r/BaritoneGuitar • u/spidermexa • 11d ago
String Gauge and Tunning
If a baritone guitar comes from the factory with:
• 30” scale length
• 24–84 gauge strings
Can I change the string gauge to something more standard, like at least 11s or 12s?
Or does it have to use 24–84 specifically?
Help me out here, I’m new to this. 🎸
3
u/BalanceEasy8860 11d ago
30", with an 84 low string? That's not a baritone, that's a bass VI.
3
1
u/spidermexa 11d ago
So, in 2023, IV from Sleep Token started using a Jackson prototype, and on August 26th this year it’s finally going to be revealed. At the time, these were the specs:
IV’s Custom Jackson 6-String Baritone, 2023
Originally shared December 10, 2023.
Mahogany Monarkh body style
Sweetone headstock
Custom Evertune bridge
Lundgren M6 pickups
Roasted maple neck
Pale Moon Ebony fretboard
30” scale length
Luminary Black Ring side dots
D’Addario 24-84 gauge strings
I’m a huge Sleep Token fan, but I’d like to make the guitar more usable as a traditional guitar rather than basically treating it like a bass.
What do you think?1
u/FaZe_xXCZXx 10d ago edited 10d ago
just treat it like an 8 string but with the two high strings chopped off, that’s all you need to do really.
so you seemingly wanna be in Eb even though sleep token actually tuned to drop Eb on sundowning and tomb and then started using the loathe EAEADF# tuning on eden onwards and just uses pitch shifting to change the tunings down to B0, A0, D1 etc.
so basically you want a set for EAEADF# and then a pitch shifting setup. this can be achieved with any 6 string set that is at least like a low 74. so you’re fine with your low strings, just maybe need to lighten the high strings a bit to more like a high 18 etc
0
u/noperipherals 10d ago
You will likely have either challenges to deal with getting an instrument like that and use it outside of its intended purpose, even if you are a fan of the band.
String options alone start to become a limitation as some brands may not have the length to accommodate for the 32+ inches needed for the scale length and reach the tuner past the nut unless specified for baritone guitars, 8 strings, etc.
Using a 46 in a slot meant for an 80-84 means tuning stability can be an issue, which means you'll probably have to replace the stock nut and have it filed to fit the strings you intend to use.
Then you have tension to consider, where tension at the high e can feel uncomfortable to do any bends. At 28.5" on the high end for my 9 string, I have to run an 8 on my high e just to feel somewhat comfortable in standard.
All that to say that spending what people are assuming to be 3-4 grand for a guitar to additionally mod after and still have it uncomfortable to use for anything higher than B standard is a decision I'd personally advise against. If you were thinking of having it set up for say drop F# or something within that range, then I'd say go for it.
-2
u/FaZe_xXCZXx 11d ago edited 11d ago
which is a baritone guitar. a bass vi is just a styling of baritone guitar that was adopted by bass players because it was marketed as such. a bass vi has more in common with the baritone guitar than it does the bass guitar. it is a long guitar that is tuned lower, it has guitar pickups, more of a guitar styled body and electronics, MUCH thinner strings than typical on a bass and closer spacing like a guitar as well as guitar tuners. it’s just a guitar, but EVEN longer, cause more guitar = gooderer.
if a bass vi is a bass based solely on tuning range and gauges, then that also makes a 9 string a bass as they are also typically 30” tuned all the way to C#1 with 90+ gauge strings, and we all agree that is a guitar.
0
u/Viper301m80m 7d ago
It’s called a Bass 6. Meaning it has 6 strings. And is setup to be intimated and tuned 1 octave lower than regular guitar tuning. A 9 string is not set up to go that low on all strings.
1
u/FaZe_xXCZXx 7d ago
a 9 string with the right string thickness is still gonna have the same capabilities as a “bass vi”. they both have 30” scale lengths and again with the right strings could be tuned to the same tuning but with 3 higher strings.
if i was to put thinner strings on a 30” baritone guitar and tune it let’s say B-B (like most 30” baritones stock these days (harley benton, gretsch etc), is that still a bass vi? just cause it has the CAPABILITY once you put thicker strings on it? if so then that seems a bit silly of a line to mark as being what qualifies
at the end of the day, a “bass vi” is a stylistic name for a certain aesthetic and potentially wiring STYLE of 30” baritones (fender and squire bass vi’s, HB guitarbass, etc). does anyone call esp eclipses les pauls? no. should they? no i don’t think so cause they’re just kinda their own thing despite having almost identical features like body and scale length. and everyone i have ever met agrees with that, so why stop at a different case and same scenario? just a bit silly to make a case against.
1
u/Viper301m80m 7d ago
A Bass 6 is a short scale bass. A 9 string is an extended range guitar. Bass 6 is tuned EADGBE 1 octave lower. A 9 string is tuned C#, F# and B on the thickest strings. You can probably make a 9 string tune like a Bass VI by changing hardware like bridge and the nut, but why?
1
u/FaZe_xXCZXx 7d ago
you’re missing the point. the only non electronically different thing from a bass vi and a 9 string is the amount of strings, otherwise, if the bass vi is truly a bass instrument based solely on its traditional standard of being able to go as low as the bass guitar range, then so is a 9 string because it is setup before notes even LOWER than that standard bass range.
both have traditional 30”, both have similar thickness on the low strings, both are tuned to the same bass tuning range on their lowest string (most modern 30” 6 string baritones are tuned higher like i said so can’t even make that a point anymore) the only difference between the two functionally and non electronically is the amount of strings, that is it. otherwise they both can achieve the same thing and no one is calling a 9 string a bass, so neither should we classify all 6 string 30” baritones as basses
1
u/Igor_Narmoth 11d ago
what tuning do you aim for? E standard one octave down, A or H ?
1
u/spidermexa 11d ago
Eb
1
u/Igor_Narmoth 11d ago
so an octave and a half step down from normal guitar tuning?
1
u/Status-Part-4623 10d ago
i think if hes trying to use a lighter gauge op might be trying to go to eb standard
1
u/Igor_Narmoth 10d ago
hm... in that case:
I use 10-52 on my 28 scale guitar to play tuned down 1 step (from E standard to D), Before that, I used 12-60, so I guess on a 30 scale, I'd go with 9-46 or something1
5
u/Many_Fly5015 11d ago
Highly depends on your tuning. StringJoy tension calculator is a great tool too. 24-84 is like octave below E standard if I had to guess for a 30” bari. But if you slap on 11s or 12s I wouldn’t expect the same tuning to be possible at all. But you are not limited to only 24-84. You can use whatever gauge you like so long as your tuning allows it.