I’ve reviewed quite a few baritone guitars over the past few years, and four of the top picks for this guide to the best baritone guitars have personally been through my hands. I play baritone in a metal band, so it’s a pretty safe bet to say I know what to look for when shopping for an extended-range guitar with six strings.
For me, the best out of all the baritones I’ve tested is the Sterling by Music Man StingRay Baritone. It’s a truly capable instrument that can handle the rigors of modern metal equally well as it delivers Spaghetti-Western-inspired guitar tones. If you’re looking for something you can drop tune to abyssal depths, then the Jackson Signature Sleep Token IV Monarkh is the long-scale guitar ideal for all the metalheads out there.
I love a baritone guitar because it lets me drop tune extremely low without adding extra strings. This means all the chord shapes, scales, and note placement stay the same. That’s what makes baritones more accessible to me than a 7-string or 8-string guitar: they sound just as heavy without forcing you to adapt your playing style. They’re also really useful instruments for adding a different timbre to your guitar playing in rock and blues.
If you’re totally new to baritone guitars, have a look at our how-to-choose section, which will guide you through the buying process. I’ve also put together a comprehensive FAQs section that answers the most common questions guitarists ask me about baritone instruments.
Best overall
🎸 The Sterling by Music Man StingRay Baritone is the ideal guitar for the player who wants to cover a lot of ground with their instrument.
✅ Buy if you want versatility and build quality: Capable of a vast array of styles and very well put together, this is an ideal instrument for gigging players.
❌ Avoid if you need something lightweight: It’s quite a heavy instrument, so look elsewhere if you don’t like a lot of weight on your shoulder.
Overview: Surprisingly, the Sterling by Music Man StingRay Baritone is actually the company’s first baritone guitar. It’s a 27.5” scale, so not the longest out there, but enough that you’ll notice it when you first sit down to play. It’s a super versatile instrument that can cover a lot of ground, which is what makes it my top choice.
Build quality: It’s a very heavy guitar, and I definitely noticed the weight when I first picked it up. It’s also really well put together, feeling solid in all the right places. The pickup selector switch is admittedly a little flimsy, but it does the job, and this was the only flaw I could find in our review model, physically or aesthetically.
Playability: It’s a very playable guitar despite the longer-than-usual scale. Classic open chord shapes feel easy enough to play, and it's the same with your usual licks and riffs. If you’re new to the baritone, you may find yourself getting tired a bit more quickly than usual, but you’ll adapt quickly the more you play it.
Sounds: The dual ceramic humbuckers are SBMM’s own, but that’s not a negative here. They’re super articulate whether playing moody clean passages or aggressive metal riffs. They really impressed me with their ability to cope with more effects-laden tones, and I ended up using them for a recording project; they sounded so good.
“For below a grand, the Sterling by Music Man Stingray Baritone is a lot of guitar. I’m seriously impressed by the build quality, playability, and the versatility of tones offered by the dual humbuckers. Despite being initially disappointed by the lack of a push-pull switch for single-coil sounds, I found myself not particularly longing for that once I had some time with it.”
Best budget
🎸 If you’re a first-timer or just looking for something good quality on a budget, the Gretsch Baritone CVT will fit the bill.
✅ Buy if you don’t want to pay loads: Coming in below the $600 mark, this is a lot of instrument for relatively little money.
❌ Avoid if you prefer brighter colors: The finish options are quite muted here, so look elsewhere if you like your guitar to stand out in the looks department.
Overview: Back when baritone guitars weren’t quite as popular as they are today, Gretsch baritones were often tweaked for super low drop tuning. Nowadays, baritones are far more common, but Gretsch extended-range guitars are still great for a variety of different playing styles, and are usually available for a fairly low price.
Build quality: The CVT Baritone has a 27-inch scale, so it’s on the shorter side of baritone guitars, which aids playability. It’s a solid mahogany body with bevelled edges and those sharp double cutaways reminiscent of an SG-style guitar. It’s very well put together, and I wouldn’t have any qualms about gigging it.
Playability: Bluesy bends are difficult with the string gauge and tension, but possible with a supporting finger or two. It encourages you to explore and experiment more to accommodate this limitation, which makes it a really great creative tool for guitar players. It’s comfortable enough to fret open chords on, though, and does a great job for pretty much every other technique.
