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| Bari scale length http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=52979 |
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| Author: | alan stassforth [ Thu Feb 27, 2020 7:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Bari scale length |
To keep the post simple, I play lap steel only, and want to make a baritone (electric/ acoustic later on) that will work well with a C on the 6th string. That's a C below a standard E on the 6th string would usually be. I've tried heavier gauge strings on a 25-1/2" scale length and unhappy with the sound. So, any ideas what scale length to start at? Thank you, Alan |
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| Author: | Clay S. [ Thu Feb 27, 2020 7:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Bari scale length |
A 27 inch scale should work. C is only a whole step below dropped D which many people do on the low E string. |
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| Author: | doncaparker [ Thu Feb 27, 2020 8:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Bari scale length |
I made one with that exact tuning at around 27” scale length. It works well. I used a Fender bass fretting template from StewMac, but used one of the lower frets as the nut position. I can’t remember which fret on that template gives you a roughly 27” scale; I would have to check. |
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| Author: | Clay S. [ Thu Feb 27, 2020 9:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Bari scale length |
I have made an eight string acoustic baritone guitar with a 27 inch scale presently tuned in octave pairs CGDA and it works well. I know some lap steel players require tighter strings than what is desirable on a steel string guitar, but I think 27 inches will work O.K. as long as you aren't reaching for low B or A. The baritone I built joins the neck at the 12th fret, so I can still use a standard case for it (probably not a consideration for a lap steel). |
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| Author: | alan stassforth [ Thu Feb 27, 2020 10:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Bari scale length |
Thank you all. Looks like 27" it be. Sounds right. Good thing about a lap job is frets don't have to be that accurate, so I'll do it the old fashioned way with a hundredth of an inch 24" ruler, and go blind. Thanks again, Alan |
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| Author: | Clay S. [ Fri Feb 28, 2020 6:30 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Bari scale length |
I used a bass guitar fretboard and cut off a couple of frets at the nut end (I bought 50 "rejects" off eBay for $1 apiece some years back) |
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