SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

[CTN]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

As for woods...I would try to find a really nice, dense piece of Alder. Yeah, everyone and their uncle has used alder, but a nice piece can really make a guitar shine. Besides, it's easy to work with, easy to finish, and has an extremely balanced tonality.

I thought about Maple as well, but that'll make it sound really bright, and being a baritone, there are gonna be ample low end and low-mids that you'll want to take full advantage of. With Maple, I'm concerned that the low end wouldn't be as full and warm as it could be with Alder.

a Swamp Ash body could also be totally killer sounding.

As for Neck, Either maple/maple, or maple/ebony. Any other kind of fretboard would likely be too warm for a baritone.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

I think it will be fun to draw up the body shape. I looked at the Danelectro "Dead On '67" a little bit - it's pretty much just a Jag / Jazz that is wilin' out a little bit :laughing:

I am going to want good upper fret access, because chances are I'll need it with a baritone. I don't want to have to do that weird arm down under turning myself inside out move :biglaugh:

mwalluk, I have not thought about active pickups, and I have very little experience with them. What do they sound like clean? I think I know, but I'd rather leave it open for you and others to comment.

 

[CTN]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

I always thought this was the perfect shape for an electric guitar.

Coincedentally, it's also a shape that Shecter uses on their Stiletto basses.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

As for woods...I would try to find a really nice, dense piece of Alder. Yeah, everyone and their uncle has used alder, but a nice piece can really make a guitar shine. Besides, it's easy to work with, easy to finish, and has an extremely balanced tonality.

I thought about Maple as well, but that'll make it sound really bright, and being a baritone, there are gonna be ample low end and low-mids that you'll want to take full advantage of. With Maple, I'm concerned that the low end wouldn't be as full and warm as it could be with Alder.

a Swamp Ash body could also be totally killer sounding.

As for Neck, Either maple/maple, or maple/ebony. Any other kind of fretboard would likely be too warm for a baritone.

Tommy at USACG has a bunch of "marbled ebony" which is ebony that has streaks in it. The guys who want ebony more for the look than the tone and feel, or simply care a lot about the look, aren't buying it, so Tommy practically gave it to me (as an upgrade while building my last neck).

I like ebony because it looks dark like rosewood, sounds like maple, and feels like the hull of an alien spaceship. (seriously, play a guitar with an ebony board --- mmm mmm!!!)

 

[CTN]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

hahaha nice, I bet it looks really cool

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

I always thought this was the perfect shape for an electric guitar.

Coincedentally, it's also a shape that Shecter uses on their Stiletto basses.

Yeah, that is a nice looking shape (ergonomically) --- our official first photographic recommendation!

 

[Kam]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

mwalluk, I have not thought about active pickups, and I have very little experience with them. What do they sound like clean? I think I know, but I'd rather leave it open for you and others to comment.

I HAVE NO IDEA

However...I love this video that Evan posted a while ago to demonstrate the versatility of the Blackouts. I think my love for it has more to do with the playing than the tone but a good excuse to post a cool video is a good excuse to post a cool video.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

hahaha nice, I bet it looks really cool

It kind of does - here is a high(ish) resolution pic of the "marbled ebony" fretboard on the neck he made for me.

 

[CTN]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

looks fine!

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

Must be maple neck/fretboard.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

Must be maple neck/fretboard.

Why do you say?

I think they're ugly, and are too scooped tonewise.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

Here's a vote for a bridge;

Schaller Hannes (available in various colours)

http://guitar-bridge.com/hp188177/Hannes-Bridge.htm?ITServ=C2f9bb116X1328de333e5X1320

I know of those - what benefit do they offer? They're $200, so my initial reaction is "law of diminishing returns."

 

[CTN]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

Why do you say?

I think they're ugly, and are too scooped tonewise.

What guitars have you played a maple neck/fretboard on?

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

IMO you'll need a naturally spunkier wood for the body so I'd say Limba if you were going for Mahogany or Ash if you were going for Alder.

Wenge is a great wood too but I think it's better suited to necks and/or fingerboards.

My Stinnett has a Wenge/Mahogany 5-piece neck and I def. recommend it.

IMO Ebony as a fretboard is a must for baritones but again, I hear good things about Wenge and Pao Ferro for those wanting sth between Rosewood and Ebony, Wenge being a tad more in the middle with Pao Ferro being closer to Ebony tone-wise and to Rosewood feel and look-wise.

Pickups, I can't really imagine baritones with SCs but that's just me.

Finally, I am told not many tremolos lend themselves to baritones (or high gauges in general) so I'm guessing either sth surface mount with extra stiff springs or otherwise a TOM string-thru?

Electronics-wise I am a simple man, master volume and tone and usually I have them both on push-pulls for some extra tones (usually splitting the neck and bridge bucker or activating the neck SC and bridge bucker in HSS scenarios).

That's all I guess, for now...

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

Why do you say?

I think they're ugly, and are too scooped tonewise.

Weird.

I like them aesthetically AND tonally.

Maple always adds more of a punch to my tone that I've always enjoyed. I have never heard any scooped quality about it. Maybe it's the added treb bite that's throwing you off. I just figured maple would be a great wood for a baritone to maintain/promote note clarity.

