Starter baritone: best within a $500 budget.

Always_Ben

Joined: Mar 12, 2017
Posts: 30

Posted on Aug 18 2017 03:58 PM

I've decided to drip my toes into baritone guitar. Whats a good bet for a cheap but reasonably serviceable guitar under $500? I've heard good things about the Eastwood Sidejack and Danelectro 56 Reissue, and the Senn baritone looks nice too (don't know the price on that though).

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LeeVanCleef

Joined: Oct 05, 2011
Posts: 744
France
12 Map Pins

Posted on Aug 18 2017 04:24 PM

There's also the Squier VM Baritone Jazzmaster. Haven't tried it though.

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Old punks never die... They just become surf rockers.

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Always_Ben

Joined: Mar 12, 2017
Posts: 30

Posted on Aug 18 2017 04:35 PM

I forgot to mention I don't like super skinny necks (at least a medium .84 at the nut) so that may be a factor.

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Chippertheripper

Joined: Mar 11, 2011
Posts: 819
Semass
1 Security Pin

Posted on Aug 18 2017 05:01 PM

Sean will be $680 with a gig bag.

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Always_Ben

Joined: Mar 12, 2017
Posts: 30

Posted on Aug 18 2017 05:15 PM

Chippertheripper wrote:

Sean will be $680 with a gig bag.

Aw, rats guess that's not an option then.

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Redfeather

Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 854
3 Download Pins

Posted on Aug 18 2017 08:20 PM

There's always baritone conversion necks. You could get one of those on ebay and slap it on whatever strat or tele body you have or acquire. Way under $500!

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Surf_Skater

Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1288
Lawrenceville , GA
United States

Posted on Aug 19 2017 06:21 AM

https://reverb.com/item/6138862-2015-gretsch-g5265-electromatic-jet-baritone-w-bigsby-excellent-condition-black
-sparkle-twangy

https://reverb.com/item/4995754-teisco-vn2-baritone-1960s

Last edited: Aug 19, 2017 06:27:39

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SamDBL

Joined: Sep 19, 2016
Posts: 225
Tampa
United States

Posted on Aug 19 2017 07:51 AM

I've been thinking about getting one of those reverend descents in the future. I'm curious... when you guys use baritone guitars, are they like twelve strings in that you bust them out for certain songs for effect? Or does it become your main?

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Guitarist for Black Valley Moon & Down By Law

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Chippertheripper

Joined: Mar 11, 2011
Posts: 819
Semass
1 Security Pin

Posted on Aug 19 2017 09:09 AM

Oh man, that teisco's got me all worked up.
I'm just going to keep telling myself that the vi is good enough.

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revmike

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3743
North Atlantic
Canada

Posted on Aug 19 2017 03:21 PM

SamDBL wrote:

I've been thinking about getting one of those reverend descents in the future. I'm curious... when you guys use baritone guitars, are they like twelve strings in that you bust them out for certain songs for effect? Or does it become your main?

When I use my baritone, it is usually for the main/lead part of the song. I have rarely used it for a background effect, but certainly works in that context too.

Rev

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Canadian Surf

http://www.urbansurfkings.com/

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N0_Camping4U

Joined: May 03, 2012
Posts: 318
Galveston, Texas

Posted on Aug 20 2017 06:36 PM

Hey, I almost exclusively use my Fender xii. Once I got that I sold everything but my Jaguar.

Look into Danelectro baritones.

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Rondo1

Joined: Apr 01, 2016
Posts: 89
1 Download Pin

Posted on Aug 21 2017 08:32 AM

I picked up a baritone Telecaster for $400.00.It needed a tweak but works very well in the B to B tuning. I used it on a couple of "big sky western" type tunes we recorded. I know they are out there. Seems like nobody knows what to do with them. You might try that.

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Reverb17

Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 490
NYC
1 News Pin

Posted on Aug 21 2017 08:38 AM

You can't go wrong with a Danelectro. Lipstick pups work exceedingly well with baritone tunings. I built a baritone in the mid 90's before affordable versions were readily available and put lipsticks in them.

It is more of a specialty instrument. I never use it more than 1-2 (maybe 3) songs in a set. If we are recording, I use it for background parts a lot more.

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

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Syndicateofsurf

Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
United States

Posted on Aug 21 2017 09:38 AM

$499 free shipping- you're welcome!

I use mine for recording, I mean that's what I do. Usually when I use it it takes center stage. Though I'm not opposed to that whole tic tac thing you can do with em.

http://www.instrumentalley.com/Eastwood-Sidejack-Baritone-Deluxe-DLX-Guitar-p/e-sidejack-baritone-dlx.htm?gclid=Cj0KCQjwierMBRCHARIsAHl9i4Hs4jN244Rhd2e_-CROqg78FWSNt-ILteYXYXuoTmgulZxJ0Zr0AHwaAkoGEALw_wcB&Click=21214

—

Da Vinci Flinglestein,
The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest

The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube

http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/

http://sharawaji.com/

http://surfrockradio.com/

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mad_dog

Joined: Sep 23, 2008
Posts: 349
Montclair, NJ

Posted on Aug 24 2017 12:27 PM

I'm with Syndicate of Surf. You can find the Sidejack DLX baritones used for under 400 bucks. I'm looking for one. Have the regular Sidejack DLX and remain much impressed by those p/us. Not the super overwound, harsh P-90s you so often find on cheaper guitars. These are excellent - plenty of volume, also warm and tasty.

