Does anyone have any experience owning or playing...
Baritone Guitars?
I've been looking at a few online the past week.
It's a cross between a bass and a guitar, commonly tuned to a "B-B".
I've been smitten with them since hearing a sound sample at Eastwood Guitars
website.
Now I'm contemplating between the Gretsch model G5265 (black with bigsby trem bar)
and the lower priced OLP MM5, the latter which has gotten decent reviews at Harmony
Central.
I need to get to a guitar store.
Danny
Danny -
I've been interested in baritone guitars, too. Usually you see them used in country music. The guitarist in Staind plays one all the time - Hubby says check this link out: http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/series.asp?s=mmm&l=e
Couldn't you just changing your tuning on a standard guitar to get the same effect?
The thing I've been looking over and hinting about for Christmas is a resonator bass guitar. I didn't know they made 'em - and they're not very pricy... I'd play more if I didn't have to haul that 19 lb beast of mine out of the closet every time I wanted to play... then hook it up to the amp... tweak the amp that the baby had been busily tweaking all day... and then... play. Some days it's too much work... I've become a weekend warrior with it, mostly. Plus, I'd like to try some different tone...
I have a friend who owned a baritone for awhile, and he let me play it some. He had it tuned to a C chord, not sure why. It was fairly easy to get the feel for the chord positions, if you've ever played any open tunings it's not hard. I don't recall the maker, but it was an acoustic. Sounded great.
I've played a couple of the Danelectro's at a local store, and they're fun. The scale length is longer, so while the strings are a heavier gauge they don't feel as "tight" as you'd expect.
It's a cross between a bass and a guitar, commonly tuned to a "B-B"...
So is it a Batar or a Guiss?...Seriously though - are they used as mostly a bass instrument or lead guitar? I would think chords would sound kind of muddy. Dunno - never heard one.
Hello Ala Prochaine, Chas, Chatty Kat, Socks and T-Bone,
There are some nice sound samples of the Eastwood's model, "Sidejack Baritone" at
www.eastwood.com
On the sidebar, if you scroll down all the guitars (which you most likely won't be able to without checking some of these out along the way, lol), it's listed last under "Other" models. Click on "Sidejack Baritone" which brings up a page featuring sound samples.
As Socks mentioned (good to see you too Socks!), the neck is longer and the strings a heavier gauge (some even convert these to a 6 string bass); this design is aimed to help the sustain of the strings, which otherwise sound flubby and "muddy" on a regular guitar if tuned as low.
It appears to be a great fingerpickin' design, providing the flexibility to play either (or both) deep bass and high notes.
Of course, the 7-string guitars might be worth checking out as well. But there's something about that meaty Baritone sound.
A La Prochaine, yes, that is pic of me messing on an old fiddle, almost 20 years ago.
Wow! That is a pretty cool sound. I read something about the Ventures making the sound popular - after listening to the sample I realize I have heard that before...Yah know - I've always liked that sound - didn't realize it was a different instrument - dem dere low tones appeal to us bottom feeders...
Thanks T-Bone, cause I couldn't figure out what I was suppose to be seeing in those car things. :)
Dan that CAN be seen, I love the color. :) You need to bring that link in this thread of that song you played back if you will. Just in case all of the readers didn't have the joy of hearing it.
Girl, you have got it going on! I just love it, ever dadgum detail. Did you take pictures?
Is that book The First Violin the one they made the movie about, what an excellent movie, and the soundtrack will knock your dadgum shoes off girl.
Hey, Kathy and everyone, just a short note before heading off to decorate my table. Bobbie came out and bought THREE hats so she would have a choice!!!!
I will have to look at that book when I get home & unpack. I just know that it is about 100 years old.
I will be taking pictures and a friend of mine from our knitting group is supposed to come & see things, plus hubby said he would come down & help me carry the Gibson guitar!!!!
AS USUAL, the rest of this thread is over my head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I like reading what you all have to say anyway................ :)
Chat with you later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAVE A MUSICAL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very nice, act2. 1500 smackers. Not bad! I'd love to hear it played, so if your hubbie ever does, let us know!
Hmmm, it's Friday. I've been working on a transcript of the tune by Tommy Emmanuel, "Angelina". It's a nifty song, deceptively simple sounding. I think I like it because the opening intro and verse have a James Taylor-ish sound to it, so it was easy to start off with, but it's got some very intricate parts to it. (and Taylor is one highly underrated guitarist, IMO, a killer fingerstylist)
Tommy talks about the "groove", the rhythm a lot, and you can hear it. He's an interesting blend of musicianship and performer. Live, and even in recording, his playing isn't "perfect" although he could certainly achieve that and does on a lot of stuff. When I saw him in Workshop he talked about how he's more interested in getting a good performance that will reach his audience than a note perfect rendition.
