Baritone Guitars

TheValuables

Joined: Jun 26, 2011
Posts: 8

Posted on Jul 13 2011 05:18 PM

is there anyone who has one, some songs recorded with them, or lap steel ones?

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Tuck

Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
12 Calendar Pins

Posted on Jul 13 2011 05:34 PM

I recommend using the search tool (top menu) to find the existing threads on both instruments. Lots of good stuff there.

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LHR

Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
Costa Rica

Posted on Jul 14 2011 08:01 PM

I have a Danelectro six-string bass that I have converted to baritone. Really that means finding the right strings and adjusting the truss rod. I tune it to B. It is a fun instrument to play and easily gets the tic-tac bass sound (the lower registers overlap those of a standard bass.) If you are going to buy one, I recommend that one because you can put it back to bass mode in about half an hour. (Note: Danelectro sold a baritone that looks the same but was set up for only baritone strings, so converting that one to a bass would require filing the aluminum nut.)

My band is going to record an original tune with it this weekend. Besides that, it seems to want to play Ghost Riders In The Sky every time I pick it up.

—

SSIV

Last edited: Jul 14, 2011 20:07:20

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elreydlp

Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
11 Calendar Pins

Posted on Jul 14 2011 09:25 PM

Not wanting to have to re-learn the fretboard is exactly why I kept my Gretsch Bari tuned E-E.

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LHR

Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
Costa Rica

Posted on Jul 16 2011 10:05 AM

elreydlp wrote:

Not wanting to have to re-learn the fretboard is
exactly why I kept my Gretsch Bari tuned E-E.

Well then what you have is a 6-string bass, of course. FWIW I loved the sound of the Dano tunes like this. But we already have a bassist.

—

SSIV

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GuitarBob

Joined: Jul 31, 2009
Posts: 139
Monterey, CA

Posted on Jul 16 2011 08:34 PM

Yeah, you should stay out of their way if you can. Roll down your amp bass knob and stay twangy.
Years ago I used to pull out the Longhorn Bass-6 for 'Theme From the Hellecasters'. Our reg. bass player would hold down the bottom as usual, like they did on the original.
[Bass-6 solo break at 1:35 and big ending lick at 2:25.]
Hellecaster's version

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elreydlp

Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
11 Calendar Pins

Posted on Jul 18 2011 11:55 AM

Thanks Bob! Loves them Hellecasters!

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aqualadius

Joined: Aug 30, 2010
Posts: 415
Charlotte, NC
United States

Posted on Jul 18 2011 12:13 PM

I got an Eastwood Sidejack Baritone and I have to say for the money it's really quite a beautiful instrument. Makes some great sounds and has that Mosrite look down pat. Although I did spend significant time setting it up, but I'm not really a guitar tech. I've only used it to play Rock Lobster so far on stage but it really sounds good and hopefully I'll be incorporating a lot more into our set.

—

Jeremy

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Reverb17

Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 521
NYC
1 News Pin

Posted on Jul 28 2011 01:02 PM

I use a baritone on several songs that we do.
I tune it A-A or occasionally dropped G.

Here are some videos of them.
Thanks to Unsteady Freddie for shooting the video.
Man From Nowhere
The Last Race
The Lonely Surfer

2 of the songs we recorded on our CD
iTunes

—

TarantinosNYC
TarantinosNYC FB page
The WrayCyclers FB page
Rockaway Beach Surf Music Festival

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GuitarBob

Joined: Jul 31, 2009
Posts: 139
Monterey, CA

Posted on Jul 28 2011 01:19 PM

Playing Rock Lobster onstage: that's been on my bucket list for years...gotta be fun. That Bari' line just rocks.
In '79 or so we caught a good band in Baja, Calif...none of whom could speak English...but they ripped out a near-perfect Rock Lobster, including the line "Watch out for the Yiant Yellyfish."

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Surfabilly

Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 852
Connersville, Indiana, USA
7 Contributor Pins

Posted on Jul 28 2011 11:40 PM

The Fender Electric VI (a.k.a. Bass VI) is also good, if ya want to stick to E-E tuning, and fairly versatile in the tone shaping department if it's one with 4 switches - neck p'up/middle p'up/bridge p'up/bass cut. Without the bass cut, it can thump every bit as good as a P-bass on the low strings, and with it there's plenty of magic to be found depending on what combination of pickups you use.

—

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

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elreydlp

Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
11 Calendar Pins

Posted on Jul 28 2011 11:55 PM

Surfabilly wrote:

The Fender Electric VI (a.k.a. Bass VI) is also good,
if ya want to stick to E-E tuning, and fairly versatile
in the tone shaping department if it's one with 4
switches - neck p'up/middle p'up/bridge p'up/bass cut.
Without the bass cut, it can thump every bit as good as
a P-bass on the low strings, and with it there's plenty
of magic to be found depending on what combination of
pickups you use.

Back in the 60's, our Bass player had both a '6 P0-bass and a 64 Bass VI. He was a "real" Bass player, but one night, he had problems with the P and had to play the VI. The rest of us couldn't tell any difference!

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4555
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on Jul 31 2011 07:33 PM

That's been my experience as well. My VI cuts the mustard as a bass or a baritone. If I ever go back to playing bass in a band you can bet that I'll be using it for any fretted bass playing I do.

