Best Baritone Acoustic Guitars: The Ultimate Guide RatingRiffs, June 9, 2024August 15, 2024 In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into the world of the best baritone acoustic guitars, exploring top models, key features, and what makes them stand out. Whether you’re a seasoned guitarist or just starting out, our ultimate guide will help you discover the best baritone acoustic guitars to suit your style and needs. List of the Best Baritone Acoustic Guitars IMAGEPRODUCTRATINGLINK Guild BT-258E Baritone Deluxe Acoustic-Electric Guitar 4.5/5 View On Amazonlabel Walden B1E W/Case Baritone-Electric Guitar 4.5/5 View On Amazonlabel Gretsch G5260 Electromatic Jet Baritone Electric Guitar 4.5/5 View On Amazonlabel Guild BT-240E Baritone Acoustic-electric Guitar 4.5/5 View On Amazonlabel Taylor AD26e Baritone Acoustic-electric Guitar 4.5/5 View On Amazonlabel Check out the thorough review of the best baritone acoustic guitars below. 1. Guild BT-258E Baritone Deluxe Acoustic-Electric Guitar The Guild BT-258E Deluxe Baritone Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a masterful blend of craftsmanship and innovation. Featuring a spruce top and arched rosewood back, this guitar delivers a harmonious, harp-like sound that is both enchanting and powerful. The jumbo body shape enhances the deep, full-frequency baritone voice, while the octave strings add a sparkling layer to the symphonic tone. The guitar’s mahogany neck and Pau Ferro fingerboard provide durability and smooth playability, making it an excellent choice for both ensemble and solo performances. The BT-258E Deluxe is tuned B-E-A-D-F#-B, offering a unique playing experience with its baritone range. Its Fishman GT-1 pickup system ensures excellent sound quality when amplified. The polyurethane finish adds a touch of elegance, making this guitar not only a pleasure to play but also visually stunning. With high-quality materials and exceptional design, the Guild BT-258E Deluxe stands out as a top choice for musicians seeking rich, low-end harmony and robust acoustic-electric performance. Pros Rich Sound Quality: Deep, full-frequency baritone voice with sparkling octave strings. High-Quality Materials: Spruce top, arched rosewood back, and mahogany neck. Durable Construction: Robust build with Pau Ferro fingerboard and polyurethane finish. Versatile Performance: Ideal for both ensemble and solo play. Excellent Amplification: Fishman GT-1 pickup system for superior sound quality. Cons No Included Case: Requires separate purchase for protection and transport. View On Amazon 2. Walden B1E W/Case Baritone-Electric Guitar The Walden B1E Baritone Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar offers an exceptional blend of craftsmanship and innovation, designed to meet the needs of discerning guitarists. With a solid Sitka spruce top and rosewood back and sides, this guitar produces a rich, resonant sound with excellent projection. The graphite-reinforced mahogany neck enhances stability and reduces wolf tones, ensuring a clear, fundamental sound. Its Grand Auditorium body shape, combined with an offset soundhole and side port, provides superior sonic performance and comfort. The B1E is equipped with Fishman Prefix+T electronics, including a built-in tuner, ensuring top-notch amplified sound quality. The 27-inch scale length and 1-13/16-inch nut width offer transparent playability, ideal for soloists, singer-songwriters, and percussive fingerstyle players. Additionally, the guitar’s low-mass bracing and rosewood binding add to its durability and aesthetic appeal. The included Walden hardshell case provides excellent protection for this premium instrument. Pros Rich Sound: Solid Sitka spruce top and rosewood body ensure resonant tones. Stable Neck: Graphite-reinforced mahogany neck enhances stability and reduces wolf tones. Excellent Electronics: Fishman Prefix+T system with built-in tuner. Comfortable Playability: Grand Auditorium body and ergonomic design. Included Case: Comes with a durable Walden hardshell case. Cons Special Tuning: Baritone tuning requires adjustment for standard players. View On Amazon 3. Gretsch G5260 Electromatic Jet Baritone Electric Guitar Featuring a solid mahogany body, this guitar delivers warm, resonant tones complemented by a sleek London Grey finish. Its maple neck, paired with a bound laurel fingerboard, offers smooth playability across 22 medium jumbo frets. The elongated 29 3/4-inch scale length ensures excellent string