That philosophy can be heard in his instruments. He has the action set so his neck is flat, "board flat" he called it, flatter than flat, no bow at all. The strings are heavy muthahs, .013 through .058 and again, set as low as they can go. Their about like the standard electric Fender light gauge string height, low for an acoustic. I held one of them briefly and sighted down the neck - flat. And the action low, but with those string gauges, very responsive.
As a result there are buzzes at spots on the neck and in some song parts he'll kind of rip through certain sections, but his performance is, in a workd, amazing. He puts such life into it, it's "irrepressible" for want of a better word. Some of the things he plays are so intricate and fast, it's hard to believe he can play through them at all, to be honest. But he's one of those guys who seems to have his tank filled to the brim all the time and he's able to throw himself over the edge with no fear and just nails it. He's really incredible.
Yeah, I dig him! .......... (sorry, just waxing on, waxing off..........zzzz..........)
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A la prochaine
Dear Dan,
I heard and saw Pat Metheny play one at a jazz festival in montreal 2 yrs ago. He has also recorded many songs playing it on his new album.
What a beautiful sound it has.
As far as locating one, I remember him saying that he had a certain canadian luthier make his.
I'm not quite sure if they are mass produced or are just something that is custom made.
Is that you playing the fiddle/violin Dan?
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ChasUFarley
Danny -
I've been interested in baritone guitars, too. Usually you see them used in country music. The guitarist in Staind plays one all the time - Hubby says check this link out: http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/series.asp?s=mmm&l=e
Couldn't you just changing your tuning on a standard guitar to get the same effect?
The thing I've been looking over and hinting about for Christmas is a resonator bass guitar. I didn't know they made 'em - and they're not very pricy... I'd play more if I didn't have to haul that 19 lb beast of mine out of the closet every time I wanted to play... then hook it up to the amp... tweak the amp that the baby had been busily tweaking all day... and then... play. Some days it's too much work... I've become a weekend warrior with it, mostly. Plus, I'd like to try some different tone...
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ChattyKathy
Chas, this one is kinda wild. :)
hippy looking
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socks
Danny m'man! Good to sEe you!
I have a friend who owned a baritone for awhile, and he let me play it some. He had it tuned to a C chord, not sure why. It was fairly easy to get the feel for the chord positions, if you've ever played any open tunings it's not hard. I don't recall the maker, but it was an acoustic. Sounded great.
I've played a couple of the Danelectro's at a local store, and they're fun. The scale length is longer, so while the strings are a heavier gauge they don't feel as "tight" as you'd expect.
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T-Bone
So is it a Batar or a Guiss?...Seriously though - are they used as mostly a bass instrument or lead guitar? I would think chords would sound kind of muddy. Dunno - never heard one.
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TheInvisibleDan
Hello Ala Prochaine, Chas, Chatty Kat, Socks and T-Bone,
There are some nice sound samples of the Eastwood's model, "Sidejack Baritone" at
www.eastwood.com
On the sidebar, if you scroll down all the guitars (which you most likely won't be able to without checking some of these out along the way, lol), it's listed last under "Other" models. Click on "Sidejack Baritone" which brings up a page featuring sound samples.
As Socks mentioned (good to see you too Socks!), the neck is longer and the strings a heavier gauge (some even convert these to a 6 string bass); this design is aimed to help the sustain of the strings, which otherwise sound flubby and "muddy" on a regular guitar if tuned as low.
It appears to be a great fingerpickin' design, providing the flexibility to play either (or both) deep bass and high notes.
Of course, the 7-string guitars might be worth checking out as well. But there's something about that meaty Baritone sound.
A La Prochaine, yes, that is pic of me messing on an old fiddle, almost 20 years ago.
But I haven't changed that much since then (lol).
Danny
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T-Bone
Hey Dan - the link you gave got me to some automotive thing - but when I googled Sidejack Baritone I found this
http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/Other/sidej...dejackBarit.htm
Wow! That is a pretty cool sound. I read something about the Ventures making the sound popular - after listening to the sample I realize I have heard that before...Yah know - I've always liked that sound - didn't realize it was a different instrument - dem dere low tones appeal to us bottom feeders...
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ChattyKathy
Thanks T-Bone, cause I couldn't figure out what I was suppose to be seeing in those car things. :)
Dan that CAN be seen, I love the color. :) You need to bring that link in this thread of that song you played back if you will. Just in case all of the readers didn't have the joy of hearing it.