Sounds: The Gretsch ‘Twin Six’ humbuckers offer plenty of flexibility thanks to a coil-split option accessible via a push-pull tone control. The master volume also has a treble bleed circuit on it, so your tone stays clear even when you turn it down. It does just as well with drive tones as it does with clean sounds laden with reverb and delay, although we found we preferred the split-coil tones for cleaner playing.
“The Baritone is a truly intriguing proposition – for under $600 it does something quite special: it opens up a new sound-world, new paths of expression for the uninitiated. And it does so comfortably, effectively and affordably.”
Read more: Gretsch Baritone CVT review
Best for metal
🎸 If you want to tune down for metal playing, the Jackson Signature Sleep Token IV Monarkh is what you’ve been looking for.
✅ Buy if you want a baritone for metal: The EverTune bridge and huge drop-tuning potential make this the ideal guitar for getting heavy.
❌ Avoid if you want shredability: The huge string gauge makes it difficult to sweep pick and play leads.
Overview: Technically speaking, the Jackson Signature Sleep Token IV Monarkh is a Bass VI rather than a baritone. That said, it’s got very little in common with the more vintage styling and sound of a Bass VI with a monster 30-inch scale. It's the perfect candidate for drop tuning and playing metal.
Build quality: The Pale Moon ebony fretboard is absolutely stunning, giving this guitar an aesthetic quite unlike any other. Despite this, it’s incredibly well put together, and I couldn’t find a single thing out of place on our review model.
Playability: For chugging riffs in incredibly low drop tunings, the stability offered by the EverTune, jumbo frets, and monster string gauge make the Sleep Token IV Monarkh one of the best in the business when it comes to riffing. You won’t find it easy to shred on, though, thanks to the thickness of the strings, so you’d be better off looking at a 7- or 8-string if you want to get low but keep the slinky playability of a regular electric guitar.
Sounds: This guitar features classic-voiced Fishman Fluence humbuckers rather than a modern metal type you might expect. This means it’s just as good at the softer Sleep Token moments as it is at the crushingly heavy riffs. It does mean that those who prefer the more surgical, compressed tone of a modern active humbucker won’t enjoy these, but I found that, with tweaking, they can absolutely djent with the best of them.
“Despite being the signature guitar for Sleep Token, I think the Jackson IV Monarkh can handle pretty much any modern metal duty. Whether you want Periphery-style djent tones or Loathe-type super-drop tuning, it’s a stable platform for chugging once you make a few adjustments to your signal chain and the guitar itself.”
Best semi-hollow
🎸 The PRS SE Ed Sheeran Hollowbody I Piezo Baritone delivers a multitude of tones with the natural resonance of a semi-hollow body guitar.
✅ Buy if you want a semi-hollow baritone: There are a few options for semi-hollow baritones, but the versatility of this makes it stand out from the rest.
❌ Avoid if you want to play metal: This isn’t a baritone for modern metal guitar players, so look elsewhere if you want to get super heavy.
Overview: Hands up who was expecting a signature Ed Sheeran baritone guitar? Thought so. The PRS SE Ed Sheeran Baritone was a definite surprise for most guitar players, but if you want a semi-hollow with an extended scale, I think it’s a really great option.
Build quality: PRS’ build quality continues to go from strength to strength, and that’s no different with this guitar. It’s incredibly well put together and features the typical PRS aesthetics that make it stand out. It’s got two output jacks so you can either use a mix of the passive pickups and active preamp from the piezo bridge, or just use the pickups on their own without needing additional battery power.
Playability: The neck profile here is a little thicker than most of the other options here. It’s not quite baseball bat territory but there’s a definite heft there that you’ll feel coming from the modern ‘C’ type profile that’s so frequently used these days. It’s not very shreddable because of that, although bending is actually pretty good, making it ideal for lighter styles of play.
Sounds: The piezo bridge offers some interesting options when mixed with the regular magnetic pickups, but on its own, I found it lacking in the low end. On my review model, it struggled to pick up the bass strings. Add in the magnetic pickups, though, and what a sound, especially on the neck pickup. I found the drive tones were better without the piezo in the signal path, but once I got into modern metal tones, the pickups were too unruly to deliver tight chugs.
“I can see the PRS SE Ed Sheeran baritone finding fans across different genres, provided you can get past the name on the headstock. If you’re willing to look beyond your prejudices, you’ll find a very well-made guitar with a playable neck that’s capable of a wide variety of different tones.”
