Let's talk baritone guitars

[Alex_C]

OK,

I want a true baritone guitar. 27~30" scale length. I'm not sure if it is something that I will love so I don't want to spend more than $700 or so. I'm not interested in playing metal on it. Looking more for twang and punch.
The Squier paranormal baritone is in the running.
The Gretsch G5260 is interesting, but I haven't heard a clip that made me like the tone. Muffled is the word that comes to mind.
Danelectro baritone is also in the running.
Anything else to consider in that price range?

 

[El Gobernador]

I have the Dano Longhorn 6SB. I'd go Dano.

Mine is tuned E-E, but it'll do B and A just fine.

 

[Phat-O-Caster]

I’ve contemplated having a Warmoth baritone conversion neck built for a strat or maybe my jazz master but have yet to pull the trigger
https://warmoth.com/guitar-neck-scale-conversion

 

[vid1900]

I play 30" fender baritone factory intonated to A

So hideous, it never fails to get comments from the audience at the jazz club

They blew them out for $279 @ Adorama

 

[Clickitysplit]

As an alternative to a complete guitar, Fender makes $300 MIM Strat neck baritone conversions which get you a ~27 scale. No other changes to the body are required but nut work is required to fit the strings. I’m in the process of putting one of these together now. I have a good luthier nearby who I’ll hire to slot the nut.

 

[Seamus OReally]

Another vote for a Dano reissue. I had one that just nailed that spaghetti western tone. I sold it for $300, which was what I paid for it.

 

[Nate D]

I haven’t played one, but the Danos are highly rated and nail that tone.

 

[Elvis v]

OK,

I want a true baritone guitar. 27~30" scale length. I'm not sure if it is something that I will love so I don't want to spend more than $700 or so. I'm not interested in playing metal on it. Looking more for twang and punch.
The Squier paranormal baritone is in the running.
The Gretsch G5260 is interesting, but I haven't heard a clip that made me like the tone. Muffled is the word that comes to mind.
Danelectro baritone is also in the running.
Anything else to consider in that price range?

Chapman guitar so nice for the price.

 

[Roger66]

I play 30" fender baritone factory intonated to A

So hideous, it never fails to get comments from the audience at the jazz club

They blew them out for $279 @ Adorama


View attachment 494038

Exquisitely Awful. Nice! THEFT PROOF!

 

[Deafsoundguy]

If you feel like splurging, the Reverend Descent and Descent W ((Wilkenson trem) are excellent. I had never even picked a baritone guitar up before, but bought one on a whim. It’s been the only guitar I’ve played for the whole last week. It sounds amazing through my Fractal Axe2. The pickups are super clear. Great way to build hand strength, since I’ve bought that guitar (and trying to play like a normal guitar up high) it seems like 10’s on my other guitars feel like 9’s now. Very happy I bought it. Highly recommend the W model with the Wilkenson trem. Sounds so cool clean and clear with lots of verb. They are about $1100 but worth it. Saw one used on Feebay a little while ago in perfect condition for $900 and free shipping.

Edit - oh yeah, 26-3/4” scale length. It has amazing lows. You don’t need a longer scale.

 

[Alex_C]

As an alternative to a complete guitar, Fender makes $300 MIM Strat neck baritone conversions which get you a ~27 scale. No other changes to the body are required but nut work is required to fit the strings. I’m in the process of putting one of these together now. I have a good luthier nearby who I’ll hire to slot the nut.

I actually have a baritone conversion neck, a spare tele style body and all the hardware. I just don't haven't had the time to put it together.

 

[Alex_C]

I play 30" fender baritone factory intonated to A

So hideous, it never fails to get comments from the audience at the jazz club

They blew them out for $279 @ Adorama


View attachment 494038

That looks good!

 

[Alex_C]

Chapman guitar so nice for the price.

That looks good, I never tried a Chapman. Humbuckers on a baritone are not the sound I'm looking for, but I can drop in SD Phat Cat's for the P-90 sound.

 

[Alex_C]

If you feel like splurging, the Reverend Descent and Descent W ((Wilkenson trem) are excellent. I had never even picked a baritone guitar up before, but bought one on a whim. It’s been the only guitar I’ve played for the whole last week. It sounds amazing through my Fractal Axe2. The pickups are super clear. Great way to build hand strength, since I’ve bought that guitar (and trying to play like a normal guitar up high) it seems like 10’s on my other guitars feel like 9’s now. Very happy I bought it. Highly recommend the W model with the Wilkenson trem. Sounds so cool clean and clear with lots of verb. They are about $1100 but worth it. Saw one used on Feebay a little while ago in perfect condition for $900 and free shipping.
View attachment 494076 View attachment 494077
Edit - oh yeah, 26-3/4” scale length. It has amazing lows. You don’t need a longer scale.

I've looked at those. I need to get my hands on one to see if I like it enough to spend a $1000 on another guitar (I have way too many guitars).

 

[Wayne Adams]

I needed something like that for essentially one song, solved the issue by getting one of these :

https://www.andyfrench.co.uk/2013/05/morpheus-droptune/

 

[Scott Baxendale]

OK,

I want a true baritone guitar. 27~30" scale length. I'm not sure if it is something that I will love so I don't want to spend more than $700 or so. I'm not interested in playing metal on it. Looking more for twang and punch.
The Squier paranormal baritone is in the running.
The Gretsch G5260 is interesting, but I haven't heard a clip that made me like the tone. Muffled is the word that comes to mind.
Danelectro baritone is also in the running.
Anything else to consider in that price range?

I have a Danelectro and it’s perfect.

 

[Alex_C]

I've looked at those. I need to get my hands on one to see if I like it enough to spend a $1000 on another guitar (I have way too many guitars).

I tried a Revered Decent today. It felt OK, but not sure if it felt $1100 of OK. Sales guy turned me off a bit. I said I'd prefer single coils for clarity, he said something like "Humbuckers have more clarity than singles because there is no hum from the 60Hz freq. Humbuckers are clearer for the lower notes of the baritone." The 60Hz part is the only accurate portion of his statement. HB's are awesome, but not as clear as a single coil, it is simple physics.

 

[Otisblove]

Here’s mine.

 

[blasphemoustrat]

I have a warmoth conversion. It's quite fun.

 

[Bowmap]

I have a warmoth conversion. It's quite fun. View attachment 494728

Looks like you haven't played it in a while. It's growing whiskers.