All about the new 8 string Ibanez

[Myst and rain]

Hi everybody,

Here is a long video of an interview with somebody from Ibanez, about the new 8 string. They go on and on about it. It was recorded during NAMM 2007.
Enjoy.

http://www.gearwire.com/ibanez-eight...nter-namm.html

Kind regards,
Myst

[Jemwielder]

I kind of want one.

[Mission1979]

Just wondering why they've opted for a bridge which looks like a floating trem, strings like a floating trem but is actually fixed.

Would it not have been more stable and give more sustain if it was a string through bridge???

Is this waiting for a Edge Pro Eight String Version to be introduced, That would take some balancing and some beefy springs!!

[sick-boy]

I want to make a prediction...
In the future, bands will no longer play guitars.
They will instead use basses.
A la "Big Bottom" by Spinal Tap

I can see wanting to extend your range, but seriously, where will it all end?
8 string Baritones tuned down a full step?
Might as well just play a bass.
That's just my $0.02

[Myst and rain]

Originally Posted by Jemwielder

I kind of want one.

It looks pretty cool, eh? Personally, I wouldn't have any use for it, though.

Originally Posted by Mission1979

Just wondering why they've opted for a bridge which looks like a floating trem, strings like a floating trem but is actually fixed.

Would it not have been more stable and give more sustain if it was a string through bridge???

That's probably because of the same reason they put a fixed Edge on the JS2000. Something to do with tuning stability and playability, as I remember.

Originally Posted by sick-boy

I want to make a prediction...
In the future, bands will no longer play guitars.
They will instead use basses.
A la "Big Bottom" by Spinal Tap

I can see wanting to extend your range, but seriously, where will it all end?
8 string Baritones tuned down a full step?
Might as well just play a bass.
That's just my $0.02

I'm sure there is a limit somewhere. But the eight string is probably very usable for a lot of pros. Charlie Hunter plays a lot of eight string guitar, as I've heard.

Kind regards,
Myst

[sick-boy]

Originally Posted by Myst and rain

It looks pretty cool, eh? Personally, I wouldn't have any use for it, though.



That's probably because of the same reason they put a fixed Edge on the JS2000. Something to do with tuning stability and playability, as I remember.



I'm sure there is a limit somewhere. But the eight string is probably very usable for a lot of pros. Charlie Hunter plays a lot of eight string guitar, as I've heard.

Kind regards,
Myst

Oh, I don't doubt that. I myself have played an eight string classical. But like I said, I'm just looking to see where this will all end. I think it's safe to say that this guitar wasn't built with the jazz players in mind.

[Demogorgos]

I think I'll get one. Probably wiil string Low B to high A. That F# is simply not functional for the stuff I play.

As sickboy suggested, you might as well try a Piccolo Bass if you want to go as low as that.

Regards,

JP

[Devo]

dunno... would be very interested in getting one ... I think theres no point in going any lower as that really becomes a hybrid bass guitar I mean your already only 2 notes off being a standard 4 string bass.

When I first got a seven string I wrote about 5 or six songs in as many days ... but then the novelty wore off and now I compose on a six or a seven ... From my point of view It should make for some interesting new compositions and some really cool harmonies...

[Myst and rain]

Abolutely. I can't wait to see Steve Vai with one of these.

Myst

[straymond]

Originally Posted by Myst and rain

Abolutely. I can't wait to see Steve Vai with one of these.

Myst

I've never seen him play a 7 even.... :S

[studentofshred]

"It has eight strings which is 2 more than a 6-string"

haha

[straymond]

Originally Posted by studentofshred

"It has eight strings which is 2 more than a 6-string"

haha

yeah, I'm glad he pointed that out! that naughty number 8 always gets me confused....

[Myst and rain]

Kind regards,
Myst

[Demiurge]

Originally Posted by sick-boy

I want to make a prediction...
In the future, bands will no longer play guitars.
They will instead use basses.
A la "Big Bottom" by Spinal Tap

I can see wanting to extend your range, but seriously, where will it all end?
8 string Baritones tuned down a full step?
Might as well just play a bass.
That's just my $0.02

Well, it seems that bass players want higher notes and guitar players want lower notes, and with fanned/multi-scale fretted instuments become more in vogue (and allowing appropriate lengths and tensions for more diversity of strings), I can forsee a bigger market for bonafide hybrid, 1-neck instruments that allow for both full guitar and bass ranges. It's easy to dismiss 8-strings as just a means for metalheads to hit lower notes, but that's no reason to not consider other potentials.

Charlie Hunter's guitar/bass is a boutique instrument- but imagine that idea spreading and becoming part of the mainstream. I'm all for the progression in that direction because it wasn't too long ago in music where the only basses were uprights and guitars (in popular music, classical is a bit different) were reserved for rhythm mostly. Then come the likes of Charlie Christian with his electric guitar melodies and Leo Fender designing the electric bass and the old conventions went right out the window. Maybe those two instruments are meant to converge technologically at some point. Electric guitars and basses are still pretty young ideas and it's exciting considering how much more people can innovate.

[sick-boy]

I'm not saying people can't do great things with them, but can you in all seriousness say that the 8 string isn't geared towards metalheads? Just look at that guitar. It doesn't exactly scream "jazz" to me.

I guess for me personally, "heavy" doesn't mean "drop tuned".