You will see for yourself the second 8 string guitar tuned from a low B to a high A in history. It is my 1992 Gibson “Piano Guitar” prototype. It followed the first 8 string (low B to high A) in history, which was also a Gibson Signature prototype of mine.
The first prototype (1990) had nylon strings and was black (can be seen on www.giffinguitars.com) and was exhibited by Gibson at the January 1991 NAMM Show. It was filmed and shown on that week’s edition of MTV “One week in Rock”. After that NAMM Show other manufacturers and some known players ripped me off, as usual, but none managed to match the perfect and necessary COMPOUND HEADSTOCK that appeared on the second prototype. The second prototype sported that massive development that is the COMPOUND HEADSTOCK, and steel strings.
The COMPOUND HEADSTOCK was the only way to give the bottom B string the vital extra tension and the top A string the vital tension-relief. An 8 string with a top G is, obviously, an 8 string for those who can get the correct A string on top, i.e.: bozos.
For those not self-involved but truly interested in the truth I am reachable and willing to provide much more detailed information, including the explanation of why 7 or 8 string guitars need dedicated designs not available on the market today.
I will nevertheless tell you that since the invention of the PENTASYSTEM and the new MULTIPLANER HEADSTOCK, 7 and 8 string guitars are a very obsolete past. A Pentatar for example gives you more range than a 7 string with only 5 strings and it is far more playable and fresh sounding.
All the best
Maestro Alex Gregory