tension for lower tunings, making it perfect for baritone applications. Equipped with dual Gretsch mini humbucking pickups, the G5260 captures thundering lows with piano-like articulation, providing a wide and dynamic sonic range. The three-way pickup switch, master volume, and master tone controls offer versatile sound shaping options. Premium features include an anchored Adjusto-Matic bridge, pearloid Big Block inlays, white binding with purfling, and chrome hardware, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics. This 6-string guitar is designed for right-handed players and excels in delivering powerful, defined tones at any gain level. Ideal for a variety of musical styles, the G5260 holds tune well and offers impressive intonation, making it a great choice for both beginners and seasoned musicians. Pros Warm Tone: Solid mahogany body produces rich, resonant sound. Versatile Electronics: Dual mini humbuckers and three-way switch provide dynamic tone shaping. Comfortable Playability: Elongated scale and maple neck ensure ease of play. Premium Features: Includes Adjusto-Matic bridge and pearloid Big Block inlays. Stylish Design: Sleek London Grey finish and chrome hardware. Cons Heavier Weight: Solid construction adds to the guitar’s weight. View On Amazon 4. Guild BT-240E Baritone Acoustic-electric Guitar With a solid spruce top and arched mahogany back and sides, this guitar delivers a full-frequency baritone voice, adding a unique and mysterious character to any musical arrangement. The large jumbo body shape, a hallmark of Guild’s design legacy, enhances the projection and depth of the sound, making it ideal for both ensemble play and solo performances. The mahogany neck and Pau Ferro fingerboard provide a smooth and comfortable playing experience, while the baritone tuning (B-E-A-D-F#-B) allows for a deeper musical expression, five steps down from a standard guitar. This tuning is perfect for singer-songwriters and performers who prefer lower registers without compromising on playability. The BT-240E also features an excellent amplification system, ensuring that the natural acoustic qualities are faithfully reproduced when plugged in. Pros Rich Tone: Deep, full-frequency voice with a solid spruce top and arched mahogany back. Smooth Playability: Mahogany neck and Pau Ferro fingerboard provide comfort. Unique Tuning: Baritone tuning adds a new dimension to musical expression. Excellent Amplification: Faithful sound reproduction when plugged in. Value for Money: High-quality construction at a competitive price. Cons Initial Tone: May sound muddy initially, improves over time. View On Amazon 5. Taylor AD26e Baritone Acoustic-electric Guitar The Taylor AD26e Baritone Acoustic-Electric Guitar in Shaded Edgeburst is designed for musicians seeking to explore the depths of baritone acoustics with style and comfort. Featuring a solid mahogany top, sapele back and sides, and a mahogany neck, this guitar offers a rich, bold sound with smooth definition. The smoked eucalyptus fingerboard complements the overall aesthetic and ensures seamless playability across its 27-inch scale length. The AD26e’s Grand Symphony body shape and custom bracing enhance its sonic projection, delivering clear, resonant tones that make each note stand out. Equipped with the advanced ES2 electronics system and onboard EQ controls, this guitar provides versatile sound shaping capabilities for both stage performances and recording sessions. Players can easily dial in their preferred tones, whether they prefer a natural acoustic sound or a more experimental setup with loopers and effects. The AD26e’s construction and design make it an ideal choice for those looking to delve into baritone ranges without sacrificing playability or tone quality. With its elegant Shaded Edgeburst finish and high-quality materials, the Taylor AD26e is a standout addition to any guitarist’s collection. Pros Rich Tone: Mahogany top and sapele body deliver bold, resonant sound. Smooth Playability: 27-inch scale length and smoked eucalyptus fingerboard. Versatile Electronics: ES2 system with EQ controls for various sound options. Elegant Design: Shaded Edgeburst finish and high-quality materials. Enhanced Projection: Custom bracing and Grand Symphony body shape. Cons Price Point: Higher cost due to premium features. View On Amazon What Is a Baritone Acoustic Guitar? A baritone acoustic guitar is a variation of the standard acoustic guitar that is tuned lower and has