-
I've been thinking about getting a PRS SE 277 Baritone, and was wondering what experiences you may have had with that, or others?
-
03-07-2016 12:23 AM
-
Well, I consider this a special opportunity to say that I don't......
But, I've listened to Joe Beck using one quite a bit. Just recently Tim Lerch posted this video about tuning a regular guitar down to Db. Maybe Jim Soloway will chime in, he's experienced in long scale guitars and lowered tunings.
-
its sort of like owning a tuxedo. seemed like a good idea at the time, never gets used. but when you need it, nothing really comes close. its fairly niche-y especially if you go with a longer neck version. mine is mainly used to record, doubling or adding weird textures.
sort of wish i had a cheaper electric version to mess around with, though. all my guitars are tuned down at least a whole step, and a few further down than that, so believe me, i get it. in my experience shorter scale guitars don't bring the thunder the way longer scale ones do, which is both a good or bad thing, depending. the 27"ish ones would be much easier to play, but the 29-30" ones kinda sound more right to me. they sort of fall in a pianoesque range so they mix really easily- below the guitars but above the bass.
of course, your string brand and gauge matter a lot, especially once you decide on a scale length and a tuning. with the longer scales, its easier to go a full octave down, which is super cool. i usually decide on a tuning based on my needs and what kind of strings are on there. the tension will decide a lot for you. sometimes i want the super low sounds, sometimes i raise the tuning and tension to drive it harder and make it more like a regular guitar, with more punch and sparkle. ultra fat strings are kind of pricey, and you may have to cobble a set together by buying a few singles here and there. it isn't an exact science, there's going to be some trial and error on your part. you'll have to first decide what you want and then how to get there.
i don't do anything special as far as amps go, but you may have to alter your eq settings a bit.
-
Someone talk me out of it! There's a $400 Squier baritone local, I want it so bad! It's so moody and evocative!
-
Seems like the 12 string guitar of the jazz world. A cool idea but something you ultimately don't use very much.
-
I think if you were playing only solo, it could be cool...
Jim Soloway, Tim Lerch, Ted Greene...these guys routinely tune/tuned a full step or more down from standard and it sounds great for solo.
Baritone B to B would be pretty darn low though...might get a little muddy if played with a traditional jazz tone.
-
I've played B to B and you do have to push more high end to maintain clarity. It can be really beautiful though.
Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
To the OP, a 27" scale length can get you to any tuning down to B and maintain clarity. I haven't played the PRS but as a builder 27" scale length was all we did for our first few years so I may have played more of them than anyone on the planet. Depending on the tuning, they do raise some issues but there are also a whole range of benefits including tremendous clarity when you have sufficient tension on the strings. One suggestion is that if you're going down more than a full tone, look into GHS compound nickel strings. They have a unique construction that allows them to maintain tension with a lighter string. This is a big help when you're trying to maintain string-to-string balance and playablity.
About the PRS, I'd do a bit more research among people more familiar with the actual model. PRS has done a lot of marketing to a metal crowd. That may or may not be the case with this guitar but if it is, I'd be a bit concerned about clarity and clean tones. It may work but I'd want to try it in person before I spent any money on it.
27" does present a bit of a challenge at the lower frets but nothing that can't be overcome with good technique.
-
Gotta get that neck up!!!
-
Wes Montgomery did on the "Movin' Along" album:
-
Mr. B and Jim, either of you guys do anymore with the 5th string tuned down an octave?
-
I play around with it occasionally.
I have a extra tele neck in my basement...I might buy a cheap loaded body on ebay this summer and open up the nut to accomodate a wider string so I can have a guitar like this hanging around.
To just tune down, my touch has to be REALLY light to keep the string in tune.
It's a fun sound though, great for solo guitar.
-
No but I did play 7 string for many years with the Van Eps tuning (a low A) and that's basically the same concept just with the string in a different position. Originally Posted by joe2758
-
Taylor had an interesting acoustic/electric bari guitar a few years back that IIRC has the middle 2 strings doubled with strings tuned an octave higher.
https://www.taylorguitars.com/guitar...tic/baritone-8
I tried it once. It had a fascinating sound kind of like a low-tuned 12-string. I think it would be good for Pat Metheny acoustic-style stuff (like on his Quiet album) or acoustic fingerpicking ala Windham Hill, John Fahey, etc., but I couldn't really think of a use for it for standard jazz repertoire.
