In preparation for Tosin Abasi’s (and John Mason’s + possibly more) I have been prototyping the baritone hybrid concept to work out the best way of carving the “headstock” and placing string locks. I could develop a new string lock especially for this, that is more out of the way, but I really want to use the standard one to showcase its versatility. Here’s what I have come up with so far and at least with my playing style, it will work. I aim to get this onto #4 ASAP to try it out. Scale lengths are 28.66″ – 25.5″.
Note custom colored (~bronze) hardware slated for Tosin’s guitar, which will have flamed maple top and rosewood neck.
I like it. Looks a bit hard to fret but that’s the risk you take when going with this scale lenght combination.
Maybe slightly recess the higher strings stringlocks on one side, so that they lie somewhat tilted in the “headstock”? This to prevent your fingers from touching them while fretting 1-2 on the 7th and 8th string. You could recess the whole lock, but I’m afraid that’d cause too much of a downwards angle at the nut.
Is there any literature on how you can extend a scale length by just adding a couple extra frets down at the nut? Because when you change the scale length, the octave and all the other notes change. I’m trying to understand this but it’s just not popping into my head.
@Jeffrey: think of it as a 28.66″ scale guitar with a partial capo on strings 1-5 at the 2nd fret (and then call this 2nd fret “0”). The open string octave does indeed change for the 6th string – it will reside on the “10th” fret (which is the 12th for the 6th string). But as long as you do not play the 6th string open, it is just like any other guitar, assuming you tune the guitar DADGBE. I’m sure this will mess many players up, but I’m sure there are many out there that will be able to take advantage of it as well! A longer, heavier string has a nice ring to it.