Gibson SG Baritone Review. The Gibson SG Baritone is an electric guitar featuring powerful low-tuned tones. It’s perfect for metal, rock, and Americana genres alike.
The SG Baritone comes equipped with two humbucking pickups and a 27-inch scale length. Additionally, it includes GroverGao keystone tuners as well as a black crown headstock inlay for added visual interest.
Table of Contents
Body & Neck
The Gibson SG Baritone is an electric guitar featuring powerful, low-tuned tones. It’s ideal for rock, metal, and Americana players alike and comes complete with a hardshell case and a two-year warranty.
The SG Baritone’s body is constructed from solid mahogany and the neck is from quarter-sawn mahogany. It features a dark Richlite fingerboard and 24 medium jumbo frets. The nut, cut on Gibson’s PLEK machine for precision fitment, is composed of Corian. A stop bar tailpiece also attaches to this neck.
On the SG Baritone, two humbucking pickups provide a range of tones. The 496R in the neck position provides warmth and depth while the 500T at the bridge provides hotter tones with greater sustain. Both humbuckers feature push-pull coil splitting to offer more sonic possibilities than traditional single-coil pickups do.
Humbuckers are equipped with powerful ceramic magnets that deliver hotter tones to the guitar, as well as a coil-split switch for changing tones. This gives guitarists the perfect tone for any genre of music.
Tuning this guitar down a fifth (B-E-A-D-F#-B) allows for powerful sounds suitable for hard rock/metal, country/Americana music styles, as well as adding some spaghetti twang into your tone for a unique sound that’s sure to get noticed.
This guitar is lightweight and easy to play, featuring a comfortable set-neck design for easy onstage movement. Plus, at an unbeatable price point, anyone looking to add a baritone guitar to their collection should consider adding one to their arsenal of instruments.
Its Alpine White finish, combined with its resized body and oversized headstock, make for a striking addition to the Gibson SG lineup. Show off your talent in style!
Gibson SG Baritones have been used by renowned guitarists such as Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend for decades, becoming an essential part of heavy metal, rock music, and blues genres.
Electronics
The Gibson SG Baritone is ideal for hard rock and metal musicians looking to add some powerful low-end, but still have the ease of playability of standard guitar tunings. Tuned down two and a half steps to B-E-A-D-F#-B, this baritone produces a deep and thick tone suited for big bass lines or spaghetti twang like only a baritone can deliver.
This SG Baritone guitar boasts an oversized body to match its 27″ scale length and elongated neck made from solid mahogany for extra resonance and sustain. The glued-in rounded SG profile measures 0.850″ at the 1st fret and 0.920″ at the 12th, with 24 medium-jumbo frets free from position markers other than side dots for a stylish look.
The SG Baritone features a stop bar tailpiece to lock it into place, as well as an innovative Tune-o-matic bridge and Grover(TM) keystone tuners for effortless restringing, adjustment, and tuning. White speed knobs, pickup rings, and the switch tip add visual interest to the Alpine White finish of this model; in contrast, the traditional black truss rod cover and crown headstock inlay provide stunning visual interest.
The SG Baritone boasts cutting-edge hardware, such as Grover(TM) keystone tuners and two of Gibson USA’s powerful contemporary humbuckers with ceramic magnets for hotter tones and an expansive sound palette. Plus, push-pull coil splitting can be selected for even further customizability in the studio or live performance setting.
Thanks to this innovation, the SG Baritone provides a rich, full sound that can withstand your favorite amp or PA system. Plus, its versatile sonic palette allows you to rework songs on different guitars with ease, creating new and captivating musical concepts that are sure to dazzle your audience.
The SG Baritone features a rounded SG-style neck made of quarter-sawn mahogany with an integral nut for maximum comfort and precision. Its 24 medium jumbo frets are finished off using CorianGao and cut on Gibson’s PLEK system for enhanced playability. Furthermore, this model also has the iconic Tune-o-matic bridge, first introduced in the mid-’50s and still popular today for its solidity, sustain, and precise intonation adjustment capabilities.
Hardware
The Gibson SG Baritone guitar is ideal for players seeking to add some power and bass to their sound. This solid body electric offers earthshaking low-tuned tones ideal for metal, rock, and Americana styles of music. It boasts two humbucking pickups, 27″ scale length, GroverGao keystone tuners, and a black crown headstock inlay.
The SG Baritone is designed to replicate the body shape of the original SG Standard, but with a larger frame and five inches of added length. With its resized body and Alpine White finish, this sleek instrument will surely draw attention wherever it goes.
