What if you put a baritone string set on a regular electric guitar? 

Slapping baritone strings on a standard electric guitar can work. But know it requires some changes to your axe.

Baritone strings are thicker and longer than regular electric guitar strings. Because they’re made for baritone guitars. They’re different in that they have longer necks and bigger bodies.

Putting these beefier strings on a regular electric guitar will give a deeper and richer tone. But it’s not as simple as just swapping out the strings.

You’ll need to tweak your guitar’s setup. The nut slots might need widening, and you’ll have to tweak the bridge and truss rod as well.

Also good to know: The extra tension can stress your guitar neck more.

It’s a cool experiment. But you gotta know what you’re doing. Or ask a pro for help.

Key Takeaways

• Baritone strings on a standard electric guitar give a deeper sound;

• Guitar setup changes are needed to accommodate thicker strings;

• Careful adjustments help prevent damage to the instrument’s neck.

Baritone Strings and Regular Electric Guitars

Slapping baritone strings on your axe can change how it feels and sounds. You might notice some big differences in how hard the strings are to play. This also goes for the types of notes you can make.

String Gauge and Tension

Baritone strings are thicker than regular guitar strings. They’re made to be harder to bend and can handle rough playing without going out of tune.

When you put them on a regular electric guitar, believe me, they’ll feel really tight.

You’ll need a string tension calculator to figure out the proper set. This will help you avoid damaging your guitar or making it too hard to play.

Regular guitars aren’t built for such heavy strings. That’s why you might need to adjust your guitar neck or bridge to make them fit right.

Impact on Playability

Playing with baritone strings on a regular guitar can be tricky. Your fingers will have to work harder to press down the strings and move them around.

Bending notes becomes a real challenge. You might find yourself using more strength just to play regular chords.

Here’s the good news: the thick strings can make your playing more precise. They don’t wiggle around as much when you hit them.

The downside is that too much tension could hurt your fingers. Heck, it could even damage your guitar if you’re not careful.

Tonal Differences

The sound of your guitar will change a lot with baritone strings. You’ll get a much deeper, richer tone. It might remind you of a bass guitar.

Your guitar will sound lower overall. This can be great for heavy rock or metal styles. It gives you a chunky, powerful sound when you play chords.

Single notes might not ring out as clearly as before. The extra weight of the strings can make them less bright and snappy.

You might need to tweak your amp settings to get the best sound. Baritone strings often need different EQs to sound their best.

Slapping baritone strings on your axe can change how it feels and sounds.

What Are Baritone Guitars?

Baritone guitars are special axes that let you play lower notes. They have longer necks and thicker strings than regular electric guitars.

Defining Baritone Guitars

Baritone guitars have a longer scale length than standard guitars. The scale length is the distance between the nut and bridge.

Most baritones have a 27-30 inch scale length, while regular guitars are around 24-25 inches.

This longer neck allows you to tune the strings lower. Baritones are usually tuned B to B instead of E to E. Some players even tune them down to A.

The thick strings help keep tension when tuned so low. You’ll notice baritone strings feel stiffer than normal guitar strings.

History and Use

Baritone guitars appeared on the market in the 1950s. Danelectro made some of the first ones. They became popular in country music for their twangy low tones.

In the 1980s and 90s, rock and metal players also started to use baritones. The low tunings were great for heavy riffs.

Modifications and Setups

Adjusting the Nut

The nut on your guitar needs work to fit baritone strings. You’ll have to widen the slots.

Start by removing the old nut. Clean the area well. Get a new, blank nut that fits your guitar. Mark where you’ll cut the slots.

Use nut files to widen each slot. Go slow and check often. The string should sit in the slot without being pinched or too loose.

Test fit the strings as you go. Make sure they don’t buzz or bind. You’ll need proper fit for good tuning and playability.

Truss Rod Adjustments

Because baritone strings put more tension on your guitar neck, you’ll likely need to adjust the truss rod. This way you can keep the neck straight.

First, check the current neck relief. Use a straight edge or sight down the neck. Look for any bowing.

If the neck is too curved, tighten the truss rod a bit. Turn it clockwise in small steps. If it’s too flat, loosen it counterclockwise.