a longer scale length. Typically, a baritone acoustic guitar has a scale length of around 27 inches, compared to the standard 25.5 inches for a regular acoustic guitar. The lower tuning and longer scale length of a baritone acoustic guitar result in a deeper, richer, and more resonant tone. The strings have more tension and a longer vibrating length, which produces a sound that is thicker, warmer, and with more pronounced low-end frequencies. Why Should You Consider Playing a Baritone Acoustic Guitar? Expanded tonal range: The baritone acoustic guitar opens up a whole new tonal palette, allowing you to explore lower registers and deeper sounds that are not easily accessible on a standard acoustic guitar. Versatility: The distinct tone of a baritone acoustic guitar can be useful in various musical genres, such as folk, blues, rock, and even metal. It can add depth and richness to your arrangements, making your music more dynamic and interesting. Songwriting inspiration: The unique sound of a baritone acoustic guitar can inspire new songwriting ideas and chord voicings, helping you break out of familiar patterns and explore fresh musical territory. Alternate tunings: Baritone acoustic guitars are well-suited for alternate tunings, such as open tunings or drop tunings, which can unlock new creative possibilities and make certain chord shapes and progressions easier to play. Fingerstyle playing: The longer scale length and increased string tension can make fingerstyle playing more comfortable for some guitarists, as it reduces the need for excessive string bending and allows for a more relaxed hand position. Live performance: The rich, full sound of a baritone acoustic guitar can cut through a mix better than a standard acoustic guitar, making it a useful instrument for live performances, particularly in ensemble settings. While baritone acoustic guitars may require some adjustment in terms of technique and chord shapes, they offer a unique and rewarding playing experience that can expand your musical horizons and add depth to your sound. What Makes a Baritone Acoustic Guitar Unique? Longer Scale Length: The most distinctive feature of a baritone acoustic guitar is its longer scale length, typically around 27 inches (686 mm) compared to the standard 25.5 inches (648 mm) found on regular acoustic guitars. This increased scale length contributes significantly to the unique tone and playability of a baritone guitar. Lower Tuning: Baritone acoustic guitars are tuned lower than standard guitars, typically B-E-A-D-F#-B, which is a perfect fourth below standard tuning. This lower tuning, combined with the longer scale length, results in a deeper, richer, and more resonant tone with enhanced low-end frequencies. Increased String Tension: Due to the longer scale length, the strings on a baritone acoustic guitar have higher tension, even when tuned lower. This increased tension contributes to the guitar’s distinctive tone and sustain, as well as a different feel and response under the fingers. Unique Tone: The combination of the longer scale length, lower tuning, and increased string tension produces a tone that is thicker, warmer, and more resonant than a standard acoustic guitar. The sound is often described as having a “baritone” or “bassier” quality, with a pronounced low-end and a rich, full-bodied character. Alternate Voicings and Chord Shapes: The lower tuning and extended range of a baritone acoustic guitar require different chord shapes and voicings compared to a standard guitar. This can inspire new creative approaches to chord progressions and songwriting. Specialized Construction: Some baritone acoustic guitars feature a slightly larger body size or deeper body depth to accommodate the longer scale length and enhance the low-end response. Additionally, the bracing patterns and tonewoods may be adjusted to optimize the instrument’s unique tonal characteristics. Fingerstyle Friendly: The increased string tension and longer scale length can make fingerstyle playing more comfortable for some guitarists, as it reduces the need for excessive string bending and allows for a more relaxed hand position. Genre Versatility: While baritone acoustic guitars are commonly associated with genres like folk, blues, and rock, their distinctive tone can also find applications in other styles, such as metal, ambient, or experimental music, providing a unique sonic palette. How Does the Tuning of a Baritone Acoustic Guitar Differ from a Standard