Baritone Scale Length: 28" or 30"?

The short answer

Baritone scale length: 28″ or 30″?

Scale length is the vibrating distance from nut to bridge. On a baritone it governs two things at once: string tension and low-end clarity. A longer scale holds more tension at the same pitch, so notes stay tight and articulate instead of flapping.

Around 27–28″ is the sweet spot for tuning comfortably to B, with a feel most guitarists adapt to immediately. Push to 30″ and beyond when you want to sit reliably at A or lower, or run heavier strings: the bottom gets tighter and cleaner, at the cost of a slightly longer reach in the low positions.

Because every Bacci is made to order, the scale is not fixed. Bruno builds the neck to your target tuning, string gauge and hand, so the instrument is optimised for how you actually play.

28″to sit at B

Around 27–28″ is the sweet spot for tuning comfortably to B, with a feel most guitarists adapt to immediately.

30″to sit at A

Push to 30″ and beyond to sit reliably at A or lower, or to run heavier strings.

0fixed scales

Every Bacci is made to order: Bruno builds the neck to your target tuning, string gauge and hand.

The maker

It all begins with one man, and his hands.

Bruno Bacci is a Tuscan luthier with a background in metallurgy, woodworking and design. A guitarist first, he became a builder after a hand injury and trained at the violin-making school of Cremona, where Stradivari had worked three centuries earlier.

He does not begin with a shape. He begins with the sound he wants to hear and builds the instrument around it, testing each piece of wood by hand as though in conversation with it. Every Bacci is made individually and is backed for life by Bruno himself.

His first guitar, a Telecaster he built as a young man, carried no name. He could not write Fender because it was not their instrument. He could not write Bacci because it was not his design either. That is why he began creating instruments that could only be his.

luthier, by hand

∞

lifetime warranty

Live Workshop journal Week of 21 August 2026

On the bench this week: the hollow top of Tosca №06, and a Marlita in Ceruleo being voiced for a player in Tokyo.

Tosca №06 · carving the hollow top
Marlita, Ceruleo · final setup
Officina baritone · Tuscan Red, Velvet

"Today the walnut told me where to stop."Bruno, from the bench

Played by the musicians that players love

They chose Bacci.

Matteo Mancuso / Tim Lefebvre / Munky / Cory Wong / Mark Lettieri / Michael League / Vincen Garcia / Paul Davids / Derek Frank / Matteo Mancuso / Tim Lefebvre / Munky / Cory Wong / Mark Lettieri / Michael League / Vincen Garcia / Paul Davids / Derek Frank /

In their words

What players say.

Put flats on it and it sounds like an old P bass. Put round-wounds on it and there’s a lot of bite.

Michael LeagueSnarky Puppy1.8M views · on the Amrita

The amount of low end and even saturation coming from this bass is insane.

Grigor FrissBass The World18K views · Marlita demo

When I play it, I don’t really miss the bass player.

Matteo MancusoGuitaristBest Guitar Solo 2024

This is a funk machine, it nails the baritone funk rhythm sound.

Mark LettieriSnarky Puppy861K views · ‘Naptime’

The precision bass for the modern era. Everything I love about vintage basses, with all the innovation of a modern one.

Marlita ownerVerified reviewCustom build

I’ve never found anything like this. The shape, the sound, the playability, everything is really in the right place.

Nathaniel MurphyGuitaristPlays Orange Circles & Slalom

Bruno’s baritone guitars are inspiring a whole generation of top players, he’s developing a whole new musical canon.

Jamie GaleStrings expertGlobal strings authority

Put flats on it and it sounds like an old P bass. Put round-wounds on it and there’s a lot of bite.

Michael LeagueSnarky Puppy1.8M views · on the Amrita

The amount of low end and even saturation coming from this bass is insane.

Grigor FrissBass The World18K views · Marlita demo

When I play it, I don’t really miss the bass player.

Matteo MancusoGuitaristBest Guitar Solo 2024

This is a funk machine, it nails the baritone funk rhythm sound.

Mark LettieriSnarky Puppy861K views · ‘Naptime’

The precision bass for the modern era. Everything I love about vintage basses, with all the innovation of a modern one.

Marlita ownerVerified reviewCustom build

I’ve never found anything like this. The shape, the sound, the playability, everything is really in the right place.

Nathaniel MurphyGuitaristPlays Orange Circles & Slalom

Bruno’s baritone guitars are inspiring a whole generation of top players, he’s developing a whole new musical canon.

Jamie GaleStrings expertGlobal strings authority

Where to play one

Authorised
dealers.

A short, hand picked network of shops keeps Bacci on the wall.
Go and play one in person, or start a custom build directly with Bruno in Tuscany.

Austin Guitar House

Chicago Music Exchange

Eddie’s Guitars

Empire Music

Guitars Etc

Heartbreaker Guitars

Lead Music

Music Store Live

Musikhaus André Louis

Pitbull Audio

Good to know

Questions.

What scale length is a baritone guitar?

Baritones generally run from about 27″ up to 30″ or more, versus around 25.5″ on a standard guitar. The longer scale is what keeps low tunings tight.

Does a longer scale mean higher tension?

Yes. At the same pitch and gauge, a longer scale carries more tension, which improves clarity and tuning stability in the low register.

Which scale should I choose?

If you mainly live around B, ~28″ is ideal. If you want A or lower as home base, go longer. Bacci will advise based on your tuning and strings.

Can Bacci build a custom scale?

Yes. Every Bacci baritone is handbuilt to your chosen scale, gauge and tuning, with Dogal Custom Bacci strings matched to it.

Commissions

Crafted for one

Nothing here is in stock, and nothing ever will be.
Every instrument is claimed by one player before the first cut.

01
Reserve

A €1,000 deposit holds your place at the bench and sets the work in motion. It comes off the price in full.
02
Define the sound you need

Woods, pickups, finish, decided one by one, together. The instrument is drawn around you.
03
Play

The balance falls due once the specification is closed. Eight months later, it is in your hands.

Begin your commission Talk to Bruno

Not sure which instrument is yours?
Ask before you commit.

Baritone scale length:
28″ or 30″?