Looking for a new 8 string.

Schecter?

 

If you wanted a good platform to upgrade, I highly suggest the newer GOC Materia 8s. I upgraded mine with Fishman Fluence Reyes pups and gave it a good setup, and it plays very well and sounds amazing. I modded it to fit a freeway 6-way toggle switch and push-pull tone knob.

 

I am not a pro, so there are tons of mistakes and crappy playing, but if you wanted to hear how the Reyes Fluence set sounds in a GOC materia utilizing all the voices (minus the middle position on voices 2 and 3--voices 2 and 3 are the last 4 examples in each demo), you can check out this playlist I made. The "clean" tests were done with an overdriven clean tone, sorry:

https://soundcloud.com/berial-feilo...yes-8-string-pickup-sound-tests/s-DJ3LwZedzTF

 

people can say what they will about Kiesel guitars but I am pretty sold on them. They have the best value in your price range, objectively the best quality, and are going to offer the most options on 8 strings. I play mostly 8 string and have yet to really be impressed with other companies 8 string models. Not to say that there aren't great 8 strings out there. There are but you are going to pay quite a bit more for them than 2k.

I own a Zeus 8 string and it is one of the lightest guitars I have ever owned. I would say look at the Zeus, Osiris . They have a couple of other models but those two are probably going to offer the most options. Do a simple build with the standard alder body, standard trans finish or solid finish, and whatever neck and fretboard wood you want. It should be returnable if you aren't doing anything crazy options wise. I recommend you call them, or at the very least email them to talk options.

It is harder to find used Kiesel 8 string multi-scales but they do come up for sale from time to time. They are holding their value pretty well though.

 

Sub $2k, Multiscale, can't go past the Ormsby GTR line. Their Goliath headless model is good (I've got a 6 and a 7) however getting them used is tricky, people like to hold onto them.

 

I was part of the Materia 2.0 run, something I deeply regret and it caused problems over 2 years. Even if the newer ones are nicer (and I know they can put out nice guitars), I'll never be part of this shitshow again.

 

I feel for y'all that got a crap batch of guitars with the 2.0, but the 3.0 have been great, no issues. Companies can learn from their mistakes, so I think they definitely moved in the right direction.

 

I'd save up a bit. The $2500-$3000 range is where shit gets REALLY good and your options for a really well made instrument expand quite a bit.

 

I would save up a bit and find some second-hand custom shop guitar or just go with Ormsby GTR if you dont want to save. If you don't like the hardware now you could always buy a second-hand with lower price and save your money to buy something else

 

The GOC are priced according to what they are. As are Agile. But those are $650 or so. If you've got the budget, I'd also go Kiesel. Plus, there's the sale right now. Just don't do anything that is non-standard (aka option 50, color matching, etc) or you'll potentially have to try to work out problems with Jeff, and that never ends well. But if you get a standard build, and not a bunch of upgrades, they're crazy good value for the money.

 

Another vote for the kiesel.
If you don't go crazy with the finish, you can have an 8 string multiscale headless with less then 2000$.
Quality is usually really good.

 

whenever people say multiscale 8 I cant help from chirping in the ormsby hype 8. theres definitely higher quality guitars as these are sub 1500~ dollars but these really hit the nail on the head as well and I think could fit anybodys multiscale 8 string needs. biggest percs are the stainless frets and the scale itself being 25.5-28.2 which I would say is both ideal for high e to low f# bringing exactly 16.5lbs of pressure with a .74 (which is why it ended on an odd scale length)