Why Not an 8 String Acoustic?

[L20A]

I like the sound of an acoustic 12 string but the necks are too much for my old hands to play for very long.

I bought an 8 string Guild Baritone to replace the 12 string for alternate sound.
I like the baritone and it's tone but of course it is nothing like a 12 string in the way it sounds.

Martin once produced a 7 string guitar but I have never seen an 8 string acoustic guitar.
I like the idea of one because the neck could be smaller than a 12 string neck and the guitar would still have a bit of shimmer to it.
A 1 3/4" nut would work just fine.
That is what my baritone has.

Would there be a market for this type of guitar?
Would it sound different enough from a normal 6 string guitar to be worth having?
I know someone will say to just put 8 strings on a 12 string guitar.
I tried that but the neck size and shape doesn't change and the guitar was still too hard to play.

[warfrat73]

They're out there, but they're a pretty small niche. I recall a Petros 8 string hanging around one of the big shops (Elderly, I think) for years without selling.

[neilca]

I have an octave mandolin that I tuned dD-gG-BB-EE like a 12 string. Sounds very cool real easy to play. After reading your post I am wondering what aA-dD-gG-BB would sound like. Hmmmm

[s2y]

Almost anything can happen with the right builder and a budget.

[Eldergreene]

Hi L20A, I once converted a resonator guitar to 8-string ( adding octaves to the D & G strings ) - pretty easy conversion on a reso - & it was interesting for a while, but after the novelty wore off, it turned out to be something of a one-trick pony, neither one thing nor the other; quite nice for slide, where the bit of shimmer worked quite well, but for straight fingerstyle not so hot,

[elephony]

I've seen a few old nine string guitars, I believe all Stromberg-Voisnet-made out of Chicago in the 20s. Doubled top strings for shimmer, single bass strings for playability. It makes total sense, but clearly died out without too much demand at the time, so I think most players are content to either play a six string or pony up for the whole twelve. I've always thought it's too bad; nine strings makes a lot of sense as an in between option. Here's one that sold a while ago: https://reverb.com/item/1458730-lyon...-guitar-c-1921 It's a good-looking headstock too!

[Shadowfox]

Furch makes a 8 and 9 string option!

[BradHall]

I built myself a 9 string guitar. Doubled up the d,g,b strings. Makes the bass runs more anchored and doubling the high E string seemed redundant. Easy to fingerpick and has a pretty rich, but not overwhelming, 12 string sound. I believe Taylor once made a 9 string also.

[Wade Hampton]

L20A, I converted a Larrivee L-03R to an 8 string by adding octave strings to the D and G strings. It sounds great, and gives me the 12 string chime without the extra weight and neck heaviness.

I researched which guitar model to convert before I embarked on the project: the L model Larrivees have a 1 3/4” nut, so there’s room to add the additional strings.


whm

[jrdavies]

Haiti made a 9 string for a while. The Internet says it was a DY-58

[FingahPickah]

Anyone play one of these?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtXCQFm9ASo

[619TF]

You mean like this one from Alvarez?
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Alvarez...00000343931.gc

[Brucebubs]

Found one on ebay here in Australia just yesterday - Baton Rouge X4S/GA-8

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by L20A

I

Martin once produced a 7 string guitar but I have never seen an 8 string acoustic guitar.

The 7-string was probably a "Russian guitar", seven individual strings, no 12-string style double strings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_guitar

[619TF]

Originally Posted by frankmcr

The 7-string was probably a "Russian guitar", seven individual strings, no 12-string style double strings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_guitar

Not quite..
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...coustic-guitar