Wow what a beautiful guitar, beautiful playing, excellent sound quality to the video too! A pleasurable morning listen/watch before I head into the office
This fine fellow saying his awesome James White instrument is the best baritone guitar ever created does not surprise me in the least! I’ve known Jim since our days in high school, and have played guitar well before that…having own a myriad of guitars over the last 50 years, I can honestly say Jim’s skills as a luthier are second to none! His attention to the slightest detail in crafting these superb instruments are a testament to the kind of quality person James is, and the results of his efforts are truly phenomenal! I’m proud to be the current caretaker of two of his finer works, an early 12 string beauty, and my prized OOO-Concert Custom Six String, named Apollonia! Words seriously cannot due justice to the craftsmanship and tone/sound of this beautiful and functional work of art. I’m proud to call Jim my friend…thanks again, Brother.
Hi from Spain, this was my first enquiry relating to baritone guitars and my search was "the best baritone acoustic guitar". I thought your presentation and playing was excellent. You are very fortunate in the US to be able to buy guitars of this quality, it would cost half a years salary in Spain, I am very jealous, kind regards,John.
An amazing sounding baritone. A fascinating blend of x brace and classical fan bracing. I just stung up my first baritone 17” jumbo build. Very happy with it but would love to hear it next to this masterpiece. Ya can’t learn if you have less than the best to compare to
You are correct. That IS the Best Baritone Guitar in the World 🌎. Now I want one too. I used to have a Shabby Chic 13 fret Baritone with a slotted headstock. But I sent it back because when I received it, there was a dent in the bottom of it that I assume was a result of Negligence from the Shipper. It was the "Woodiest" sounding guitar that I ever played and I do miss have a Baritone in the Guitarsenal. I currently have a Larrive'e L-03R that I have tuned down to B E A D F# B so that I can play Dave Matthews SOME DEVIL and STAY OR LEAVE. And I like to just mess around with the dropped tunning sometimes and play songs I already know and try and figure out how to transpose them for the lower tunning. My favorite Baritone tunning has been C# F# B E G# C# This way the common (cowboy) 🤠 chords make for easy transposing. C (chord shape) = A Em (chord shape) = C#m G = E F = D A = F# Am = F#m D = B Dm = Bm Bb = G Bm = Abm You probably knew all that already I'm sure but maybe someone reading this will try that tunning and enjoy the cheat sheet. Thank you for discovering this Baritone and sharing this recording with the world to save us all time and money trying to find the world's best Baritone. I will be contacting James White to see how long his wait list is for one of these fine instruments.
I'm baritone-curious. Your comments about the 12-fret join and bridge position making the guitar sit right make sense to me, but also got me thinking: what would be the effect of simply widening nut slots and fitting thicker strings on an existing guitar, then tuning down to B or A? The intonation might go off a bit, but what effect might there be on the sound? Since the scale length would still be 25.5", the guitar would play the same as before.
I have done this experiment on several guitars with wildly different results. Ultimately none of them had stellar intonation after the 7th fret-ish but one of them I have kept around for many years now and its a classical. I used it for a Jingle Bells cover a ways back but it sounds great. Doesn't quite have the power of the James White but its fun.
Hi from Spain, I am intrigued about your comment about widening the nut slots on a typical 25.5" acoustic to convert it to a baritone. In my wildest dreams could I afford any James White guitar which sounded excellent and the guitarist is great!! The reason I ask about converting a 25.5" relates to the 12th. fret design of this James White guitar. On a typical 25.5" guitar the gap between the nut and the 1st.fret is 35mm.(1.375") which is virtually identical to the gap between the 12th. and 14th. frets. On that basis if I use a capo permanently on the first fret in terms of playability similar to a 12th.fret guitar I think I could experiment with a relatively low priced but good quality standard acoustic guitar. I would like to know what you think may happen to intonation because I have no experience of playing a baritone guitar but I liked the "bass" sound. Since you made your comment have you created a "baritone" out of a 25.5", and if so can you share your experience ? Like you I like to experiment with my guitars,for example some songs that I cannot sing in the original key I have one of my electro acoustic guitars strung with really heavy 59/14's and tune it one step lower DGCFAD and the guitar sounds incredible and is as easy to play as normal because the tension is slightly lower, I have it permanently set up like this, Kind regards, John.