Read more: PRS SE Ed Sheeran Hollowbody I Piezo Baritone review
Best for rock
🎸 If you’re looking for rock baritone guitar sounds, the Orangewood Del Sol is a versatile and great value extended-range guitar.
✅ Buy if you mainly want to play rock guitar: The Del Sol is a versatile option that can cover a variety of styles thanks to the pickups.
❌ Avoid if you want to drop tune: The semi-hollow body means this isn’t an ideal guitar for modern metal playing.
Overview: One of the finest baritone guitars I’ve ever reviewed, the Orangewood Baritone Del Sol is superb value for money. It’s versatile, but I’ve picked it as a great guitar for rock players due to those dual P-90-style pickups which give it plenty of punchy growl.
Build quality: Due to the chambered body, the Del Sol is surprisingly lightweight for a baritone. It’ll make a great option if you find other baritones to be a bit too heavy on the shoulder. It’s extremely well put together, and Orangewood’s history as an acoustic guitar manufacturer makes it well suited to semi-hollow guitar construction.
Playability: It’s got a decent scale length at 27.5 inches, so there’s a definite adjustment period coming from a regular guitar. It’s super playable, though, and the jumbo frets give you plenty to play against whether doing open chords or bluesy lead licks. You can cover a wide variety of playing styles, barre massive bends, making it a great option for players who want to add extra tones to less extreme styles of music.
Sounds: Unplugged, the Del Sol has a lovely resonance to it, which translates when you play it through an amp. The P90s have that nice balance between single-coil clarity and some humbucker heft, sounding fantastic through my cranked tube amp. The neck pickup is very bassy without being overpowering, and the combination of both pickups together is delightful. There’s also a phase switch for a more ‘quacky’ tone that slots really nicely into a full band mix.
“Combining cleverly voiced pickups with the low-end oomph of a baritone and the airy quality of a chambered body, the Orangewood Del Sol Baritone is a masterstroke of guitar design, and one of the most versatile baritone guitars I’ve ever played. No, it won’t do super low-tuned chugging, but for fans of everything else, it just might be the affordable entry point you need to delve into the depths of a less-usual guitar.”
Read more: Orangewood Del Sol Baritone review
Best acoustic
🎸 Those looking for their first baritone acoustic will find a lot to love with the Alvarez ABT60E.
✅ Buy if you want an acoustic baritone: This great value acoustic baritone is the perfect option if you’re buying your first baritone acoustic.
❌ Avoid if you want all-solid construction: This is a cheaper acoustic guitar, so it only has a solid top. If you want all-solid, then you’ll need to spend considerably more.
Overview: There’s a lot to like about Alvarez, most notably the company’s ability to assemble stage-ready, high-quality strummers that sit comfortably in the mid-priced bracket. This electro-acoustic baritone guitar is no exception, but it is quite different from the typical Alvarez electro-acoustic.
Build quality: The Alvarez ABT60E Artist Series features an extended scale, measuring a hair over 27” and a 1.75” nut width, putting it in the comfort zone for fingerstyle players without alienating flat pickers. With a lower bout measuring over 17” at its widest, the proportions might dwarf some players, but this helps project the extra bass from being tuned down to B.
Playability: There’s pretty much always an adjustment period moving to a baritone, but the slim nut width here makes it quite playable. Your hands will get tired fretting open chords, though, so give yourself time to adjust to the larger size. The body is really big, too, so smaller players may want to look elsewhere.
Sounds: The Alvarez ABT60E really fills out a mix, making a wonderful counterpoint to an acoustic in standard E A D G B E tuning, and we would imagine doubly so with a 12-string where there would be so much harmonic potential. The LR Baggs StagePro Element is an excellent feature at this price, with a 3-band EQ, notch, and phase control making it a cinch to dial in a live mix.
Also consider
For me, the above guitars are what you should be looking at first and foremost. That said I appreciate no two guitarists are the same, so here are some more options you can look at in your hunt for a long scale guitar.
