Baritone Guitar

[jalevinemd]

I'm not very familiar with baritone instruments. I like a longer scale length. What would be the effect of taking a six string baritone guitar and setting it up with standard gauge strings and standard tuning? Would the neck tolerate it? Just curious.

[hydrargyrum]

Hmm, I can't say for sure, but it may be hard to get it quite up to standard pitch without undue neck stress.  If you did, I suspect you would find the usual benefits and detriments of a longer scale (better sustain, more difficulty bending notes).  I would be curious if anyone has actually tried.

[crgaston]

Well, basses have a much wider range of scale lengths, and the necks seem to be ok with tension from anywhere between 30 and 36 inches, so the extra 2.5 inches of the baritone would probably handle it fine.  I would be more concerned about string breakage than neck damage.
 
Here is a link to a string tension calculator that may be helpful.
 
http://www.pacificsites.net/~dog/StringTensionApplet.html