Custom Baritone Guitar with Fanned Frets, Artec H.B.L.C. Hot Rail Humbucker, and Spin-a-Split Wiring

The Making of a Custom Baritone Guitar

Hey there, fellow guitar enthusiasts! I am sharing my thoughts on my custom baritone guitar that I built from a metal kit I purchased on Aliexpress. I made several modifications to it, including changing the neck to a fanned frets neck that I bought on eBay and installing Artec H.B.L.C. Hot Rail Humbucker pickups with spin-a-split wiring on both pickups.

Let’s start with the body

I changed the body’s shape to create a multi-grip body, allowing me to find the ideal position in every posture. I also removed the pointy metal edges for more rounded and comfortable shapes.

Using a router, I created forms in the body and filled them with epoxy resin with different pigments. The result was a unique, eye-catching finish that I like a lot.

>>> Hervé Senni on Spotify <<<

Enhanced Playability with a Fanned Frets Neck and Multi-Scale Bridge

Moving on to the neck and bridge, I replaced the original neck with a fanned frets neck from eBay. This modification improved the low strings’ tone and playability by having a more extended scale in the bass register. The 6 String Multi-Scale Fixed Guitar Bridge works well with the fanned frets neck, and I haven’t experienced any tuning or intonation issues.

Hear the Custom Baritone Guitar in Action

Overall, I’m delighted with my custom baritone guitar. It sounds great and plays well, making it perfect for my preferred tuning of A.D.G.C.E.A. My modifications have resulted in a unique-looking and sounding instrument that stands out. 

I used it to record the song “Bary Bust” on Spotify and in some of my recent shorts and improvisations published on my Youtube Channel and TikTok. 

>>> Hervé Senni YouTube Channel <<<

>>> Hervé Senni on Spotify <<<

High Output Pickups and Simplified Electronics for Greater Flexibility

The electronic.

The Artec H.B.L.C. Hot Rail Humbucker pickups provide high output and deliver an excellent tone that suits the baritone guitar’s lower range.

I opted for a spin-a-split wiring on both pickups, allowing me to split the neck and bridge pickups, giving me a broader range of tones. The guitar has a simple three-way switch, volume control, and no tone pot.

The advantage of spin-a-split wiring over a regular humbucker split is that it provides a more detailed and precise sound.

You can fine-tune the pickup setting by ear with spin-a-split wiring instead of a standard all-or-nothing switch.

>>> Hervé Senni YouTube Channel <<<

Needed component to make a spin-a-split

• humbucker pickups (obviously, it doesn’t work with single coils )
• a 500k audio taper potentiometers per pickup

Electronic settings for the custom baritone guitar:

• Artec H.B.L.C. Hot Rail Humbucker pickups
• Spin-a-split wiring on both pickups
• No tone pot
• Simple three-way switch
• Volume knob
• Spin-a-split neck pickup
• Spin-a-split bridge pickup

Author Profile

Hervé Senni

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I am Hervé Senni, a pro musician and performer, Composer and arranger for quite some time. My main musical instrument is the electric guitar. I am also a bass player, mandolin, Ukulele player. I also invented string instruments.

Over the years, repairing and improving electric guitars that did not have to be upgraded converted me into a self-taught luthier.

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