Features and sound of baritone guitars

To overcome the shortcomings of the guitar tuning of the standard six-string guitar in the lower register, the so-called baritone guitar was invented. The features and differences of this unusual guitar from the usual "six-string", as well as the criteria for choosing a suitable model are discussed in this article.

The baritone guitar is essentially a hybrid that falls somewhere between a conventional acoustic (or electric) and a bass guitar. In appearance and design, it practically does not differ from its popular six-string counterparts: an electric baritone guitar exactly resembles an electric guitar, an acoustic one - acoustic models of the Spanish tuning. The baritone has the same 6 strings, the same body shapes, the same material.

The difference between baritone guitars and their six-string counterparts lies in several points that are not immediately noticeable and aurally, especially for people who are not very versed in guitar models. This is not to say that there are many differences, but they are significant.

• The neck of baritone guitars is longer than standard instruments. This means that the scale (the distance of the free strings between the nut and saddle) on such a guitar is slightly larger. For example, on full-size acoustic guitars, standard scale lengths are 648 mm (25.7 inches) for Fender and 629 mm (23.7 inches) for Gibson. The length of the scale for baritones is between 685 and 775 mm (27.0 and 30.0 inches, respectively).
• The baritone string set is significantly thicker - from 17 gauge and above versus 9-12 gauges, installed on conventional guitars.
• Tune baritone guitars one fourth lower than Spanish. The Spanish tuning, starting with the thickest string, is E3-A3-D4-G4-B4-E5, where 3 is the major octave, 4 is the minor octave, and 5 is the first octave. The corresponding baritone strings are tuned for the following sounds: B2-E3-A3-D4-F # 4-B4, where the number 2 stands for a counter octave.It is not uncommon to tune the instrument to the Drop A tuning by lowering the 6th string from the standard B baritone sound (B2) to the A counter octave sound (A2), leaving all other strings alone. It happens that the instrument is completely rebuilt in the "A" scale, that is, one fifth below the Spanish scale. In this case, the next row of sounds is obtained if you start with string # 6: A2-D3-G3-C4-E4-A4.

It is believed that for a baritone guitar, the "A" tuning (one fifth lower than the classical one) is the maximum possible, that is, it does not lead to a deterioration in the sound comfort from listening to the instrument.

The proportions of this type of guitar are designed to ensure the ideal sound in the lower register, which perfectly matches the melodic line of the songs being played. And it depends primarily on the following factors:

• instrument scale length;
• the size of its body (in the acoustic version of the product);
• the thickness of the strings.

This kind of guitar sounds peculiar when compared to the sounds of a standard model with a Spanish system. Even the classical guitar, for which the notes are written in the treble clef one octave higher than the actual sound, is a rather low musical instrument in terms of its sound. What can we say about the tuning, lowered by another fourth or fifth from the standard.

If we talk about the timbre of this instrument, then it is thick, dense, voluminous and rich. Well suited for playing rock, especially its so-called heavy styles. Therefore, the baritone received the greatest popularity during the development of hard rock in the 80s of the last century. A baritone guitar was best suited to give the music a “weight”. And the very first musicians to use baritone in their rock compositions were the guitarists of the bands Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, Bolt Thrower and Carcass.who stood at the origins of new genres of rock.

Of course, the choice of any musical instrument, including the baritone guitar, should be made according to its most important quality - sound. It makes no sense to buy a guitar with your eyes, first of all you need to evaluate it with your ears, and only then choose the model you like to your taste in appearance.

Of course, everyone can independently decide which baritone to buy - electric or acoustic. Playing in a musical group, whose line-up is mainly based on electric instruments, logically presupposes the presence of an electric baritone. Playing in an acoustic ensemble decides in favor of an acoustic or semi-acoustic model.

In addition, when choosing a suitable musical instrument for yourself or a child, you should definitely make sure that it is accessible and comfortable to play on the front frets, depending on the individual anatomical structure of a person's hands and fingers. It is necessary to take into account the width of the first frets of the neck of baritone guitars: they have it much larger than standard models.

A semi-acoustic instrument is versatile in terms of use: it sounds both with and without electricity. Example: Hagstrom Viking Deluxe Baritone SB for over $ 1,000, Godin A6 Ultra Baritone Burnt Umber under $ 2,000 or Hagstrom Viking Deluxe Baritone CBB, which is sold in other online stores at a negotiated price.

Among the popular and most reliable models of baritone guitars are the products of the following - rather expensive - brands:

1. Fender: Bass VI model
2. Gibson: EB-6 Baritone Guitar
3. Gretch: Ref. 5265;

This also includes most of the instruments of such manufacturers: PRS Guitars, Burns London, Music Man, who began producing baritones at the dawn of the 60s of the XX century.

There are good baritone instruments available at affordable prices:

1. Harley Benton Amarok-BT BKNT Flame Burst (Indonesia);
2. ESP LTD MH-400B Baritone BS;
3. Ibanez RGIB21-BK;
4. Solar Guitars A2.6FBM;
5. Danelelectro 56 Vintage.

In addition to 6-string instruments, several manufacturers produce a series of seven-string baritones. They differ from conventional 7-string electric guitars in their elongated scale. The proof is the Ibanez RGD series.