Best Baritone Guitars 2026 | Studio Gears
Best Baritone Guitars (2026): 27-Inch and 30-Inch Picks for Drop A and Below
This guide is for the player whose home tuning is drop A, drop G# or lower: doom, sludge, deathcore, modern metal rhythm, and anyone tired of a standard-scale guitar going floppy the moment the low string drops. A baritone fixes that with scale length rather than string gauge. Every guitar below is a baritone we stock right now, grouped by budget, with B-Stock deals first because they are where a baritone gets genuinely affordable.
Shop every baritone in stock · B-Stock deals · LTD Black Metal series
What makes a baritone a baritone
Scale length. A standard electric is 25.5 inches from nut to bridge; a baritone runs 27 inches on most ESP LTD models and 30 inches on the new M-6 EverTune 30. The longer string holds more tension at the same pitch, so a low A or G# stays tight and defined instead of rattling. The price is a little more stretch in the first few frets, which is why most baritones are bought as dedicated low-tuned guitars rather than an only guitar.
- 27-inch: the sweet spot. Drop A to F# with normal-feeling gauges, still playable for chords and leads. Almost every pick here.
- 30-inch: bass-territory tension for the lowest tunings; a true rhythm machine. One pick here, the M-6 EverTune 30.
- 7-string baritone: the 27-inch scale applied to seven strings, for players who want both the low range and a full standard set on top. The LTD Black Metal 7s, the SN-1007HT and the Sunset-7 ET.
Two features earn their money on a baritone more than anywhere else: an EverTune bridge, because the low strings drift first, and Fishman Fluence or EMG pickups, because passive pickups can get woolly that low.
B-Stock baritones: the best value in this guide
New guitars with one small cosmetic blemish, 20% below MAP, full manufacturer warranty. Baritones turn up in B-Stock more often than you would expect because they are ordered in smaller batches.
Why: the MH-1000B is the classic LTD baritone: neck-through, 27-inch, EMG active pickups, satin black. As B-Stock it is the cheapest neck-through baritone we sell. Spec line: 27 in. scale, neck-thru, EMG active humbuckers.
Why: a 7-string Arrow baritone with an EverTune bridge and Fishman Fluence pickups, at a B-Stock price. This is the most tuning-stable low-tuned guitar in the list. Spec line: 7-string, 27 in. scale, EverTune bridge, Fishman Fluence pickups, neck-thru.
Why: a left-handed EC-1000 baritone is a rare thing on any shelf; this one is Fishman-equipped and B-Stock priced. If you are a lefty who tunes low, buy it before someone else does. Spec line: left-handed, 27 in. scale, Fishman Fluence pickups.
The 2026 LTD Black Metal baritones
New this year: the Black Metal series in Black Red Burst Satin with red metal logos, and three of the six models are baritones. See the whole line on the LTD Black Metal series page.
Why: the only 30-inch guitar in this guide, with an EverTune bridge. If your band lives below drop G, this is the one built for it. Spec line: 30 in. scale, EverTune bridge, bolt-on neck, Black Red Burst Satin.
Why: a neck-through 7-string baritone with a hardtail and Seymour Duncan pickups, so nothing moves when you dig in. Spec line: 7-string, 27 in. scale, hardtail, Seymour Duncan pickups, neck-thru.
Why: the Phoenix shape as a 7-string baritone, neck-through with Fishman Fluence pickups. The stage look matches the tuning. Spec line: 7-string, 27 in. scale, Fishman Fluence pickups, neck-thru.
Why: the EXL-7B is the pointed-body baritone of the series, EMG-equipped for the most aggressive voice of the three. Spec line: 7-string, 27 in. scale, EMG pickups.
New baritones from $1,400 to $1,900
Why: a 7-string baritone with Fishman Fluence pickups, a Hipshot hardtail and a bolt-on neck, in the SN shape. The most affordable new 7-string baritone with Fluence electronics in the list. Spec line: 7-string, 27 in. scale, Fishman Fluence pickups, Hipshot bridge, bolt-on neck.
Why: the XJ-1 Baritone HT is the offset-body baritone for players who want something that does not look like a metal guitar but is built like one. Spec line: 27 in. scale, Fishman Fluence pickups, Hipshot bridge, bolt-on neck.
Why: the one non-ESP pick, and it earns the spot: a 27-inch 7-string baritone with an EverTune bridge and Fishman Fluence pickups. Spec line: 7-string, 27 in. scale, EverTune bridge, Fishman Fluence pickups.
Why: Jack Simmons' signature 7-string baritone: neck-through, Fishman Fluence, Hipshot, and a spec sheet written by someone who actually plays in these tunings. Spec line: 7-string, 27 in. scale, Fishman Fluence pickups, Hipshot bridge, neck-thru.
Why: the EC-1007B pairs the single-cut EC body with EverTune and Fishman Fluence, for players who want a Les Paul-style feel in a 7-string baritone. Spec line: 7-string, 27 in. scale, EverTune bridge, Fishman Fluence pickups.
Why: Stephen Carpenter's SCT-607B is the baritone that put 7-string baritones on the map for modern metal: neck-through, 27-inch, Fishman Fluence. Spec line: 7-string, 27 in. scale, Fishman Fluence pickups, neck-thru.
27-inch vs 30-inch vs 7-string baritone
| Type | Best for | Trade-off | Picks above |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27-inch 6-string | Drop A to F# with normal gauges | Slight stretch in the low frets | MH-1000B, EC-1000B LH, XJ-1 |
| 30-inch | Drop G and below, maximum tightness | Feels like a short bass for chord work | M-6 EverTune 30 |
| 7-string baritone | Low range plus a full standard set on top | Wider neck, heavier | Arrow-1007BET, Black Metal 7s, SN-1007HT, Sunset-7 ET, JS-7B, EC-1007B, SCT-607B |
FAQ
Can I tune a baritone guitar to standard E?
You can, but it will feel stiff and the tone gets brittle. Baritones are voiced and set up for B standard, drop A and lower; keep a standard-scale guitar for E.
What string gauge does a baritone need?
A 27-inch baritone usually runs a 12-68 or 13-72 set for B standard or drop A; a 30-inch can go a step lighter at the same pitch because the scale adds the tension for you.
Is a 7-string baritone better than a 6-string baritone?
Different, not better. A 7-string baritone keeps a full standard set on top of the low string, so leads and chords work as on a normal guitar; a 6-string baritone is simpler, lighter and cheaper for a dedicated low-tuned rhythm role.
Is EverTune worth it on a baritone?
More than on any other guitar. The long low strings drift first under heavy picking and temperature changes; EverTune holds them. The Arrow-1007BET, M-6 EverTune 30, Sunset-7 ET and EC-1007B above all have it.
Do B-Stock baritones have a warranty?
Yes. B-Stock is a new guitar with one small cosmetic blemish, sold 20% below MAP with the full manufacturer warranty. Every unit is photographed flaw-and-all on its product page.
Shop the baritones
All of the guitars above are in stock at the time of writing. The live lists stay current when a pick sells out: all baritone guitars, the LTD Black Metal series, 7-string guitars (see also our 7-string guide), and B-Stock deals.