Taylor 8 string Baritone

Subject: Taylor 8 string Baritone
From: GUEST,Warwick Slade
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 11:06 AM

Last year I bought a Taylor 8 string Baritone guitar and, although a bit of a handfull, I find it great fun to play. Problem is transposing the keys as the use of a capo negates the lower pitch.
Is there anyone else mad enough to use one and how do they get on with it?

Subject: RE: Taylor 8 string Baritone
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 01:34 PM

Why the double strings?

Subject: RE: Taylor 8 string Baritone
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 02:00 PM

I really like electric baritones, 12 strings, mandolas etc..
any variation on the standard 6 string gains my interest.
[ thank you Danelectro reissue programme..]

So I'm definitely intrigued by the string configuration of this very expensive instrument.

Unfortunately, the long commercial demo I just viewed on youtube
played by a seemingly quite capable young guitarist,
sounded really tinny and rattling with fret buzz...???

Subject: RE: Taylor 8 string Baritone
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 18 Mar 15 - 03:59 PM

I tried one of these in a shop. It was interesting and enjoyable to play. But at the end of the day, I'd have preferred it if it hadn't had been 8-string. Those doubled-up strings made it sound too chimey for me (sort of like a very bassy mandolin or something). If you like the sound of 12-string guitars, you'll probably love it. It certainly had a nice, and very unique, tone, but I'm just not a big fan of 12-string guitars, generally. They just, um ,don't sound enough like guitars to me. It was also a very expensive guitar.

In the same shop, I tried out the Walden B1 baritone guitar. While this guitar didn't have as nice a sustain, as the Taylor, it was a hugely enjoyable guitar to play, and I preferred it immediately - you could really leap around the strings, and straightaway your fingers found cool stuff to play. Strongly recommend trying one out. I suspect strings other than the stock strings on it would probably make a big positive difference, too.

Subject: RE: Taylor 8 string Baritone
From: GUEST,Warwick s
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 04:39 AM

Subject: RE: Taylor 8 string Baritone
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Mar 15 - 04:51 AM

Whoops
Not many then
Why extra strings,? well the lower pitch gives a good base sound and the high pair add that 12string jingle and an original sound compared with conventional turnings .
It's nice to mix it up and variety is the spice of life. I find, at gigs, people are intrigued by something different and it sounds as if I am the only one using it.
Expensive? So is any quality guitar.