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Post by notneeson on Sept 4, 2021 10:58:14 GMT -6
So my studio partner has the cheapie Dano and he gets a great sound out of it. But, it’s a maintenance hog and he has to fiddle with the neck twice a year.
I’d like my own Baritone for home, and I don’t want it to be a toy.
Thinking about maybe checking out the Reverend, people seem to like their stuff.
Or, I could put a baritone neck in my MIJ strat, which I bright otherwise sell. But then, would I like my current pickups for that or is it a can of worms.
Any thoughts?
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Post by sirthought on Sept 4, 2021 11:40:34 GMT -6
I've thought about buying the Reverend guitars several times. I own a Charger and it's nice and well built. Reverend has two baritone models that I recall. One has pickups that make it ideally suited for dark heavy stuff. It gets higher gain without special pedals or amps. I don't play metal but I think it's kind of a cool rock sound. For something more traditional they have a Pete Anderson signature. Pete played on all those cool Dwight Yocum albums. I'd probably lean towards the Pete Anderson model, but the other one does have an interesting sound.
Warmoth has nice baritone necks, but they aren't totally cheap after the tuners, time and setup. Still could be a fun project, and you can keep the Fender look.
I wouldn't hesitate with Reverend. The Fender would just be about feel of a body you know and nostalgia for a brand. Neither direction is wrong.
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Post by srb on Sept 4, 2021 11:50:20 GMT -6
I have been using a Danelectro 6 string bass converted to baritone. Adjustable, intonable bridge, 3 lipstick pickups. It's the same scale length as a regular baritone, but without the wonky, traditional Dano bridge. Great sound and no worries.
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Post by Ned Ward on Sept 4, 2021 12:08:22 GMT -6
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Post by sirthought on Sept 4, 2021 14:15:53 GMT -6
I'm always skeptical about the intonation of these cheaper Fender guitars. Like I'm sure you can make some good music with it but is the sound and ability to stay in tune not to mention the quality of the pickups... Are they as good as what you're getting with something like the Reverend.
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Post by notneeson on Sept 4, 2021 14:56:38 GMT -6
I have been using a Danelectro 6 string bass converted to baritone. Adjustable, intonable bridge, 3 lipstick pickups. It's the same scale length as a regular baritone, but without the wonky, traditional Dano bridge. Great sound and no worries. Ah that's super interesting— my long time friend and musical collaborator is doing the same with the Jerry Jones version. Sounds really good, but I haven't picked it up and played it. |
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Post by notneeson on Sept 4, 2021 14:58:37 GMT -6
Yeah, that's intriguing too. I'd have to go play one retail and see how it sounds/feels. |
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Post by notneeson on Sept 4, 2021 14:59:44 GMT -6
I've thought about buying the Reverend guitars several times. I own a Charger and it's nice and well built. Reverend has two baritone models that I recall. One has pickups that make it ideally suited for dark heavy stuff. It gets higher gain without special pedals or amps. I don't play metal but I think it's kind of a cool rock sound. For something more traditional they have a Pete Anderson signature. Pete played on all those cool Dwight Yocum albums. I'd probably lean towards the Pete Anderson model, but the other one does have an interesting sound. Warmoth has nice baritone necks, but they aren't totally cheap after the tuners, time and setup. Still could be a fun project, and you can keep the Fender look. I wouldn't hesitate with Reverend. The Fender would just be about feel of a body you know and nostalgia for a brand. Neither direction is wrong. Not necessarily looking for tic tac bass or twang, but I'm definitely not going for metal. |
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Post by sirthought on Sept 4, 2021 15:36:52 GMT -6
I've thought about buying the Reverend guitars several times. I own a Charger and it's nice and well built. Reverend has two baritone models that I recall. One has pickups that make it ideally suited for dark heavy stuff. It gets higher gain without special pedals or amps. I don't play metal but I think it's kind of a cool rock sound. For something more traditional they have a Pete Anderson signature. Pete played on all those cool Dwight Yocum albums. I'd probably lean towards the Pete Anderson model, but the other one does have an interesting sound. Warmoth has nice baritone necks, but they aren't totally cheap after the tuners, time and setup. Still could be a fun project, and you can keep the Fender look. I wouldn't hesitate with Reverend. The Fender would just be about feel of a body you know and nostalgia for a brand. Neither direction is wrong. Not necessarily looking for tic tac bass or twang, but I'm definitely not going for metal. If you have a retailer who stocks them you might be surprised. Sam Ash carries them here but it's really spotty. Too bad since the Reverend HQ is only about four hours away. |
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Post by wiz on Sept 5, 2021 17:40:42 GMT -6
I have the Danilo baritone
I haven’t had to fiddle with it
The pick ups sound great
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Post by jmoose on Sept 5, 2021 19:20:04 GMT -6
PRS has a baritone in the SE line...
