BB_Bunny
Joined: Sep 13, 2020
Posts: 182
New York
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Posted on Jun 24 2022 09:19 AM
I'd mentioned this in a previous thread, but I bought one of the Squire Baritone Cabronita guitars somewhat recently. For ~$400 it's a steal!
So far I've done some light fret work (it's a squire, so it's to be expected), swapped out the pickguard, tossed a Bigsby trem/vibramate on it with some Callaham mods (front roller upgrade, and string shaft upgrade), 1 1/8" spring, and ended up shimming the neck to get a better break angle on the bridge. The guitar played perfectly pre-tremolo installation, but I had issues with the F# string when I fretted notes mid neck once the bigsby was installed. I couldn't find ballpark starting points for action height so I set both outer strings to 5/64" and adjusted the rest according to neck radius (9.5 in this case). The buzzing seems to be fixed though I may go even higher on the low end so I can really spank the strings for that spaghetti western twang!
I'd wanted to swap out the pickup covers with chrome plated ones just because it would look nice, but the covers are really glued on tightly. I tried heating them up with a hair dryer, but no dice. The stock p90's sound pretty decent, but I'd like to swap them out with something that has a bit more twang and bite. I'm not sure what to put in there and I've had a tough time finding recommendations for Baritones specifically (especially in a non-metal context). I'm interested in the TV Jones Classics, but it's been mentioned that while they're good for standard guitars, they can get kind of mushy for baritones. I'm open to suggestions. I'm pretty far out of my league when it comes to non-stock pickups and short of just buying a bunch to try, it seems like a difficult thing to learn about.
I thought I had tuning issues with the Bigsby but it turns out I just didn't know how to use it correctly. I don't know if this helps anyone else out there, but I learned that Bigsbys need to be guided back into place instead of relying on the spring to do the work. Since then, tuning has been pretty rock solid. It's possible this is best practice for all trems...I have no idea.
I've had a difficult time finding much information on baritones in general, so I thought I'd start a thread. If you have any tips or tricks you learned about these, please feel free to share. Or post a pic of your ax or recording/video so we can geek out.
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Last edited: Jun 24, 2022 09:58:59
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 801
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Posted on Jun 24 2022 09:50 AM
I'm planning to put together a baritone at some point (already have a tele body to use), so I'd be happy to see such tips as well. As far as pickups go, you could always call up TV Jones and ask what they would advise for a baritone - I'm sure they'd help.
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BB_Bunny
Joined: Sep 13, 2020
Posts: 182
New York
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Posted on Jun 24 2022 10:01 AM
edwardsand wrote:
you could always call up TV Jones and ask what they would advise for a baritone - I'm sure they'd help.
Sage advice! I'm not 100% on going with TV Jones yet, but it probably wouldn't hurt to put out some feelers to see what is recommended.
Do you plan on getting one of those Warmoth necks for your tele?
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cosmonaut
Joined: Apr 02, 2019
Posts: 339
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Posted on Jun 24 2022 03:22 PM
those cabronitas are pretty great. i’d have bought one but i was already building my pink tele baritone. Harvester guitars puts tv jones super’trons with the rails in some of his baritones and they sound exceptional, but I would also consider putting thunderbird style pickups in one as well.
for yours, I’d consider something that can fit the P90 route unless you want to do some routing and use pickup mounting rings
Baritones are a critical part of my playing enjoyment. I wire low cut controls instead of tone knobs into them because I want them full brightness to get that deep twang.
I’ve strung my bass vi as a baritone but it didn’t have the piano-like ring that a baritone should to me. I think bigsby vibratos are better in that regard, where as the bass vi tuned normal E-e excels with the fender vibrato
Last edited: Jun 24, 2022 15:33:48
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BB_Bunny
Joined: Sep 13, 2020
Posts: 182
New York
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Posted on Jun 24 2022 04:19 PM
cosmonaut wrote:
i’d have bought one but i was already building my pink tele baritone.
I'd love to see pictures of that!
for yours, I’d consider something that can fit the P90 route unless you want to do some routing and use pickup mounting rings
TV Jones has p90 soapbar sized housing for some of their pickups so they should fit right in if I decide to go that route (no pun intended). Thanks for the suggestions, I'll definitely look into the pu's you mentioned.
