Quick Answer
A bajo sexto has 12 strings in six double courses, and a bajo quinto has 10 strings in five. In the course layout used for our sets, the lower three courses pair each string with a partner an octave higher, while the upper three courses use two strings at the same pitch. That means a bajo sexto or quinto set isn’t a guitar set with extra strings. Each course is gauged for its own pitch and role.
We designed our Bajo Sexto/Quinto Loop End Strings for Latin American instruments, with the cooperation of Candelas Guitars in Los Angeles. They come in 10-string and 12-string sets, in nickel-plated steel or 92/8 phosphor bronze.
| Instrument | Strings | Courses | Common Tuning (low to high) | S.I.T. Set |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bajo Sexto | 12 | 6 | E A D G C F | 12-String (BX-12N, BX-12B) |
| Bajo Quinto | 10 | 5 | A D G C F | 10-String (BX-10N, BX-10B) |
How a Bajo Sexto or Quinto Is Strung
The word “course” matters here. A course is a pair of strings that are played together as if they were one string. In the layout used for our sets, the pairs aren’t all alike.
Courses are numbered from the highest-pitched course downward, so the F course is the 1st course and the low E course on a bajo sexto is the 6th.
| Course | Note | Pairing |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | F | Unison (both strings at the same pitch) |
| 2nd | C | Unison |
| 3rd | G | Unison |
| 4th | D | Octave (one string an octave above its partner) |
| 5th | A | Octave |
| 6th | E | Octave (bajo sexto only) |
The tuning is in fourths, which a guitarist would recognize as an all-fourths tuning, though it sits well below a standard guitar’s range. The octave pairing on the lowest courses is similar in principle to the lower courses of a 12-string guitar.
Is This Guide for Your Instrument?
This guide covers bajo sexto and bajo quinto instruments. It doesn’t cover a standard 12-string guitar, or a 12-string guitar set up in a “requinto” style, which uses two sets of six matched strings in an attempt to approximate the sound. It also doesn’t cover other Latin American string instruments such as the vihuela, which uses a different set.
If you already know you have a bajo-family instrument, the course count is the easiest distinction between the two: a bajo sexto has six double courses, while a bajo quinto has five.
Bajo Sexto vs. Bajo Quinto
The main difference between a bajo sexto and a bajo quinto is the number of courses. A bajo sexto has six double courses and 12 strings, while a bajo quinto has five double courses and 10 strings.
In the tuning covered here, the bajo sexto is tuned E A D G C F from low to high. The bajo quinto uses A D G C F, removing the bajo sexto’s lowest E course.
For choosing strings, that difference determines which set you need. Our 10-string sets cover the five courses of a bajo quinto, while our 12-string sets add the low E course for a bajo sexto.
How We Gauge Each Course
Here are the gauges in our Bajo Sexto/Quinto sets, by course. The nickel-plated steel and phosphor bronze versions share the same listed gauges.
| Course | Note | Pairing | Gauges | In 10-String? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | F | Unison | .024 / .024 | Yes |
| 2nd | C | Unison | .036 / .036 | Yes |
| 3rd | G | Unison | .046 / .046 | Yes |
| 4th | D | Octave | .062 / .030 | Yes |
| 5th | A | Octave | .078 / .036 | Yes |
| 6th | E | Octave | .092 / .046 | No (12-string only) |
Why the Strings in a Course Have Different Gauges
In each octave pair, the higher-pitched string is the lighter gauge: .030 with .062, .036 with .078, and .046 with .092. The two strings in a pair are tuned to different pitches, so their gauges aren’t meant to match.
It also means you can’t read a gauge number on its own. A .046 string appears in the 3rd course as one of a matched unison pair, and again in the 6th course as the higher partner of a .092. Same gauge, different pitch and different role.
Gauge affects tension only when pitch, scale length, and construction are held constant, and here the pitch changes from string to string.
Nickel-Plated Steel vs. Phosphor Bronze (92/8)
We make every bajo set in two materials: nickel-plated steel and 92/8 phosphor bronze. The listed gauges are identical between the two, so choosing one over the other doesn’t change the gauge of any string. Material is a separate variable.
Nickel-plated steel and phosphor bronze are different metals and can respond differently on the instrument, but how a set actually sounds and feels also depends on your bajo, its scale length and construction, your technique, and your setup.
If you’re deciding between them, you can find more background on how these materials differ in our acoustic guitar strings and electric guitar strings lines.
Loop End Strings
All of our bajo sexto and quinto sets are loop end. Before ordering, check how your instrument anchors its strings and confirm that loop end strings suit your bridge or tailpiece, since that’s a fitment question separate from gauge and material.
How to Choose Bajo Sexto or Quinto Strings
- Identify your instrument by its courses. A bajo sexto has six double courses and a bajo quinto has five. That decides between our 12-string and 10-string sets.
- Confirm your tuning and course layout. Our sets pair the lower three courses at the octave and the upper three at unison, matching the layout covered above. If your instrument is set up differently, check that before ordering.
- Confirm loop end fitment. Our bajo sets are loop end, so make sure that suits how your instrument anchors its strings.
- Choose your material. Nickel-plated steel or 92/8 phosphor bronze, at the same gauges. Choose based on the response you’re after.
- Consider replacing by course. If only one course has worn out, singles let you replace that pair without restringing the whole instrument, covered below.
Our Bajo Sexto and Quinto String Options
Bajo Sexto/Quinto 12-String Nickel (BX-12N): nickel-plated steel, loop end, six courses.
