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Last updated: 14 Feb 2022

Best Baritone Guitars for Deep and Dreamy Riffs

Best Overall
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PRS SE 277 Baritone
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Best Versatile Output Options
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Ben Burnley ESP LTD BB-600 Baritone Guitar
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Best Body Style
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Danelectro Baritone Electric Guitar
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Best Semi-Hollow Baritone Electric Guitar
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Danelectro 66BT Baritone Guitar
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Jack Stoneybrook
By Jack Stoneybrook
Published 11:47 am
Show contents
  • 1 PRS SE 277 Baritone
  • 2 Ben Burnley ESP LTD BB-600 Baritone Guitar
  • 3 Danelectro Baritone Electric Guitar
  • 4 Danelectro 66BT Baritone Guitar
  • 5 ESP LTD M-7 HT Baritone Black Metal

Baritones produce deep and dreamy tones and have done so since the 1950s. Baritone guitars are larger and heavier than regular guitars. They may not be for everyone but for those who need a creative boost and are inquisitive about extending their musical ability, these extraordinary guitars don’t disappoint. Baritones just can’t be substituted by any other instrument and promise to be a friend for life. Choosing a baritone requires similar considerations to choosing a regular guitar. Not only is the size and weight important but deciding whether an acoustic or electric option is the best fit for you also needs to be thought through. We’ve listed some of the best baritone guitars in 2021 to help you match up specs and suitability. You definitely won’t be lacking inspiration for your next finger-strutting riff with one of these.

Detailing the Best Baritone Guitar of 2021

1

PRS SE 277 Baritone

– Best Overall
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THE SCOOP

The SE 277 Baritone is a solid body electric guitar with a beveled flame maple veneer top. Its classy look matches the high-quality build and comfortable feel. The PRS-designed plate-style bridge offers solid tuning stability. Its 27.7-inch baritone scale length is ideal for B-B tuning characteristic to this type of guitar. It features 2 powerful and clear 85/15 S humbucking pickups and a coil split available for single-coil tones. This allows you to get the sound of both humbuckers and single-coil pickups.

Pros
  • The 27.7-inch baritone scale length is ideal for B-B tuning
  • Coil split available for single-coil tones
  • The guitar features a beveled maple top with a wide-fat neck profile
Cons
  • The guitar is on the pricier side
2

Ben Burnley ESP LTD BB-600 Baritone Guitar

– Best Versatile Output Options
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THE SCOOP

This Ben Burnley baritone guitar features versatile output options with an under-bridge piezo, two output jacks, and two magnetic pickups. Its lower baritone register suits a variety of music styles from jazz to harder-edged modern types. The 27″ scale length allows down tuning while it still maintains proper string tension and a superb feel. The comfortable and thin maple neck makes for fast playing and accurate intonation.

Pros
  • Gorgeous quilted maple top and mahogany body
  • The eclipse body with a single cutaway style offers easy upper fret access for soloing
  • Distinctive Breaking Benjamin signature markings with red pickup covers and LTD logo
Cons
  • The guitar is pretty expensive
3

Danelectro Baritone Electric Guitar

– Best Body Style
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THE SCOOP

This Danelectro Baritone has a gorgeous art deco single-cut body style with dolphin headstock. The guitar features two high-output lipstick pickups that are driven by a 3-way selector. It also features a pau ferro fingerboard, has a responsive bolt-on maple neck, and an adjustable saddle bridge to set your intonation to your liking.

Pros
  • Features a pau Ferro fingerboard and high-output lipstick single-coils
  • The 3-way pickup selector features master tone and volume
  • Has an adjustable saddle bridge
Cons
  • The 29.75″ scale length may be an adjustment if you are new to a baritone
4

Danelectro 66BT Baritone Guitar

– Best Semi-Hollow Baritone Electric Guitar
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THE SCOOP

Danelectro is known for its avant-garde style with the 66BT being no different. The reverse-offset body shape exudes vintage style with the maple neck, die-cast tuners, and a 14-inch radius pau ferro fingerboard to complement the look. Danelectro’s baritone electric guitar features a semi-hollow design that adds sustain and offers full sound presence. The alder center block prevents oversensitive feedback under high gain.

Pros
  • Semi-hollow construction offers extra sustain without the feedback
  • Features a pau Ferro fingerboard
  • Vintage-styled single-coil is ideal for jazz tones
  • The Wilkinson vibrato system stays in tune well with a smooth feel
Cons
  • The scale length for this one is also 29.75″ – you may have to adjust if you’re new to it
5

ESP LTD M-7 HT Baritone Black Metal

– Best Lightweight Baritone Guitar
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THE SCOOP

Although some guitarists like the feel of a heavy ax, the vintage style may cause discomfort to your back and neck after a long set. This lightweight tonewood has body wings out of alder, keeping it beautifully lightweight. In addition, the ebony fingerboard feels extra smooth, and carved body contours improve playing comfort. The guitar is praised for its balanced tone and resonance. If you play long sets regularly you will love the LTD M-7HT.

