FINAL VERDICT

Which baritone is the right one for you?

If you’ve never played a baritone before, you’re in for a treat. Realistically, any of the four guitars on show today would serve as a solid gateway to the world of long-scale playing but, depending on your style, not all would keep you there. The SE, in our opinion, is perhaps the best all-rounder on account of its tonal versatility. This gives it the edge over the Chapman, which shines as a metal guitar but is let down slightly by its ability to excel in other styles.

The SE, despite lacking a bit of personality (compared to the other models on review) has enough quality in the tank to make for a hugely-rewarding, extremely playable guitar. It’s the model that most inspired us to keep playing, writing, tinkering and experimenting – a good indicator of how much it’d be used under real-world conditions. Yes, it’s pricier, but this is a guitar you’d keep in your line-up.

In saying that, there is still a place for both the Danelectro and the Gretsch. After all, music is about enjoyment and, for all the minor snagging points, both guitars are a lot of fun to play in their own ways. Of the two we’d be more inclined to part with our cash for the Gretsch, on account of its better build quality and inclusion of the Bigsby, yet there’s something undeniably cool about the Danelectro that we kept coming back to. However, if we’re looking for something we’d return to again and again, it’d have to be the PRS SE 277.