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March 2, 2025
7-string guitars. 8-string guitars.

Extended-Range Guitars

Popular among musicians of the heavier persuasion, extended-range guitars offer extra reach into bass guitar territory, providing the punishing low end needed for modern metal. The realm of 7-string and 8-string guitars can be strange terrain for players used to the standard 6-string, so we put together a helpful buying guide, and ran a few of our favorites through the gauntlet in this exclusive demo video.
Extended-Range Guitars: zZounds Exclusive Demo
7-String Guitars
Traditionally used by jazz guitarists, 7-string guitars were originally made with an extra high A string for an extended upper register. In the early '90s, when solidbody production models by Ibanez hit the market, it eventually became apparent that on a 25.5" scale guitar, an extra high A string was very prone to breaking. Instead, adding a low B string extended the lower register, allowing for detuned riffing while still keeping a full standard range for intricate soloing.
Shop all 7-string guitars »
BACK IN STOCK

Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty 7 Electric Guitar, 7-String (with Mono Gig Bag)

$4,049.00
  • Interest-Free Payment Plans
ONLY 2 LEFT

Jackson X Dinky DKAF7MS Multi-Scale Electric Guitar, 7-String

$699.99
  • 12 x  
    $58.33
  • 8 x  
    $87.50
  • No Credit Check
    6 x  
    $116.66
  • No Credit Check
    4 x  
    $175.00

Schecter Reaper 7MS Electric Guitar, 7-String

$1,149.00
  • 18 x  
  • 12 x  
    $95.75
  • 8 x  
    $143.63
  • No Credit Check
    6 x  
    $191.50
  • No Credit Check
    4 x  
    $287.25

PRS Paul Reed Smith SE Mark Holcomb SVN Electric Guitar, 7-String (with Gig Bag)

$1,249.00
  • 18 x  
  • 12 x  
    $104.08
  • 8 x  
    $156.13
  • No Credit Check
    6 x  
    $208.17
  • No Credit Check
    4 x  
    $312.25

Sterling by Music Man John Petrucci Signature JP70 Electric Guitar

$699.99
  • 12 x  
    $58.33
  • 8 x  
    $87.50
  • No Credit Check
    6 x  
    $116.66
  • No Credit Check
    4 x  
    $175.00
ONLY 3 LEFT

Jackson Pro Series Dave Davidson Warrior WR7 Electric Guitar, Ebony Fretboard

$1,449.99
  • 12 x  
    $120.83
  • 8 x  
    $181.25

ESP LTD EC-407 Electric Guitar, 7-string

$1,099.00
  • 18 x  
  • 12 x  
    $91.58
  • 8 x  
    $137.38
  • No Credit Check
    6 x  
    $183.17
  • No Credit Check
    4 x  
    $274.75
BACK IN STOCK

Ibanez JBM27 Jake Bowen Electric Guitar, 7-String

$1,399.99
  • 18 x  
  • 12 x  
    $116.67
  • 8 x  
    $175.00
ONLY 3 LEFT

Sterling by Music Man Jason Richardson 7 Cutlass Electric Guitar, 7-String

$899.99
  • 12 x  
    $75.00
  • 8 x  
    $112.50
  • No Credit Check
    6 x  
    $150.00
  • No Credit Check
    4 x  
    $225.00

Schecter Demon 7 Electric Guitar, 7-String

$599.00
  • 12 x  
    $49.92
  • 8 x  
    $74.88
  • No Credit Check
    6 x  
    $99.83
  • No Credit Check
    4 x  
    $149.75
8-String Guitars
If seven strings just doesn't cut it, maybe an 8-string guitar is more your speed. The 8-string setup has been a standard configuration for lap and pedal steel guitars for decades, with open tunings based around the E9 and C6 chords for country and jazz. The wider range allows for an extended low end, and can even open the door for more out-of-the-box tunings utilizing major thirds. Pick up an 8-string guitar of your own to follow in the footsteps of progressive metal masters like Animals as Leaders' Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes, or Meshuggah's Marten Hagstrom and Fredrik Thordendal.
Shop all 8-string guitars »
LAST ONE

Jackson X Series Dinky DKAF8 MS Electric Guitar, 8-String

$699.99
  • 12 x  
    $58.33
  • 8 x  
    $87.50
  • No Credit Check
    6 x  
    $116.66
  • No Credit Check
    4 x  
    $175.00
ONLY 3 LEFT

Ibanez RGMS8 Multi-Scale Electric Guitar, 8-String

$699.99
  • 12 x  
    $58.33
  • 8 x  
    $87.50
  • No Credit Check
    6 x  
    $116.66
  • No Credit Check
    4 x  
    $175.00
ONLY 2 LEFT

Strandberg Boden Original NX 8 Electric Guitar (with Gig Bag)

$2,495.00
  • 12 x  
    $207.92
  • 8 x  
    $311.88
BACK IN STOCK

Schecter Hellraiser Hybrid C-8 Electric Guitar, 8-String

$1,249.00
  • 18 x  
  • 12 x  
    $104.08
  • 8 x  
    $156.13
  • No Credit Check
    6 x  
    $208.17
  • No Credit Check
    4 x  
    $312.25
ONLY 2 LEFT

Schecter Omen Elite-8 Multiscale Electric Guitar, 8-String

$849.00
  • 12 x  
    $70.75
  • 8 x  
    $106.13
  • No Credit Check
    6 x  
    $141.50
  • No Credit Check
    4 x  
    $212.25

ESP LTD Javier Reyes JR208 Electric Guitar, 8-String

$699.00
  • 12 x  
    $58.25
  • 8 x  
    $87.38
  • No Credit Check
    6 x  
    $116.50
  • No Credit Check
    4 x  
    $174.75
Extended-Range Guitar Strings
More strings = more strings to replace, and a wider range of gauges to consider. Be ready with a selection of string sets with specifically selected gauges for extended-range guitars. Most sets of 7-string, 8-string and 9-string guitar strings are designed with heavy, wound bottom strings to prevent floppiness in the lower register while playing chugging, rhythmic patterns. In turn, the plain strings in the higher register are much lighter gauge for dramatic bending and lightning-fast soloing.
Shop all extended-range guitar strings »