Does anyone play Baritone Guitars?

[ashesofphoenix]

I find myself obsessed at the moment with Baritone Guitars and they're sound. I was wondering if anyone here plays them and if so what kind, the sound you're aiming for, etc? A lot of people jump to 7-strings, but I consider them to be like a completely different animal all together. I currently don't have one but I'm trying to sell some gear to buy one soon.

 

[glpg80]

i cant play 7 strings. i get lost too easily on the fretboard.

FWIW i love the deep tones that can be had with a baritone guitar. i dont have much to offer in what you're asking, but its the same reason i dislike LP's and their shorter scale. just sounds less full, less solid.

 

[ashesofphoenix]

I totally agree. I love metal and prog and have been playing that in my most recent band. And the tone is so much better IMO dropped to B standard. I get lost with the 7s just like you said thats why I'm going the Bari route. Not a big LP fan either for the same reason. When I first heard Taproot I fell in love with the low tunings, and more recently have gotten into a band called Periphery (the sound I'm aiming for).

 

[glassjaw7]

If you want to keep a familiar feel but just get more meat in your tone and keep the better tension for low tunings, get a baritone and not a 7. 7's are pretty cool too if you actually use all the strings. There are plenty of inspiring new chords you will discover with a 7.
For baritones, it's all about what scale you want. How low are you planning on tuning? Schecter makes the shortest scale bari at 26.5 scale. Good one to get if you're just tuning to drop B for instance and you don't want a stiff feel. The longer the scale gets the stiffer and more unfamiliar the feel gets. Ibanez has those new drop tune guitars that may be around the same scale as the Schecter. Otherwise PRS makes a SE Mike Mushok bari with a pretty long scale that's great for REALLY low tunings.

 

[glassjaw7]

I totally agree. I love metal and prog and have been playing that in my most recent band. And the tone is so much better IMO dropped to B standard. I get lost with the 7s just like you said thats why I'm going the Bari route. Not a big LP fan either for the same reason. When I first heard Taproot I fell in love with the low tunings, and more recently have gotten into a band called Periphery (the sound I'm aiming for).

You know Periphery's guitarist 'Bulb' posts on here, right? He was one of the demo guitarists in that Premier Guitar amp shootout recently. Hit him up and see what he thinks. I think he's been using Bernie Rico 7's.

 

[diagrammatiks]

i love baritones.
I've got a 7 now too but I much prefer the longer scale of my baritone.

28.625 is where I'm comfortable now. Everything under that feels really squished.

 

[ashesofphoenix]

I totally agree. I love metal and prog and have been playing that in my most recent band. And the tone is so much better IMO dropped to B standard. I get lost with the 7s just like you said thats why I'm going the Bari route. Not a big LP fan either for the same reason. When I first heard Taproot I fell in love with the low tunings, and more recently have gotten into a band called Periphery (the sound I'm aiming for).

You know Periphery's guitarist 'Bulb' posts on here, right? He was one of the demo guitarists in that Premier Guitar amp shootout recently. Hit him up and see what he thinks. I think he's been using Bernie Rico 7's.

I knew Bulb was on 7string.org I had no clue he is on here as well thats awesome!!! He is a great talent and his band is incredibly tight. It's the first band in a long time to ignite some creative fire under my ass and remind why I love to play guitar all over again, them and Animals as Leaders. I think I'm going to see Periphery next month in Jersey, almost a 2 hr drive but worth it for them. does he post under the name Bulb?

 

[Spaceboy]

I played an Agile AL baritone for a few months, but I went to 7-strings.

 

[again with this]

So... what would "standard" tuning be on a baritone? B flat, like a sax?

 

[mightywarlock]

Don't forget...

I got this one waiting just for you...tuned B-B

 

[ashesofphoenix]

Trust me i didn't haha still drooling

 

[Spaceboy]

So... what would "standard" tuning be on a baritone? B flat, like a sax?

B standard, usually.

 

[again with this]

So... what would "standard" tuning be on a baritone? B flat, like a sax?

B standard, usually.

I already tune down to C... B is also really sexy. IIRC, Skinlab is writing new material in G# on baritones.

Hmmm... I may have to shift my pointy BC Rich GAS over to baritone GAS...

 

[ashesofphoenix]

So... what would "standard" tuning be on a baritone? B flat, like a sax?

B standard, usually.

I already tune down to C... B is also really sexy. IIRC, Skinlab is writing new material in G# on baritones.

Hmmm... I may have to shift my pointy BC Rich GAS over to baritone GAS...

excellent idea sir, I'm glad I posted this thread

 

[diagrammatiks]

you can really tune is anyway you want depending on how much tension you want in your strings.

i run 16-80 in A since my 7 already has that B

 

[again with this]

So... what would "standard" tuning be on a baritone? B flat, like a sax?

B standard, usually.

I already tune down to C... B is also really sexy. IIRC, Skinlab is writing new material in G# on baritones.

Hmmm... I may have to shift my pointy BC Rich GAS over to baritone GAS...

excellent idea sir, I'm glad I posted this thread

Maybe I shouldn't have let the cat out of the bag...

My only concern about tuning that low is the "Meshuggah effect" of everyone sounding like they are playing bass, which I find to be... But whatever man, if you think you can rawk it, more power to ya.

 

[glassjaw7]

I totally agree. I love metal and prog and have been playing that in my most recent band. And the tone is so much better IMO dropped to B standard. I get lost with the 7s just like you said thats why I'm going the Bari route. Not a big LP fan either for the same reason. When I first heard Taproot I fell in love with the low tunings, and more recently have gotten into a band called Periphery (the sound I'm aiming for).

You know Periphery's guitarist 'Bulb' posts on here, right? He was one of the demo guitarists in that Premier Guitar amp shootout recently. Hit him up and see what he thinks. I think he's been using Bernie Rico 7's.

I knew Bulb was on 7string.org I had no clue he is on here as well thats awesome!!! He is a great talent and his band is incredibly tight. It's the first band in a long time to ignite some creative fire under my ass and remind why I love to play guitar all over again, them and Animals as Leaders. I think I'm going to see Periphery next month in Jersey, almost a 2 hr drive but worth it for them. does he post under the name Bulb?

Yeah Periphery are awesome. Have you checked out Keith Merrow's stuff? Youtube his songs and he has a link to download his albums for free. It's all instrumental, but you'll probably dig the style.
Bands that have me inspired lately are Karnivool, Thrice, and Devin Townsend among others.

 

[glpg80]

So... what would "standard" tuning be on a baritone? B flat, like a sax?

B standard, usually.

I already tune down to C... B is also really sexy. IIRC, Skinlab is writing new material in G# on baritones.

Hmmm... I may have to shift my pointy BC Rich GAS over to baritone GAS...

excellent idea sir, I'm glad I posted this thread

Maybe I shouldn't have let the cat out of the bag...

My only concern about tuning that low is the "Meshuggah effect" of everyone sounding like they are playing bass, which I find to be... But whatever man, if you think you can rawk it, more power to ya.

i agree - if your band isnt tight as teen.....you get the idea, and dynamic - it makes the effect worse

 

[locoed]

I have an ESP B7,and it doesn't have inlays,so for the first few months it took some getting used to,I ended up writing songs with it,instead of just wanking. It's part of my everyday now. Love the growl,plug it in and hit the b and e and it's like "Satan"