Baritone project
Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 1:44 am
Hello all,
As I move further along with by first build (000 12-fret) I am beginning to think about the next one. I would like to build a baritone guitar for #2 and would like to get group comments on my tentative plan.
Since I already have the 000 12-fret mold and building experience, I’m thinking of using that body style, perhaps about ¼” deeper, for the baritone. I’ll want it tuned optimally to C-C, which seems consistent with about a 27 to 27.5” scale length (see Taylor and Shabby Chic: http://www.shabbychicguitars.com/Baritone.htm).
I’ve done some string tension calculations and it appears that, using heavy gauge strings, the tension would be slightly less than the standard tuned OOO, so the usual OOO bracing pattern might work….(?)
Ideally I’d like to find a drop-in, bolt-on martin type neck just like the one for my current kit project, but of course with the longer scale. I don't think I'm ready to shape my own neck! It appears that LMI offers a 27.5 fretboard that I could order pre-slotted.
The bridge would probably have to be moved to a slightly lower position to accommodate the scale length (I could also perhaps do 13 or 14 frets to the body to partially adjust for scale length), but everything else would be basically the same as the standard OOO, it appears….
What do you guys thing about this general plan? Are there important considerations I’m missing? One alterative would be to use a mini-jumbo body much like that used by Lowden, but I kind of like the OOO approach if it would work and if the resulting guitar has the potential to sound good. See Shabby Chic for a commercial example of a baritone that is apparently built from a 12-fret 000 design.
-Tim
As I move further along with by first build (000 12-fret) I am beginning to think about the next one. I would like to build a baritone guitar for #2 and would like to get group comments on my tentative plan.
Since I already have the 000 12-fret mold and building experience, I’m thinking of using that body style, perhaps about ¼” deeper, for the baritone. I’ll want it tuned optimally to C-C, which seems consistent with about a 27 to 27.5” scale length (see Taylor and Shabby Chic: http://www.shabbychicguitars.com/Baritone.htm).
I’ve done some string tension calculations and it appears that, using heavy gauge strings, the tension would be slightly less than the standard tuned OOO, so the usual OOO bracing pattern might work….(?)
Ideally I’d like to find a drop-in, bolt-on martin type neck just like the one for my current kit project, but of course with the longer scale. I don't think I'm ready to shape my own neck! It appears that LMI offers a 27.5 fretboard that I could order pre-slotted.
The bridge would probably have to be moved to a slightly lower position to accommodate the scale length (I could also perhaps do 13 or 14 frets to the body to partially adjust for scale length), but everything else would be basically the same as the standard OOO, it appears….
What do you guys thing about this general plan? Are there important considerations I’m missing? One alterative would be to use a mini-jumbo body much like that used by Lowden, but I kind of like the OOO approach if it would work and if the resulting guitar has the potential to sound good. See Shabby Chic for a commercial example of a baritone that is apparently built from a 12-fret 000 design.
-Tim