@@johnrenshaw7684 To use a capo to make a faux 12-fret guitar, you'd need to place it at the second fret, not the first, and the scale length would become about 22.875". If you do this with your detuned guitar, you'll put it back to standard tuning. I think my original comment was about detuning far further, while keeping the 25.5" scale length.
I had a Tacoma Thunderhawk but gave up baritone acoustic due to tendonitis. That James White Bari looks promising. Since you play electric, get a Fender Blacktop Baritone, throw away the 23 fret rosewood neck, the shorty bridge and pickups. Install three Dimarzio Area T pickups (a tele set plus an extra tele neck pickup for the middle), a Texas Customs Smooth Play bridge which is big enough to cover the humbucker hole plus looks cool. Use a 3 saddle version, not a 6 because heavy bari strings will push six saddle configuration sideways. Install a Warmoth maple fretboard 24 fret baritone neck. Toss out the 3 Texas Customs Smooth Play saddles and replace with Wilkinson compensated saddles. And presto! You'll also have the BEST Electric Baritone Guitar on Earth. No mud, all 5 positions sound incredible with great note separation plus 24 usable frets. I never installed one in mine but you might want to install a treble bleed as well.
I agree that the White Baritone sounds wonderful. But I'm looking for a "once in while change of pace" baritone guitar and for that it's way too expensive.
Hey Bear it's me again. Just reaching back out to you as you inspired me to get a Baritone.. I returned my ABT60 Alvarez and got a $2,100 Larravee BT-40m 100% mahogony version (only 12 fret non customer luthier baritone I could find).. I really do see how your points of strumming close to the bridge brighten things up even tuned A# to A# and to me it sounds like a heavy pick helps too, you did mean use a heavy pick didn't you? I wanted to ask you if you had ever tried a wound string instead of steel for the 2nd F# string and/or if you had tried anything else to try to improve the strumming of baritones? It would be really cool to hear your baritone up next to a Larrivee baritone you wouldn't happen to live near Missouri would you lol?
Hey Will, congrats on your new axe!! Larrivee makes great guitars. My pick choice changes depending on the guitar and what I am playing, or if I am recording... However to simplify things I am going to be putting out an new "Pick" video that will detail the differences and why I choose a certain pick over another. I live up in the PNW but I have some friends in Missouri ;)
@@TheBearDenStudios Great I can't wait to watch it! If you ever make your way to visit in STL area I would love to meet you at a guitar store if you were open to it :) Bring that incredible axe of yours if you do! Side-note, I read somewhere using brass pegs can possibly help too haven't tried yet. Hit me up here any time in the future or let me know if you want to have direct email contact either way thanks for the great video as you lead me down this path!
I'm not sure about your guys' opinions, but in my view, this baritone guitar has a more balanced sound compared to other guitars. I've always found that traditional acoustic guitars lack a certain depth in the bass range, as to human ear, bass require more volume to be perceived as loud as the mid-range and treble frequencies. I know for fingerstyle, the melody should be stand out, however this can be controlled by the player.
I don't like that high A harmonic that is there in the background all the time around 1,760 hrtz!!...but other then that, sure looks like a nice guitar!!...
That sounds like a great Baritone, but the Greatest On planet Earth? I don't know about that... you would have to compare Every Baritone to be able to state that and be right ... Pretty close though... The price must have been also a great one ... Was this around 4 k?
While I haven't played every single baritone ever made I have owned models from all the big players in the baritone guitar world and the James White smashed them all imo. At a minimum they should take the ergonomics page from James' book.
Great stuff Bear, what strings are you using on this? Can you get it down to A# and strum anything on it or is that the mud breaking point like it is on my ABT60?
