Utkarsh Mohan on Music #31: Why the Gibson Baritone Explorer changed my musical journey

[@cybermexi-8100]

I've always listened to metal growing up. A lot of 80s thrash, EVH, 90s grunge, i picked up guitar in my teens. But by my late teens i heard a new sound, bands like Sleep, Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age and Melvins have such a massive sound. I found out about C standard tuning and playing slower rather than playing faster. Letting notes ring out, and just creating massive sounds. You're droning ambience fits right in. If you haven't already you owe it to yourself to listen to some "drone metal" acts. Where building soundcapes with low tunings is just a big part of the act as loud distortion, and ethereal cleans. The big three right now are probably Earth, Sunn O))), and Boris.

[@Canadianwheelchairguitar]

Any different/new guitar, pedal, amp or tuning can change what & how you play! Makes things exciting for me!

[@ministryofguitar]

Very true

[@mrpaiute9013]

This thumbnail has r/guitarcirclejerk potential for years top post

[@wce74wce15]

Thanks for this, im at the crossroads of purchasing my first. Jericho 27" explorer

[@ministryofguitar]

Great. Happy I could help

[@allenmitchell09]

I love the droning technique.

[@jamesmarkham7489]

And here I was downtuning an epiphone special II to play System of a Down. 😅 didn’t know a baritone existed for years.

[@ScottsGuitar]

Hahahah oh man that brings me back. So true. Stupid drop C. I would just de tune the bottom 3 and compensate on top 3 back in the day

[@J_Braz_]

Explorers have always been my favorite. James Hetfield my favorite guitarist growing up. My first decent guitar was a used Epiphone explorer from the mid 90s. In 2005 I had a job at Walmart and had saved up enough for a used Gibson Gothic explorer I found on ebay. The previous owner had put emg 81/60 pickups and removed the neck volume knob so it just had a single volume knob that controlled both pickups and a single tone knob. It was the best guitar I've ever played to this day. I sold it around 2012 and regret it to this day. Last year I bought a ltd ex-360, alpine white that i really like and a black ltd ex-400 that's nice too. Still want a Gibson explorer but they're way to overpriced these days.

[@ratwynd]

Kool. I caught the baritone bug recently and filled it with an acoustic baritone Alavarez acoustic/electric I found on a great sale price. I had looked at Taylors and a few others like some Eastwood electrics but did not want to spend over $2000 on something untried. I fool around with mandolin, banjo and bass a little bit as well some keyboard but I really wanted to explore a bit lower range for the guitar as I sing in a lower range and often on a E-tuned guitar i capo up 3-5 frets to meet my range. I have to watch for feedback but I plug it in with some effects and it can be a ton of fun, especially having that extra low range to play with.

[@ministryofguitar]

Thanks for sharing. I'm considering adding a baritone acoustic to the range as well. Was tempted when Andertons had a sale on the Alvarez baritones but didn't pull the trigger

[@ratwynd]

@@ministryofguitar I found your channel not long ago and enjoy your viewpoint on things. I was playing it earlier this morning learning my way around the lower register frets better. The one I found was a Guitar Center/MF house model with cutaway and arm cut, nice sunburst and electronics. Took a bunch of setup but now plays and sounds great tuned with 070" low B string set. But for reference, recently looked at multiple new Taylor $2k+ instruments in local shop no better set up off the rack.

[@l0rd_breeigo-sama954]

I Got the same guitar cause i wanted the Thunderhorse since i started playing guitar. But the price was just insane of the ones i had seen. Then i happened upon a small used website in my country where the baritone Explorer was and i just thought it was the coolest guitar ever. And it had lundgren pickups in it. Absolute dream guitar, but i Got it Home and i already had my top 1 dream guitar at the time which is an inanez 8 and i was just disappointed cause it was just basically a 7 string without the High E. So i ended up putting it for sale. And it almost Got sold, i had recieved the money and then the most unforseen thing happened, that the tuner and wood on top of the headstock broke off. So i ended up sending the money back and after just kind of blacking out i had it fixed. And now i really love it and found a band which used the exact same guitar which is now one of my favorite bands. So what was a guitar i initially i disliked is now something i am super happy to own, even with the damage on the headstock.

[@l0rd_breeigo-sama954]

Also only played for like 3 years but had taken a break 6 years ago when i first “started” and loved dethklok and Meshuggah the most back then.

[@ScottsGuitar]

@@l0rd_breeigo-sama954Frederik is the man

[@erikthompson7341]

My current favorite baritone song is “Automatic Sun” by The Warning. Great song!

[@ministryofguitar]

Thanks for the recommendation. Will check it out

[@erikthompson7341]

@@ministryofguitar Thank you for including your example playing videos today. I enjoyed the way that you worked in the evolution of your playing style. The droning sounded nice.

[@zz-.-]

Again your videos hit home man. Recently got my first 7 string. Was about to get an 8 string and discovered baritone guitars and I think it’s a better choice than the 8 string. Considering ESP LTD, Ibanez Iron Label. Would be cool if PRS made a baritone beyond the SE range. Love the Gibson SG baritone in white but I’ve already got a vintage SG and would prefer a diff shape. What else do people enjoy playing? $ no limit just want to get something I’ll be excited to learn songs on.

[@ministryofguitar]

thanks man. Yeah baritones are a great option especially with a really long scale, and an easy transition for six string players. Try out the old PRS SE277s. They are really good guitars. the ESP/LTD baritones are also good

[@ScottsGuitar]

If you ever get the chance to put your hands on a Castedosa Conchers baritone, buy it immediately. Carlos Lopez (formerly of Fender) makes the best baritones in the world imo. I was able to have a beer with Carlos and his wife last year around NAMM and Castedosa is the stuff of dreams. One day I’ll get one..

[@ministryofguitar]

I must admit I have heard about the legend of Castedosa. Perhaps when I'm visiting the states, I'll get my hands on one

[@ScottsGuitar]

@@ministryofguitar sometimes meeting your heros doesn’t disappoint lol

[@darraghcannon6689]

Around 12 minutes sounds like Widek Outside the Universe

[@ministryofguitar]

Never heard of it. Should check it out

[@darraghcannon6689]

@@ministryofguitar You'll love it.

[@nintendad1166]

8:20 "I think the whole metal thing is overdone with the low tuning and the djenting..." YES. To the point of nausia in this current era. What used to be a signature sound for a handfull of bands has become a sloppy norm. Standard E is now the counter culture. >blasts Damned in Black

[@DanaDeerwester]

You could adapt Pink Floyd to your style 🎉

[@ministryofguitar]

Great idea!!

[@ryansevilla9588]

Bring back the facial hair, great look

[@danbaron2561]

It changed everything? Wow, tell the Palestinians!!