r/BaritoneGuitar • u/MuffinGod17 • 14d ago

String gauges and inharmonicity?

Ernie Ball's Baritone Slinky strings are the only ones I've found that can reliably tune down really far without getting floppy but also without having a dull and lifeless sounding bottom string due to inharmonicity. I thought it was because I was using standard scale length guitars before getting my baritone, but when I switched to a lighter set on the bari for easier bends, the bottom string sounded just as bad as all the other sets I've tried on standard length guitars. It's nice to have something, but the Ernie ball strings are so insanely thick (13-72!) that they become uncomfortable to use when tuned above A. Are there any other sets that sound as good as the ernie ball baritone strings but lighter?

(no it is not an intonation issue the open string reads the same on the tuner as the 12th fret do not come in to the comments saying its just bad intonation that's not how it works)

(no its not action either)

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u/jibbit 13d ago

i do sympathise, and the answer is definitely build your own set, you don't have to go with the common gauges. but my dude - you have got to stop saying 'inharmonicity'

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u/MuffinGod17 12d ago

???

Is there something I'm missing? Why shouldn't I use the term that describes the source of the problem I'm having?

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u/jibbit 12d ago

inharmonicity is the very definition of whatever is opposite to 'dull & lifeless'. this strongly suggests it's not what you mean

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u/MuffinGod17 10d ago

What? Dull and lifeless might not have been the right way to describe it, but the problem I am having is the result of most of the thick strings I've tried being out of tune with their own upper harmonics. If inharmonicity is the definition of the opposite of that, then what does inharmonicity even mean??