RE: Bass VI, I was looking at some of the Squire Bsss VIs yesterday. Also pretty affordable, though I've heard some critique that the scale length is shorter than some would like. I've never played one, but considering how much enjoyment I'm getting out of the bari, I may have to find one to try out.
— Premiere Single Out Now! - Keep On Running
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Last edited: Jun 24, 2022 16:19:23
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Surf_Skater
Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1300
Lawrenceville , GA
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Posted on Jun 24 2022 09:15 PM
These Harley Benton's are just shy of $300 shipped to the US.
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BB_Bunny
Joined: Sep 13, 2020
Posts: 182
New York
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Posted on Jun 24 2022 11:32 PM
Surf_Skater wrote:
These Harley Benton's are just shy of $300 shipped to the US.
Oooooh! Never played one. How are they?
— Premiere Single Out Now! - Keep On Running
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Last edited: Jun 24, 2022 23:34:42
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4542
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Jun 25 2022 12:36 AM
BB_Bunny wrote:
cosmonaut wrote:
i’d have bought one but i was already building my pink tele baritone.
I'd love to see pictures of that!
for yours, I’d consider something that can fit the P90 route unless you want to do some routing and use pickup mounting rings
TV Jones has p90 soapbar sized housing for some of their pickups so they should fit right in if I decide to go that route (no pun intended). Thanks for the suggestions, I'll definitely look into the pu's you mentioned.
RE: Bass VI, I was looking at some of the Squire Bsss VIs yesterday. Also pretty affordable, though I've heard some critique that the scale length is shorter than some would like. I've never played one, but considering how much enjoyment I'm getting out of the bari, I may have to find one to try out.
First off, TV Jones is a class act. They have good products, and stand behind their products. If you have any questions, give them a call, and they’ll help you out.
The Bass VI is a bit of an obsession, for me. I have a 2013, Japanese made VI, which I really love. They are basically an oversized Jaguar, tuned an octave below a guitar. You can use one for a bass, and it actually is capable of some decent bass sounds, if you fiddle with the controls and find the right settings. It’s nature, however, is to be twangy and it’s great for spaghetti western sounds, or maybe doubling the lead line on a Surf song.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
Last edited: Nov 23, 2022 22:56:13
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Surf_Skater
Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1300
Lawrenceville , GA
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Posted on Jun 25 2022 06:54 AM
BB_Bunny wrote:
Surf_Skater wrote:
These Harley Benton's are just shy of $300 shipped to the US.
Oooooh! Never played one. How are they?
Haven't tried one yet. I just posted it as another budget option. They just released these a few months ago and I've been on the fence about getting the p90 model or getting the one with humbuckers and a strat trem.
It looks like overseas shipping costs have dropped a little since they first released it. Hopefully it will drop a little more.
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 801
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Posted on Jun 25 2022 09:56 AM
For a neck, I'm more likely to go for an Allparts tele baritone neck - I've finished and used a couple of their Jaguar 24" necks before and am quite happy with them.
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mad_dog
Joined: Sep 23, 2008
Posts: 349
Montclair, NJ
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Posted on Jun 28 2022 06:49 PM
The best I've had is the Jerry Jones 2 p/u baritone. Lipstick p/us, middle position in series. Missing that one, I now have a Danelectro Vintage Baritone. The small bodied one with the f hole. Hotter lipsticks and (to my ears anyway) better sound than the larger, RI dano baritones.
I always play A to A. So for me, 28" scale is the minimum. Even a fraction below that, the lowest note will not ring out. Tried several in the 27" to 27.7" scale range. Just not for me. The Dano is a bit on the long side - 29.75 - but does sound very good.
Last edited: Jun 28, 2022 18:49:26
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cirecc
Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 311
seattle, wa
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Posted on Jun 29 2022 07:37 AM
I built a baritone strat that we use in the Desolate Coast. Dave is on baritone for the entire set (we’re a five piece). I used the all parts strat conversion neck (a little over 27” scale length) for the build, avri strat bridge, and antiquity ii pickups.
