8 stringer question...

They aren't much more difficult, but are fantastic fun to play!

 

Actually, it's not that hard. The strings are close enough together to grab without a problem. Just make sure your left hand accuracey is good, otherwise you may not get one of the two strings all the way down to the fret. And they can be played both with the fingers or the pick, but slapping one isn't really practical. I preferred the sound of the pick; the octave strings really ring out.

And to answer your last question, they are VERY fun.

 

Not that much harder to play but you may have trouble fitting one in sonically with a band. I had a Pedulla 8 string thunderbass which was awesome when I played in a rock trio but didn't sound so great when I played in a four piece band with a keyboard player. But when you play one of these with a pick and a little distortion its like you are a one man guitar army

 

They are a little harder to play, and lots of fun. But beware, most are heavy so they can be fatiguing if it is your main player.

 

I have played one in a trio, and it fit in very nice. But I did have to adjust my style a little. Slapping was out, and playing supper aggressive with my right hand was out to (although this could have been more my bass than 8 strings in general), but the sonic bliss was worth it to me. It took me two practices to figure this stuff out.

 

I disagree; in fact, I probably prefer slapping on an 8-string to slapping on a 4-, 5- or 6-string bass! I suspect it has to do with the increased tension of the double courses, gives your thumb more "rebound". It's a fantastic sound too, like beating on a barbed wire fence with a baseball bat while standing in a tub of mercury.

 

The "beating on a barbed wire fence..." bit made me laugh!
I had a Hagstrom that was pretty cool and unfortunately had to sell it because i needed the money.
For me it was a play with a pick only type of instrument.
Saw Cheap trick in the early 80's and their bass player had a 12 string(tripled strings) that was going into some kind of tri-amped rig and that had one hell of a sound.

 

Yeah, 'slapping' an 8 may be very tricky indeed, 'Thump'g & Popping' on one works! You just have to increase your accuracy to pull it off. This is for newer 8s. Older Hamers, Hagstroms & such the like had very close spacing & were best played with a pick. I have a Warmoth & a Kramer 8. T&P is easier on the Warmoth as it was made using a 5 string neck for greater spacing. Also have a Dean 12ver which I love! I was dead set on getting an US Hamer Chapperal before I played the Dean! For the money it knocked the Hamer out of contention. (although the Hamer is still a really great bass. The strings were actually a little close for me) Im supposed to rip out those stock EMG-HZ & put in DC's but Im lazy...

Beforewarned.... When bring this thing to rehersal I hope your guitar player is 'secure' because you're gonna get a whole lot of dirty looks from them if not!!! Mine is still giving me the 'gas-face' when I pull it out of the bag!! lmao!!! Im like "Dude, Im trying to help YOU out!!" That doesnt go over very well... But, such is life w/ a gui****...