This baritone guitar features P-90 pickups for warm, vinegar-sharp tones and a Custom 58C humbucker with an Alnico V magnet that delivers a classic Hagstrom jazz vibe in the bridge position. Plus, there’s an oversized ferrule on the lowest string so you can use your bass guitar’s lowest string without needing any modifications to its bridge or tremolo arm.
Moreover, the SG Baritone is equipped with Gibson’s revolutionary Tune-o-matic bridge and stop bar tailpiece that helps ensure optimal resonance and sustain, while GroverGao keystone tuners make restringing and tuning a breeze. With an Alpine White finish as well as a traditional black truss rod cover and headstock inlay, this guitar’s tone is enhanced further.
Famous players who have used SGs include Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend and Gary Clark Jr. These guitarists all depended on the SG to craft their signature sounds, making it one of Gibson’s most sought-after instruments.
The SG Baritone isn’t designed for speed-freak shredders, but it can easily handle high-output amps and is ideal for djent and metal players who want to add extra chug and whammy to their sound. Furthermore, those looking to add low-end twang can find comfort with the SG Baritone; its rich, thick tone won’t weigh down your amplifier either.
Sound
The Gibson SG Baritone is an electric guitar with powerful low-tuned tones, perfect for metal, rock, and Americana styles. It also has a 27-inch scale length, GroverGao keystone tuners, and a black crown headstock inlay.
The SG Baritone is ideal for musicians looking to create unique sounds and experiments with different techniques. Its versatility makes it popular among rock, blues, and metal musicians alike; furthermore, this instrument is easy to play even for beginners.
This guitar’s distinctive sound can be heard on a variety of songs, such as classic rock classics from bands like Black Sabbath and Noel Gallagher. It is considered one of the best guitars for heavy metal players and has been played by some of rock n roll’s biggest names.
It’s also renowned as one of the most iconic guitars in history. Black Sabbath guitarist Tommy Iommi used it to pen some iconic metal riffs, and Noel Gallagher used it extensively on both his High Flying Birds album and live performances.
When comparing this guitar with other guitars, we take into account the number of pickups, switch options, and more. Additionally, we consider the type of bridge and neck joint.
The SG Baritone features two humbucking pickups that offer a wide variety of tones. Constructed from ceramic magnets, these humbuckers can be split to produce single coil output when necessary.
Swiveling the pickups allows for different sounds. Plus, with a simple switch, you can turn them on or off – making them incredibly user-friendly!
You can adjust the volume and tone controls to customize your guitar’s sound, making a big difference in its clarity.
Moreover, the SG Baritone guitar is highly durable and capable of withstanding a lot of abuse. This makes it a great investment for any guitarist. Furthermore, you can find this guitar at various price tags so you can pick one that meets your needs.
What is a Baritone Guitar?
Baritone guitars are electric instruments tuned to lower notes than standard acoustic and electric guitars, enabling players to play music in lower registers such as surf and western music from the 1950s.
Acoustic or electric guitarists looking to explore their instrument’s capabilities should consider picking up a baritone guitar. Many musicians also use baritone guitars when recording, adding an additional layer of depth to the mix.
Baritone guitar tuning
Baritone guitars are acoustic or electric instruments with a longer scale length and lower tuning than standard. Generally, the strings are tuned a perfect fourth or fifth below standard E (B-E-A-D-F#-B), though some players prefer higher tunings for greater control over sound production. Baritone guitars allow players to play familiar open chord shapes in different keys with distinct voices.
Origins
Baritone guitars have been a beloved instrument of guitarists ever since they first gained popularity in the 1950s, originally developed as German acoustic innovations. Eventually, these instruments made their way over to America and quickly gained acceptance among guitarists of the 50s and 60s era.
This guitar style made its mark on many genres of music, from surf rock and country to spaghetti western soundtracks. Its reverb twang also found a place in funk and metal styles – both known for heavy tones and high-energy music.
In the 1990s, a surge of hard rock musicians and TV shows like Twin Peaks brought back baritone singing into the spotlight. At this time, guitars had gained wider acceptance, allowing baritones to be featured on stage for various performances across genres.
Today, baritone guitars are used widely across all genres of music – many of the world’s greatest guitarists use them to add depth and power to their songs. From funk and blues to metal and ambient music, baritone guitars make excellent additions to any musician’s toolbox.
The baritone has a distinct sound, often described as a low twang and thick presence. This makes it an incredibly useful instrument for many genres of music – in fact, many producers rely on this instrument to add a unique flair to recordings or give guitar lines new dimensions.
Although a baritone guitar may seem like a specialized instrument, it has the potential to really express yourself and add depth and personality to recordings. This makes it ideal for beginners who are just learning their instrument and experienced players looking to explore what sonic possibilities a baritone guitar offers.
