What You Need to Know Before Buying Your First Baritone Guitar

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How Is a Baritone Different from a Standard 6-String Guitar?

So what exactly is a baritone guitar, anyway? Baritone guitars differ from standard 6-string electric guitars by having a lower tuning range that sits somewhere between a bass guitar and a standard 6-string guitar. Let’s look at the most important differences you’ll encounter when you get your first baritone guitar in your hands.

Baritone Scale Length

The majority of baritone electric guitars on the market feature scale lengths ranging between 26.5 inches and 30 inches. Scale length is the distance between the guitar’s nut and saddle, and determines the speaking length of each string. Longer scale length creates a deeper, richer voice, but also changes playability compared to the 24-25.5 inch scale length of most 6-string electrics. Scale lengths closer to 26.5 inches will feel more like a standard guitar, and scale lengths closer to 30 inches feel more like a bass guitar.

7- and 8-String Tuning Without the Extra Strings

Many players turn to 7- and 8-string guitars for lowered tunings, but you can employ a baritone guitar to access the same lower range without the extra strings or struggling with a wider neck. Unlike 7- and 8-string guitars, baritone guitars have the same nut width as a standard 6-string guitar. While a baritone does have a longer scale length, many players find that much easier to adapt to compared to the wider neck of a 7-string guitar.

Baritone Guitar Strings

As you’d expect, the longer scale length means baritone guitars require baritone strings. While you won’t find the same range of selection for baritone strings as you’ll find for standard electrics, top manufacturers like Ernie Ball, D’Addario, DR Strings and La Bella offer a variety of baritone electric string sets. Baritone strings typically cost a few dollars more than the respective 6-string electric set.

Baritone Guitar Tuning

The most common tuning you’ll find on 6-string baritone guitars is B-standard tuning: B-E-A-D-F#-B. The longer scale length means you can tuner even lower without sacrificing string tension and playability. Tuning down to A or even F# is common and one of the main reasons many players choose to play a baritone guitar.

Baritone Guitar Pickups

A 6-string baritone guitar has the same string spacing as a standard 6-string electric, which means that standard humbucker and single-coil pickups will work. This is important if you decide you want to experiment with different pickups in the future; you don’t need to look specifically for baritone pickups, but you do want to look for pickups that can handle the fuller low end of a baritone without sounding flubby or weak. Most manufacturers equip their baritones with suitable pickups right out of the box, but it’s nice to know that pickup experimentation is easy with baritone guitars.

Baritone Guitar Bridges and Tailpieces

Most of the baritone electric guitars I see on the market have fixed bridges, but there are some available with vibrato tailpieces too. A baritone guitar with a vibrato bridge can create amazing tones for dark surf rock and cinematic music. The heavier baritone strings will help tremolo units return to zero with more accuracy, making them highly enjoyable to play with.

Baritones and Amplifiers

If your goal is to add a baritone option to your guitars for recording and performance, you could plug into your current amplifiers and be pleased with what you hear. If you want to get an amp dedicated for your baritone guitars, go with at least 10- or 12-inch speakers to complement the richer bass response. A tube amp head into dual 15-inch speakers would be a sweet starting point for sultry baritone tones for surf, country and ambient styles. When selecting speakers, magnet size matters with baritones just like it does for bass. Choose speakers with heavier magnets for fuller, punchier bass response.

Using Pedals with Baritone Guitars

Do you need to approach pedals any differently with a baritone guitar? Not really; you could connect a new baritone electric guitar to your existing pedalboard and probably be happy with everything. Any guitar can benefit from a good EQ pedal, especially if you’re concerned about a baritone’s excessive low end making your tone sound flubby or muddy. But for the most part, you can choose pedals for your baritone rig using the same considerations as you’d use for your standard 6-string pedal rig.

Baritone Guitars and Playing Technique

How different does it feel to play a baritone guitar compared to a standard 6-string? Depending on the scale length you choose, the answer can range from “not very much” to “quite a lot”. The main difference lies in the space between frets; the longer the scale length, the greater distance between frets. Most players adapt to their baritone guitar quickly. As with any type of guitar, it’s best to try out a few baritone guitars before purchasing one, to get a feel for what scale length feels best to you.