@@TheBearDenStudios ever tried any strumming tuned down to A#? The Mudd kind of takes over it seems even on a Larrivvee bt-40.. and certainly in my abt60. Curious if that's just the reality of guitars or perhaps can you pull it off with yours? Any ideas string wise that would help achieve this would be great too thanks for responding
@@willb8506 Hey Will yes I have a couple Baritones tuned to A# and I can strum but I have to adjust my technique for the lower tension. Also moving your hand back a little bit more towards the bridge will brighten things up a bit. Lastly choosing the right pick is pretty monumental in this situation.
@@TheBearDenStudios hard pick or soft? I bought this BT-40M meets at 12th fret all Mahogany I hope it plays like yours does! If not then next stop James White...
@@TheBearDenStudios Bear does your baritone go a little sharp at the 12th fret as well? Hoping this is just a reality of having a 70 E string or does yours stay intonated even on the Low E all the way up the board?
Clicked for the guitar, stuck around for the beautiful playing. Very nice!
Wow what a beautiful guitar, beautiful playing, excellent sound quality to the video too! A pleasurable morning listen/watch before I head into the office
Fantastic job on the video.
This fine fellow saying his awesome James White instrument is the best baritone guitar ever created does not surprise me in the least!
I’ve known Jim since our days in high school, and have played guitar well before that…having own a myriad of guitars over the last 50 years, I can honestly say Jim’s skills as a luthier are second to none!
His attention to the slightest detail in crafting these superb instruments are a testament to the kind of quality person James is, and the results of his efforts are truly phenomenal!
I’m proud to be the current caretaker of two of his finer works, an early 12 string beauty, and my prized OOO-Concert Custom Six String, named Apollonia!
Words seriously cannot due justice to the craftsmanship and tone/sound of this beautiful and functional work of art.
I’m proud to call Jim my friend…thanks again, Brother.
And Bear…you make that guitar sound awesome…love your style!!
Beautiful, clear tone
wow that is real nice, great stuff!
Un must , c’est certain. Une merveille!!!
This guy knows how to play the guitar! I knew every song except the very first one and second to last. They all sounded wonderful though!
Love my White guitar, best sounding acoustic I own by miles.
The Alverez line of baritone guitars sound and look much better .
Have you tried the Ibanez version, as I love mine?
Nice tones, and nice playing!
Ain’t experienced enough to say if this is the best baritone Gtr but yours surely is one the most tasteful playing I’ve heard around
bravo....super ,day tripper is very nice........and rest....
Hi from Spain, this was my first enquiry relating to baritone guitars and my search was "the best baritone acoustic guitar". I thought your presentation and playing was excellent. You are very fortunate in the US to be able to buy guitars of this quality, it would cost half a years salary in Spain, I am very jealous, kind regards,John.
An amazing sounding baritone. A fascinating blend of x brace and classical fan bracing. I just stung up my first baritone 17” jumbo build. Very happy with it but would love to hear it next to this masterpiece. Ya can’t learn if you have less than the best to compare to
Great review! Informative, intriguing and excellent playing.
You are correct. That IS the Best Baritone Guitar in the World 🌎. Now I want one too.
I used to have a Shabby Chic 13 fret Baritone with a slotted headstock. But I sent it back because when I received it, there was a dent in the bottom of it that I assume was a result of Negligence from the Shipper. It was the "Woodiest" sounding guitar that I ever played and I do miss have a Baritone in the Guitarsenal.
I currently have a Larrive'e L-03R that I have tuned down to B E A D F# B so that I can play Dave Matthews SOME DEVIL and STAY OR LEAVE. And I like to just mess around with the dropped tunning sometimes and play songs I already know and try and figure out how to transpose them for the lower tunning.
My favorite Baritone tunning has been C# F# B E G# C#
This way the common (cowboy) 🤠 chords make for easy transposing.
C (chord shape) = A
Em (chord shape) = C#m
G = E
F = D
A = F#
Am = F#m
D = B
Dm = Bm
Bb = G
Bm = Abm
You probably knew all that already I'm sure but maybe someone reading this will try that tunning and enjoy the cheat sheet.
Thank you for discovering this Baritone and sharing this recording with the world to save us all time and money trying to find the world's best Baritone. I will be contacting James White to see how long his wait list is for one of these fine instruments.
Nice! I picked up a BSG baritone that is killer.