Not a toy might exclude the Squier. Dunno. I have a Squier 70s jazz bass & while it sounds good it's sort of a POS. Compared to a more expensive instrument it's real easy to tell where the corners were cut.
Most annoying thing is easily the neck. It will simply not hold a setup for very long. Truss rod always shifting which makes intonation a moving target. And the cheap bridge was constantly moving too... fixed with a Gotoh replacement.
When its playing good it's as good as anything. Just real hard to keep it in mid season form.
I had a DanO baritone many moons ago. Was funky & kinda crappy but also had a vibe that made up for the shortcomings.
If your used to quality instruments maybe get a PRS, used Ernie Ball..? Build a Warmoth...
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Post by johneppstein on Sept 5, 2021 19:29:55 GMT -6
I'm always skeptical about the intonation of these cheaper Fender guitars. Like I'm sure you can make some good music with it but is the sound and ability to stay in tune not to mention the quality of the pickups... Are they as good as what you're getting with something like the Reverend. I own several Squier (2 Tele, One Strat) guitars. Intonation has never been a problem. EVER. |
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Post by johneppstein on Sept 5, 2021 19:31:37 GMT -6
PRS has a baritone in the SE line... Not a toy might exclude the Squier. Dunno. I have a Squier 70s jazz bass & while it sounds good it's sort of a POS. Compared to a more expensive instrument it's real easy to tell where the corners were cut. Most annoying thing is easily the neck. It will simply not hold a setup for very long. Truss rod always shifting which makes intonation a moving target. And the cheap bridge was constantly moving too... fixed with a Gotoh replacement. When its playing good it's as good as anything. Just real hard to keep it in mid season form. I had a DanO baritone many moons ago. Was funky & kinda crappy but also had a vibe that made up for the shortcomings. If your used to quality instruments maybe get a PRS, used Ernie Ball..? Build a Warmoth... I've never liked the PRS instrumenmts. They lack balls. |
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Post by sirthought on Sept 5, 2021 19:38:45 GMT -6
I'm always skeptical about the intonation of these cheaper Fender guitars. Like I'm sure you can make some good music with it but is the sound and ability to stay in tune not to mention the quality of the pickups... Are they as good as what you're getting with something like the Reverend. I own several Squier (2 Tele, One Strat) guitars. Intonation has never been a problem. EVER. Well it has for me, several times. |
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Post by johneppstein on Sept 5, 2021 22:47:46 GMT -6
I own several Squier (2 Tele, One Strat) guitars. Intonation has never been a problem. EVER. Well it has for me, several times. Either you need to do a thorough, careful setup or spend the money on a good tech to do it. There is no reason that a Squier Strat should be significanly worse than many or most Fender labelled ones. Electronics, now there's a bit of a problem, but mechanics? Naw. |
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Post by sirthought on Sept 5, 2021 23:42:00 GMT -6
Well it has for me, several times. Either you need to do a thorough, careful setup or spend the money on a good tech to do it. There is no reason that a Squier Strat should be significanly worse than many or most Fender labelled ones. Electronics, now there's a bit of a problem, but mechanics? Naw. The one I particularly remember in college was a Squier Bullet. Just terrible to keep in tune. But I've also had a Squire JP bass neck fall apart as I was playing it. No visible signs of damage before playing, because it was taken care of. I believe the Squire Strats are nicer now, but the tuners alone are always low quality, the bridge is never as good, etc. Not the worst investment if that's what you can afford, but there are plenty of people who can breakdown the types of materials used and talk about why they are less desirable. I'm cheap, so I'd prefer to get a more affordable instrument when possible. Anyhow, John, you've successfully sidetracked another thread. Let's stop this now. I'm sure he knows what his quality tolerance is. |
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Post by drbill on Sept 6, 2021 8:16:50 GMT -6
The Danelectro's always worked for me. The lipstick pickups have that "thang" if that's what you're after. I have not had setup or intonation issues, but I'm not really a serious player. I just use the guitar sometimes when that vibe is called for.
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Post by Ward on Sept 6, 2021 9:07:25 GMT -6
I have a 3 pup Tele (Tele Texas special pup in bridge, 2 Texas Special Strat pickups, with a Fender Baritone neck. Suits everything perfectly.
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Post by jmoose on Sept 6, 2021 12:19:30 GMT -6
Another possible option... and I'll say how viable it is depends on preferences... but its not totally uncommon to slap a set of baritone gauge strings on a regular old 25.5 scale guitar.
That's where I'm at now. Have a project Tele with 13-68 strings tuned B standard. Intonation & all that is fine. Mostly!
More or less the downside is as a short scale baritone there isn't a "normal" amount of tension on the strings so you can't really wail & muscle the guitar. Responds best to a light touch otherwise, dig in hard and its easy to pull chords sharp.