![Chapman ML1 Modern BaritoneAlder | Maple | Ebony | 28" | 24 frets | HH](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pJkjRqnsZME8oL4PfmoiyG-200-80.jpg.webp "Chapman ML1 Modern BaritoneAlder | Maple | Ebony | 28" | 24 frets | HH")
![ESP LTD EC-1000 BaritoneMahogany | Mahogany | Ebony | 27" | 24-frets | HH](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sQv58poUxPY8vr46fqEivE-200-80.jpg.webp "ESP LTD EC-1000 BaritoneMahogany | Mahogany | Ebony | 27" | 24-frets | HH")
![Ibanez RGIB21 Iron Label BaritoneNyatoh | Maple | Jatoba | 28" | 24-frets | HH](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hbBd6GENgJgSuz5ggVxYdC-200-80.jpg.webp "Ibanez RGIB21 Iron Label BaritoneNyatoh | Maple | Jatoba | 28" | 24-frets | HH")
![Danelectro 66BTAlder | Maple | Pau ferro | 29.75" | 22 frets | HS](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/chDQz6NxRSCeggW67uA4v9-200-80.jpg.webp "Danelectro 66BTAlder | Maple | Pau ferro | 29.75" | 22 frets | HS")
How to choose
When choosing a baritone guitar, you should consider what it is you want to do with it. In the modern era of guitar, it seems like there are two main types of baritone guitar players. Heavy-inclined guitarists who want crushing tones without resorting to using an extended range guitar, and vintage tone lovers who are looking for that ‘Spaghetti Western’ or surf sound.
Whichever type of player you are, here's what you should be looking out for when purchasing a baritone.
1. Pickups
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Probably the most important consideration for most players, the pickups of a baritone will define whether you fall into metalhead category or retro/indie tones. For the former, you'll want a dual humbucker guitar to get the most out of your ultra-low tunings and high-gain amp sounds associated with modern metal baritones.
For those who are after a more vintage sound, humbuckers can work with these sounds, but you'll want a less hot, more vintage-inspired sound. In my experience single coils are much better for getting a vintage baritone sound, that or a P90 to give you the 'twang' of those classic tones.
In my experience, I've been able to get good metal tones with P90-equipped baritone guitars, and that's because the brighter pickup actually gives you a more articulate tone which is great for those djent-style chuggy breakdowns.
2. Scale length
The next most important consideration is the scale length. Baritone guitars can run from around 27-30", and despite it looking small in terms of numbers there's a big difference in playing feel at either end of the scale. You might think that a longer scale is better for metal players but a lot of metal-orientated instruments are actually around the 27" mark because it enhances playability.
Longer scales will enable you to downtune further however, for example, Loathe guitarist Erik Bickerstaffe uses a Gretsch G5260 to tune down to drop E, which at first glance looks more retro-inspired but has a 29.75" scale which is monstrous.
What this all means is that while scale length is important to playing feel, it doesn't necessarily mean the be-all and end-all of what that particular guitar can do in terms of style. It's important to note that a guitar close to 30" will feel absolutely massive compared to that of a regular scale, so it will take some adjusting to before you feel comfortable on it.
3. Frets
The final thing for you to consider is the amount of frets you want. Naturally a baritone is lower than a regular guitar, so if you like to play leads, or want to complement other players in your band, additional frets could make a big difference to flexibility when jamming with others.
Going for 24 frets gives you some extra room to experiment, but it won't necessarily make or break the guitar you choose. It's just something you should consider if you're playing with a bassist and a regular guitarist in a band, as it will give you a little more room to make your guitar fit in the mix.
Glossary
- Action: The height of the strings above the fretboard, affecting playability and feel.
- Baritone guitar: A guitar with a longer scale length and lower tuning, typically between a standard guitar and a bass.
- Bridge: The component where the strings are anchored on the body of the guitar.
- Electronics: The pickups, wiring, and controls that shape an electric baritone guitar’s sound.
- Fretboard: The surface on the neck where the fingers press the strings.
- Frets: Metal strips embedded along the fretboard that define the pitch of notes.
- Gauge: The thickness of a guitar string, important for baritone guitars due to lower tunings.
- Humbucker: A type of pickup designed to reduce noise and hum.
- Intonation: The accuracy of pitch along the fretboard.
- Long Scale: Refers to the extended scale length (usually 27"–30") of baritone guitars.
- Nut: The small bar at the end of the fretboard that guides the strings onto the neck.
- Neck profile: The shape and thickness of the guitar’s neck.
- Offset body: A body design with asymmetrical curves, sometimes seen in baritone models.
- Piezo: A type of pickup that captures acoustic sounds from the guitar.
