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Other Stuff => Guitars => Topic started by: EL34 on September 08, 2025, 12:40:07 pm

Title: Convert to Baritone
Post by: EL34 on September 08, 2025, 12:40:07 pm
I have a strat bodied guitar that I am not using
I've had the urge to get a baritone guitar for quite a while but never did

Then I ran across this web site
You can swap out your regular start neck for a Baritone neck
https://www.byoguitar.com/Guitars/Baritone-Scale-Conversion-St-Style-Neck__BYO-CS-STBT-Neck.aspx (https://www.byoguitar.com/Guitars/Baritone-Scale-Conversion-St-Style-Neck__BYO-CS-STBT-Neck.aspx)

This has my interest
Anyone ever done this?

 Baritone Scale Conversion Strat Neck
SKU: BYO-CS-Strat-BT-NeckA
Our Baritone Conversion Strat Neck is an easy way to convert your Strat into a baritone guitar. 
This is a top quality neck from our Custom Shop.
Constructed from the highest quality wood, with your choice of fingerboard wood and inlays.
Your choice of radius and fretwire size.

Once you install the neck, you only have to change your strings and you will have a baritone strat!
These necks have a double action truss rod.
Your choice of heel or headstock adjust.

    Choice of Wood
    Choice of radius fingerboard
    28" scale length
    Choice of fret size
    Nut not included but you can add a nut to your order
Title: Re: Convert to Baritone
Post by: rake on September 08, 2025, 08:00:15 pm
Not a bad price for a neck really.
Title: Re: Convert to Baritone
Post by: EL34 on September 09, 2025, 06:43:01 am
The only thing I was concerned about was the length
It's a 28 inch scale length

I don't think it would be easy to do a F bar chord at the for fret
But you are right, I like the price and I would order it with a nut so I don't have to make one
Title: Re: Convert to Baritone
Post by: rake on September 09, 2025, 08:42:05 am
The difference in fret spacing from nut to first fret is only .141"

stock Fender is 1.431"

bari is only 1.572"

Not much in the grand scheme of things but a great setup will minimize the effects of the added scale.

Proper nut height, relief, action and lighter strings and you should be tearing that thang up in no time!   :laugh: :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: Convert to Baritone
Post by: EL34 on September 09, 2025, 08:50:17 am
I went down to 10's a while back and things got easier.
I had been using 11's for 25 years  :icon_biggrin:

I think I will give it a go
Looks like a long lead time but I am not in a hurry

Have to do some measuring on the current neck to match the new neck
Especially the neck pocket.
The original neck is a nice ALL Parts neck
I imagine a strat neck pocket is a standard size, but I don't know that for sure.

This is a guitar I built, it's the purple strat with Jazzmaster pickups
But I am using the Jazzmaster for all clean stuff now, so the strat sits unused

https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=19570
Title: Re: Convert to Baritone
Post by: Willabe on September 10, 2025, 05:27:53 pm
The only thing I was concerned about was the length
It's a 28 inch scale length.

I don't think it would be easy to do a F bar chord at the for fret

It's still shorter than any standard 4 string bass, but you will feel the stretch reaching for the low end of the neck.

The examples I've heard of an electric bari guitar was mostly country stuff. They didn't play bar cords. They used the bari for single and 2 note patterns not cords. It was a 2nd guitar part that laid in between the normal rhythm guitar part and the bass part. I think it sounds great.

Acoustic bari's are used for low(er)open tunnings.

Just a different voice like a sax, soprano/alto/tenor/baritone. Violin and Mandolin family are the same thing.

You can get different scale length guitars. I have a Veillette Avante Gryphon acoustic 12 string that's tuned to the 10th fret on a guitar. He also makes a 12 string tuned to the 12 fret of a guitar, so it's an octave guitar. And he makes 1 tuned to the 5th fret, 6 string or 12 string. Vince Gill has 1 of the 6 string 5th fret models he uses with the Eagles. 
Title: Re: Convert to Baritone
Post by: rake on September 10, 2025, 11:00:35 pm
Neck/ Nut/ Action/ string gauge setup will be of utmost importance to playability.
Get it wrong and, with the added string tension, it's gonna play REALLY STIFF!
Measure often and recheck after each and every adjustment!
Still think a guitar with a different voice would be worth exploring!