Baker B1

Body: Mahogany with 1/2" carve maple top, AAAA Quilt
Cream binding on body and neck
Color: "Binge Cherry" ...though my girlfriend says it looks more like a "Tiger Cherry" so that's what I call it.
Electronics: 2 volume, 1 tone, 3/way switch, coil tap (coil split?)
Gold Bells, Schaller strap locks, Tonepro stop/tail (check 'em out...they lock onto the the body so even if all of your strings are off, you can pick up the guitar by the stop). www.tonepros.com, I think.
Serial number 324. Completed 11/24/2001
Ebony fretboard
Buzz Feiten Tuning system.
Here's a new one...nut made of Delrin--no more "cracking/slipping" sounds when you tune your strings.
22 Fret 12 radius, 6155 fret, 24.625" scale
Gold-pearl "Baker Crown" inlays
Schaller Roto tuners
Perfectly playable...from jazz to southern rock to metal-crunching, knock your ass off.
When I played the first Baker, it was clear that I was going to buy one...the difficult part was deciding on which one...I tried about 20 Bakers before I chose this one. The consistency was right-on. Every one had its own personality and was impossible to put down. I chose this one because I needed a solid body with ebony fingerboard, and I liked the red color.

This thing is hot. It cost me a lot of money, though, because it made me buy a better amp because my old amp was no longer cutting it! But that's a good thing...it revived my commitment to top-quality sound, because in the end, it's just you, your guitar, and an amp up there on stage. Every portion needs to be the best. To be honest, I was getting a bit disheartened by a lot of the instruments on the market before I found Baker.

The two hums with the coiltap make it very versatile. No tuning problems...sometimes I hit very hard, so that's always a concern...the Baker stays in tune. I love to play this guitar, and I feel confident in knowing I have the best product out there on the market.

Top quality. A job well-done. A lot of mass-produced guitars are just "sound boxes." The craftsmanship that goes into producing a fine *instrument* is several cuts above. Although it rocks, thrashes, and shreds, the Baker is really a fine instrument at heart. It is a truly superb example of 2000's guitarbuilding, and as I've learned about every little detail that goes into its production, I've realized that the Baker is truly a step above even most other high-end instruments. I began studying classical guitar at age three, so I still have a traditional approach to playing music (at heart), and I appreciate it when an instrument maker is able to incorporate master-level building into a functional, practical instrument.

Oh my gosh, yes! Very durable and reliable. I hate to put it in its case. Sometimes I'm not sure that I even need a case for it...I'd just as well be playing it. Gene Baker really knows what he's doing.

Before I bought the guitar I researched the company and its guitars. I then played about a dozen Bakers at concert volume and decided that it was the guitar for me. When it came down to deciding on the final instrument, I rented a studio, and Gene Baker came down with about 8 of his newest builds, and I thrashed on them for the morning at peak volume. I chose mine because it had an ebony fingerboard, cream binding, a solid body, and I liked the color. I would have done well with any of the instruments, but this one made sense for me. I have gone back to the Baker website dozens of times since, and I noticed that it's being constantly updated...a nice thing to see as the company develops into what I hope will be one of the giants of the guitar world!

Gene has serviced and built guitars for the tops of the tops including some of my favorites: Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Robben Ford, Lenny Kravitz. But whatever he's done in the past, he's definitely got his act together in looking forward to build a name for himself. I feel comfortable playing Gene's instruments, largely because I have had the pleasure of working with him directly and witnessing his passion for guitars and rock. He is a great guy and is clearly knowledgeable as a player...he wrote a guitar instruction book when he was very young. I feel that there are a lot of top-notch builders out there, and I don't take anything away from them when I play Baker's instrument. But on the other hand, when it's just me and my rig up on stage, in the studio, or even in rehearsal, I absolutely need to *know* that my equipment is going to perform (and it doesn't hurt that it looks good, either). When I played the Baker, it made me appreciate quality again...just as when I played my first Gibson after years of playing s**t guitars. It takes my playing to another level, and it's definitely a guitar I can grow into and with. I look forward to how it will mature as an instrument and how the wood will harden over time and with thousands of hours of playing. It's been awesome so far, and it's only getting better...

Hi It's MikeN of the old Forum here and I WOULD NOT LIE TO YA BRETHREN, This guitar is the shit!!!! Can I say that? Oh Well ..WebMaster Scott forgive me.... I'm in guitar heaven here. Mine is a B1 made in Santa Maria CA, USA by "Mean" Gene Baker. It has a AAAA carved Flame Maple Top. Body is solid mahogany. This is a "Custom" guitar all the way, but it's genious is it's simplicity I believe. 2 DiMarzio matched Air Buckers are the pickups, and are bells...NO GLASS BELLS. Great pickups! It has 2 volume, one tone knob and a 3 way switch...simple but beautiful. Comes with the Buzz Fieten tuning sytem, and after having it I don't want to go back! The Bridge system is the best in the biz... a Nashville TonePro see, www.tonepros.com. Better than the system on a Gibby! Mine has a Rosewood board on a Mahogany neck. Shape is described by Gene, as Small C .820/.920... I describe it as like an old 57 LP neck. Guitar is body and fretboard bound in white. This one is a Tobacco sunburst. I got in under the first 100 in serial # with a 072!!!! Gonna be TOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOL one day! The coolest thing about the neck to me is the fret markers ...untraditional...yes...beautiful...yes....Do I love em....yes! The fret markers are bluegreen abalone in squares that are in the upper top edge of the fret ...not in the middle. ...offset to the top of the fretboard...new thinking is good! See em at www.bakerguitars.com. Tuners- Grover Rotomatic Tuners the MasterLock of Tuners in my opinion...you could shoot em and they'd stillstay in tune! Can you tell I'm in love yet? Hardware is nickle, pickups are black, rings are creme, and the knobs are gold bells. Finish is Urethane and appears to be many many top coats cause it Gleams like a lighthouse! OK enough...How does it play ...Better than all that I said times 10! I'm gonna say tons of features cause all the features are so GOOD!

