7 String Vs. Baritone

Edgecrusher

Well-known member
Hey Guys:
I have a 7 string guitar but lately I've been seeing baritone guitars around. What would the advantages or disadvantages of one be over the other? Is the long scale on the baritone just so you can down tune without the string tension issues?
 
Re: 7 String Vs. Baritone

The long scale affects the tone, more than just string tension. Depending upon the scale, it has a whole different feel than a regular guitar. I had a Yamaha Drop 6 (26.5" or so) and it didn't feel too different. The Ibanez Mike Mushok baritone has a scale of (I think) 28", and feels a lot different.

I like both baritones & seven strings. I think sevens lend themselves to more lead oriented stuff. Baritones are cool for hella-chunky rhythms. The long scale gives it a bassier sound. I really dig doing wierd, clean tone, flanged tones with a bari.
 
Re: 7 String Vs. Baritone

I'm quite fond of Baritone guitars, and have owned 2...
I think one disavange of the 7 string is the reach to get to the low B...
But if the extra high E is worth it, then the 7string is the better of the 2...
If only I had been blessed with larger hands.... oh well :smoker:
 
Re: 7 String Vs. Baritone

If I could only have a baritone or a seven...

I'd tune my regular 6 down to B :D Seriously, though... I'd rather lose 5 notes on top, and gain 5 lower notes. I really like playing lead, but I don't find myself using frets 19-24 on the high E all that often, at least not as much as low B,C,C#,D, & D#.
 
Re: 7 String Vs. Baritone

I dig baritones, thick strings rule. The necks on 7 strings are just too much width for me, plus there's that whole 7th string....
 
Re: 7 String Vs. Baritone

Thanks for the info guys... I may have to pick up a baritone just to mess with... I havent had an issue with the width of the 7 string neck it did take some getting used too especially on stuff i fret with my thumb...


JB_From_Hell said:
If I could only have a baritone or a seven...

I'd tune my regular 6 down to B :D Seriously, though... I'd rather lose 5 notes on top, and gain 5 lower notes. I really like playing lead, but I don't find myself using frets 19-24 on the high E all that often, at least not as much as low B,C,C#,D, & D#.

I agree 100%... I really dont solo that high up usually atleast not doing originals. If we bust out "One" or something I will...
 
Re: 7 String Vs. Baritone

ESP makes a 7-string baritone, it's Stephen Carpenter's signature or whatever...comes with EMG-81s so it's straight-up metal evil...

check their site, i'm too lazy to go look for it :D

-X
 
Re: 7 String Vs. Baritone

Do what I do and play baritone Sevens, 27-28.5" scale (although i currently don´t have one :( )
 
Re: 7 String Vs. Baritone

I built a baritone, and I love it. It's longer scale and uses thicker strings (.014s). An advantage of a 6-string baritone is that you don't need to re-think your chords, scales, leads, etc., you just need to be good at trasposing when playing with other musicians. For example, mine's tuned to B, so if you play a G shape first position chord it's actually going to be a D. On a seven string, you have to figure out different fingerings for chords & scales to accomodate the extra string. Also, I may be mistaken, but I believe most 7-strings are standard scale length. To really get the growl and the fat, low-end twang (or chunk, if you prefer) you need a longer scale length and big fat strings. Just putting a low .060 (or whatever) on a 25.5" neck isn't going to give you the power of a longer scale with .013s or .014s. The extra tension really adds punch and girth to the sound. I'll put my 6-string bari up against any 25.5" 7-string any day. It's Strat style with 2 SSL1s in the neck and mid, and a Duncan Custon Shop humbucker with split/series/parallel switch in the bridge, and special wiring to activate the neck and bridge at the same time. The CS 'bucker is killer (thanks MJ!!!).
 
Re: 7 String Vs. Baritone

Zerberus said:
Do what I do and play baritone Sevens, 27-28.5" scale (although i currently don´t have one :( )

Who makes Baritone 7 strings? What do you tune them too?
 
Re: 7 String Vs. Baritone

I'd love to see a variable scale baritone 7 (at least 30" for the bass side).

Still enjoying the Bass VI- bari conversion (full bass scale). Great deep tones. Going to try a Hot Rails in the bridge for leads (original pickups very microphonic with any kind of gain). I'll probabaly have pick up an on/off/on slider switch first.

Brett
 
Re: 7 String Vs. Baritone

+1 for 7 String Baritone!

I know Warmoth do the Parts to build one yourself and Jackson & ESP have them too, don't know if there is any others about.
 
Re: 7 String Vs. Baritone

Ibeenhad RG1077XL and 2077XL, there´s likely a newer one in the prestige series as well ;)

BTW: The Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory) Signature seven string will ve unveiled at NAMM. At the Jackson booth, of course :headbang:
 
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