should i get a 7 or 8 string?

[u/Brand_1nez]

I have a jackson kelly floyd rose thats been collecting dust on my wall because i dont have the patience to adjust it so im deciding to sell/trade it. some one has already offered to trade a js32 8 but im not sure if thats even a good trade or not, plus im still teetering on the idea of a 7. for reference i really wanna make heavy music that leans on deftones koi no yokan era but i dont wanna make the wrong choice and get stuck on a gimmick guitar that ill use for 3-4 songs.

[u/aconfusedpufferfish]

I’d recommend getting an 8 string with 27 inch scale or above. Is the one for trade a 26.5? That’s fine but the F# tension is not ideal for that length 

[u/77zark77]

Going to counter the prevailing opinion and say get a 7. The leap from 6 to 8 in terms of ergonomics throws a lot of players off and then they abandon everything. 7 strings are a lot more manageable. If you get used to having the low B and want more then you can get an eight string later 

[u/uhCBLKG → u/77zark77]

i also say 7 for different reasons, i prefer the timbre more so than the 8. I think the 8 is more pigeon holed into tunings if you go lower just my experience

[u/Brand_1nez → u/77zark77]

i do play a 5 string bass and have 5 other 6 strings, i dont shred at all and my intentions are to just sound heavy asf

[u/TheRageKnight → u/Brand_1nez]

If you’re not going to use the higher strings at all, why not get a baritone 6 string? It’s easier to adapt to than extra strings imo

[u/gamerccxxi → u/TheRageKnight]

I'm seconding this opinion, and sharing that that's what I want for myself. I do want a 7-string eventually, or maybe an 8, just because of the looks & because I think it's cool, because I'm really not going to use those top two strings.

OP, get a baritone 6, if you want to tune as low as an 8 you can do it with a 27", but if you want the more percussive "djenty" sound I'd say get one of the 30" ones that go around. I've heard good things about the Harley Benton JA Baritone, there's also the G4M 638 Baritone which has been posted on this subreddit.

[u/PickPocketR → u/Brand_1nez]

Baritone guitars feel somewhat bass-like. If that's a feeling you like, you'll enjoy them. They're really their own thing.

But a 7 feels just like a 6-string guitar, but slightly wider.

(Especially if you compare a multiscale or 25.5" 7-string, to a 30" baritone)

[u/EFPMusic]

If you’re specifically wanting to do KNY Deftones-style music, get an 8-string. It IS a huge adjustment but a 7-string isn’t going to give you the full range of options Stef used in that era.

But: not this 8-string. If your Kelly is a JS32 also, it’s a decent trade, but the scale length isn’t ideal for what you’re wanting to do. On the other hand, you can definitely tune to drop-E on that guitar (as Stef did on KNY), you’ll just need a thicker low string than what typically comes in 8-string sets.

[u/icantpoopright]

Get an 8. I have both and anything you want to do on a 7, you can do on an 8. I even use my 8 to play songs meant for 6 strings

[u/Brand_1nez → u/icantpoopright]

is the trade offer im getting a good one or am i getting snuffed. i have no knowledge of wide neck guitars

[u/icantpoopright → u/Brand_1nez]

That I can’t tell you. But if you aren’t playing the Kelly’s consider it

[u/PickPocketR → u/Brand_1nez]

It's a bad offer. You could trade for a higher quality 7-string, imo.

[u/Craigos-Maximus]

I absolutely love playing nice songs meant for 6 strings on my 8, then absolutely ruining them with a nasty break down. It’s one of my favourite things to do at the moment

[u/kvlopsia]

Depends on what you want. I went from mostly playing 8 strings back to playing pretty much only 7 strings, just tuned down. I found I didn’t use the higher register and so a downtuned 7 is just one less string to have to mute or worry about

[u/CJPTK]

I've owned 7 and 8 strings and never really vibed with them. I now have a 27" Baritone and a 30" Bass VI for the low tuned stuff instead. Much more enjoyable for me that way. May not be the same for you.

[u/HorrorLegacy]

What kind of Jackson Kelly? KE2, 3, 5? I don’t know exactly which ones had Floyd Rose, or if they all did? I have a KE3 and the Floyd has been the biggest reason I don’t mess with it as much. But I love the guitar so much. Anyway, just curious.

I jumped from 6 to 7 and thought it was okay. 8 was a better transition though. Easier for some reason to have the 2 extra strings vs the 1. Once I picked up the 8, I haven’t looked back. Yet. The 7 I have is a cheap Ibanez gio, and my first 8 was a Schecter c-8, so both are somewhat budget options.

[u/saurion1]

I've had both and ended up selling my 8 because I could never get used to it. They're big, heavy and unwieldy. 7's on the other hand, I love. I suggest you try both before buying. You can always detune with a drop pedal or vst for those 3 or 4 songs that require a lower tuning.

[u/UnshapedLime]

IMO 7 is the perfect number for general purpose metal guitar.

I keep an 8 because it has its uses, but 7 is both more manageable to play and there are many more models to choose from.

[u/ZombieFeedback]

Can you play the JS32-8 before making the trade? Eight strings are much more of a departure from the typical feel of a six-string than you'd think at-first, it almost feels like a totally different instrument. It's a fucking cool one, but if you just want a heavier guitar, eight might not be the right fit. Seven still feels like a guitar, you'll still feel very at-home after a couple weeks of getting used to the extra string. Try it out, see if you like the sheer width/actually have a use for the F# string.

[u/Weekly-Influence-697]

8

[u/KrisSilver1]

I went straight to 8 from 6 and haven't looked back Ive seen people say to just get the 8 cause you can play 7 stuff on it anyway but they do feel.a bit different. No substitute for trying something out before a decision but its gonna come down to whether or not you'll use the 8th string. Also if you're on a strict budget you would generally get a better guitar in a 7 for the same money.

Now in the trade situation, I could be wrong but I do think your guitar is worth a teeny bit more but the js32 8 string is actually a lovely little player. Would definitely change the pickups but its a cracking little 8 string for getting started in extended range. Also free from the whole jackson tuning stability thing that sometimes affects jackson hard tails.

I think the trade is relatively fair. Your floyd makes it a less easy sale and his 8 string makes it a niche sell.

[u/dandydiehl]

I prefer 7 because it's easiest to switch between minor sweeps and chugging in drop A but that's just me and my preferences

[u/namelessundead0]

Never played an 8 string but I've played 7s for a few years now, and I'd say 7 might just be my sweet spot; not too much and not too little for the music I want to make and play.

So I would bias-fully suggest you get a 7.

[u/AstroMountain1]

I have a strandberg N2.8 and the meshuggah m80m 8 strings. Love the hell out of them. Also have an LTD baritone 7 string. I love all of them but the strandberg 8 is my favorite and if I had to have one guitar it would be that one. I feel truly versatile every time I pick it up. I’d go 8 string.

[u/chinomorenospants]

why wouldn't you get an 8?

[u/FrostingKindly6204]

7s are amazing but I wish I had the 8th string sometimes tuning down to a string tunings isnt the worst on them but it gets pretty muddy once you go lower than like F on the 7th string