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The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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TheValuables Joined: Jun 26, 2011 Posts: 8	Posted on Jul 13 2011 05:18 PM is there anyone who has one, some songs recorded with them, or lap steel ones? Top
Tuck Joined: Sep 02, 2006 Posts: 3166 Denver, CO	Posted on Jul 13 2011 05:34 PM I recommend using the search tool (top menu) to find the existing threads on both instruments. Lots of good stuff there. Top
LHR Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle	Posted on Jul 14 2011 08:01 PM I have a Danelectro six-string bass that I have converted to baritone. Really that means finding the right strings and adjusting the truss rod. I tune it to B. It is a fun instrument to play and easily gets the tic-tac bass sound (the lower registers overlap those of a standard bass.) If you are going to buy one, I recommend that one because you can put it back to bass mode in about half an hour. (Note: Danelectro sold a baritone that looks the same but was set up for only baritone strings, so converting that one to a bass would require filing the aluminum nut.) My band is going to record an original tune with it this weekend. Besides that, it seems to want to play Ghost Riders In The Sky every time I pick it up. — SSIV Last edited: Jul 14, 2011 20:07:20 Top
elreydlp Joined: Sep 04, 2009 Posts: 1800 Temecula, CA	Posted on Jul 14 2011 09:25 PM Not wanting to have to re-learn the fretboard is exactly why I kept my Gretsch Bari tuned E-E. Top
LHR Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle	Posted on Jul 16 2011 10:05 AM elreydlp wrote: Not wanting to have to re-learn the fretboard is exactly why I kept my Gretsch Bari tuned E-E. Well then what you have is a 6-string bass, of course. FWIW I loved the sound of the Dano tunes like this. But we already have a bassist. — SSIV Top
GuitarBob Joined: Jul 31, 2009 Posts: 139 Monterey, CA	Posted on Jul 16 2011 08:34 PM Yeah, you should stay out of their way if you can. Roll down your amp bass knob and stay twangy. Years ago I used to pull out the Longhorn Bass-6 for 'Theme From the Hellecasters'. Our reg. bass player would hold down the bottom as usual, like they did on the original. [Bass-6 solo break at 1:35 and big ending lick at 2:25.] Hellecaster's version Top
elreydlp Joined: Sep 04, 2009 Posts: 1800 Temecula, CA	Posted on Jul 18 2011 11:55 AM Thanks Bob! Loves them Hellecasters! Top
aqualadius Joined: Aug 30, 2010 Posts: 415 Charlotte, NC	Posted on Jul 18 2011 12:13 PM I got an Eastwood Sidejack Baritone and I have to say for the money it's really quite a beautiful instrument. Makes some great sounds and has that Mosrite look down pat. Although I did spend significant time setting it up, but I'm not really a guitar tech. I've only used it to play Rock Lobster so far on stage but it really sounds good and hopefully I'll be incorporating a lot more into our set. — Jeremy Top
Reverb17 Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 521 NYC	Posted on Jul 28 2011 01:02 PM I use a baritone on several songs that we do. I tune it A-A or occasionally dropped G. Here are some videos of them. Thanks to Unsteady Freddie for shooting the video. Man From Nowhere The Last Race The Lonely Surfer 2 of the songs we recorded on our CD iTunes — TarantinosNYC TarantinosNYC FB page The WrayCyclers FB page Rockaway Beach Surf Music Festival Top
GuitarBob Joined: Jul 31, 2009 Posts: 139 Monterey, CA	Posted on Jul 28 2011 01:19 PM Playing Rock Lobster onstage: that's been on my bucket list for years...gotta be fun. That Bari' line just rocks. In '79 or so we caught a good band in Baja, Calif...none of whom could speak English...but they ripped out a near-perfect Rock Lobster, including the line "Watch out for the Yiant Yellyfish." Top
Surfabilly Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 852 Connersville, Indiana, USA	Posted on Jul 28 2011 11:40 PM The Fender Electric VI (a.k.a. Bass VI) is also good, if ya want to stick to E-E tuning, and fairly versatile in the tone shaping department if it's one with 4 switches - neck p'up/middle p'up/bridge p'up/bass cut. Without the bass cut, it can thump every bit as good as a P-bass on the low strings, and with it there's plenty of magic to be found depending on what combination of pickups you use. — Fast Cars & Loud Guitars! Top
elreydlp Joined: Sep 04, 2009 Posts: 1800 Temecula, CA	Posted on Jul 28 2011 11:55 PM Surfabilly wrote: The Fender Electric VI (a.k.a. Bass VI) is also good, if ya want to stick to E-E tuning, and fairly versatile in the tone shaping department if it's one with 4 switches - neck p'up/middle p'up/bridge p'up/bass cut. Without the bass cut, it can thump every bit as good as a P-bass on the low strings, and with it there's plenty of magic to be found depending on what combination of pickups you use. Back in the 60's, our Bass player had both a '6 P0-bass and a 64 Bass VI. He was a "real" Bass player, but one night, he had problems with the P and had to play the VI. The rest of us couldn't tell any difference! Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4555 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on Jul 31 2011 07:33 PM That's been my experience as well. My VI cuts the mustard as a bass or a baritone. If I ever go back to playing bass in a band you can bet that I'll be using it for any fretted bass playing I do. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top

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Baritone Guitars