 

[marvelous_seven]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

Here is mine:
Alder/swamp ash body
Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Hardtail bridge or Schaller Hannes
Brass nut
Stainless steel frets
24 frets if it's Flying V,22 if it's stratish Tele
Jim Dunlop straplock
Switchcraft switch and jack
Any good piece of tuning machines will do

Oh because it's SDUGF guitar then it won't be complete without SD product:
Screamin Demon in the bridge and Classic stack plus/Vintage hot stack plus in the neck
Seymour Duncan Liberator pots (1 tone and 2 individual volume so the pickup switch could act as a killswitch)
Triple Shot for bridge pickup
And just for fun I'm gonna add SD pickup booster circuit to the system.

EDIT: Maybe a piezo pickup will be cool too

There you go :friday:

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

What guitars have you played a maple neck/fretboard on?

Stratocaster and Telecaster mostly.

I have a 1996 American Standard Strat with a 1 piece maple neck that was awesome (just took it off last year in favor of a maple / rosewood Road Worn neck).

My Tele has a 2 piece maple neck - built just like a maple / rosewood, but it's a maple slab glued to a maple neck. Weird, but I love the tone of it.

My Strat sounds fuller without the maple neck.

So, I guess my main gripe is not so much sound as it is aesthetics. I just think they're ugly :laughing:

BUSTED!

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

IMO you'll need a naturally spunkier wood for the body so I'd say Limba if you were going for Mahogany or Ash if you were going for Alder.

Wenge is a great wood too but I think it's better suited to necks and/or fingerboards.

My Stinnett has a Wenge/Mahogany 5-piece neck and I def. recommend it.

IMO Ebony as a fretboard is a must for baritones but again, I hear good things about Wenge and Pao Ferro for those wanting sth between Rosewood and Ebony, Wenge being a tad more in the middle with Pao Ferro being closer to Ebony tone-wise and to Rosewood feel and look-wise.

Pickups, I can't really imagine baritones with SCs but that's just me.

Finally, I am told not many tremolos lend themselves to baritones (or high gauges in general) so I'm guessing either sth surface mount with extra stiff springs or otherwise a TOM string-thru?

Electronics-wise I am a simple man, master volume and tone and usually I have them both on push-pulls for some extra tones (usually splitting the neck and bridge bucker or activating the neck SC and bridge bucker in HSS scenarios).

That's all I guess, for now...

Good stuff - thank you!

I think the body wood discussion will be really interesting - it seems like between all of us, we prefer...everything! :laughing:

I was not thinking of doing a tremolo on this guitar - I think fixed bridges are a near necessity for a lower range instrument like a bass or bari.

I also am not thinking single coils, I am thinking something with a lot of power that can appropriately reproduce the big growly low notes. Maybe a P90 would do it, but I am not thinking very fondly of the more standard Fender style single coils here.

BUT! It's not only my project - I want this to be a fun SDUGF community project.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

Here is mine:
Alder/swamp ash body
Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
Hardtail bridge or Schaller Hannes
Brass nut
Stainless steel frets
24 frets if it's Flying V,22 if it's stratish Tele
Jim Dunlop straplock
Switchcraft switch and jack
Any good piece of tuning machines will do

Oh because it's SDUGF guitar then it won't be complete without SD product:
Screamin Demon in the bridge and Classic stack plus/Vintage hot stack plus in the neck
Seymour Duncan Liberator pots (1 tone and 2 individual volume so the pickup switch could act as a killswitch)
Triple Shot for bridge pickup
And just for fun I'm gonna add SD pickup booster circuit to the system.

EDIT: Maybe a piezo pickup will be cool too

There you go :friday:

On the topic of stainless steel frets, what tonal benefit / flavor do you qualify them with?

I have never played or heard them, so I don't know.

My man Tommy at USACG says this about them:

A note from Tommy about stainless steel frets (in case you were wondering)...​

"Quite honestly they look great and they wear great, but I am a little old fashioned and think they will affect the overall tone of the instrument in a bright way - kind of like a big truss rod. Some things are just magical and shouldn't be messed with. We really feel they would change the tone of the parts we so carefully make for you - we have formulas that we know work well for parts. Sometimes it's scary to mess with a good formula."
We still stand behind our comments above, but also know that many of you have your own "tone formulas" that may be best achieved by using Stainless.

That actually sounds like it might be perfect for a baritone guitar:33:

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: SDUGF designed baritone build - YOU design it, I'll build it

On the subject of stainless steel frets;

It may be hard to find someone who's played a guitar with stainless steel frets that is otherwise totally vintage. I'm sure Tommy knows what he's talking about, but too often you hear some vintage snob who claims that stainless steel frets on a strat with other modern appointments such as Wilkinson vs100 tremolo and locking tuners with active pickups sounded brighter than his totally vintage spec strat... and you gotta wonder if the different in sound wasn't due to the other factors besides the frets. The problem in assessing modern features is that they are rarely put on a guitar just one at a time; for example, Parker's have stainless steel frets but they also have carbon-epoxy stuff and a space-age tremolo.

Excellent points - I actually like the idea of SS frets on a bari - I just don't have any reason why :laughing:


Just seems like a good fit