Guitar? Standard Guitar Tuning: The standard tuning for a regular acoustic or electric guitar is E-A-D-G-B-E, from the lowest to the highest string. This tuning is often referred to as “Standard” or “E Standard” tuning. Baritone Guitar Tuning: Baritone acoustic guitars are typically tuned a perfect fourth lower than the standard guitar tuning. The most common baritone tuning is B-E-A-D-F#-B, from the lowest to the highest string. Explanation of the Difference: Lower Pitch: The baritone tuning places each string a perfect fourth (5 semitones) lower than the corresponding string on a standard-tuned guitar. This results in a significantly lower overall pitch range for the baritone guitar. Extended Range: While a standard guitar’s lowest string is tuned to E, the baritone’s lowest string is tuned to B, extending the low-end range by a whole fourth. Thicker Strings: To accommodate the lower tuning and maintain proper string tension, baritone guitars typically use thicker gauge strings than standard guitars. This contributes to the deeper, richer tone characteristic of baritone guitars. Chord Shapes and Voicings: Due to the lower tuning, familiar chord shapes and voicings will sound different on a baritone guitar. Guitarists need to adjust their fretting hand positions and fingerings to play the same chords as on a standard guitar. Alternate Tunings: Baritone guitars are well-suited for alternate tunings, such as open tunings or drop tunings, which can unlock new creative possibilities and make certain chord shapes and progressions easier to play. Transposition: When playing along with standard-tuned guitars or other instruments, baritone guitarists need to transpose their part up a perfect fourth to match the key. The lower tuning of baritone acoustic guitars not only provides a distinctive tonal character but also requires guitarists to adapt their technique and approach to chords, scales, and voicings. This can be both challenging and rewarding, as it opens up new creative possibilities and expands the guitarist’s musical horizons. How to Choose the Best Baritone Acoustic Guitar? Assess Your Playing Style and Preferences Before diving into the sea of baritone acoustic guitars, it’s crucial to understand your playing style and preferences. Are you a fingerstyle virtuoso, or do you prefer the percussive attack of flatpicking? Do you favor the warm embrace of a dreadnought body, or do you prefer the articulate projection of a smaller body shape? Considering these factors will help you narrow down your search and ensure that the baritone acoustic guitar you choose complements your playing style and musical aspirations. Tonewood Matters Just like a painter’s canvas, the tonewoods used in the construction of a baritone acoustic guitar play a significant role in shaping its sonic character. For example, a cedar top paired with mahogany back and sides will produce a warm, mellow tone, perfect for fingerstyle playing and singer-songwriters. On the other hand, a spruce top combined with rosewood back and sides will yield a more articulate and punchy sound, ideal for flatpickers and those seeking a well-defined bass response. Scale Length: The Key to Comfort The defining feature of a baritone acoustic guitar is its extended scale length, typically ranging from 27 to 28.5 inches. While a longer scale length contributes to the instrument’s distinctive tone, it can also impact playability. If you have smaller hands, a scale length closer to 27 inches might be more comfortable. Conversely, if you have larger hands or prefer a more substantial string tension, a scale length closer to 28.5 inches could be a better fit. Electronics: Amplify Your Sound If you plan to perform live or record with your baritone acoustic guitar, considering an electro-acoustic model with built-in electronics can be a game-changer. These instruments feature a preamp and pickups that allow you to amplify your sound without compromising its natural warmth and richness. Look for models with reputable electronics systems, such as those from Fishman or LR Baggs, to ensure a high-quality amplified tone. Brand Reputation and Quality While there are numerous brands offering baritone acoustic guitars, it’s essential to consider their reputation and quality standards. Established brands like Alvarez, Ibanez, and Fender have a proven track record of producing high-quality instruments that are built to last. Investing in a well-crafted baritone acoustic guitar from a reputable