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Always_Ben Joined: Mar 12, 2017 Posts: 30	Posted on Aug 18 2017 03:58 PM I've decided to drip my toes into baritone guitar. Whats a good bet for a cheap but reasonably serviceable guitar under $500? I've heard good things about the Eastwood Sidejack and Danelectro 56 Reissue, and the Senn baritone looks nice too (don't know the price on that though). Top
LeeVanCleef Joined: Oct 05, 2011 Posts: 744 France	Posted on Aug 18 2017 04:24 PM There's also the Squier VM Baritone Jazzmaster. Haven't tried it though. — Old punks never die... They just become surf rockers. Top
Always_Ben Joined: Mar 12, 2017 Posts: 30	Posted on Aug 18 2017 04:35 PM I forgot to mention I don't like super skinny necks (at least a medium .84 at the nut) so that may be a factor. Top
Chippertheripper Joined: Mar 11, 2011 Posts: 819 Semass	Posted on Aug 18 2017 05:01 PM Sean will be $680 with a gig bag. Top
Always_Ben Joined: Mar 12, 2017 Posts: 30	Posted on Aug 18 2017 05:15 PM Chippertheripper wrote: Sean will be $680 with a gig bag. Aw, rats guess that's not an option then. Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 854	Posted on Aug 18 2017 08:20 PM There's always baritone conversion necks. You could get one of those on ebay and slap it on whatever strat or tele body you have or acquire. Way under $500! Top
Surf_Skater Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1288 Lawrenceville , GA	Posted on Aug 19 2017 06:21 AM https://reverb.com/item/6138862-2015-gretsch-g5265-electromatic-jet-baritone-w-bigsby-excellent-condition-black -sparkle-twangy https://reverb.com/item/4995754-teisco-vn2-baritone-1960s Last edited: Aug 19, 2017 06:27:39 Top
SamDBL Joined: Sep 19, 2016 Posts: 225 Tampa	Posted on Aug 19 2017 07:51 AM I've been thinking about getting one of those reverend descents in the future. I'm curious... when you guys use baritone guitars, are they like twelve strings in that you bust them out for certain songs for effect? Or does it become your main? — Guitarist for Black Valley Moon & Down By Law Top
Chippertheripper Joined: Mar 11, 2011 Posts: 819 Semass	Posted on Aug 19 2017 09:09 AM Oh man, that teisco's got me all worked up. I'm just going to keep telling myself that the vi is good enough. Top
revmike Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3743 North Atlantic	Posted on Aug 19 2017 03:21 PM SamDBL wrote: I've been thinking about getting one of those reverend descents in the future. I'm curious... when you guys use baritone guitars, are they like twelve strings in that you bust them out for certain songs for effect? Or does it become your main? When I use my baritone, it is usually for the main/lead part of the song. I have rarely used it for a background effect, but certainly works in that context too. Rev — Canadian Surf http://www.urbansurfkings.com/ Top
N0_Camping4U Joined: May 03, 2012 Posts: 318 Galveston, Texas	Posted on Aug 20 2017 06:36 PM Hey, I almost exclusively use my Fender xii. Once I got that I sold everything but my Jaguar. Look into Danelectro baritones. Top
Rondo1 Joined: Apr 01, 2016 Posts: 89	Posted on Aug 21 2017 08:32 AM I picked up a baritone Telecaster for $400.00.It needed a tweak but works very well in the B to B tuning. I used it on a couple of "big sky western" type tunes we recorded. I know they are out there. Seems like nobody knows what to do with them. You might try that. Top
Reverb17 Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 490 NYC	Posted on Aug 21 2017 08:38 AM You can't go wrong with a Danelectro. Lipstick pups work exceedingly well with baritone tunings. I built a baritone in the mid 90's before affordable versions were readily available and put lipsticks in them. It is more of a specialty instrument. I never use it more than 1-2 (maybe 3) songs in a set. If we are recording, I use it for background parts a lot more. — TarantinosNYC TarantinosNYC FB page The WrayCyclers FB page Rockaway Beach Surf Music Festival Top
Syndicateofsurf Joined: Oct 08, 2014 Posts: 1073 Northern Ohio	Posted on Aug 21 2017 09:38 AM $499 free shipping- you're welcome! I use mine for recording, I mean that's what I do. Usually when I use it it takes center stage. Though I'm not opposed to that whole tic tac thing you can do with em. http://www.instrumentalley.com/Eastwood-Sidejack-Baritone-Deluxe-DLX-Guitar-p/e-sidejack-baritone-dlx.htm?gclid=Cj0KCQjwierMBRCHARIsAHl9i4Hs4jN244Rhd2e_-CROqg78FWSNt-ILteYXYXuoTmgulZxJ0Zr0AHwaAkoGEALw_wcB&Click=21214 — Da Vinci Flinglestein, The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/ http://sharawaji.com/ http://surfrockradio.com/ Top
mad_dog Joined: Sep 23, 2008 Posts: 349 Montclair, NJ	Posted on Aug 24 2017 12:27 PM I'm with Syndicate of Surf. You can find the Sidejack DLX baritones used for under 400 bucks. I'm looking for one. Have the regular Sidejack DLX and remain much impressed by those p/us. Not the super overwound, harsh P-90s you so often find on cheaper guitars. These are excellent - plenty of volume, also warm and tasty. Top

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Starter baritone: best within a $500 budget.