Baritone scale question

TheStevenLasombras · Post by **TheStevenLasombras** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 4:43 pm

OK, dudes. Just came into possession of an old (Hondo?) Rickenbacker bass copy that I'm going to try and refinish. It was partially modded as a six-string but apparently never completed. Holes for tuning machines have been filled + redrilled, A six-string nut + tailpiece are attached. My idea is to refinish it myself, procure the missing parts, and then have a local dude I trust actually assemble the thing. But I'm playing more baritone than bass now, was curious about the possibility of setting it up as a baritone (B-B). Can a 33.5" scale bass work as a(n even-remotely-usable) baritone? :erm:

I mean, I'll proceed with the refinishing project either way, just hoping this might be a cheap(er) way to quiet my "new baritone??" urges (for a while)...

skullservant · Post by **skullservant** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 4:56 pm

You miiiight be able to do it? Might have to tweak the bridge a little bit but hey, I'm really curious about this!

TheStevenLasombras · Post by **TheStevenLasombras** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 5:19 pm

skullservant wrote:You miiiight be able to do it? Might have to tweak the bridge a little bit but hey, I'm really curious about this!

Cool! I'm open to moving the bridge. Assuming I don't fuck up with the finish before getting to that point (which I'd put at like 50/50), I'll report back. If nothing else, I'd be happy to end up with something good for open drones or something. We'll see!

Achtane · Post by **Achtane** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 5:46 pm

EhhhhhhhhIIIIIIIIIdunno if you can do that without getting a different neck.
But...you could have a cool six string bass.

dubkitty · Post by **dubkitty** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 9:45 pm

using a 33.5 scale for a bari would be a stretch...they typically run more like 27-28". it could work with very careful string selection, but a six-string bass seems much more doable.

kosta · Post by **kosta** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 12:05 am

E to E six string bass! B O O M !

Mudfuzz · Post by **Mudfuzz** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 12:20 am

kosta wrote:E to E six string bass! B O O M !

yep

and here is inspiration

RIC 4005/6

dubkitty · Post by **dubkitty** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 2:33 pm

HOMINA HOMINA HOMINA

Nelson Instruments · Post by **Nelson Instruments** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:58 pm

My two cents is that even if you can find baritone strings long enough, a 33.5" scale baritone would be a bitch to play chords on.
A Bass VI could be done....but even then you'd need to make sure someone makes long scale bass VI strings.
I am only aware of 30" scale bass VI strings.
I'd suggest getting the string details figured out first and then proceeding. It would suck to oay someone to finish the mod only to find it can't be fuctional.

Mudfuzz · Post by **Mudfuzz** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 1:01 am

Nelson Instruments wrote: I am only aware of 30" scale bass VI strings.

If you are resourceful that is not much of a hurtle these days with all the extended range instruments about. You can get long scale strings all the up to .007. And again if dudes can play chords on the damned 7+ string basses... and as the pict I posted 33.5 is what Ric did, granted no idea if anyone ever actually liked the things as there are so few. Personally I like 30" for bari-s and bass VIs :idk:

But I'll also be the last person to say the idea is silly because you never know :idk:

Bon Hoga · Post by **Bon Hoga** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:49 am

Nelson Instruments wrote:My two cents is that even if you can find baritone strings long enough, a 33.5" scale baritone would be a bitch to play chords on.

How come?

dubkitty · Post by **dubkitty** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 3:04 pm

too much space between the frets. a first-position chord would require hands the size of your head.

Mudfuzz · Post by **Mudfuzz** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 7:25 pm

nah...

dubkitty · Post by **dubkitty** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 10:27 pm

well, i have tiny mandolin-player hands :idk:

Bon Hoga · Post by **Bon Hoga** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 7:48 pm

TheStevenLasombras wrote:OK, dudes. Just came into possession of an old (Hondo?) Rickenbacker bass copy that I'm going to try and refinish. It was partially modded as a six-string but apparently never completed. Holes for tuning machines have been filled + redrilled, A six-string nut + tailpiece are attached. My idea is to refinish it myself, procure the missing parts, and then have a local dude I trust actually assemble the thing. But I'm playing more baritone than bass now, was curious about the possibility of setting it up as a baritone (B-B). Can a 33.5" scale bass work as a(n even-remotely-usable) baritone? I mean, I'll proceed with the refinishing project either way, just hoping this might be a cheap(er) way to quiet my "new baritone??" urges (for a while)...

With that scale length the G-G tuning seems more realistic, provided you can find strings long enough. I have a few packets of Ernie Ball 13-72, I can measure them tomorrow if you'd like.

ilovefuzz.com

Baritone scale question

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