We tune it A to A as well. I made sure to find a stringset that was a little on heavier side. The low notes ring loud and clear, very piano like. The tuning stability is the best out of any of our instruments and often stays perfectly in tune from one rehearsal to the next which is weird given the temperature changes. I’m sharing this just to give a counterpoint to the experience that, if you’re tuning a to a, you need an extra long scale. I was worried about the allparts’ scale being long enough and was proven wrong in my own build.
If you prefer the tighter feel of the longer scale length, that is fair, but the instrument can still play and sound great with a “less long” scale length.
— -Eric
New music!
https://thedesolatecoast.bandcamp.com/releases
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BB_Bunny
Joined: Sep 13, 2020
Posts: 182
New York
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Posted on Jun 29 2022 08:16 AM
cirecc wrote:
I built a baritone strat that we use in the Desolate Coast.
The build looks great! If you don't mind me asking, what string gauges do you use on that?
Also, I just bought the Desolate Coast albums and love what I've heard so far!
— Premiere Single Out Now! - Keep On Running
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cirecc
Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 311
seattle, wa
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Posted on Jun 29 2022 02:26 PM
BB_Bunny wrote:
cirecc wrote:
I built a baritone strat that we use in the Desolate Coast.
The build looks great! If you don't mind me asking, what string gauges do you use on that?
Also, I just bought the Desolate Coast albums and love what I've heard so far!
Thank you so much! We really appreciate it!
The strings are D’addario xl nickel wound exl157 baritone medium gauge (14-68). There aren’t a ton of heavier nickel wound options for baritone. I’ve really liked these even though I don’t usually use d’addario strings.
— -Eric
New music!
https://thedesolatecoast.bandcamp.com/releases
Spotify
Also:
https://theverb.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theverbseattle/
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mad_dog
Joined: Sep 23, 2008
Posts: 349
Montclair, NJ
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Posted on Jun 30 2022 06:14 AM
cirecc wrote:
We tune it A to A as well. I made sure to find a stringset that was a little on heavier side. The low notes ring loud and clear, very piano like.
Good to know you made it work. I tried with a couple likely candidates. Knowing that every guitar is different, was tempted to keep trying. I just hadn't found the right one (slightly shorter scale I mean) yet.
The other thing I did not experiment with was string gauge. So good you posted that. My experience and preferences are no general rule, just me. There are plenty of very cool baritones out there with scale between 27" and 28". Might have to try again.
Last edited: Jun 30, 2022 06:15:34
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revmike
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3852
North Atlantic
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Posted on Jun 30 2022 09:33 AM
Here is a pic of my baritone. It is a Dano Hodad series from the late 90s/early 2000s. I tune from B to B with D’Addario baritone strings. The guitar sounds huge through a 15” speaker.
— Canadian Surf
http://www.urbansurfkings.com/
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BB_Bunny
Joined: Sep 13, 2020
Posts: 182
New York
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Posted on Jun 30 2022 10:52 AM
THREE lipsticks!!! Looks awesome, I'd love to hear it. Got a recording handy?
— Premiere Single Out Now! - Keep On Running
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revmike
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3852
North Atlantic
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Posted on Jul 01 2022 10:31 AM
BB_Bunny wrote:
THREE lipsticks!!! Looks awesome, I'd love to hear it. Got a recording handy?
The Dano is the only guitar played on these releases.
https://reverbranch.bandcamp.com/album/el-camino-de-los-muertos
https://reverbranch.bandcamp.com/album/ski-school
And one of our faves to play live: https://reverbranch.bandcamp.com/track/go-go-island
Rev
— Canadian Surf
http://www.urbansurfkings.com/
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Reverb17
Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 521
NYC
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Posted on Jul 04 2022 08:54 AM
Another recommendation for A-A. I find it a lot more useful than B-B.
I even go to Drop "G" occasionally, but I have a 30" scale.
The TV Jones pup is the T90. It has a little more top end and is a bit clearer sounding than a regular P90. The Magnatron may be the twangiest of their pups.
I think that lipstick pups work best for that deep baritone twang.
I have Kent Armstrong lipsticks in my baritone that I've used on a # of recordings and live as well.
Pet Sounds
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BB_Bunny
Joined: Sep 13, 2020
Posts: 182
New York
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Posted on Jul 04 2022 09:38 AM
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