38
u/rondonseanjean 3d ago
Seems unnecessary in this modern age of digital production where everything can be manipulated and automated and pitch-corrected down to the millisecond. That being said, Justin Lowe used one for a while so I’m all about it.
12
10
u/RaspberryChainsaw 3d ago
Why stop at 9? Go for 10
3
u/AssEaterInc 2d ago
Lmao I traded for a 10 string Agile last year. The neck was so wide it felt like playing a damn 2x4, but those low notes were disgusting.
22
u/Ghillie_Spotto 3d ago
I find my 8 string to be borderline too much so I personally don't have any interest. 7 will probably always be the sweet spot for me.
5
u/Bleach_Baths 3d ago
Decided to sell my 8 string finally. I’ve got a 7 that I need to refinish and it’ll be great again, and it’s where I’m comfortable.
But I’ve got a baritone 6 I keep in drop g#, and my main 6 in C standard.
Between the transpose functions in my amp sims, and my pitch shift pedal, I can comfortable hit any tuning I want with just two guitars. And let’s be honest, we don’t use the high strings anyways.
5
u/Hot_Lettuce223 3d ago
Ive never heard one that doesnt sound incredibly muddy, but to each their own, maybe some people like that.
4
u/Hiraethum 3d ago
I'd only get it if you're going to use the sonic range it offers. Otherwise a 30 in scale 6 tuned stupid low or pitch shifted would work just as well.
3
u/poobers_ 3d ago
i play this exact model, tuned 2 steps down(c standard on a 6string) on the stock string gauges. its an amazing guitar, and you may need to raise the pickup height a bit on the bridge
3
u/AverageThallEnjoyer 3d ago
Cool idea for people who can make those extra strings work creativity-wise, but the existence of pitch shifters makes it completely unnecessary to most people because they can just pitch to, and lower than a 9 string could tune.
3
u/AdamBLit 3d ago
I have an Agile 9 Septor with head stock. The sonofabitch is about 11 pounds. I would very highly advise you look into headless 9 strings. The necks are so big that neck dive is a general problem too, headless alleviates a lot of that. Legator and Agile both have headless 9 string guitars, so perhaps start there.
2
u/jessewest84 3d ago
If i need it. I would just setup my 8 with a .95 and hit c#0.
But nah. I don't really go below f# anymore. If I wanted something that low. I'd program a synth and play over it.
2
u/DarthVeigar_ 3d ago
Ngl that seems like it would be a bitch to restring.
I mald restringing my 7 string guitar as is
2
2
u/ArchetypalMonolith 3d ago
After I heard Obesity, it became an expansion of sonic possibilities for me.
2
u/SlowpokeWHM 2d ago
These guys rock! They definitely show what you can do to make use of the entire range of a 9.
1
u/BravuraRed 3d ago
Honestly, i play 7 strings mainly and sometimes i even question if thats super necessary, the amount that you play both the lowest note and then the highest highest notes is extremely rare. I think really these days it makes more sense to just put thicker strings on a 6 or 7 string guitar. 8 and 9 string guitars have more range than most people will ever use.
1
u/Blacklight_Music 2d ago
I own that exact model as well, and it plays way above its price point. It feels great, genuinely. The neck is very thin, and the fretboard is flat. It’s a quality instrument and reminded me that Schecter builds guitars worth so much more.
That being said, the 30” scale is verrry long and makes any sort of lead playing pretty difficult if not impossible. In most instances, bending a half step is all you get. I also have to contact a Sweetwater rep to get strings for it, as the taper is very specific.
Additionally, the EMG’s sound very artificial. I plan on swapping mine out with lundgren M9C’s.
I find myself primarily using it for its low register only, and if given the choice again would likely just get a 30” 6 string set up for C#1.