Best Baritone Guitars for Beginners

Regardless of your skill level, if you’re looking for your first baritone electric guitar, these are my top recommendations.

Feature	Reverend Descent Wilkinson Baritone $1,499.00 View at Sweetwater	Ibanez Iron Label RGRTBB21 $1,299.99 View at Sweetwater	ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone $1,199.00 View at Sweetwater	Cort KX500 Baritone $929.99 View at Cort
Scale Length	26.75"	28"	27"	28.03"
Strings	12-68 ga.	14-68 ga.	13-62 ga.	14-68 ga.
Tuning	B standard (B–E–A–D–F♯–B)	B standard (B–E–A–D–F♯–B)	B standard (B–E–A–D–F♯–B)	B standard (B–E–A–D–F♯–B)
Pickups	Reverend Railhammer Cleancut/Nuevo 90 humbuckers	DiMarzio D Activator humbuckers	EMG 60/81 active humbuckers	Seymour Duncan Sentient/Nazgul
Bridge/Tailpiece	Wilkinson WVS50 IIK tremolo	Monorail bridge/tailpiece	TOM bridge, strings through body	Hardtail bridge

Feature	PRS SE 277 Baritone $859.00 View at Sweetwater	Gretsch Electromatic Jet Baritone $699.99 View at Sweetwater	Danelectro Baritone $599.00 View at Sweetwater	Squier Paranormal Baritone $479.99 View at Sweetwater
Scale Length	27.7"	29.75"	29.75"	27"
Strings	14-68 ga.	14-72 ga.	13-62 ga.	14-68 ga.
Tuning	B standard (B–E–A–D–F♯–B)	B standard (B–E–A–D–F♯–B)	B standard (B–E–A–D–F♯–B)	B standard (B–E–A–D–F♯–B)
Pickups	PRS 85/15 S humbuckers	Jet Purevolt Twin Six humbuckers	Danelectro Lipstick single coils	Alnico humbuckers
Bridge/Tailpiece	Strings-through-body bridge/tailpiece	Adjusto-Matic bridge, stop tailpiece	Hardtail bridge	"TOM bridge, stop tailpiece

Cort KX500 Baritone — $929.99 USD

The KX500’s 28.03-inch scale length was carefully selected to provide a “just right” balance between the extremes of the 26-inch to 30-inch baritone range. Seymour Duncan pickups give the KX500 Baritone a decidedly aggressive sonic stance that’s ideal for high-gain applications.

Who/What It’s For: down-tuned 7- and 8-string metal tones without the extra strings

Danelectro Baritone — $599.00 USD

Danelectro’s Lipstick single-coil pickups deliver a unique sound that’s perfect for surf rock, rockabilly, and ambient pop. They balance this baritone’s deeper voice with bright, snappy highs and growling midrange.

Who/What It’s For: Dark surf rock, indie rock, rockabilly, Danelectro fans

ESP LTD MH-1000 Baritone — $1,199.00 USD

The MH-1000 Baritone’s 27-inch scale lends it faster, more comfortable baritone playability compared to longer necks. Dual EMG active humbuckers equip it for high-gain applications and crystal-clear clean tones.

Who/What It’s For: Down-tuned metal tones, aggressive riffage

Gretsch Electromatic Jet Baritone — $699.99 USD

Popularized by Erik Bickerstaffe (Loathe), the Electromatic Jet Baritone delivers unique down-tuned tone with classic Gretsch style. It’s equipped with PureVolt Twin Six humbuckers for sonic versatility and exceptionally balanced baritone tone.

Who/What It’s For: Anyone looking for an affordable 6-string baritone, fans of Loathe, Gretsch collectors

Ibanez Iron Label RGRTBB21 — $1,299.99 USD

As a member of the Iron Label family, this Ibanez baritone is primed for aggressive rock and metal tone. The Iron Label RGRTBB21 Baritone stands out among other baritones with its Mono-rail bridge which maximizes string-to-body contact while minimizing crosstalk between strings; that means super-tight and punchy tone even with high gain.

