Brubaker B2 Custom

This is a year 2000 B2 Custom handbuilt in Maryland, USA. 24 frets, figured maple top, alder body, maple neck with a nice big slab of ebony on the finger board. It has one volume and one tone control with a push/pull splitter for the seymour duncan JB and 59 humbuckers, and 3way pickup selector. The B-2 body design is not only beautifully carved, the upper bout contains lots of wood to enhance the bass response. Neck-bolted-in-deeply-carved pocket design. The scale is the same as a Strat I believe, 25.5. Tone point trem, locking tuners, custom fitted case, chrome pickup rings. Beautiful smoothly blended burst finish with scraped maple binding.

This guitar sounds fantastic either clean or on an overdriven amp. Everyone who plays it comments- it sounds so alive! It is highly resonant and rings out even unplugged. I am most impressed by the fact that it not only has a big, open bass sound but very strong treble as well. Both my American strat and pre-factory PRS CE tend to lose volume on the very highest notes but they ring out on the Bru. Very even volume all the way up the neck. Absolutely quiet, well shielded guitar, both with a metal plate in the control cavity and ferrite paint as well. I'm intrigued by the possibilities of putting some expensive pick-ups in, because SD pickups are probably not the best made. They sound great split, though! The single coils have wonderful response. Unlike my PRS, the split sounds are not blurred and weird. Much more open sound than a PRS, especially in the low end-- it's not all compressed and middy. I'm also interested in trying a lower impedence volume pot since this a 500 kohm, and a 300 or 250 might warm up some of the midrange harmonics. This is a killer rock, jazz or fusion guitar, very articulate, excellent string separation, no mush on power chords. One thing that was hard for me to get used to is that the controls are useful throughout the whole range-- you can play with the tone rolled all the way to 0 and it sounds great.

This was a second hand purchase. It was set up with high action for finger picking-- I think the guy used it for country! An interesting note is that the truss rod is adjusted in a driection counter to that of other guitars, if you ever think it needs tweaking. Construction, fit and finish are all perfect. The point trem bridge is completetly adjustable and stays in tune. The guitar seems to always be in tune, I can play many hours or leave it sit for weeks without having to retune, but then, I don't use a lot of trem. Very smooth neck. Nice satin finish on the back of the neck, smooth but not heavily lacquered- (heavy lacquer or other coating on any guitar neck bugs me). The best access imaginable to the upper frets. Because the neck is embedded in the body, there is no big heel to get in the way. But on the other hand, the fact that the neck is anchored in the body, not really a neck through body design like other guitars, gives this axe some character and a unique sound. This is one fast guitar, easy to play with speed while keeping good intonation.

This guitar is very solid. Excellent construction. Not a weak or too-thick finish. Very dependable. If I were to look for a weak point, I'd say that the 24 fret ebony on maple neck might be susceptible to temperature changes affecting the relief. As with any expensive guitar, don't leave it sitting outside in a trunk or garage on a cold winter night. I can show up with just this axe. The graphite nut and trem saddles don't seem to want to break strings, so even that's not a prob.

Never dealt with them. They seem accessible. In the case I found an instruction sheet on their stationery and a business card from the original salesman was passed along, so I don't think I'd have trouble contacting them. But why would I need to?

Great electric guitar extremely versatile. It's also distinctive in appearance and sound. I was looking for hand-built PRS-type quality in a guitar with a open sound that was as good clean as dirty-- that's what I got. I've been playing since 1970; I'm not a gear hoarder, but I have owned some high-end vintage stuff I got before the recent-era stampede for old stuff. I now own 2 Brubakers. These guitars are underrated, I guess because nobody's heard of them. I note that the modern high-end custom guitar crowd are always rushing to the flavor-of-the-month luthier shop. Because Brubaker has been making guitars and basses since the '90's he's no longer considered the new trend. His craftsmanship was perfect on this instrument. Also he uses hardware, including pickups, that are quality but also widely available so you can swap a pickup, switch, or knob without any trouble. I haven't seen any of his recent work so I can only attest to the 90's-early 2000's guitars.

1999, AAAA Flame maple top on an alder body. Volume and tone (push/pull for coil tap) and 3-way switch with 2 humbuckers. Neck is hard maple with a coco bolo fretboard, 24 frets. Maybe the best feeling neck I've ever played. Wide and thin like an early PRS. The deep-set bolt-in neck really gives it a stratty growl with lots of added sustain.
Original design double-cutaway body. Very thick (2"). Point Technologies tremolo?excellent trem. Locking Schaller tuners.

A wide variety of sounds are in this guitar. However, it's too bright for my tastes. I'm going to try some new pickups since the previous owners have changed the original pearly gates. The volume and tone pots don't roll off evenly.
I don't blame Kevin Brubaker for this. I think the peole who've worked on it may have messed up a little. If I got it to Kevin for a day or two, I know it'd be perfect.

I'm at least the 3rd owner. The bookmatching and finish are perfect?just beautiful! All components are top notch. As I said, the neck is a dream.

Very dependable guitar. No need to carry a backup.

Kevin is great. He's helped me out to get a replacement bar (free) since the guy I bought it from didn't have it. He'll back up any guitar with his name on it?even if you're not the original owner. If I'm ever in Maryland, I'm going to take it to him to give it a once over.

Been playing for 26 years and I'm very critical of instruments. I'm only buying handmade guitars now. The Brubaker was my first one. With the exception of a too-bright sound, this guitar is awesome. Wood contol covers, matching flame maple headstock veneer, beautifully contoured body/headstock.
Once I get Kevin to tweak this bad boy, it'll get all 10s.