Great intro, man!
Thanks Sam!
What kind.. beautiful
Do you have any idea about the price for this beauty?
Thanks!
The top looks super stressed at the bridge. Has it split yet?
Sounds great.
Great playing! I just subscribed.
What did you dislike about the Lowden baritone compared to this one, and did you have a fan fret version?
I had 2 of them, one of them being FF. Both of them were at the bottom in terms of volume which was a bummer.
@@TheBearDenStudios thanks!
I'm baritone-curious. Your comments about the 12-fret join and bridge position making the guitar sit right make sense to me, but also got me thinking: what would be the effect of simply widening nut slots and fitting thicker strings on an existing guitar, then tuning down to B or A? The intonation might go off a bit, but what effect might there be on the sound? Since the scale length would still be 25.5", the guitar would play the same as before.
I have done this experiment on several guitars with wildly different results. Ultimately none of them had stellar intonation after the 7th fret-ish but one of them I have kept around for many years now and its a classical. I used it for a Jingle Bells cover a ways back but it sounds great. Doesn't quite have the power of the James White but its fun.
Hi from Spain, I am intrigued about your comment about widening the nut slots on a typical 25.5" acoustic to convert it to a baritone. In my wildest dreams could I afford any James White guitar which sounded excellent and the guitarist is great!! The reason I ask about converting a 25.5" relates to the 12th. fret design of this James White guitar. On a typical 25.5" guitar the gap between the nut and the 1st.fret is 35mm.(1.375") which is virtually identical to the gap between the 12th. and 14th. frets. On that basis if I use a capo permanently on the first fret in terms of playability similar to a 12th.fret guitar I think I could experiment with a relatively low priced but good quality standard acoustic guitar. I would like to know what you think may happen to intonation because I have no experience of playing a baritone guitar but I liked the "bass" sound. Since you made your comment have you created a "baritone" out of a 25.5", and if so can you share your experience ? Like you I like to experiment with my guitars,for example some songs that I cannot sing in the original key I have one of my electro acoustic guitars strung with really heavy 59/14's and tune it one step lower DGCFAD and the guitar sounds incredible and is as easy to play as normal because the tension is slightly lower, I have it permanently set up like this, Kind regards, John.
@@johnrenshaw7684 To use a capo to make a faux 12-fret guitar, you'd need to place it at the second fret, not the first, and the scale length would become about 22.875". If you do this with your detuned guitar, you'll put it back to standard tuning. I think my original comment was about detuning far further, while keeping the 25.5" scale length.
I had a Tacoma Thunderhawk but gave up baritone acoustic due to tendonitis. That James White Bari looks promising. Since you play electric, get a Fender Blacktop Baritone, throw away the 23 fret rosewood neck, the shorty bridge and pickups. Install three Dimarzio Area T pickups (a tele set plus an extra tele neck pickup for the middle), a Texas Customs Smooth Play bridge which is big enough to cover the humbucker hole plus looks cool. Use a 3 saddle version, not a 6 because heavy bari strings will push six saddle configuration sideways. Install a Warmoth maple fretboard 24 fret baritone neck. Toss out the 3 Texas Customs Smooth Play saddles and replace with Wilkinson compensated saddles. And presto! You'll also have the BEST Electric Baritone Guitar on Earth. No mud, all 5 positions sound incredible with great note separation plus 24 usable frets. I never installed one in mine but you might want to install a treble bleed as well.
Hey bear im new to guitars and would love to learn that intro song would you do a tutorial on the chords
I agree that the White Baritone sounds wonderful. But I'm looking for a "once in while change of pace" baritone guitar and for that it's way too expensive.
Hey Bear it's me again. Just reaching back out to you as you inspired me to get a Baritone.. I returned my ABT60 Alvarez and got a $2,100 Larravee BT-40m 100% mahogony version (only 12 fret non customer luthier baritone I could find).. I really do see how your points of strumming close to the bridge brighten things up even tuned A# to A# and to me it sounds like a heavy pick helps too, you did mean use a heavy pick didn't you? I wanted to ask you if you had ever tried a wound string instead of steel for the 2nd F# string and/or if you had tried anything else to try to improve the strumming of baritones? It would be really cool to hear your baritone up next to a Larrivee baritone you wouldn't happen to live near Missouri would you lol?