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TheInvisibleDan
T-Bone - thank you so much for the correction - www.eastwoodguitars.com
I also hadn't realized that it had been a different type of guitar behind "that sound",
which I think is also employed in some of those old "Spaghetti westerns".
It begs for a tremelo bar though. I'm reluctant to pick one up without one, unless one can
be added.
I was considering converting one of my old electrics to a Bartitone by switching to a Baritone neck,
but for $49 more than the price of a neck, one can pick up an OLP MM5.
Ah, decisions, decisions...
Kathy, thank you again so much for your kind words. I've got to rummage through 50 pages here to find that link. :)
Danny
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act2
Hey, Kathy and everyone, just a short note before heading off to decorate my table. Bobbie came out and bought THREE hats so she would have a choice!!!!
I will have to look at that book when I get home & unpack. I just know that it is about 100 years old.
I will be taking pictures and a friend of mine from our knitting group is supposed to come & see things, plus hubby said he would come down & help me carry the Gibson guitar!!!!
AS USUAL, the rest of this thread is over my head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I like reading what you all have to say anyway................ :)
Chat with you later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAVE A MUSICAL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ChattyKathy
Dan that can be seen, that's why I gave you the job. :)
Act2, take pictures please! And if that is the book please call my cell sometime. :)
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A la prochaine
Dan,
"A La Prochaine, yes, that is pic of me messing on an old fiddle, almost 20 years ago.
But I haven't changed that much since then (lol)."
Do you still play today?
and if so ... what do you like playing?
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ChasUFarley
That is a Steve Vai, monkey grip, Ibanez Gem, fugly g-tar! That is sooooo 80's!
(Hubby has something like that - minus the trippy paint job and monkey grip.)
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coolchef
chas i love that guitar!
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ChattyKathy
Way cool Chas! Thanks. :)
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dmiller
Kathy -- page 23, post 454. :)
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ChattyKathy
Oops David, I called you Strange One.
But maybe it didn't take.
Now I can't see the link here but if it is cool, if it ain't go to post 453 actually.
Thanks David! :)
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A la prochaine
Oh,
I just realized...maybe Dan was talking about an electric baritone guitar. The one Pat Metheny played was an acoustic.
?
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act2
What a day!!!!! FUN FUN FUN...
socks, Dr. C0wan appraised the Gibson at around $1500.00 though he admitted he did not know much about guitars.
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ChattyKathy
Beautiful table! As well the hostess of it.
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act2
Thank you, Kathy. I have also posted some pix in My Gallery so as to not take up space here!!!!!
Thank all of you for bearing with me!!!!
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ChattyKathy
There is no bearing to be done.
Headed to your pics.........
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socks
Very nice, act2. 1500 smackers. Not bad! I'd love to hear it played, so if your hubbie ever does, let us know!
Hmmm, it's Friday. I've been working on a transcript of the tune by Tommy Emmanuel, "Angelina". It's a nifty song, deceptively simple sounding. I think I like it because the opening intro and verse have a James Taylor-ish sound to it, so it was easy to start off with, but it's got some very intricate parts to it. (and Taylor is one highly underrated guitarist, IMO, a killer fingerstylist)
Tommy talks about the "groove", the rhythm a lot, and you can hear it. He's an interesting blend of musicianship and performer. Live, and even in recording, his playing isn't "perfect" although he could certainly achieve that and does on a lot of stuff. When I saw him in Workshop he talked about how he's more interested in getting a good performance that will reach his audience than a note perfect rendition.
That philosophy can be heard in his instruments. He has the action set so his neck is flat, "board flat" he called it, flatter than flat, no bow at all. The strings are heavy muthahs, .013 through .058 and again, set as low as they can go. Their about like the standard electric Fender light gauge string height, low for an acoustic. I held one of them briefly and sighted down the neck - flat. And the action low, but with those string gauges, very responsive.
As a result there are buzzes at spots on the neck and in some song parts he'll kind of rip through certain sections, but his performance is, in a workd, amazing. He puts such life into it, it's "irrepressible" for want of a better word. Some of the things he plays are so intricate and fast, it's hard to believe he can play through them at all, to be honest. But he's one of those guys who seems to have his tank filled to the brim all the time and he's able to throw himself over the edge with no fear and just nails it. He's really incredible.
Yeah, I dig him!
.......... (sorry, just waxing on, waxing off..........zzzz..........) 
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ChattyKathy
Reading that was like poetry.
I swear I was taken by it the first time I'd seen him in your link. He's fantastic!
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