They were experimenting with all voices.” Those were acoustic instruments, of course. “A hundred years ago, the Germans produced baritone guitars,” says guitar historian George Gruhn, owner of Gruhn Guitars in Nashville, “but I don’t know much about them. Some point to Jerry Jones as having led the way with his production models, but others say Danelectro’s 6-string bass design qualifies as the first.Ī Danelectro Longhorn 6-string Bass. There is some dispute as to who first mass-produced a guitar that could truly be considered an electric baritone. Mystery Train: Who Built the First Baritone? A baritone’s distinctive timbre is about a scale length that facilitates proper intonation and optimal string tension. That’s why it’s great for everything from fattening up rhythm tracks to playing bass lines, soloing in standard-guitar note ranges, or standing as the sole 6-string in a song. A baritone has taut low end that’s much more muscular and powerful than a standard-tuned guitar, but also far more articulate and cutting than a bass. There are countless examples of standard guitars being used to emulate the effect of a baritone, too-from the James Bond theme to the Pixies’ “Here Comes Your Man,” Aerosmith’s “Back in the Saddle,” and the Posies’ “Coming Right Along.” But there’s a lot more to a baritone than its tuning-a baritone is not just a standard guitar tuned way down. It’s a staple for many metal and alt-rock guitarists who play in nonstandard tunings, and it’s been featured in recordings by artists as diverse as Dave Matthews, Allan Holdsworth, the B-52’s, Kaki King, System of a Down, Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi), Metallica, and even Britney Spears. Though many players associate the baritone with twangy tones-it’s iconic in surf, rockabilly, and country-that’s certainly not all it can do. Mention the words “electric baritone guitar” to aficionados of the downtuned 6-string, and it instantly conjures a wealth of images-Clint Eastwood’s steely gaze staring out from behind his cigarillo, the misty-mountain montage from Twin Peaks, Duane Eddy playing any number of his hit songs.
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