Ok so I'm in the market for a new guitar. But i need some advice on a couple things. Heres a little background on my current rig:

Guitar: Yamaha drop-6 ty tabor signature series
type: baritone
Tuning: Drop-B
strings: .11g - .70g

Ever since i've been using a baritone, i've been under the assumption that baritones are absolutely crucial not only in achieving that metal tone that you hear in bands like Soilwork, Killswitch engage, in flames ect... But also that baritones keep better tuning when your playing in a drop-b situation.

But it is somewhat difficult to find baritone guitars that I actually like. So my question is, is it possible to keep that tone and tuning stability with a standard scale guitar? I really want an ESP with the les paul or SG style body. But unless you get them via custom shop (very expensive) its very rare to find baritone versions for sale. new or used.

Any suggestions?

Gary from Samsahra
http://www.myspace.com/samsahra

If you get a standard 6 string set up with high gauge strings, there should be no reason why it shouldn't stay in tune.

ESP has a 7 or 8 string guitar, available in standard or baritone.

ESP

It's not LP or SG style however.

Schecter makes nice guitars and has baritone.

Schecter

As well as Ibanez


Here's an Agile

And lastly here's a Fernandes

Hope that helps.

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The LTD VB400 is a sg shaped baritone, and still in production.

http://www.espguitars.com/guitars_viper.html

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That's the one I was looking for and I missed it so I thought it was out of production. Nice find.

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My buddy has the older 300 model and the thing rules.

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I use 3 of ESP guitars in my main lineup-an Elipse,EC500,400.Tuning in everything from Dstandard,Cstandard,dropC,and down to C#,and dropBb.No problems.I use Ernie Ball Power slinkys,.48-.11s.One thing I do tho is I always change the mini black Grovers they come with,to nickle or chrome Grover 102 Rotomatics.My guitars stay in tune great with them.No problems.I even use the Grover 102s on my 70s model Les Paul standard and my 90s model Les Paul studio.

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Thanks for the info guys.

I've done quite a bit of research and I'm aware of the many types of baritones that are out there. I dont have a ton of money, so chances are I will be looking for some kind of used guitar. Thats why I was wondering if a standard scale guitar would work as well as a baritone in respects to tone and tuning. Used baritones are hard to come by. And I really like the ESPs since a lot of them come standard with EMG pickups.

I guess my biggest concern is that a standard scale guitar tuned to drop B wont stay in tune as well as a baritone. I had a gibson SG for a while, and everytime I would drop tune, i would always have problems with keeping it in tune. Granted that was a long time ago and I didnt know about string gauge and guitar set-ups for certain gauges and tunings.

So If i were to get a standard scale ESP viper or Eclipse - put on thicker gauge strings and had it set up properly - I would have a good sounding metal guitar that stayed in tune?

It's possible to tune a standard scaled guitar down to B and keep it there, and for it to sound good.

Zakk Wylde did/does it with his Les Pauls (24 3/4 inch scale), albeit with MASSIVE strings. Bill Steer from Carcass did it with his Ibanezs (25.5 inch scale) on all 5 of their albums and his Heartwork tone is often considered the holy grail of metal tones.

I personally use a standard scaled 7 string (25.5 inch) tuned to A standard without any intonation/floppy string problems, and I'm not even using massive strings. 10-59 if I remember correctly.

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^What Talent said. I keep trying to say more, but honestly, that's the best you're going to get.

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There used to be a Gibson Les Paul Baritone, but it seems to have disappeared lately. Although, as it has been mentioned above, there's no reason for a non-baritone guitar to be used.

You mentioned Killswitch, and neither of their guitarists use baritones. I know that at least one (though I think both) of them uses 25.5 scale Caparisons, and just tune them down to drop C.

Seven string guitars are always a good option too.

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As far as i know, MANY a DOOM band drop down to C (or more sometimes) with standard length guitars !

Even Kim from Soundgarden droped to C for a song or two.

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Power Slinkies + B standard on a strat= good string tension.. no problems with tuning. A standard.. little floppy, but doable without too much hassle.

I'd try a seven string if you wanted to go any lower than that, try a few out.. the necks are ****ing massive(unplayable to me) tho.

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Just think how big the new Ibanez 8stringer must feel then !

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* Gibson SG w. A2P's -->pedal board -->Bassman AB165 *

* Good deals w : Berarduur

Yeah i've owned a 7-string before and ended up selling it. Neck was way to thick for my taste.


I'm coming to the realization that the safest way to go would be to just buy a baritone again instead of taking my chances with a standard scale guitar. Which really upsets me because I fell in love with the ESP EC-500. If only they made that with an extended scale :-(

Has anyone had any experience playing an ESP VB-400 (baritone SG style esp)? This is my second option. Unfortunately it only comes in the black satin finish. I really wanted either white or black cherry finishes.

I never liked the 7strings myself...

Havent ever played the VB400...

But,My EC500 I had my tech setup to use in Cstandard and dropping Bb when need to, the Eclipse is kept in Dstandard and drop C when I need to,the EC400 is my floater-its setup in Cstandard w/dropBb but then sometimes is setup in C#,and has been B,with no problems.The PowerSlinkys(.11-.48) are perfect for me,but with the Earvana compensated nut you could probably use thicker gauge strings.Its funny,my EC400 has 24 frets,same as the Eclipse and the 500,but its advertised at 22.hmmmm.
I use Peavey 6505 and 5150s in my band work and they just love low tunings.I use Marshalls when recording and they seem kind of spongy down low for some reason.May be my ears.

Myself,I went to the ESPs to preserve my old early 70s model LesPaul Standard.My 90s model LesPaul Studio I didnt care about it as much but it just didnt have the right feel down low.I didnt want to mess something up tho with the Standard playing in lower tunings all of the time.So,I keep them both in Dstandard.I havent kept an electric in Estandard in many years.Only my acoustics and classicals stay in standardE.

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