Is a 9 String Guitar for You?

So you want to go low… but not just low, I mean LOW! In that case you probably have considered a 9 string guitar. 9 string guitars are gaining popularity in metal and a few other creative generas, but do you really need 9? What about an 8 string guitar?

Here’s a video where I unbox and test a 9 string guitar for the first time. The playing isn’t great, but that’s the point, an initial test from someone who is use to playing 6 string guitars.

After spending even more time with the Schecter Hellraiser C-9, I can’t see going back to a 6 string. The options that a 9 string guitar open up to you just can’t be done with a 6 string.

But, what about an 8 string guitar? Just as in the video, I do still feel that most people who want to play chugging metal will do just fine with a 7 or 8 string guitar. When you get to the 9th string…IT IS LOW! It’s not that you can’t palm mute the 9th string, it’s just different, much different than chugging on the 8th string.

That’s why I think it’s very important for you to actually try out an 8 string and 9 string guitar before you decide on which is the best for you and what you want to do musically.

All that said, the Schecter Hellraiser is a very well built guitar. It’s solid, it’s very well balanced (not neck heavy), and the hardware is top notch. I highly recommend this guitar if you want to delve into the 9 string guitar world.

One of the awesome things about a 9 string guitar is you essentially have a 6 string, 7 string, 8 string, and 9 string guitar all in one instrument. You can immediately play all the 6 string songs you know, just skip the bottom 3 strings (or top 3 depending on how you look at it).

9 string guitars are here to stay, and not just for metal. I know I wouldn’t go back. What about a 10 string guitar….eh…I think 9 is about the limit for a usable guitar that isn’t a novelty. Although I would go for an 11 string guitar just because Spinal Tap.