Good starting point for: bajo sexto players who want nickel-plated steel strings across all six courses.
Bajo Sexto/Quinto 12-String Phosphor Bronze (BX-12B): 92/8 phosphor bronze, loop end, six courses.
Good starting point for: bajo sexto players who want phosphor bronze strings across all six courses.
Bajo Sexto/Quinto 10-String Nickel (BX-10N): nickel-plated steel, loop end, five courses.
Good starting point for: bajo quinto players who want nickel-plated steel strings.
Bajo Sexto/Quinto 10-String Phosphor Bronze (BX-10B): 92/8 phosphor bronze, loop end, five courses.
Good starting point for: bajo quinto players who want phosphor bronze strings.
Replacing a Single Course with Bajo Sexto Singles
A bajo has a lot of strings, and you don’t always need to replace all of them. Our Bajo Sexto Singles are available by pair, from the first pair through the sixth pair, in both nickel-plated steel and phosphor bronze.
The first through third pairs are matched unison strings at .024, .036, and .046. The fourth through sixth pairs are octave pairs: .030 with .062, .036 with .078, and .046 with .092.
When replacing a course, match the material of the rest of the set. Because our bajo singles are supplied by course as pairs, replacing the pair together keeps both strings in that course at a similar point in their playing life.
Because every course is gauged for its own pitch and role, choose the replacement by course position rather than by gauge number alone.
Can You Use Bajo Sexto Strings on a 12-String Guitar?
A bajo sexto set shouldn’t be treated as a drop-in replacement for a standard 12-string guitar set. The strings are gauged and paired for a different tuning, course layout, and instrument. Using them on another instrument can result in a very different tension profile than the strings that instrument was designed around.
If you’re considering a nonstandard setup, check the gauges, pitches, scale length, and instrument specifications first. When in doubt, consult the instrument manufacturer or a qualified luthier.
Final Thoughts
Choosing bajo sexto or quinto strings starts with identifying your instrument by its number of courses: six double courses and 12 strings for a bajo sexto, or five double courses and 10 strings for a bajo quinto.
From there, you’re choosing a material, nickel-plated steel or 92/8 phosphor bronze, since the listed gauges are identical between them, and confirming loop end fitment on your instrument.
Our Bajo Sexto/Quinto Loop End Strings cover both instruments in both materials, and our Bajo Sexto Singles let you replace individual courses without buying a complete set.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bajo sexto tuned to?
A common bajo sexto tuning is E A D G C F from low to high, in fourths. In the layout used for our sets, the lowest three courses (E, A, and D) are paired at the octave, and the upper three (G, C, and F) are paired at unison.
What is a bajo quinto tuned to?
A common bajo quinto tuning is A D G C F, which is the bajo sexto tuning without the lowest E course. In the layout used for our sets, the A and D courses are paired at the octave, and the G, C, and F courses are paired at unison.
What’s the difference between a bajo sexto and a bajo quinto?
The number of courses. A bajo sexto has six double courses and 12 strings, while a bajo quinto has five double courses and 10 strings, without the bajo sexto’s lowest E course.
That difference determines which set you need: our 10-string sets cover the five courses of a bajo quinto, and our 12-string sets add the low E course for a bajo sexto.
Which S.I.T. set do I need for a bajo sexto?
A 12-string set: BX-12N in nickel-plated steel or BX-12B in phosphor bronze.
Which S.I.T. set do I need for a bajo quinto?
A 10-string set: BX-10N in nickel-plated steel or BX-10B in phosphor bronze.
Can I use a 12-string set on a bajo quinto, or a 10-string set on a bajo sexto?
No. A 12-string set includes a sixth course that a bajo quinto doesn’t have, and a 10-string set is missing the sixth course a bajo sexto needs. Match the set to your instrument’s courses.
Why do the two strings in some courses have different gauges?
Because in the 4th, 5th, and 6th courses the two strings are tuned an octave apart. The higher-pitched string is the lighter gauge. In the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd courses, both strings are tuned to the same pitch, so they share the same gauge.
Is there a gauge difference between the nickel and phosphor bronze sets?
No. The listed gauges are identical between our nickel-plated steel and phosphor bronze sets. The difference is the material, not the gauge.
Can I use bajo sexto strings on a regular 12-string guitar?
A bajo sexto set shouldn’t be treated as a drop-in replacement for a standard 12-string guitar set. The strings are gauged and paired for a different tuning, course layout, and instrument, and using them elsewhere can result in a very different tension profile than the strings that instrument was designed around.
Check the gauges, pitches, scale length, and instrument specifications first, and consult the manufacturer or a qualified luthier when in doubt.
Are your bajo strings loop end or ball end?
Loop end. Check how your instrument anchors its strings before ordering.
Can I replace just one course instead of the whole set?
Yes. Our Bajo Sexto Singles are available by pair, first through sixth, in nickel-plated steel and phosphor bronze.
Because they’re supplied by course as pairs, replacing the pair together keeps both strings in that course at a similar point in their playing life. Match the material of the rest of your set.
How often should I change bajo sexto or quinto strings?
There isn’t one replacement schedule that works for every player. How quickly strings wear depends on playing time, technique, perspiration, storage conditions, and the individual strings.
Consider changing them when you notice a meaningful change in tone, feel, intonation, visible wear, or tuning performance rather than relying only on a fixed number of days or weeks.