My particular Tele has an old USA customs neck with a 1 3/4" nut... and a reverse tilted headstock so it a bit wider & has more tension on the low B then a stock Tele. With the extra width its totally viable.
I have thought of getting a proper 28" scale baritone neck for it a few times over the years but haven't pulled the trigger. Mostly because it kinda works as-is and the current neck is not only top shelf quality but it also has matching paint, the whole guitar is a sparkle finish by a guy who usually paints hot rods... Real eye catcher!
Tuning at C - C standard puts more tension on and it plays better but I find that B - B is an easier transition from standard tuning. Easier for me and certainly easier for players who come in and pick it up having never played a baritone before.
Other then strings & setup... which is going to include recutting the nut its an easy inexpensive & workable conversion.
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Post by notneeson on Sept 6, 2021 14:09:42 GMT -6
I’ve got a great tech and, as it happens he was at the house this weekend as our kids have become friends. Anyway, he seemed bullish on the replacement neck option (he has more than enough work, I don’t think it’s that) so now I’m thinking more about that as I don’t love the soft V on my strat anyway. Not really playing it at all.
On the other hand, I probably need to just let my ASAT go, unlike some of you guys, 3 teles is too many for me. I get bummed out that the G&L and the strat aren’t getting played. Sale would likely fund this baritone project and some work on my D28.
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Post by Ward on Sept 6, 2021 15:42:52 GMT -6
Another possible option... and I'll say how viable it is depends on preferences... but its not totally uncommon to slap a set of baritone gauge strings on a regular old 25.5 scale guitar. That's where I'm at now. Have a project Tele with 13-68 strings tuned B standard. Intonation & all that is fine. Mostly! More or less the downside is as a short scale baritone there isn't a "normal" amount of tension on the strings so you can't really wail & muscle the guitar. Responds best to a light touch otherwise, dig in hard and its easy to pull chords sharp. My particular Tele has an old USA customs neck with a 1 3/4" nut... and a reverse tilted headstock SNIP Why hasn't ANYONE done a 7 string Tele (real Telecaster, not a shredder shaped like a Tele) with a Low-B string added to it? And say a 25.5" scale length or optionally, a 26.5" or 27" scale-length?? I mean, this is a simple Gimme for any guitar maker to do. Fender, G&L, Suhr, Nash, etc |
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Post by notneeson on Sept 6, 2021 16:39:47 GMT -6
Another possible option... and I'll say how viable it is depends on preferences... but its not totally uncommon to slap a set of baritone gauge strings on a regular old 25.5 scale guitar. That's where I'm at now. Have a project Tele with 13-68 strings tuned B standard. Intonation & all that is fine. Mostly! More or less the downside is as a short scale baritone there isn't a "normal" amount of tension on the strings so you can't really wail & muscle the guitar. Responds best to a light touch otherwise, dig in hard and its easy to pull chords sharp. My particular Tele has an old USA customs neck with a 1 3/4" nut... and a reverse tilted headstock SNIP Why hasn't ANYONE done a 7 string Tele (real Telecaster, not a shredder shaped like a Tele) with a Low-B string added to it? And say a 25.5" scale length or optionally, a 26.5" or 27" scale-length?? I mean, this is a simple Gimme for any guitar maker to do. Fender, G&L, Suhr, Nash, etc I’m opposed to this sacrilege. Heh. |
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Post by jmoose on Sept 6, 2021 16:58:37 GMT -6
Why hasn't ANYONE done a 7 string Tele (real Telecaster, not a shredder shaped like a Tele) with a Low-B string added to it? And say a 25.5" scale length or optionally, a 26.5" or 27" scale-length?? I mean, this is a simple Gimme for any guitar maker to do. Fender, G&L, Suhr, Nash, etc Probably not traditional enough for Fender or Nash... Suhr would probably build it for you. And be like, $4700 + case lol |
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Post by Ward on Sept 7, 2021 6:06:53 GMT -6
Why hasn't ANYONE done a 7 string Tele (real Telecaster, not a shredder shaped like a Tele) with a Low-B string added to it? And say a 25.5" scale length or optionally, a 26.5" or 27" scale-length?? I mean, this is a simple Gimme for any guitar maker to do. Fender, G&L, Suhr, Nash, etc Probably not traditional enough for Fender or Nash... Suhr would probably build it for you. And be like, $4700 + case lol I've built and/or assembled enough guitars over the years. I'm soon just going to do my own. Just need to work on my metalwork skills to build a trad bridge. |
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Post by svart on Sept 7, 2021 6:50:29 GMT -6
I have a friend who was Reverened endorsed years ago. he had a few of their guitars and I did some work on them. Honestly, they're just guitars. I really didn't see anything different from any other guitar that would make them worth the higher prices.
Anyway, I have an ibanez baritone. Love the guitar. It's got EMG actives and aimed more towards heavy music so wouldn't quite sound like the Danelectro.
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