baritone or standard?

[vamp hunter d]

I've been in the market for a new acoustic and I can't really decide/decipher if I should go with a standard scale acoustic guitar or get a baritone. I'm looking to keep it in a variation of open C, so I'm wonder which would be more appropriate for what I'm looking to do. I mean, do I go with a standard guitar and get bigger gauge strings, or go with a baritone and tune it higher than they would be?

 

also, I'm thinking like 500 - 700 dollar range

[Queequeg]

I have a baritone and I really enjoy it. In your price range you might be able to find an Avante (from musicyo AKA 'Gibson'). They're kind of radical looking but they are well-built and sound pretty good. Designed by Michael Tobias. I had one for a few years. They sell new for about $500. As I recall it's a 27" scale length, and I always use D'addarios EXP23 strings .016-.070

Caution: I would never recommend tuning up on a baritone or on any stringed instrument. Use a capo if you need to go up. Equally dangerous to the health & well-being of your guitar is using very heavy gauge strings. Be sure to use the USTC (Universal String Tension Calculator) (download link on the HCAG Annex page).

"The following is a prior post on the old forum from Dan Roberts of SCGC. I thought it might be of interest to some BBB players for reference:

 

Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 7:07 pm Post subject: Baritone strings

 

The question of Baritone strings is a very complex one. Most people using it are tuning to C and are using .017-.059 or .060 gauge strings. I can't easily tell you what gauge is maximum because when we are talking straight steel string you can assume a standard concert pitch, EBGDAE. You can't assume anything with the Brozman because there is so much variation in tunings being used.

 

In general .020-.072 would be max at an A tuning. Brozman uses .066 onn B flat tunings I think. The C tuning using the same intervals as standard tuning, works great for guitar harmony and works well with .017, .023w, .032w (or .034w), .041w, .053w, .059w. (or .060w). We are even working to get some .017 gauge wound strings to allow an all wound set to be used. I hope that this helps."

I have a couple of tunes recorded on a baritone on the music board of the HCAG Annex, in the event you might be interested. And the SCGC forum has a baritone page called Baritone Alley as does Bob Brozman. (If the SCGC page won't load it may be because you have to log in first.)

Pat Metheney recorded One Quiet Night all on baritone.

[Simon76]

Another option may be one of those great big mariachi 6 string bass guitars called a guitarron. You would probably have to experiment with tunings. The tremendoes projection may be what your after.

 

[Stackabones]

 

Another option may be one of those great big mariachi 6 string bass guitars called a guitarron. You would probably have to experiment with tunings. The tremendoes projection may be what your after.

[guitarist21]

Caution: I would never recommend tuning up on a baritone or on any stringed instrument. Use a capo if you need to go up. Equally dangerous to the health & well-being of your guitar is using very heavy gauge strings. Be sure to use the USTC (Universal String Tension Calculator) (download link on the HCAG Annex page).

 

If tuning up was a relatively safe option, would we have mandolins?

 

Basically my thoughts on this matter are... listen to Queg. He's the baritone expert around these parts.

 

Ellen

[Freeman Keller]

two quick thoughts, Vamp. First, he is being modest, but you can hear Queequeg's bariton on the Annex, it is a wonderful sounding instrument. And for what it is worth, you can hear my home made 12 string in open C also on the Annex.

 

I keep one guitar in open C most of the time, a standard scale old Yamaha strung with a combination of lights on top and mediums on the bottom. I would be a little concerned with open C on a true baritone - the 1st is a normal E and the 2nd is actually UP to C. On the other hand the mediums seem to allow me to go down to the low C on six without much trouble. Both John Fahey and Leo Kottke use open C (in Kottke's case down a few steps ) on standard guitars. Might give a try before you invest in a new guitar.