Product: Baker B1 7 string
Price Paid: US
Submitted
08/15/2000
at
11:58am
by
Matte Henderson
Email: matten<at>mediaone dot net
Features
:
10
The guitar which I am reviewing is a 2000 Baker 7 string which was built by reknowned luthier Gene Baker, who is a veteran of both the Fender and Gibson Custom Shops. Here is a link to some photos of this remarkable instrument:
http://www.bakerguitars.com/Matte.htm
This guitar's features include a 1/2" carved top of unbelievable quilted maple (one piece) with a 1.75" thick Korina back and an offset V shaped Korina neck with a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. The scale length is 25" and the frets are 6015's. This guitar is equipped with the Buzzy Feiten tuning system.The fingerboard is inlaid with 56 pieces of black and white pearl creating a beautiful cloud relief. Words and pictures can not convey the beauty of this work. The guitar has a 17 degree headstock angle and has locking Sperzel tuners. The top of the guitar and the fingerboard are bound in white MOTO. The guitar also features a MOTO headstock overlay with the Baker logo inlaid in abalone. The instrument is finished in nitrocellulose lacquer and the top has a multi stain finish, in order to highlight the figure of the wood.
The control layout is lifted directly from the venerable Fender Stratocaster, featuring a 5 way switch( which provides the guitar with a variety of sounds), a master volume and separate tone controls for each of the Seymour Duncan pickups( "59 neck, JB bridge). As 7 string parts are hard to come by, Gene chose to make MOTO pickup rings as well as a tune-o-matic and bar stop ( made of T6 aluminum).
This guitar comes with a hardshell case, as well as a certificate stating the final assembly date, warranty info, etc.
Sound
:
10
This instrument is extremely flexible. My stylistic bent runs from pick and fingers Jimmy Bryant style country picking to extended harmonic comping to full on grinding shred. I utilize all manner of processing as well. This guitar shifts gears effortlessly. The neck pickup is fat with plenty of harmonic overtones, the splits are plenty Fenderesque, with lots of quack and the bridge pickup cuts without being strident. The 5 way wiring enables immediate access to a number of useful sounds.
There's nothing about this guitar, from a tonal perspective, that I don't love.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Gene's eye for detail is extraordinary. The guitar was perfectly set up when it arrived at my door. Fit and finish are impeccable. The guitar weighs 7.5 pounds. No problems here.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
I have no doubt that this guitar will have no problems with functioning well under the stress of constant gigging. The finish is thin enough to allow the instrument to resonate and thick enough to protect it. The guitar comes stock with strap locks and they do the job. Would I gig with this guitar without a backup? HELL NO! I bought another Baker in order to circumvent the unpleasantries associated with a broken string in the middle of a set.
Customer Support
:
10
Gene is a PRINCE! I have been after him to build me a 7 string for some time and he rose to the challenge with flying colours!
He is an exceptional player as well as being a top notch builder.
His experience as a player has informed his building to an astonishing degree. His work as a masterbuilder for Fender and Gibson has given him lots of real world experience in regards to both form and function.
Gene stands behind his product for the life of the original owner, what more can you ask for?
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing music actively for almost 30 years. I have had the cream of the boutique builder crop, including PRS, Hamer, Suhr, Grosh, Klein, DeLap, McInturff, Fender and Gibson Custom Shop, Stevens, etc. I have been a consultant as well as an endorsee for almost all of the companies which I have listed. As a result I have had access to the top shelf of solid body guitars.
To me, Michael Stevens is the top solid body builder today. That being said, I believe that Gene Baker is the only builder of the current crop whose work compares favorably to that of Mr. Stevens. This guitar was built to my exacting specifications and it made the transition from potential to existence without a hitch. My gear runs the gammut from a Guyatone Wah Rocker to a full on MOTU based G4 hard disk recording system.
If you've been looking at a high end set neck guitar ala Gibson historic, PRS or McInturff, you owe it to yourself to check out a Baker B1.
