BARITONE MODELS

There is currently a lot of interest in baritone acoustic guitars, probably sparked by the expanded use of altered slack tunings and the desire to go even lower than a standard instrument will allow in the quest for a deep profound sound. Many makers have proceeded down the route of very heavy strings often combined with extra long scales which produce an instrument which can feel so different to a normal guitar that standard techniques just don't work and it becomes an interesting oddity rather than a practical instrument for most people.

With my standard B tuned Baritone model I have sought to produce an instrument which will work with relatively light gauge strings and have a scale that, whilst longer than a standard instrument, does not feel so alien that it feels like learning a new instrument.

Due to the early nature of the development process of the modern acoustic baritone guitar (there is no standard form yet) each baritone I make is a truly custom instrument with the customer deciding exactly which mix of features such as tuning, body size, scale length, frets to neck joint and string guages is best for them. Below are some suggested formats.

12 Fret B Tuned Baritone (pictured in cocobolo and englemann above)
My standard B tuned baritone combines a very manageable 700mm (27.55 inch) scale with a twelfth fret neck joint. It has a special lattice-work soundboard construction which limits the natural boomyness of very low tuned strings and also makes the apparent tension of the strings feel greater than is possible with normal guitar construction to give the control necessary for lower tuned strings. The twelth fret joint makes the neck very similar in length to a standard scale fourteen fret neck, giving an instantly familiar playing posture. For earlier versions of this guitar I used an extra large body but I have now settled on using my normal JOM shape with a deeper body than normal.

Fitted with 70-56-45-32-22-15 strings this version works well in standard tuning intervals B-E-A-D-F#-B. For the equivalent of DADGAD tuning or similar it is better to tune some strings up in pitch rather than dropping the 6th string down to A which doesn't work so well with this relatively short scale length. So for instance a DADGAD equivalent would be B-F#-B-E-F#-B and strings needed 70-52-42-28-22-15.

This 700mm scale can also be tuned higher with lighter strings for a nearly baritone! For instance for low versions of standard tuning; D to D medium gauge (13-56) or C to C heavy gauge (14-59).

14 Fret B Tuned Baritone
Using the same 700mm scale but with a longer 14 fret neck this version works for the same tunings as the 12 fret version. It has increased high fret access but is slightly more awkward to hold. Probably suits my Jumbo body shape best. Pictures soon!

14 fret long scale Baritone
For players seeking to reach even greater depths and tune down as low as A or if someone wants to use lighter strings in B tunings for added presence and a quicker response I suggest a 750mm (29.5 inch) scale. This scale length has to built with a longer 14 fret neck to put the bridge in a good place and, because of this, becomes more awkward to hold but can work very well standing with a strap. With the increased scale length stretches between frets also become noticebly greater so this is definitely a format for someone expecting to have to develop a more dramatically altered playing style compared to the shorter scale version. This would generally be my first recomendation for a modern solo percussive player wanting to use the equivalents to normal altered tunings but at a lower pitch.

Right; larger bodied 700mm scale Baritone model in Sitka and Mahogany with flamed maple bindings, snowflake inlays and Baggs M1 pickup. Custom tapered head with three 'D-Tune' banjo pegs on the top strings.

Historically, guitar family instruments always came in a variety of pitches and it is only in the last hundred years or so that designs became locked in the standard pattern we now think of as the guitar. I am now also offering high tuned 'Terz' guitars to help further open up the possibilities for guitar ensemble work and allow solo performers new tones and textures.

The Jumbo and Jumbo Orchestra Model are both available with construction suitable for low C and D tunings. For people mainly playing in D tunings, such as DADGAD, a 650mm scale is usually used and soundboard construction is biased to sound good in these tunings, whilst for low C tunings a scale of 660mm can be specified to help give extra tension. If you plan to switch between C, D and standard tunings I generally use the 650mm scale to give the greatest versatility of tone.