Tone
Baritone guitars offer a variety of tones due to their longer scale length and thicker strings than standard acoustic or electric guitars, which allow them to produce lower-pitched sounds. This is especially useful for metal genres where traditional instruments would otherwise produce too delicate of a sound.
A baritone’s low-end grunt and tight bass response make it ideal for heavy riffage, but can also serve as a perfect accompaniment for more mellow instrumental passages. Angelo Badalamenti’s Twin Peaks theme song, for instance, features an evocative baritone riff that perfectly complements the show’s dark, quirky tone.
Baritones are an instrument that is not often heard in the popular music world, yet they’ve made their way into many genres of popular music over time. Usually used as background instruments on recordings to add sounds and tones which would otherwise be impossible or difficult to achieve with standard guitars, baritones provide a versatile alternative.
Glen Campbell and Duane Eddy were two of the earliest adopters of baritones, creating classic rock songs using this instrument. Brian Wilson also frequently utilized a baritone to enhance his bass playing on many Beach Boys hits.
Baritones are a staple of country music, as well as being employed in funk and metal. Bands within these genres appreciate their capacity for producing an intense, aggressive sound when coupled with an overdrive pedal or fuzz.
One of the most iconic baritone guitars in heavy metal is Metallica’s 1991 release, The Black Album. Producer Bob Rock overdubbed a baritone guitar to add extra crunch to Metallica’s “Sad But True” riff.
Baritones have seen a meteoric rise in popularity over the years, thanks to their versatility and capacity for producing an incredibly rich and full sound. It’s no wonder why baritones are featured prominently in bands such as Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, and Bolt Thrower – genre-defining acts with iconic instruments!
Scale Patterns
Guitar scale patterns are notes that can be played on the fretboard in a specific key. They’re useful for improvisation and soloing, as well as playing lead guitar riffs or fills during songs. Furthermore, these scales serve as guides when learning new scales and chords.
The two most prevalent guitar scale patterns are the pentatonic scale and the major scale. Popular genres such as pop, rock, and blues all use these types of scales for their chord progressions.
Scale patterns come in many different forms, but these are the ones most musicians rely on. These can be useful when improvising or soloing since they provide guidance as to where specific notes should be played within a scale.
Learning a scale pattern begins by practicing it up and down the neck at slow tempos with a metronome, to get it programmed into your fingers and eyes. Once you have it under your fingertips, move on to interval sequences and number sequences.
Interval sequences enable you to move up and down the scale pattern through specific notes, like whole steps or half steps. Moreover, multiple notes can be played simultaneously as in a number sequence.
Baritone guitar players have many options when it comes to learning scale patterns. But for a simple start, try the 6-2 Box Pattern (see below).
The 6-2 Pattern is an accessible pattern, as it only uses three frets and requires minimal knowledge to learn. You can play it up and down the fretboard or in boxes if you want to explore different positions along the neck.
Once you have mastered the 6-2 pattern, try moving it up and down the fretboard to play the G major scale (pattern one). Alternating this same pattern by moving two frets higher on the fretboard will result in playing an A major scale.
Another advantage of learning a scale pattern is that it allows you to quickly switch from playing one key to another by shifting your fretboard position. For instance, the 6-3 pattern can be used for playing C major in any key from A to D.
Applications
The Baritone guitar is an electric instrument with a long neck and scale length of 2 to 4 inches longer than standard guitars. As such, it is typically tuned down to lower frequencies and uses heavier strings than its regular guitar counterpart.
Many musicians utilize baritone guitars for songwriting and recording purposes. These instruments offer a distinct sound, allowing them to explore more creative ideas and add unique elements to songs. Common applications of the baritone guitar include bluegrass music, surf music, and country music.
Baritone guitars have long been a staple of rock music. Metal bands began using them to craft more complex bass lines and guitar riffs due to their versatility, low-end boost for heavy songs, and powerful tones.
Baritone guitars have long been a staple among metal bands, but can also be found in classic rock and pop songs like Eddie Van Halen’s “Spanked” or “Runaround.”
The baritone guitar has long been a staple of surf music from the 1950s. Here, it creates a distinct, low-end tone not found elsewhere on guitars.
Another significant use of the baritone guitar is in percussion. Here, it’s often played to add depth and volume to an ensemble of other instruments such as band drums or choir voices.
Baritone guitars are commonly used for percussion, but they can also be played solo by strumming their strings. This instrument is particularly advantageous during solo performances since it offers a lower pitch range which may be easier for singers to sing into.
Some baritone guitars feature a tremolo system, which adds extra motion to a strung chord. This technique works best on rock songs, allowing the player to create a more vibrant sound by letting their strings move along with the rhythm section.
