiscale pick. Fishman Fluence Modern pickups and an ebony fretboard.
Which strings to put on an 8-string
The factory set is a starting point. For F# standard it is usually fine. For Drop E or lower, the low string is the first thing to check.
Our pick is the Ernie Ball 8-String Slinky (.010–.074). It is the reference nickel set for F# standard on a 27-inch scale, and it suits the Ibanez RG8 and the 27-inch bass side of the multiscales. The CYS page also lists it for Drop E, on a medium touch.
The factory .080 sets on the RGMS8 and C-8 Deluxe are heavier on the bottom than that. If you move to a different set, match the string to the scale. A heavy bottom on a long scale can feel stiff. A light bottom on a shorter scale feels floppy. Our gauge guide shows the targets by scale. For a wider look at metal sets, see our best guitar strings for metal comparison.
Not sure you need eight? Our best 7-string guitars page covers the step down.
Bottom line
If you want one guitar and one answer, buy the Ibanez RGMS8. It gives you low-end tension, a heavy factory low string and a normal high-string feel. If budget rules, buy the Ibanez RG8 and spend a little on a better string set. If you want the longest fixed scale, go to the Schecter C-8 Deluxe.
Whatever you buy, treat the factory strings as a placeholder, because your tuning decides the right gauge, not the guitar's spec sheet. Choose your gauge for your tuning, and the guitar will feel a lot better.
RGMS8 8-String Multiscale
Why this one: Our overall pick. Multiscale tension for the low strings and a familiar feel on the high ones.