Who/What It’s For: players that want 7- or 8-string range without extra strings, fast/technical players that prefer thin necks

PRS SE 277 — $859.00 USD

The PRS SE 277 is a double-cutaway baritone guitar designed for maximum versatility. Dual humbucking pickups feature push/pull coil splitting to access single-coil tones too. The extra sonic range makes this PRS baritone suitable for everything from surf rock and indie styles to cinematic music and down-tuned metal.

Who/What It’s For: studio guitarists, surf rockers, anyone looking for a versatile baritone

Reverend Descent Wilkinson Baritone — $1,499.00 USD

Reverend’s Descent Wilkinson Baritone with Wilkinson tremolo tailpiece is perfect for surf rock. And two P90 pickups give it a midrange-focused growl that can be harnessed for noise rock, indie styles, and even ambient pop.

Who/What It’s For: surf rockers, fans of P90 pickups

Squier Paranormal Baritone Jazzmaster HH — $479.99 USD

If you’re not familiar with Squier’s “Paranormal” series, it’s all about “guitars that never were but should have been.” This Paranormal Baritone is based on the Jazzmaster platform, but with dual humbuckers and a stop tailpiece for rock-solid tonality. Historically, Squier’s Paranormal guitars are available for limited time, so act fast if you think this is the ideal first baritone guitar for you.

Who/What It’s For: Fender offset guitar fans, indie rockers, anyone looking for a good and inexpensive baritone guitar

FAQs

How are baritone guitars tuned?

Most baritone guitars are tuned to B standard: B-E-A-D-F#-B, low to high. Many players tune their low string down to A for drop tuning, and some players tune down to A standard or even lower. The baritone’s longer scale length helps support lower tunings without sacrificing string tension.

What string gauge do I need?

You need to specifically purchase Baritone guitar strings; normal 6-string electric guitar strings won’t work with the baritone’s longer scale length. Baritone string gauges range from 13 for the high B (in light sets), and up to 72 for the low B (in heavier sets).

Can I just put heavy strings on a standard guitar?

You can experiment with putting heavy strings on a standard guitar; you can try getting a 7-string set and only use the 6 lowest strings. You will need to enlarge your guitar’s nut to accommodate the larger strings, so there may be no going back to lighter strings without replacing the nut. And the strings may not have enough tension to play well.

What is the typical scale length of a baritone guitar?

Typical baritone scale lengths range from 26.5 inches on shorter models, to 30 inches on longer models. For reference, most 6-string electric guitars have a scale length around 24.5-25.5 inches, and most 4-string bass guitars have a 34-inch scale.

Does it feel hard to play?

No, a baritone doesn’t feel hard to play, you’ll just need to adapt your playing and overcome your muscle memory from typical 6-string guitars. Most players adapt quickly, and are able to switch between baritone and standard electrics without trouble.

Is it chorded like a regular guitar?

Yes; the B-standard tuning means the strings are tuned a 4th lower than a regular guitar, so the relationships between all the strings are the same. All of your open chords, barre chords, and other chord shapes will work, they’ll just be different notes (an open “A” chord shape becomes an open “E” chord, for example).

Do I need a special bass amp for a baritone?

No, but you do need a regular guitar amp with a speaker that can handle extended low frequencies; it’s not any different from selecting an amplifier for a 7- or 8-string guitar. 8-inch speakers can sound flubby with the deeper bass of a baritone, so 10- or 12-inch speakers will help support its voice. If you’re comparing a few amplifiers, check the weight of the magnets on each speaker; all other things being equal, heavier magnets means more solid bass and punchier, tighter tone.

How do regular pedals handle the low frequencies?

Baritone guitars are intended to be used with the same pedals as your standard 6-string electric guitar; some will work better than others. If you’re having trouble finding overdrive/distortion pedals for your baritone, try pedals with a Blend control to balance the effected sound with the dry tone from your pickups; that can help retain low-end integrity when you start adding gain.

What genres is a baritone guitar good for?

You can use a baritone for practically any style, but they’re especially popular for surf rock, country, cinematic music, and ambient pop.

Should I buy a 6-string baritone or a 7-string guitar?

You should buy a 6-string baritone guitar if your main priority is lowered tuning and deeper tone. 7-string guitars are great for technical players that want more chord options, but you can still chug out down-tuned riffs on a 6-string baritone and you won’t need to adapt to the wider neck of a 7-string guitar.