Baritone tuning on 30" Bass VI?

JPL

Joined: Sep 14, 2006
Posts: 22

Posted on Jul 04 2013 07:57 AM

So . . . MyRareGuitars.com has a lefty Eastwood Sidejack Bass VI with a scratch on it . . . $100 off. 30" scale, set up for E-E an octave below standard guitar tuning. I'm actually more in the market for a baritone, but I'm thinking that some lighter strings would get me up to B-B on the longer scale. Anyone try this? Any comments as to playability / tone?

Top

Reverb17

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

Posted on Jul 05 2013 10:38 AM

I have a 30" scale Baritone that I tune all the way down to A-A.
On one song I tune the low A down to G, so B-B should not be a problem.
The key is the string gauge. I use.066-.056-.046-.026-.016.
If the guitar is set up right it should not be much different than what you are used to. The video will give you an idea of the tone. Of course the lipstick tube pups that I use are twangier then the P90 style that are in the Sidejack.

—

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

Top

JPL

Joined: Sep 14, 2006
Posts: 22

Posted on Jul 05 2013 07:10 PM

Nice tone indeed.

The other tempting option right now is a metallic silver bari, which could take a Bigsby.

Top

JObeast

Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
Turkmenistan

Posted on Jul 08 2013 01:06 AM

!@ $649 F.O.B. that is one competitively-priced Bass VI. I wonder – if the Eastwoods are selling out, why hasn't DiPinto made a baritone or Bass VI? There seems to be a credible market for the weird instruments. IMHO, DiPintos are superior in build to Eastwoods, and just as cheap.
I played a Sidejack and couldn't get any mojo happening. I settled on a cheap Danoblaster at less than half the price and am pretty satisfied.
JPL wrote:

So . . . MyRareGuitars.com has a lefty Eastwood Sidejack Bass VI with a scratch on it . . . $100 off. 30" scale, set up for E-E an octave below standard guitar tuning. I'm actually more in the market for a baritone, but I'm thinking that some lighter strings would get me up to B-B on the longer scale. Anyone try this? Any comments as to playability / tone?

—

Squink Out!

Top

ImaDirtyTroll

Joined: May 25, 2012
Posts: 39

Posted on Feb 11 2014 11:21 AM

I had the same question for a 28.5" Jag Baritone Custom, which also comes with Bass VI strings (.025). D'Addario publishes a tension chart to help out. I haven't actually done the deed yet, not sure if the nut will need replacing.

For ballparking it, I noticed the Map Baritone is 27" and ships with .013s, sounds like B-B.

The Sidejack Baritone is 28", also ships with .013s. I thought it was also B-B but it sounds like this guy has it tuned A-A.

Last edited: Feb 11, 2014 11:26:32

Top

RobC

Joined: Oct 11, 2010
Posts: 152
Bainbridge Island, Washington
1 News Pin

Posted on Feb 11 2014 05:30 PM

My custom 27-3/4 inch bari is tuned BB which suits me (I play a 5 string bass with a low B string). Lots of guitar, less bass which I what I wanted.

Going E to E created too much string tension for bends. I don't know what the gauge of the strings are though. I will put the calipers on them tonight. Might have been a 7 string set with the High E left off. I can barely remember yesterday much less 6 months aqo.

Top

tubeswell

Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
Antarctica

Posted on Feb 12 2014 04:54 PM

Nice playing RJ Ronquillo!

—

He who dies with the most tubes... wins

Surf Daddies

Top

Dane_Brammage

Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 203
3 Contributor Pins

Posted on Feb 12 2014 07:03 PM

I've had my Dano '63 tuned B to B, down to E to E, and up to standard E guitar tuning. It's all possible with the right strings.

