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Please chime in : I am thinking about adding a low-tuned guitar to my arsenal and would like to hear your take re the choice between a regular long-scale/baritone guitar
and a low-tuned regular model (THICK strings, tuned to C-F-Bb-Eb-G-C).
What are the (Dis)Advantages ? It will mostly be used in Solo/Duo settings.
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02-06-2024 06:26 PM
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I have no opinion, but I'm just curious why??
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If tuning down that low, I wouldn’t personally go shorter than a 25.5” scale. Anything shorter and you start getting into issues with floppy strings or sketchy intonation. Another option is a multiscale guitar.
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I have a Guild (F50, jumbo model) which is a monster in sound projection. It’s been a few weeks that it’s tuned one whole step lower and it sounds like heaven.
However, tuning it lower than that wouldn’t be reasonable.
I’ve made this choice to accommodate to my vocal pitch. I’m typically a baryton and a lot of folk songs are written for tenors. One step lower helps a lot. I have no problem to transpose in jazz without a capo, but in folk, fingering with original open strings is essential.
I haven’t felt the necessity to mount stronger gauge. It’s still 0.012-0.054.
Hope this helps.
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Tim Lerch uses a C# tuning on one of his Tele's and Paul Ricci gets a great sound with a vintage CONRAD baritone guitar.
The idea behind all this is simply my desire for tonal variety when playing solo or duo concert gigs. I usually take an archtop and a nylonstring so a third guitar won't make a big difference re organising the affair ....
ACHTUNG : not talking about a low-tuned archtop here, it'll be a solidbody guitar.
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I was going to say: I strung my archtop, 64 cm scale, with baritone strings (.014) and it's a mess.
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General tuning down a major third on a regular solidbody guitar could be too much, even when using a heavy string set (pitch definition, intonation, wobbling).
It should work if you adapt the string gauges to the required pitches - simply by shifting the strings to the bass side (plus correcting the nut and saddle slots, of course):
Starting point: E - A - D - G - B - E
Low C-Tuning: C - F - Bb - Eb - G - C
String Shifting: X - E - A - D - G - B
All you had to do is looking for a suitable string X for the low C; should be easy.
I guess some (lady) singers would love that move in a duo gig.
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How about a 7 string?
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Been thinking about pulling the trigger on one of these for some inexpensive tonal variation fun, metheny tunes, etc.
Ibanez ACFS380BT Baritone Grand Concert | Reverb
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Nah, not comfortable with a 7-String, it would mean a low B which is too deep for my needs and - a priority- I‘m used to fretting with my thumb which would be really tough on a wide 7-string neck.
Originally Posted by Sleeko
The trend now goes towards a regular Tele (type) ….
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Looks interesting. I couldn't find if the top was solid and what wood is used for the back and sides. Did I miss it or are they being vague and mysterious? LoL Originally Posted by yebdox
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Solid Engelmann top/pau ferro back and sides. Originally Posted by Sleeko
“Ibanez ACFS380BT Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:
Bold Grand Concert acoustic-electric cutaway with awesome appointments and features
Solid Engelmann spruce top with pau ferro back and sides — a tonewood pairing that delivers full, rounded tone
5-piece mahogany and pau ferro neck with Macassar ebony fingerboard offers stellar response and playability
Ibanez T-Bar undersaddle and Block Contact pickup with Ibanez DP1 preamp kicks out beautifully articulate amplified tone
Dual outputs let you blend these pickups for a wonderful array of tonal expressions
Ebony bridge, unbleached oil-impregnated bone and nut saddle, and scalloped X-bracing enhance tone and resonance”
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Jim Soloway (esteemed member here!) has been using low-tuned guitars for years, so I'm hoping he jumps in here! He's gone through every combination of scale-lengths, string gauges, etc.!
Although I don't think it was designed for this, his original "Swan" model -- 27" scale -- would make a sweet baritone! I play a Novax fanned fret, 25-27" scale; again, not designed for baritone, but a lot of players tune down, and they work wonderfully!
Happy hunting!
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Thank you! Originally Posted by ThatRhythmMan
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The rule of thumb for knowing the equivalent tension of string gauges when down tuning is 1 gauge per whole step or 1 half gauge per half step. So you could easily play in C standard on a regular scale guitar. Using 12s in C standard would be the same tension as 10s in standard or using 13s in C standard would be the same tension as 11s in standard etc. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be a catastrophe. It would only be a matter of taste if you prefer medium tension or high tension. But it would certainly not put the guitar into unplayable territory from too low tension. I used to play in D standard because I liked the lower tension and fatter tone. If it were me, I wouldn't get a baritone to purposely keep the tension high rather than a nice comfortable medium. What gauge strings are you planning on using?