Wow I just realized looking closely it looks like you indeed have a wound 2nd string dont you
Hey Will, congrats on your new axe!! Larrivee makes great guitars. My pick choice changes depending on the guitar and what I am playing, or if I am recording... However to simplify things I am going to be putting out an new "Pick" video that will detail the differences and why I choose a certain pick over another. I live up in the PNW but I have some friends in Missouri ;)
@@TheBearDenStudios Great I can't wait to watch it! If you ever make your way to visit in STL area I would love to meet you at a guitar store if you were open to it :) Bring that incredible axe of yours if you do! Side-note, I read somewhere using brass pegs can possibly help too haven't tried yet. Hit me up here any time in the future or let me know if you want to have direct email contact either way thanks for the great video as you lead me down this path!
Alvarez is nice
If i were to buy this, would giving it the martin d18e deal a good idea? (Pickups, selector switch and volume/tone knobs)
Are you asking if adding a pickup is a good idea? If so then yes but I usually prefer the K&K pure mini or the Baggs Anthem
@@TheBearDenStudios what would you recommend for a pickup that goes on the outside? (Over the sound hole)
I'm not sure about your guys' opinions, but in my view, this baritone guitar has a more balanced sound compared to other guitars. I've always found that traditional acoustic guitars lack a certain depth in the bass range, as to human ear, bass require more volume to be perceived as loud as the mid-range and treble frequencies. I know for fingerstyle, the melody should be stand out, however this can be controlled by the player.
Maybe if you miced it properly, we could hear how good it is.
Is the action easier than on the Taylor 8 string baritone?
Sorry for the late response. Yes far easier than a Taylor 8 string
What about the Froggy baritone?
Froggy makes amazing Baritones. Ive had 2 and I prefer the James White, but that's not a dig against Froggy.
Guild
I don't like that high A harmonic that is there in the background all the time around 1,760 hrtz!!...but other then that, sure looks like a nice guitar!!...
Can you tell him to make an 8 string guitar like that?
Great idea! I will pass that along!
@@TheBearDenStudios thanks
Is there a better on Mars ?
Its possible but unlikely!
Does that cost $5000? Most people can’t afford that.
That sounds like a great Baritone, but the Greatest On planet Earth? I don't know about that... you would have to compare Every Baritone to be able to state that and be right ... Pretty close though... The price must have been also a great one ... Was this around 4 k?
While I haven't played every single baritone ever made I have owned models from all the big players in the baritone guitar world and the James White smashed them all imo. At a minimum they should take the ergonomics page from James' book.
@@TheBearDenStudios That's amazing... It sounds great on the recording and your playing was very good!
promosm ☀️
Great stuff Bear, what strings are you using on this? Can you get it down to A# and strum anything on it or is that the mud breaking point like it is on my ABT60?
Thanks Will! I go back and forth between D'Addario XT 16-70 and the Elixir 16-70. In the video I am using the D'addarios
@@TheBearDenStudios ever tried any strumming tuned down to A#? The Mudd kind of takes over it seems even on a Larrivvee bt-40.. and certainly in my abt60. Curious if that's just the reality of guitars or perhaps can you pull it off with yours? Any ideas string wise that would help achieve this would be great too thanks for responding
@@willb8506 Hey Will yes I have a couple Baritones tuned to A# and I can strum but I have to adjust my technique for the lower tension. Also moving your hand back a little bit more towards the bridge will brighten things up a bit. Lastly choosing the right pick is pretty monumental in this situation.
@@TheBearDenStudios hard pick or soft? I bought this BT-40M meets at 12th fret all Mahogany I hope it plays like yours does! If not then next stop James White...
@@TheBearDenStudios Bear does your baritone go a little sharp at the 12th fret as well? Hoping this is just a reality of having a 70 E string or does yours stay intonated even on the Low E all the way up the board?
What was the first song at the beginning of the video??
That is an original piece of music. :)