- Radius: The curvature of the fretboard, affecting playability.
- Scale length: The distance from the nut to the bridge, longer on baritone guitars.
- Single-coil: A type of pickup with a bright sound.
- Truss rod: A metal rod inside the neck to adjust its curvature.
FAQs
What is the best length for a baritone guitar?
Scale length is an important factor in all guitars, affecting the playability and determining just how low you can go with tuning. Most baritone guitars sit somewhere between a 27-inch and 30-inch scale length. Of course, the larger the scale length, the more spaced out the frets are, which also affects the playability of the instrument, particularly important to note if you’ve got small hands.
If you’re looking to drop-tune your instrument to the regions of G or F#, then a longer scale length means you won’t have to put such heavy gauge strings on, as it will retain a better string tension. If you’re more of the vintage baritone player, then a shorter scale length might suit you better, allowing for lighter strings whilst still unlocking that booming baritone voice.
Are baritone guitars harder to play?
When we got our first baritone guitar, we almost sent it back such was the shock at how different it felt initially. The frets were further apart than we were used to, making chords that were a breeze to us on the regular guitar a lot more difficult to play. Our hands got tired during fast playing as they were having to work harder and certain stretches were suddenly nigh on impossible.
So yes, baritone guitars are harder to play. But don’t let that stop you from getting one. Once we got over the initial adjustment period we found that playing a baritone has made us a better guitarist overall. Once you’ve played a baritone for a while, going back to a regular-sized guitar makes it feel like a toy! Your hands will be flying across the fretboard and you’ll wonder how you ever thought that regular six-string was difficult to play.
How are baritone guitars tuned?
A baritone guitar typically comes a perfect fourth lower than a regular guitar, which is B E A D F# B. However there’s nothing to stop you from going down to a perfect fifth, i.e. A D G C E A, or even going up to the major third which is C F Bb Eb G C - as famously used by Queens of the Stone Age.
In modern metal, guitarists are tuning as low as F and E standard with longer scale baritones, and with the right string gauge on your baritone it's pretty easy to hit these lows yourself.
Can baritone guitars be tuned to standard?
Yes, you can, but you’ll need some serious setup work and a light set of strings to make it work. If you’re not familiar with guitar setups, then we’d highly recommend taking it to a proper guitar tech or luthier to have your instrument set up if you’re going this route. The Buckethead Les Paul famously featured a 27-inch scale length but was tuned to standard, improving the intonation of chords and offering a unique timbre compared to the regular 24.75” scale LP.
How we test
At Guitar World, our team of seasoned musicians has extensive experience playing and testing various guitar products, including many baritone guitars. As passionate guitar enthusiasts, we understand the importance of achieving the right sound and tone, and we draw on our knowledge gained from using these products in live performances, studio recordings, and rehearsals to identify the best products for our guides.
To create our list of top baritone guitars, we use a combination of practical experience, user reviews, and in-depth discussions with our editorial team to reach a consensus. We evaluate factors such as pricing, features, ease of use, and durability to ensure that we showcase the best baritone guitars currently available.
As guitar players ourselves, we appreciate the value of having the right equipment to deliver a memorable performance. Thus, we are committed to providing reliable and knowledgeable recommendations to help guitar players find the perfect product to suit their specific needs and preferences. Our ultimate aim is to help empower guitar players to unlock their full potential with the best gear on the market.
Find out more about how we make our recommendations and how we test each of the products in our buyer's guides.
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Below, you'll find more information about the expert author of this guide.
Matt is a Junior Deals Writer here at Guitar World. He regularly tests and reviews music gear with a focus on guitars, amps, pedals, modelers, and pretty much anything else guitar-related. Responsible for over 60 buying guides, a large part of his role is helping guitarists find the best deals on gear. Matt worked in music retail for 5 years at Dawsons Music and Northwest Guitars and has written for various music sites, including MusicRadar, Guitar Player, Guitar.com, Ultimate Guitar, and Thomann’s t.blog.
A regularly gigging guitarist with over 20 years of experience playing live and writing and recording in bands, he's performed everything from jazz to djent, gigging all over the UK in more dingy venues than you can shake a drop-tuned guitar at. When he's not holed up in his home studio recording new songs or tweaking pedal settings, you'll find him making a racket with northern noise punks Never Better.
Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to publications including Guitar World, MusicRadar and Total Guitar. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.
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