What guitar would you recommend for A standard tuning?

[kbit]

So I'm toying with the idea of getting a guitar but still keeping a register similar to my bass (hence A the a standard). I know a baritone guitar would probably be good for the extra scale length, but I'm not very knowledgeable on baritone guitars, or what string gauge I would use, or whatever. Could anyone give me some advice on what guitars/strings/etc. would be good for accomplishing this? A guitar with single coils would be a plus.

EDIT: I've though about a 5-string bass with the top string being an A as well; anyone have any experience with something like that?

Sorry if this post is noob-ish, but I'm sure everyone here is more intelligent and helpful than google

[Seedy]

I have a Univox Hi-Flier bass which is short scale 4-string with P-90s. I love it but felt it was farty sounding, the strings were too ploopy. I put lighter strings on that I have to buy individually (95,70,55,30) and tune it up a fifth to BEAD, rather than down. My B is an octave above a 5-string's low B. Now it sounds like piano cables. It's the instrument that inspires me the most and it sounds awesome through my Algal Bloom. It's like a high bass, between a bass and baritone. I call it my guibass. So get a shortscale bass.

And I think the 6th string on a baritone is .056 or .060, something like that, but not sure.

[kbit]

I don't know why I didn't think of a short scale bass; that's a really good idea, thanks man. I'm sure I could find a cheap short scale bass on craigslist. I'd really like a 5 string instrument, but I don't know of many 5 string guitars and 5 string basses are often like 36". Boooo.

[Gunner Recall]

For my agile lp 27" bari I use 60-50-38-26w-16-13 I keep it in A standard or drop A, and sometimes go lower.

Those 30" bass vi copies are probably an easy transition, like the schecter hellcat or ultra vi and the agile argus

[kbit]

You've had good experience with your Agile, haven't you? I think I remember reading that somewhere....
Do the humbuckers sound "muddy" with that low of a tuning?

[Gunner Recall]

Pickups with tighter bass response do better for the heavily detuned stuff.
Some might say you also want medium or low output humbuckers, which is a good general rule but there are exceptions if you know what you are trying to do with your sound.

I love the bkp ceramic warpig in the bridge of my agile. It's tight but still kinda doomy/sludgey and it has crazy output.

I have mixed feelings about the alnico warpig in the neck.
It sounds great for jazzy clean stuff but distorted it's got too much boom and gets quite muddy (the alnico warpig is a great pickup, but just probably not a good match for the neck position of a baritone )

I might try a painkiller or an aftermath in the neck instead.

[kbit]

As a clean platform I'd like something nice and clear, round, not bright or dark really... Bad description. The way I have my J bass is bridge pick up 100% and neck at 70% and that gets me pretty much what I want; crisp but full.

I don't know much about different pick ups brands, but I think a P90 could get me this sound?

[dubkitty]

i think that P90s would be a little too barky in that application, and probably not as clean as you're looking for. most single-coil pickups have a bump in the frequency response that's higher than i think would be optimal for A tuning; i suppose you could tune around that with different tone caps or other wiring juju, but it'd be a pain to work through. if you don't want to use humbuckers, which in a lower-output version (6kΩ - 7.5kΩ) would be an easy answer, i'd consider Jazzmaster pickups for a hi-fi sound or well-constructed Dano-style lipstick-tube pickups, which sound AWESOME in a 2-pickup array with both pickups on, for a snappier approach. another idea would be mini-humbuckers a la the 70s Les Paul Deluxe, 60s Hofners, or modern Matons.

[kbit]

Thanks for the informed reply who knows, humbuckers may get me the sound I want; I won't know until I try.

I was looking at the Agile guitars, and they only have one 2800 in stock in an ugly camo finish *yuck*

[Gunner Recall]

Yep the nicer ones sell out fast, the guitars are made in batches.
I know I waited 4 months or so for the silverburst to be in stock.

It sounds like humbuckers might be the way to go for you, as dubkitty mentioned p90's have a lot of bark and singles can be kinda spikey.

[kbit]

After listening to some videos with humbuckers they sound a lot like what I'd want, so I'll probably go for that.
Too bad nearly every baritone video on youtube has non-stop metal riffs and barely any clean demos

Would you have any other recommendations as far as baritones? It seems like the Agile's are the only decent ones in the price range, and this seems to be the only readily available one. Not sure how I feel about the color.

[bubstance]

.

[dubkitty]

there's always the option of a used Danelectro.

[DarkAxel]

Yeah, Danos have superweak pups, but with some fuzz it shouldn't be a problem

[kbit]

I thought I found one used and cheap but it sold and the guy never updated his ad
Sad day.