I'm looking for an instrument to play in an acoustic environment. I've been checking baritone guitars and I was wondering if there was one out there with a 30" scale, just like a Bass VI.
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Is there such a thing as an acoustic Bass VI?
- Thread starter Gonzo476
- Start date
The only thing I know of that's close is this, but it's a 12: Baritone Bass 12-string - Breaking The Mould - Custom Guitars
I'm sure they'd be happy to do a 6 for you, but they are not cheap.
I'm sure they'd be happy to do a 6 for you, but they are not cheap.
Thanks for the suggestion! I'm looking for something relatively inexpensive, since I would only use it for acoustic sets with my stonery blues band.
Good luck, an inexpensive 4 string ABG that can keep up acoustically is hard enough to find, what you're looking for might be rarer than unicorns. 
Good luck, an inexpensive 4 string ABG that can keep up acoustically is hard enough to find, what you're looking for might be rarer than unicorns.
That's what I feared hahaha. In fact, the whole point of going the baritone route was getting heard at acoustic gigs, since an ABG will surely be drowned out by my guitarist.
I googled '30" scale baritone acoustic guitar' and hit on this:
Guessing it's not inexpensive though.
Guessing it's not inexpensive though.
Same frequencies, it's going to have the same problem.
Yes, I saw it already. Honestly, if I canot find something with a longer scale (28"-30") I will probably get one of those.
Really? I've listened to acoustic baritones once or twice and got the impression that they could keep up with a standard guitar just fine. I will double check, though. Thanks!
You might be in luck on that Alvarez: Alvarez Artist Series ABT60 Baritone Guitar - only 27&3/4" scale, but maybe you could get heavier strings on it. Sounds nice to me.
Well, the lower you go, the harder it gets. An acoustic 30" baritone guitar tuned E-E is just a short scale ABG with two extra strings - nothing's free. The lower the frequency, the more power and size you need to be heard, true electrically or acoustically.
TANSTAAFL and all...
Yes, I'm checking demos and it sounds nice. I will have to check with my local luthier whether it would be possible to tune it E to e with heavier strings.
What you heard was probably tuned b to b, not e to e. If tuned e to e it will definitely have the same problem, if not worse because of the shorter scale..
I see...well, I think I would be able to manage with B to b. I'm just being lazy and don't want to change my playing positions.
Thank you for the replies!
Though with baritone rather than bass strings, it will be louder, but you'll be hearing mostly overtones more than fundamentals - might be acceptable for OP's needs, though.
@bholder: a "normal", i.e. 6-string, E-to-e version of your new contrabass guitar is, for all intents and purposes, an acoustic bass VI with decent acoustic volume.
Unfortunately, I doubt they can be had for much less than a thousand (though being in Spain might help):
Esteve - PS75 Contrabass
Strings for them are out there though - Savarez and Royal Classics are the cheapest in Europe, then La Bella and Pyramid and finally Hannabach:
NCCBD
NCCBD
An alternative would be browsing the thousands of threads on acoustic bass guitars, getting the most recommended one you can find locally, converting it to six strings, perchance asking this gentleman for assistance (he's approachable even if you don't give him your business):
Terry's Baris - [email protected]
Or, finally, finding the RockBass version* of the Warwick Alien 6 and restringing it E2e (which, alas, could also set you back a thousand euros).
(The last options might involve a longer scale than true VIs/contrabass guitars, but they could work.)
If plugged acoustic is an option and you can live with shorty-short scale, Savarez and Magma make each a set for normal classical guitars - instant contrabass! (Don't expect acoustic volume out of it of course.)
Special guitars - Strings Savarez Music -
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http://www.arpeges.fr/fr/instrument...savarez-640-r-guitare-basse-classique_1009284
your new contrabass guitar
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[*assuming it exists - I'm not a Warwick expert.]
Yeah, solutions do exist, there are plenty of custom bari builders who'd be happy to make one as well, but as you said, hard to find for cheap, and a cheap one, if it exists, might not be loud enough. Tough tradeoffs.
That Esteves sure looks sweet! Mine's a Quiles, I know zip about Spanish classical brands.
I found mine! NCCBD
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