The affordability of accordions made them accessible to a wide range of musicians, enabling them to explore Western music theory and develop their own interpretations of songs, ideal for solo performances.

The combination of accordions with bajo sextos introduced a versatile harmonic capability to folk musicians, allowing a simple duo to arrange and realize diverse styles of music, including popular songs which were previously the reserve of orchestras.

The bajo sexto contributed a robust bass element, while establishing a firm rhythm that permitted the accordion to venture into intricate and lyrical melodic lines, often harmonized.

Many musicians relished the creative freedom afforded by bass players so much, they commissioned custom 10-string models, now recognized as the bajo quinto, which omitted the two lowest strings.

[4] They descend from the Spanish bandurrias and lutes that used double strings and were also tuned in fifths, perhaps to complete the harmonies in ensembles that required an instrument capable of giving the low notes of the harmonization of a melody.

[1] The manufacture of bajo quinto and sexto reached a peak in quality and popularity in the 19th century in central and southern Mexico, in the states of Guerrero, Michoacán, Morelos, Puebla, Oaxaca, and Tlaxcala.

[7] At this time the bajo sexto functioned primarily as a bass instrument, providing a strong rhythmic foundation supporting the solo accordion.

[8][better source needed] A lot of instruments have pickups installed inside the soundhole so that the low notes can be amplified electronically by plugging into the amp.

As they age and become seasoned players, it is customary for them to seek out a skilled luthier and commission instruments tailored to their unique playing styles and preferences.

The scarcity of dedicated luthiers specializing in bajo sexto and quinto instruments spurred the creation of the requinto-style 12-string guitar—a testament to musicians' ingenuity.

Popular guitar manufacturers of 12-strings, including Takamine, Fender, Martin, and Ibanez, have emerged as favored canvases for crafting requinto-style instruments.

[10] The traditional bajo sexto, engineered to endure high tension, differs markedly from the smaller and more modest physique of modern 12-string guitars, potentially ill-suited to such demands.

Contemporary customizations encompass wrapping the guitar in a fashion reminiscent of automobile aesthetics, altering pickguards, fitting specialized soundhole pick-ups, and adorning the instrument with artistic embellishments—a vibrant reflection of musicians' creative ingenuity in lieu of finding a luthier in a now rare specialty.