Top

razzer10_4

Joined: Feb 09, 2014
Posts: 26

Posted on Feb 13 2014 08:02 AM

From my research, after listening to a couple of different demos of Bass VI's with baritone strings not to mention Fender's assessment of this very subject, a Bass VI is a Bass VI and no matter what gauge string or what tuning you set it, it will still play closer to Bass VI than a baritone. From what I have heard, these baritone strung Bass VI's have a lot of string rattle and chord formations are muddled. Why is that? I dunno. Is it the 30 in. scale plus fret size? At any rate I have been researching the whole baritone vs. bass VI and have concluded for a strictly guitar player like myself I will be steering clear of the Bass VI.

Top

tubeswell

Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
Antarctica

Posted on Feb 13 2014 04:26 PM

razzer10_4 wrote:

From my research, after listening to a couple of different demos of Bass VI's with baritone strings not to mention Fender's assessment of this very subject, a Bass VI is a Bass VI and no matter what gauge string or what tuning you set it, it will still play closer to Bass VI than a baritone.

Yeah - I tried out a new Pawn Shop Bass XI a couple of weeks ago, and it was pretty 'bass-guitary' (mind you it had horrible factory fitted round-wound strings on it)

—

He who dies with the most tubes... wins

Surf Daddies

Top

Noel

Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
United States

Posted on Feb 13 2014 04:43 PM

My Squier Bass VI doesn't sound anything like either my Squier VM Jass Bass or my Baritone Stratocaster. Even played through the same amp, they each have a unique voice. Honestly, of the three, I prefer my Bass VI, and I never expected that. If I'd bought it first, I wouldn't have bothered with the other two.

Having said this, I'm know just a play-at-home hack who is fascinated by tone. My comments don't mean as much as if they were said by a performing guitarist. But I hardly bother with the Bass or Baritone any more. My Bass VI covers what I used to do with both of them and sounds better doing it. IMHO. YMMV.

—

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Top

razzer10_4

Joined: Feb 09, 2014
Posts: 26

Posted on Feb 14 2014 09:22 AM

I'm probably a worse hack than you, Noel. Don't get me wrong, I think the Bass VI's sound great but for my uneducated ear, at least in the lower ranges, they more closely resemble a bass than a guitar. They definitely have a lot of variety to them.

