The Best 8-String Guitars under $500 [2020]

Ibanez is the brand you can always count on to have an awesome instrument in your price range.

Their RG series guitars in the mid-range bracket ($300 – $600 – that’s how I define it, at least) have the strongest track record for quality and reliability on this list.

They have had some issues with their branded bridges (Edge III anyone?) but it’s pretty hard to mess up a hardtail, so don’t worry about that!

I’d prefer to see a natural finish since it has a nice mahogany body, but that’s not even a real complaint. The pickups, however, are something you’ll want to research before buying (check the video for a cherry-picked tone sample). The IBZ pickups are manufactured for Ibanez by DiMarzio, and have had mixed reviews when it comes to 7 and 8 string models because they cannot match the tightness of an EMG 81 at the bridge.

EMGs will beat anything as far as tight low-ends go, so maybe that’s not a very reliable explanation. I’ve heard great reviews and recordings with them though, so I just recommend you take a listen for yourself.

Washburn’s addition to the affordable class of 8 string guitars comes from their PXM Parallaxe series. They’ve made a smart move and decided to just load it with dual EMG 808 active pickups, rather than trying to upsell with underperforming passives. Not that there’s anything wrong with passive pickups, but actives are just much better suited to the type of music an 8 string guitar is designed for. Particularly in their ability to articulate notes whilst mids are cut on your amplifier. That’s not an instruction though, don’t go too far with the scooping.

The Amazon listing linked above claims the neck is made from alder wood – this is not the case. It is a 5-ply maple & mahogany neck. Suitable and very strong.

Check out the example video in the tone tab – the PMX18EB is being played through a Randall Thrasher amp. You will notice that the mids are scooped back very far compared to the bass, but there’s still a reasonable amount of articulation coming through the EMG 808s. The amp settings could be improved, there’s no doubt about that. But the guitar is still cutting through – it sounds nice and angry too.

Jackson needed to put their best foot forward stepping into the 8-string category to maintain their reputation as a sure-bet when it comes to making metal. They opted for a 26.5″ scale length, as opposed to the Ibanez and Agile’s 27″. Many guitarists will find a little easier to play – at the sacrifice of a little tension / tightness in the low end…depending on your tuning preferences of course.

Half an inch can make a huge difference in feel, and does have an effect on your tone as well – so take this into consideration when doing your research.

I’m not usually partial to opaque finishes, but that black satin is a major plus for me.

That being said, if you take a look at the demonstration video I’ve provided here, you may have a hard time not buying this thing. This Pakistani guy is radical.

Of course Schecter is on the list! They will never not make the midrange list, because wherever Ibanez goes, Schecter goes too!

That sounds like I’m being condescending, but I’m actually a fan – particularly of their use of tune-o-matic + string-thru combos on most of their models. And the original Schecter C-8 followed suit, but this Deluxe version makes the switch to a hardtail.

If you’re looking around on the web for one of these models, you’ll see that most shops still have “tune-o-matic” listed in the specifications – but just know that if it’s a Deluxe model, it’s got a hardtail.

The C-8 is most often compared to Ibanez’s RG-8 (listed above), and like the Ibanez, the Schecter’s branded pickups (Diamond Plus) have been compared to EMGs in the same light – not as tight or bright, but still capable of handling the low end of an 8-string.

One very notable difference is that the Schecter C-8 is a 28″ scale – a full inch more than the Ibanez RG-8! One more inch and you’ll be playing a short-scale bass! Strandberg uses a 28″ scale for their 8-string instruments, but they also have fanned frets to even out the tension. Further research may be required..

My most certain suggestion is that you flush that graphite nut down the toilet.

The Schecter Omen 8 is almost $100 more than the C-8, so the it’s up to you to decide whether or not the spec differences are worth it.

They’ve dropped back down to a 26.5″ scale here, and went from narrow-jumbo frets to plain old jumbos.

In spite of the stark difference in appearance (with the Omen 8 being far more appealing – to me, at least), the body/neck/fretboard wood combinations are exactly the same. The maple neck does have carbon reinforcements on the Omen though.

The pickups on the Omen are covered, but they’re the same Diamond Plus series as the C-8 too.

ESP LTD round out this list with two contributions to the sub-$500 category. The first is a single cutaway with a 26.5″ baritone scale.

The EC-258 comes with a pair of ESP Designed LH-308 pickups – in spite of their appearance, they are passive pickups. They can be heard in this demonstration video.

This model comes with a fretboard made from roasted Jatoba wood, which is a nice break from the standard rosewood appearance – and pairs well with the satin black finish.

The ESP LTD H-208 is the guitar that Stephen Carpenter’s signature model is based on, so if you’re familiar with it, you’ll be happy to know it shares most of the same specs.

The 308s are passive and have a been described as well-balanced and capable with the lower end of an 8-string guitar, but they can also be a little sterile. This is why a lot of people choose to switch them out for an active set immediately.

They are certainly still capable though, as you can see in this demonstration video. Just keep in mind, they’re being played through an Engl.

Considering the $100 price difference, if you know you’re going to switch your pickups out immediately for a preferred set, then the H-208 is a no-brainer over the SC model.

7/14/19 – Agile Guitars disappeared from the internet for a while, but they have returned – just not on Amazon yet! Check out Rondo Music or their official Reverb page to see which models you can order now.

Agile? Never heard of ’em.

Really though, this brand is a bit of a mystery to me. Their web presence is pretty scattered, and they’re definitely not marketing wizards of any sort (their brand image essentially does not exist).

Here’s what we do know though:

1. They have some really cool looking guitars with great specs.
2. They have a reputation for being excellent economy-instruments.
3. They’ve made an effort to cater to the 7+ string crowd.
4. They have stellar reviews – mainly citing their value.

This particular model is one of a few that hover around in this price range. The Agile Septor 827 has a string-thru bridge (always a plus in my book) and their very own brand of pickup – the Agile Cepheus.

The Cepheus pickups have been compared to Bareknuckle Aftermath 8s – I personally find them to be a little darker and not quite as hot, but overall, they definitely deliver.

The Jackson JS32-8Q is simply a variation on the previous model – the only difference is in the body. They traded the Poplar wood for Basswood with a quilted Maple top. The price difference is minimal, so the choice is strictly aesthetic.

I’ve included the video with that Pakistani again because he’s awesome.