Make tiny adjustments. Wait a while between each turn. The wood needs time to settle. Aim for a slight forward bow, enough to prevent buzzing.

Intonation and Action Setup

Getting the action and intonation right is crucial for a baritone setup. Start with the action. Raise the bridge saddles to give the thicker strings more room.

Check for buzzing along the neck. Adjust the saddle height as needed. You want low action and no buzz.

Now, tackle the intonation. Tune to your new baritone tuning. Check if the 12th fret note matches the open string note. If it’s sharp, move the saddle back. If flat, move it forward.

Go string by string, fine-tuning each saddle position. Take your time. It’s worth it, because good intonation makes your guitar sound great all over the neck.

These changes can affect each other. You might need to tweak things a few times to get it right.

String Brands and Options

D’Addario Baritone String Sets

D’Addario makes some cool baritone string sets for electric guitars. Their EXL157 set is popular. It has a gauge of .014-.068. In other words: the thinnest string is .014 inches and the thickest .068.

These strings are great for B to B tuning. That’s lower than standard guitar tuning. The extra-light top strings make bending easy. The heavier bottom strings give you a deep, rich tone.

D’Addario offers other options as well. You can even find sets for baritone 7-string guitars too.

Ernie Ball Baritone Options

Ernie Ball have some awesome choices for baritone guitars. Their 6 Baritone Slinky set (2839) is perfect for baritones. It has a gauge of .013-.072.

These strings work great for tuning to A. They give you a bright tone with good tension. Ernie Ball strings are known for their ‘Slinky’ feel. This makes them easy to play, even at lower tunings.

You can find Ernie Ball baritone strings at most music stores. Or just buy them online. Ernie Ball offers different materials, like nickel and cobalt. This lets you pick the sound you want.

Tuning and Playing Techniques

Alternative Tunings

With baritone strings, you can try out some fun new tunings. Drop tunings work great – just lower the low E string even more!

Many players like to tune down to B or A for a super deep sound.

You might try BEADF#B or AEADF#A. These low tunings let you play chunky power chords and heavy riffs. It’s like having a guitar and bass in one.

Experiment. You could even tune up to standard guitar pitches for a tighter feel.

Playing Baritone Strings on a Standard Guitar

Playing baritone strings on your regular guitar takes some getting used to. The strings are thicker, so they feel different under your fingers.

You’ll need to press harder to fret notes cleanly. Bending strings is tougher, too.

You might want to use lighter gauge baritone sets at first. This makes it easier to play while you adjust.

Your picking technique may need tweaking. The fatter strings don’t vibrate as fast, so you might have to pick harder for clear notes.

But once you get the hang of it, you can create killer, low-end tones.

Pros and Cons of Conversion to Baritone Guitar Strings

Advantages of Baritone Strings on Electric Guitars

Baritone strings can give your guitar a deeper, richer tone. The lower tuning can add warmth to your playing.

You might find new ways to play chords and make music. These strings can help you stand out.

Your guitar will sound different from others. This can be great for certain types of music. You can play in lower keys without a capo, for instance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does using baritone strings affect your electric guitar tuning?

Baritone strings are thicker and tuned lower than regular strings. You’ll need to tune down about a fourth or fifth.

This means your low E string might become a B or A. The lower tuning gives you deeper, rumbling tones. It’s like adding an extra bass guitar to your sound.

What brands make baritone strings suitable for electric guitars?

Several companies make baritone strings for electric guitars. D’Addario and Ernie Ball are popular choices.

They offer sets made just for baritone tunings. These strings are thicker than normal but still work with most electric guitars.

You might need to adjust your guitar to get the best sound.

What are the tonal differences between baritone and regular electric guitar strings?

Baritone strings give you a deeper, fuller sound. The lower pitch adds more boom to your playing.

Chords sound thick and rich. Single notes have more weight to them.

It’s great for heavy rock or moody blues. At times, your guitar might even sound a bit like a bass.

Can an electric guitar handle the tension of baritone strings without damage?

Most electric guitars can handle baritone strings okay. But you might need to make some tweaks.

The nut slots may need widening to fit the thicker strings. You’ll probably also need to adjust the bridge and the truss rod.

If you’re not sure how to do this, ask a guitar tech for help.