Pros
  • The guitar through-neck design boosts sustain
  • A push-pull volume pot activates the coil-splitting ability
  • The hardtail bridge improves tuning stability and boosts sustain
  • Locking tuners make the guitar string changes easy
Cons
  • If you are a player that prefers the feel of a heavier vintage baritone, this lightweight option probably shouldn’t be your first choice

Best Baritone Guitars Buying Guide

Baritone guitars made their first appearance in the late 1950s. They’ve been somewhat of a novelty and slowly gained popularity with their larger appearance and distinctive style. If you’ve reached a creative slump, a baritone guitar can be just the thing to get you inspired, learning new skills, and growing as a musician. Here’s what you need to know when choosing the best baritone guitar for inspiring and versatile sounds.

What Makes Baritone Guitars Different?

Baritone guitars come in electric and acoustic variations and are found in the catalogs of all major guitar producers. Being non-standard instruments, they require enthusiasm, a sense of curiosity, and patience to master.

Regular guitars are tuned E to E, whereas baritone guitars have a lower pitch and are usually tuned B to B. The 6-stringed, long-scale guitar has heavier and longer strings with a larger body to accommodate the lower range of notes. Scales and chords are identical to other guitars, however, it is the pitch that changes. A common baritone guitar has a scale of 28.5 inches which is 3 inches longer than a regular guitar.

Baritone guitars essentially allow guitar players to explore a new sonic range with familiar chord and scale combinations. They are versatile across genres from metal and pop to jazz.

Things to Consider When Buying a Baritone Guitar

Size

A guitar should always fit your own proportions, especially if you are a beginner. If your instrument is too big or heavy, the ease of playing your guitar will be significantly reduced. Not only will it be uncomfortable, but it’s also pretty discouraging. Baritone guitars are even larger and longer than regular guitars so it's even more important to make sure you get one that fits you well and that you can play with comfort.

Type

The main decision you will need to make is whether you want to get an acoustic or electric guitar. This depends on your own style, skills, and preference, Baritones are available in both types and less commonly you can also get your hands on an electroacoustic hybrid.

Features

This will include attributes like pickups, tuning, controls, and tremolo. These details will impact your overall playing experience and may also be subjective to your style and preference.

Design

Baritone guitars are available in a variety of remarkable designs, styles, and colors. Although this may not be the most important feature when looking for an instrument, most musicians will probably agree that the look of your guitar is partly what solidifies the bond you have with your guitar.

Tips for Buying a Baritone Guitar

  1. Baritone guitars are not as commonly available as other guitar types. This means that your options might not be as broad as you hope, but it can also make choosing the right one a little easier. Many models need to be purchased on backorder, so you might need to wait a little longer before you can start playing.
  2. Baritone guitars use higher gauge strings than standard guitars. Regular guitars generally come strung with .010 and .046 strings while electric baritones will come strung with .013 to .062 strings and acoustic baritones feature gauges between .016 and .070.
  3. You may need to adjust your technique when switching to playing a baritone guitar. Acoustic baritones react poorly to fast and explosive strumming. Your fingers and hands may feel tender after the first few sessions, but you will get used to it quickly with consistent practice.
  4. Initial guitar setup may be required before you get going. This includes modifying intonation and adjusting the truss rod. Make slow incremental changes as this adjustment alters neck relief, which affects the string action. If you aren’t sure you have the right tools for the job, rather get a professional to do it. 

Best Baritone Guitar FAQ

Q: Will chords be different on a baritone guitar?

A: Scales, chords, and tuning are identical on a baritone and any other guitar, it is just the actual pitch that is different. A baritone guitar generally has a scale of 28.5″, which is 3 inches longer than a typical guitar.

Q: Can a baritone be tuned to drop C?

A: Baritone guitars are ideal for drop tuning due to their longer scale lengths which make the strings sound, feel, and intonate better.

Q: Are 7-string guitars baritone?

A: Seven-string guitars are not baritone guitars, they are referred to as extended range guitars since they are tuned to standard (EADGBE) with the additional string tuned to a B below the low E.

Q: Can you use a baritone guitar as a bass?

A: To some extent you can use a baritone guitar as a bass, however, it will have some pitfalls and its effectiveness will largely depend on string tension and amp optimization.

Jack Stoneybrook
By Jack Stoneybrook
Jack has been a touring guitarist for almost 20 years, playing in a number of country music and rock bands. Jack loves the road and defines himself as a never-ending student of the guitar and other important instruments or tools that make a musician.
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