Well, Conklin did make, for a very short period of time and in limited numbers a production model 8string. You'd have to buy used and it would be at least double your budget but, yeah, thats no help at all
For that amount of money, I'd look into a baritone 7string if you want to replicate the tone and fit it with Lundgren 7 string pickups (the same ones Meshuggah use).

i've only seen some flamecio players use an 8 string guitar

Shecter makes a baritone seven string, I forgot all about that ... Its like a 26.5 scale.

brutur, that 8-string is going to be superb! i'd be afraid it that it would eat me though. 28 frets, 8 strings, its a beast.

Bro, that thing sounds fucking NICE.

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Yo, Meshuggah use Nevborn 8-string guitars. The model is the Sleipner XL which is like a permutation of the Sleipner I, customised for Mssrs. Hagstrom and Thorendahl. I asked Mr. Nevborn how much he would make me a lefty version (yes, I'm a lefty) for. "Same prize" he said and with that spelling error.
$3000. Nevborn would easily do the job with less expensive gear if you asked him. Check his website www.nevbornguitars.com (or .net, forgotten). He's got a whole range, including this insane 13-string thing, and the sweetest heavy metal guitar ever.
Meshuggah's deadly Nothing tone is also available at Lundgren Pickups. The Model M was customised for Thorendahl for 7-string guitars. Priced at 195 euroes.
Hey, anyone know an abundant source of lefty 7-strings that would import to the UK or in the UK?

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IMO 8 strings are unnessasary, i just dont like them, 7 strings is enough...

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[QUOTE=Zertonshfits]IMO 8 strings are unnessasary, i just dont like them, 7 strings is enough...[/QUOTE

to some people 6 strings are still enough...

Maybe.. but when is x amount of strings enoug? someday, some dude will come out with his 24 string guitar, and some will even then call it not enough..

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this dude plays on a 24 string
http://www.debashishbhattacharya.com/

I don't think 8 string guitars sould be a standard but I do believe they are nice to have. Especially 8 string guitars with 28 frets. Welcome to shred Heaven

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that must cost a few arms and legs. the uli jon roth sky guitar is like 4k. (30 scalloped frets 7 string)

I think Brutur's might cost more but it sure will be nice.

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in fact, everybody thinks 8 string guitars are hard to play on..... others think you don't need more then 6 strings....

well I can tell you..... It never felt so easy to play on a 8 string guitar (better than on a 6 string).... and palying is very comfortable (no need for big hands)..... its easier to make solos because with the 7 and 8th string you can play a wider range of scales..... you also have the possibility to play really low.... from the lowest string (F) to the highest string (e).....

the only questionable thing is the price....
I can tell you.... I buy this guitar instead of a car.....

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yes it is cool to see a guy do 8 and 9 string sweeps and it does give you a little bit of wider range but is low F really nessasary? i mean, B is damn low IMO but, F? geez might as well get a double guitar with the bottom guitar being a bass...

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Yeah man, rusty cooly plays one that has thirty frets and 8 strings

Beleive it or not, but you can make your own. eight string replacement neck, and drill 1 more holes in it and run the new strings into holes about 6 inches behind the pickups.

but i sure as hell wouldn't do it unless i had a cheap starter guitar.

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What about the body where the neck joins, the bridge, and the pickups?

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use a sander.

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ESP makes a decent one, Im sure this is what your looking for because people are confused on what 8-strings actually are. They are not like 7-strings at all. Its a 6-string basiclly strung up like a 12 with the 2 low strings doubled up. Here is a link to the pic.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/...ri8snake4cw.jpg