The word octave was purposely put in the title of this article because some players hear “8 string,” and believe that means a tuning of something like F# B E A D G B E. That’s not what this is. This is a 4-string doubled with 4 more octave strings, as in eE aA dD gG (the lower case letter is the high octave note.)
Check out this video to hear what one sounds like:
Is the 8-string even necessary when good octave pedals exist?
If you want a sound similar to the above, there’s a much cheaper way to get it compared to buying a new 8-string. Use an octave pedal like the Aguilar Octamizer. That effect does allow clean (the dry bass signal) and the octave signal to blend together at the same time to emulate an 8-string bass in wonderful ways:
The best part about using the octave pedal? You don’t have to buy a new bass to get the 8-string sound.
What do you think? Is getting the 8-string worth it, or just get the pedal instead?
It’s really not fair to claim that this pedal does what an 8 string does… The 8 string in the video adds a note an octave above, whereas this pedal, while very cool sounding, adds an octave BELOW. So far I have seen less than a half dozen pedals that can add the octave above (POG is one), and I have yet to see one do it with good results.
Absolutely right! I bought the Micro Pog which goes up AND down an octave and you can mix in either or both. Tracks great.
Definitely worth getting..
POG is one of a VERY few that will go octave up AND down AND which tracks well.
I have this Aguilar pedal and I like it. I’ve got a friend and he has the POG with the mod by T1M to it so it can do both low or high octave on 2 switches. Not sure for my purposes if I’d ever need the high octave but he likes having it.
Whether or not a 8 string is more worthwhile than a pedal really depends on your needs and playing style. Personally, I’ve yet to hear an effect that can believably emulate an 8 string. Also, you can get so much more out of an 8 string if you approach it from almost like a guitar-like fingerpicking perspective, so you can isolate your playing to the 8 individual strings. (Thumb = low octave, finger = high octave.) You can take that even further if you tune the higher strings to something other than octaves.
I was actually able to dial in a passable 12 string bass sound on the POG2 with some tweaking on the octave levels. Still IMHO it doesn’t truly capture the sound.
What about tonal variety by stringing flats on low-octave vs. rounds on high? 😉
Well, one way to think about it is this: the normal frequency range of the bass guitar could be occupied by a standard bass guitar. And you can use whatever other instruments you like to play an octave above. There is something “inorganic,” about octave pedals or 8-string basses to my ears. Yet, if you like them, by all means get a dozen 8 string basses or a dozen octave pedals. I hate to ramble, but why not get you little brother to play a piccolo bass along side of you and mirror everything you play.
Chords? So many other tones missing from the pedal like the strings slapping one another or the whacky rich harmonics of the long scale thin strings beating against the bass strings. Gotta say, not impressed with the pedal.
Octave pedals are cool and 8 string basses are cool. Each in their own way. It is not easy finding an octave pedal that tracks really well and sounds fabulous. I have tried many, including this one. It was not up to the task. Some of the other Ag pedals are great though.
i have just brought a 2nd hand 8 string abt marshal pickups , its looks great light and dark wood straight frew , vol dial and 4 more, 4 bass tuners and 4 smaller tuners,
strings are fed from the back in tubes , to a bridge plate with adjustment for 2 strings on 4 tailpieces ?
does any of you fine people no the sizes of strings and what sort of ends they should have ?
barrel ends dont fit 2 well and loops have nothing ?
is a loop to go over one with a barrel?
i have 4 flat wound and only one with 2 strings , i put a smallest bass string with the biggest ?
it playsthe octave , help needed thanks, it sounds great , my straight frew fretless will be going, cant have both im a trupeter
I have always been intrigued by the 8 string bass. See my pic in Just Strings under Roto-Sound Solo 55’s. But one thing I’ve noticed is that the 8 string doesn’t have the Punch of a regular bass. It seems the octave pairing makes a difference in the sonic impression of the fretless basses natural tendency to create the much loved “mwah”. I will also say that no pedal can imitate the 8 string bass, some come close but their is no comparison. The person who stated that he uses a POG with his 8 string is right, it creates a more luxurious sound.