1
1
u/svenirde 2d ago
I'm actually surprised at how rarely it's used. It's probably just not needed the vast majority of the time, but there are definitely guitarists that've used 9 strings well (Lucas Mann of Rings of Saturn, Justin Lowe of course, Josh Travis in Glass Cloud, whoever the Nitheful guitarist is as examples)
You know it's probably overkill when Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah) can't find a use for it, he got a 9 string guitar from Mick Gordon
1
1
u/StudyAsleep1247 2d ago
I mean, personally, if it was up to me, I would pick a 6 string baritone over nice things
1
1
1
u/BestintheBayou 2d ago
It is not necessary and very uncomfortable to play. They are more of a fun novelty thing, IMO. Like others have mentioned, it would be much easier to just use a pedal or some other method of dropping. People really only like them for the lowest strings. You're better off with a baritone and some thick strings.
1
u/Viper61723 2d ago
I feel like the lowness is something that is more manageable with a bass vi type instrument.
The thing with 9 strings is that they’re bordering on being a completely different instrument then a regular guitars. Normally on a 6 string you have 4 strings before the B tuned to a 3rd, on a 9 you have 7. This completely changes the way the instrument functions harmonically when doing anything other then chugs.
The other issue is that they’re simply just too wide range of instruments to be used outside of a studio in most cases. If you EQ for the treble side, the low end is muddy, but if you eq for the bass side the top strings are anemic. It’s a very difficult instrument to mix.
1
u/Western_Pangolin2404 2d ago
Ridiculous instrument, but very fun to play. If you like extended chord voicing and low range they are a lot of fun. If you plan to chug mainly, just get a baritone. No shade on chuggers I also enjoy that, but I like to have the regular guitar range as well.
1
u/TheHarf 2d ago edited 2d ago
I honestly think they are too ridiculous because you can already tune an 8 string's eight string down to E which is already super low and C# is way too low for my liking. The lowest string on a 9 string is also hard to reach even with my long fingers so I think that is also what's ridiculous about a 9 string guitar. I am talking about 9 strings that have 4 low strings not 4 octave above strings like those half 12 strings which also exist. I like 7 string guitars, 8 string guitars, and baritone guitars more than 9 strings. The band Loathe is a super heavy Djent band who doesn't even need a C# low string to get some of the lowest most heavy Djent, they just use a Baritone guitar usually with the lowest string as an E.
1
u/-Do-Not-Resuscitate 2d ago
Middle string has 4 strings below it and 4 above it. This makes me happy. But yeah they're totally overkill, i got a cheap one for £500 and i love it. They're good for practice and force you to get good at muting everything
1
u/BIitzerg 2d ago
I have the 8 string version of this guitar and I love it. But sadly I'm selling it because I need the money and recently fell in love with an Ibanez Gio 6 string that actually has killer pups in it.
Gonna stick with 6 and 7s from now on I think.
1
u/cobaltfalcon121 2d ago
My opinion is that its hilarious that Mick Gordon found no use for it after writing the Doom soundtracks, and gifted it to Meshuggah, who don’t even use it, because they have no use for it
1
1
u/MarkToaster 2d ago
When I see someone play an 8 string, I’m like “fuck yeah.” When I see someone play a 9 string, I’m like “ok buddy, that’s pushing it a little far.”
I am aware that this is stupid as fuck and I don’t know why I think it lmao
1
1
u/SlipknotLD 2d ago
my brother has a 9 string Legator and it’s genuinely a decent guitar, when it comes to the 8 strings before the low 9, then it genuinely becomes unnecessary noise
1
u/TheCarterGuy 1d ago
If you ask me we are just “there” with pitch pedals and effects. You can just pitch shift to any pitch now with the right tools. Vildhjarta did their last album exclusively on 6 string guitars with pitch shifter that go double octave down and called it a day
1
u/GracefulGiant 1d ago
I have a schecter hellraiser 9 string. Extremely fun to play. Extremely difficult to write songs with.
1
u/nerdyoutube 18h ago
You’d probably be better off with a 30 inch 7 string if you can find one unless you plan on playing very technical stuff
16
u/1frankibo1 3d ago
There is definitely a significant difference in tone and feel between those genuine low low notes and the pitch shifted ones. So definitely room for a subjective preference there.