brand can save you from the headaches of frequent repairs and ensure a reliable musical companion for years to come. Frequently Asked Questions about Baritone Acoustic Guitar What is a baritone acoustic guitar? A baritone acoustic guitar is a type of guitar that is tuned lower than a standard acoustic guitar and has a longer scale length (typically around 27 inches compared to 25.5 inches on a standard guitar). This longer scale length and lower tuning give the baritone acoustic guitar a deeper, richer, and more resonant tone with enhanced low-end frequencies. What is the standard tuning for a baritone acoustic guitar? The most common tuning for a baritone acoustic guitar is B-E-A-D-F#-B, which is a perfect fourth lower than the standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning of a regular acoustic guitar. What are the benefits of playing a baritone acoustic guitar? Some benefits of playing a baritone acoustic guitar include access to a deeper, warmer tone with more pronounced bass frequencies, the ability to explore alternate tunings and chord voicings more easily, and a comfortable playing experience for fingerstyle guitarists due to the increased string tension and longer scale length. Are baritone acoustic guitars harder to play than standard guitars? Baritone acoustic guitars can take some adjustment for guitarists used to standard guitars, as the longer scale length and different tuning require learning new chord shapes and finger positions. However, many players find the increased string tension and spacing between strings to be comfortable, especially for fingerstyle playing. What genres of music are baritone acoustic guitars well-suited for? Baritone acoustic guitars are commonly used in genres like folk, blues, rock, and some forms of metal due to their rich, resonant tone. However, their unique sound can also be applied to other genres like ambient, experimental, or even classical guitar compositions. How do I choose the right baritone acoustic guitar for me? When choosing a baritone acoustic guitar, consider factors like your playing style (fingerstyle vs. flatpicking), preferred body shape and size, tonewoods, scale length (27″ vs. 28.5″), whether you need built-in electronics, and your budget. Also, research reputable brands known for quality baritone guitars. Can I play standard guitar songs on a baritone acoustic guitar? Yes, you can play standard guitar songs on a baritone acoustic guitar, but you’ll need to transpose the chords and melodies up a perfect fourth to match the lower tuning. This can be a fun way to add a new flavor to familiar songs. Do baritone acoustic guitars require special strings? Yes, baritone acoustic guitars typically use heavier gauge strings than standard guitars to maintain proper tension and intonation with the longer scale length and lower tuning. Many string manufacturers offer dedicated baritone string sets. Are baritone acoustic guitars more expensive than standard guitars? On average, baritone acoustic guitars tend to be slightly more expensive than their standard counterparts, primarily due to the additional materials and construction required to accommodate the longer scale length and lower tuning. Can I use standard guitar techniques on a baritone acoustic guitar? While many standard guitar techniques like strumming, fingerpicking, and flatpicking can be applied to a baritone acoustic guitar, some adjustments may be required due to the different string spacing, tension, and overall feel. However, the baritone’s longer scale length can make certain techniques like string bending and vibrato more challenging. Final Thoughts Embarking on the journey to find the best baritone acoustic guitar can be a rewarding and enlightening experience. As you’ve learned from this ultimate guide, these instruments are not just about their distinct tones and extended range – they’re also about unlocking new creative avenues and pushing the boundaries of your musical expression. Whether you’re a seasoned guitarist seeking a fresh sonic palette or a beginner captivated by the allure of the baritone’s rich, resonant tones, the right baritone acoustic guitar can be a game-changer. From exploring alternate tunings and unique chord voicings to adding depth and warmth to your arrangements, the possibilities are endless. Enjoyed this guide of the best baritone acoustic guitars? Then be sure to check out our other instrument guides. 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