Top

JPL Joined: Sep 14, 2006 Posts: 22	Posted on Jul 04 2013 07:57 AM So . . . MyRareGuitars.com has a lefty Eastwood Sidejack Bass VI with a scratch on it . . . $100 off. 30" scale, set up for E-E an octave below standard guitar tuning. I'm actually more in the market for a baritone, but I'm thinking that some lighter strings would get me up to B-B on the longer scale. Anyone try this? Any comments as to playability / tone? Top
Reverb17 Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 521 NYC	Posted on Jul 05 2013 10:38 AM I have a 30" scale Baritone that I tune all the way down to A-A. On one song I tune the low A down to G, so B-B should not be a problem. The key is the string gauge. I use.066-.056-.046-.026-.016. If the guitar is set up right it should not be much different than what you are used to. The video will give you an idea of the tone. Of course the lipstick tube pups that I use are twangier then the P90 style that are in the Sidejack. — TarantinosNYC TarantinosNYC FB page The WrayCyclers FB page Rockaway Beach Surf Music Festival Top
JPL Joined: Sep 14, 2006 Posts: 22	Posted on Jul 05 2013 07:10 PM Nice tone indeed. The other tempting option right now is a metallic silver bari, which could take a Bigsby. Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on Jul 08 2013 01:06 AM !@ $649 F.O.B. that is one competitively-priced Bass VI. I wonder – if the Eastwoods are selling out, why hasn't DiPinto made a baritone or Bass VI? There seems to be a credible market for the weird instruments. IMHO, DiPintos are superior in build to Eastwoods, and just as cheap. I played a Sidejack and couldn't get any mojo happening. I settled on a cheap Danoblaster at less than half the price and am pretty satisfied. JPL wrote: So . . . MyRareGuitars.com has a lefty Eastwood Sidejack Bass VI with a scratch on it . . . $100 off. 30" scale, set up for E-E an octave below standard guitar tuning. I'm actually more in the market for a baritone, but I'm thinking that some lighter strings would get me up to B-B on the longer scale. Anyone try this? Any comments as to playability / tone? — Squink Out! Top
ImaDirtyTroll Joined: May 25, 2012 Posts: 39	Posted on Feb 11 2014 11:21 AM I had the same question for a 28.5" Jag Baritone Custom, which also comes with Bass VI strings (.025). D'Addario publishes a tension chart to help out. I haven't actually done the deed yet, not sure if the nut will need replacing. For ballparking it, I noticed the Map Baritone is 27" and ships with .013s, sounds like B-B. The Sidejack Baritone is 28", also ships with .013s. I thought it was also B-B but it sounds like this guy has it tuned A-A. Last edited: Feb 11, 2014 11:26:32 Top
RobC Joined: Oct 11, 2010 Posts: 152 Bainbridge Island, Washington	Posted on Feb 11 2014 05:30 PM My custom 27-3/4 inch bari is tuned BB which suits me (I play a 5 string bass with a low B string). Lots of guitar, less bass which I what I wanted. Going E to E created too much string tension for bends. I don't know what the gauge of the strings are though. I will put the calipers on them tonight. Might have been a 7 string set with the High E left off. I can barely remember yesterday much less 6 months aqo. Top
tubeswell Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ	Posted on Feb 12 2014 04:54 PM Nice playing RJ Ronquillo! — He who dies with the most tubes... wins Surf Daddies Top
Dane_Brammage Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 203	Posted on Feb 12 2014 07:03 PM I've had my Dano '63 tuned B to B, down to E to E, and up to standard E guitar tuning. It's all possible with the right strings. Top
razzer10_4 Joined: Feb 09, 2014 Posts: 26	Posted on Feb 13 2014 08:02 AM From my research, after listening to a couple of different demos of Bass VI's with baritone strings not to mention Fender's assessment of this very subject, a Bass VI is a Bass VI and no matter what gauge string or what tuning you set it, it will still play closer to Bass VI than a baritone. From what I have heard, these baritone strung Bass VI's have a lot of string rattle and chord formations are muddled. Why is that? I dunno. Is it the 30 in. scale plus fret size? At any rate I have been researching the whole baritone vs. bass VI and have concluded for a strictly guitar player like myself I will be steering clear of the Bass VI. Top
tubeswell Joined: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 1424 Wellington, NZ	Posted on Feb 13 2014 04:26 PM razzer10_4 wrote: From my research, after listening to a couple of different demos of Bass VI's with baritone strings not to mention Fender's assessment of this very subject, a Bass VI is a Bass VI and no matter what gauge string or what tuning you set it, it will still play closer to Bass VI than a baritone. Yeah - I tried out a new Pawn Shop Bass XI a couple of weeks ago, and it was pretty 'bass-guitary' (mind you it had horrible factory fitted round-wound strings on it) — He who dies with the most tubes... wins Surf Daddies Top
Noel Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.	Posted on Feb 13 2014 04:43 PM My Squier Bass VI doesn't sound anything like either my Squier VM Jass Bass or my Baritone Stratocaster. Even played through the same amp, they each have a unique voice. Honestly, of the three, I prefer my Bass VI, and I never expected that. If I'd bought it first, I wouldn't have bothered with the other two. Having said this, I'm know just a play-at-home hack who is fascinated by tone. My comments don't mean as much as if they were said by a performing guitarist. But I hardly bother with the Bass or Baritone any more. My Bass VI covers what I used to do with both of them and sounds better doing it. IMHO. YMMV. — This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. Top
razzer10_4 Joined: Feb 09, 2014 Posts: 26	Posted on Feb 14 2014 09:22 AM I'm probably a worse hack than you, Noel. Don't get me wrong, I think the Bass VI's sound great but for my uneducated ear, at least in the lower ranges, they more closely resemble a bass than a guitar. They definitely have a lot of variety to them. Top

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Baritone tuning on 30" Bass VI?