For players making their first steps into 8-strings, there are some points to note. The first is a question of fretboard geography – to accommodate the lower tunings and maintain string tension, the scale lengths are considerably longer than on regular six-string guitars, measuring from a relatively short 26.5” to 28” or more. This takes some getting used to. With a nod to playability and intonation, many guitar builders now incorporate multi-scale designs on their 8-string guitars, which is to say their guitars have more than one scale, typically running a very standard 25.5” from nut to bridge on the high-E string to a generous 28” on the low eighth string. Six-stringers will also find the nut width a change of pace. Where a conventional six-string might measure 43mm across the nut, to accommodate the extra two strings an 8-string typically measures around 54mm, which is quite the stretch. There is no “correct” nut width, just that which feels right to you, with string spacing making sure the fingerboard is not too crammed nor too spaced out. Of all the demands made on the 8-string guitar’s anatomy, the neck gets the most abuse. You will find that most of these guitars have necks reinforced with either graphite or titanium rods. Some manufacturers opt for a sandwiched construction to aid stability. If your prospective 8-string lacks stability in the neck, you are invariably in for tuning problems further down the line. It’s always worth fretting playing some open strings and gently applying some pressure to the headstock to see how far the guitar will go out of pitch; you should meet plenty of resistance from a solidly built instrument.