Guitar or Baritone with C to C tuning

[revgsmall]

After watching Setzer play his TV Jones baritone on the Live in Japan video, I would like to experiment with a guitar that can be tuned down to C to C. I am not having alot of luck surfing the net for this purpose. Since I play a Gretsch 6120 RHH I first looked to Gretsch. They have a Electromatic Baritone but from the reviews its strung like a Fender VI (and the nut grooved accordingly) for octave below standard tuning. The strings cannot be tuned from octave low E up to C tuning. Plus its a very long scale length.

I would like a guitar in the 27 inch scale range with a bigsby. Any recommendations?

 

[seiko]

You just get lighter strings for the Gretsch and tune up into baritone range. I actually quite like the sound of Danelectros tuned c-to-c, they seem to cope fine with it.

 

[revgsmall]

From one review, the orignal poster said that the string cuts on the nut on the Gretsch baritone/bass was cut too wide for the thinner strings and that the strings available in a thinner guage are dang near too short? What scale length is your dano?

the Gretsch is a lengthy 29.75. Thats almost as long as a Fender Mustang Bass. Seems like a scale length of 26-28 inches would be ideal.

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

You just get lighter strings for the Gretsch and tune up into baritone range. I actually quite like the sound of Danelectros tuned c-to-c, they seem to cope fine with it.

yep. change the strings to a lighter gauge and tune to C.

my Danelectro baritone is a 29.5" scale, and i tune it B to B with a 14-68 set.

 

[revgsmall]

yep. change the strings to a lighter gauge and tune to C.

my Danelectro baritone is a 29.5" scale, and i tune it B to B with a 14-68 set.

What strings are you usings? It sounds like the Gretsch may work after all. I was looking at the reviews off of Musicians friend so perhaps they were not experienced players. Can you tune your baritone up to C or does it get scary close to string breakage?

 

[revgsmall]

Has anyone tried the new Danelectro Dead On Baritone?

 

[michael30]

I just bought one of these:

28" scale, 13-62 strings, usually tuned from B to B.

Seems like a pretty good guitar so far.

http://www.myrareguitars.com/sidejackbaritone.html

 

[p.j.]

I just bought one of these:

28" scale, 13-62 strings, usually tuned from B to B.

Seems like a pretty good guitar so far.

http://www.myrareguitars.com/sidejackbaritone.html

How is the tuning stability w/ the tremolo? I love my tremless Dano bari.

=-) PJ

 

[Alvis]

Leadbelly's Stella's were 26.5 inches .Always souded pretty good to me

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

What strings are you usings? It sounds like the Gretsch may work after all. I was looking at the reviews off of Musicians friend so perhaps they were not experienced players. Can you tune your baritone up to C or does it get scary close to string breakage?

i wouldn't tune to C with the set i have on it now. there's way too much tension in the high strings. i'd go with a set of 13's instead. though the more practical thing to do is simply capo at the first fret.

 

[michael30]

How is the tuning stability w/ the tremolo? I love my tremless Dano bari.

=-) PJ

I bought the model with a stop tailpiece (i.e. no tremolo). I've only had this guitar for about a week and haven't really had time to do any serious testing. The first impression is that it's a pretty good guitar.

 

[Bleak]

If you're talking C to C, as in "Standard, 2 steps down" then I don't think you really need a baritone.

I play in C standard all the time - you just need a proper set of strings on a regular scale. Use a tension calculator to find something close - a .13-.56 set is pretty close to a set of 10's on a 24.75" scale.

That being said, a baritone would be cool, too, but you don't necessarily need a brand new guitar for the tuning, IMO.

 

[treeofpain]

Depends on the sound you are after too. A regular guitar scale tuned down to C is pretty dark. If you want a bit more snap, you can use a longer scale. Check out Soloway Swan guitars, which have a 27 inch scale. Budget is also a consideration. The Dano Baritones are probably your cheapest option, and they are great bang for the buck as well.

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

Depends on the sound you are after too. A regular guitar scale tuned down to C is pretty dark. If you want a bit more snap, you can use a longer scale. Check out Soloway Swan guitars, which have a 27 inch scale. Budget is also a consideration. The Dano Baritones are probably your cheapest option, and they are great bang for the buck as well.

if i didn't already have my dano, i would buy this.

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/650625

 

[Curly]

FYI, TV Jones has said on his site that he has plans to produce a Spectra Sonic C Baritone, but there's no announced released date yet.

 

[revgsmall]

How is the tuning stability w/ the tremolo? I love my tremless Dano bari.

=-) PJ

Interesting, I was looking at the regular guitar version of this axe. Didn't know it was also done as a bari. Have you thrown on a strap and played it standing up yet? I am curious if it is neck heavy.