Last edited by Bobby Timmons; 02-08-2024 at 01:26 AM.
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This one's nice. Coincidentally, I'm about to put it up for sale, ha!
Ernie Ball Silhouette
Scale Length: 29-5/8" (75.5 cm)
Neck Radius: 10" (25.4 cm)
Headstock Size: Only 5-7/8" (14.9 cm) long
Frets: 22 - High profile, medium width
Neck Width: 1-3/4" (44.5 mm) at nut, 2-1/4" (57.2 mm) at last fret
Can be strung for guitar:
13p-18p-30w-44w-56w-72w (6 String Baritone Slinky #2839 - A Tuning)
OR can be strung for bass:
20w-30w-42w-54w-74w-90w (6 String Bass Guitar Slinkys #2837 - E Tuning)
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Another option to drop tuning is to consider one of many guitar pedals that offer a synthesized form of a lower octave or other pitch.
The problem with most of these pedals is that they double the note, one at pitch and a second at the desired synthesized pitch.
Anyone here know of a pedal that drops ALL six strings to a lower pitch? That would seem to be the ideal.
Bass players have a similar dilemma. Let's say a 4 string player wants to include drop-tune notes for a given song. They can buy a "Hipshot D-Tuner" tuning key that at the flip of a lever cleverly connected to their "E" tuner, if then alters the position of the tuner down to "D". Cool! Hipshot makes a D-Tuner for guitars as well. The only problem is that it ONLY drops the key on the tuner that has a D-Tuner on it. Guitar headstock real estate is typically pretty sparse.
I haven't researched the market of late, but I bet the OP may be able to find a pedal or hardware to simulate a baritone pitch guitar.
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I borrowed a Boss octave pedal from the library, then spent a month trying to make a simple octave. Everything sounded like Sunn O))). Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
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I heard that the Gamechanger Bigsby pedal does a good job.
You’re German, you can read this:
Gamechanger audio Bigsby Pedal - Fingerpicker DE
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I own two baritones.
One is a Jerry Jones 3 pickup double cutaway, the other is a Danelectro short horn, both from perhaps 2010 or so.
Here is the thing with them. They are made for the tone. They play like it all fits and was made to fit.
If you just down tune your strings they get flappy and slappy, unless you upsize string gauge to match. That entails proper wider nut slots and setup to work best. By the time you are done you turned a guitar into a baritone and lost the original guitar.
You could always replace the nut again, but if it is a great guitar you might consider just getting the baritone itself.
There is always the option of a Digitech Drop D but unfortunately all those pedals work and track well at a half or a whole step drop and start falling off from there even if they say they go down a 5th. They do, but not too good as far as tracking and the tones start getting weird almost chorusing artifacts. They dont sound true and real after a whole step.
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I’m going to return to what I touched on before. I would seriously recommend giving a multiscale guitar consideration. Strandbergs are pretty great overall. They handle tuning down well and have several options for style.
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Normal jazz gauges of 11s, 12s, or 13s would not be loose and flappy, they would have comfortable medium tension - which to me is an advantage. 11s on a regular scale guitar tuned down 2 whole steps to C standard would have the equivalent tension of 9s in standard, 12s would feel like 10s, and 13s would feel like 11s. Originally Posted by tjmicsak
Yes, you would have to use a dedicated set up on that guitar for that tuning.That entails proper wider nut slots and setup to work best.
So? If you got a baritone guitar it wouldn't be a regular guitar either.By the time you are done you turned a guitar into a baritone and lost the original guitar.
He said he will be buying a new dedicated guitar, not converting one of his existing guitars.You could always replace the nut again, but if it is a great guitar you might consider just getting the baritone itself.
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I believe the top is solid and the rest is lam. Probably my next guitar, cheaper than exploring a steel bodied National, which I've always been intrigued by. I really should start to sell something, but I'm having too much fun! Originally Posted by Sleeko
Edit: never mind, see the above specs I missed. A few clips on Youtube make it sound pretty good, if a bit bright.
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I use one step down tele with 12ths.
I think it's a cheap way to give it a try.
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Timely thread for me. I recently recorded an album of my songs in Nashville. The excellent studio musicians pulled out baritone guitars for several of the tracks. I had heard this before but I never got that up close and personal. I liked what I heard, and it complements my voice quite well, and could become both a performance and songwriting instrument. Now I’m putting together a live band to perform the album and thinking seriously about getting a baritone. The one that’s catching my eye and ear is the D’angelico deluxe SS. It’s a semi hollow body arch top with a 26.75 inch scale. It has Seymour Duncan teardrop P 90s and it seems quite versatile with wonderful tone.
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