It was also priced at ~$2000, which to me seemed pretty astronomical for a one-trick pony.
Re' electrics I know that Warmoth makes a bari neck for a Tele-style guitar, but it's not cheap. I have been hoping GFS will come out with a cheap version so we Tele modders can try it out.Last edited by Doctor Jeff; 03-07-2016 at 03:21 PM.
-
I had one of those Taylor 8-string baritones for about a year. Very very nice guitar with a unique sound. I almost never played it. It did sell for what I paid for it, though. I think they make the rounds of people looking for something different. I like the tuxedo comparison.
-
Yes, I have a Jerry Jones baritone, 2 lipstick p/us. Heard one played fingerstyle on a friend's record (Rich Cohen, Moods & Meditations). I couldn't tell what it was, sort of low lute like, such a pretty sound. Rich loaned it to me for a couple weeks, and that did it. Had to get one.
The sound is beautiful, and it's one of the easiest playing guitars I've tried yet. Not easy to fit in with it in band situations though. Doesn't matter. It's a sound I've come to love.
MD
-
bari's have longer scale..fenders have 27+" scale and dano's have near 30"...so lower tuning isn't a problem...
fender/squier also has bass vi..which is 30" scale guitar tuning turned down an octave...amazing
these are all classic 50's and 60's sessions tools..spector, wrecking crew etc..heard on many classic recordings
a good tool
heard some guy in local shop uncharacteristically fingerpicking a cheap gretsch bari recently..otherworldly sound..a lot can be done with them...
the great duane eddy...who was a dano bari user from the start, has a beautiful gretsch signature model bari in the works..
cheers
-
I had no idea!
-
Bari, bari interesting...
-
Here is a video of a Fender Subsonic telecaster tuned to C.
This guitar is for sale
enjoy
all the best
Tim
-
I bought this on may 10 and returned it in September... Originally Posted by Marwin Moody
-
A lot of my approach to this topic has gone through a pretty major revision lately so it's probably appropriate to check in again on this one. After using 25.5" and above scale lengths for many years, I have switch to a pair of 24.75's (roughly) for the last several month. I have one of them (Godin Kingpin II) tuned to D and the other (Godin Composer) to C, a full four semi-tones down. I'm strung with TI Swing Series 12's with the bottom string beefed up to a .53. It's definitely a loose feel with the C standard tuning but it intonate properly and I can play it with no buzzing. Here's Stardust played on the Composer in the C tuning. You can judge for yourselves if has sufficient clarity.
-
I have a Squier Bass VI -- super cool sounding (and looking) instrument. I haven't actually used it much as a guitar as such, I primarily use it as a bass. The bass player in the big band I play with couldn't make it to a gig, at the last minute I was asked to play bass, so I used the bass VI as it's the only bass I own. It sounded great.
-
Why, pray tell? Originally Posted by Marwin Moody
I bought this on may 10 and returned it in September...
-
I had a Dano bari. B to B. Although people tune them A to A or a number of different ways. I liked it. They were used a lot as a "tic tac" bass on classic Nashville dates. Harold Bradley often played it. When Fender first came out with the bass the Nashville producers didn't trust them in the studio so stayed with the upright for quite a while. They would use the tic tac along with the Fender to give more click to the track.
Producers like Phil Spector who used the Wrecking Crew often used 3 bassists playing in unison. Typically Carol Kay on Fender, Lyle Ritz on upright and Ray Pohlman on tic tac. Harold Bradley tells of Fender giving him a Fender VI six string bass which he proudly brought to a session. His brother Owen on hearing it looked at him and said no way, back to
the Dano.
-
I'm not clear if the tic-tac bass sound is from Danelectro bass or bari. Here's a long rather opinionated discussion...
Just what is a "tic tac" bass anyway? - The Steel Guitar Forum
I'm inclined to think bass originally, then later tic-tac parts were played by baritone or even standard guitar.
Reply With Quote
Recommandations for Hollowbodies for $600 and under?
Today, 05:20 AM in Guitar, Amps & Gizmos