If this guitar doesn't suit you in any category... you need a full physical immediatly. I have recently been playing it through a Johnson Marquis JM60 miked into a PA. This is an experiment and don't know how long the trusty Fender Hot Rod Deville w/Marshall half comes back out.Any amp would be made better with this axe plugged into it! I use a TubeScreamer and a CryBaby Wah and that's all. Monter Rock cables do all the connecting. I absolutely love this axe..can't put it down. You know when you pick up an electric guitar and play it unplugged and it sounds amazing you got a good un as we say in the south!

PERFECTION IN ALL AREAS. Came out of the case in tune and perfectly intonated. Pickups adjusted by the master himself so they are perfect. This guitar has no flaws in any way! You guys gotta drop them PRS' and grab a Baker..I aint gettin paid for this by the way...I just love someone to come along and make a better guitar. Gene Baker did it and you need to know about it!

GIG, Travel...sling it , slap it, spank it, squeeze it, spin it, and occasionaly I play the hell out of it for hours and hours non stop . I haven't had a guitar that I couldn't put down since I got my 1968 ES335 Gibson last year.And the Taylor 810 earlier last year. I have Les Pauls, Strats, Teles, And other Boutique guitars ( for sale) now. This is all of a sudden #1 and I do believe church,,,,Gonna stay that way!

Dealing with Gene Baker or the folks at Wild West Guitars is like dealing with brothers. Repair...wont need it..Warranty ...life of the original owner! They are sure of these bad ass dudes aren't they! Totally cool people like us..players.. but they turned into masterbuilders to make a better moustrap and have built the best electric guitar in many years!

Best guitar for under 4-5 grand on the market.. bar none....You should jump on before the price shoots to the moon...cause that's where it deserves to be...New Company...underpriced in my opinion....but they need to move units and build rep. Don't wait too long. Word is at least here in my kneck of the woods, the greatest guitarists in the south are ordering or wanting out of other contracts as soon as possible so they can order. Cats in Nashville are ordering. Check out Toby Kieth's Band, all electric guitars are soon to be Baker's!..it wont be long before these babies are double and still worth every penny! Tell em Mike in Macon, GA sent ya!!!!!! And I still aint getting paid...or free guitars, or compensation in any way.. I'm just preachin the truth brothers and sisters!!!!!!

This guitar is a creation of master builder Gene Baker who's roots extend through Gibson's and Fender's custom shops, (check Baker Guitars website for the whole story). Built in 1999 it is a solid body constructed identically to a Historic Gibson Les Paul, extended neck tenon under the neck pickup, 17 degree headstock angle, holly veneer over headstock. The B1 departs from the Gibson Historic when it comes to body shape, wood selection, and attention to finish detail. The wood quality is superb, light Honduras mohagany for the body and neck, Brazilian rosewood for the fretboard, and a beautiful very tightly and totally flamed bookmatched body finished in amber natural. The body has a belly cut on the back and a PRS like shape with an extended upper horn which lends itself to a very balanced instrument when strapped on. Electronics consist of two Dimarzio Air Classics, two volume controls, one tone control, and a traditional Les Paul three way toggle switch.

A builder with Gene's experience knows that when the lights go out all that's left is the tone. The volume of instruments that Baker produces allows him to hand select the wood and caress it together to form a resonant machine. No assembly line can produce 10 out of 10 resonant guitars like Gene can, 1 out of 10 maybe. This B1 has a 25.5 inch scale length, he will build whatever scale length you want. This longer scale length has earned my B1 the nickname "shred paul". The attack and solidity of the wound strings will really push your amp. Back off on the picking and traditional Les Paul tones flow with a little more sparkle and harmonics probably due to the scale length and the Brazilian board. The best way to describe the tone of the B1 would be an extended range 59 reissue Les Paul. No mushy bass from the neck position and harmonic dimension from a PAF wind pickup in the bridge position.

The best way to describe the action, fit, and finish is to compare the B1 to a mid eighties PRS. They both are the epitome of solid body guitar making at it highest level. Today PRS builds too many instruments to capture the resonant woods and applies their finish very thickly for a super gloss look which damps the tone. Baker's finish is gorgeous and actually falls into the flames due to it's thinness. The B1's fretwork and fingerboard feel as if they have been played for years, burnished, very nice.

Les Paul's are still around from the fifties, Baker's are no different.

Gene responds to any question. Very cool customer oriented gentleman, everyone is treated as if they were a star.

Baker guitars are a relatively new entity from a very experienced builder. These early guitars posses the spirit and art of the master builder. They are exceptional in not only form, function, and finish, but also value. PRS private stocks start at $10000 and paul doesn't even build them. A Baker can be had for less than a Historic Gibson and given time will probably appreciate.