Victor Baker 17-Inch Archtop

I have a Victor Baker 17 inch Classic, with 2 Lindy Fralin humbuckers. This is Victor's L-5 and in my opinion, he does it well. Mine is sunburst, with the classic look on the fretboard. If you want to see my guitar, go to his website and hit the button for the Classic - that's my guitar. If you want to hear it, go to his website and hit the button for Classic and listen, that's my guitar. The usual features for two humbuckers . However, nice touches include the ebony pickguard and knobs, the ebony finger board. Did I mention the woodbinding? Sweet!

I play jazz. I love to play this guitar through my Allen Brown Sugar Cab which I am running through a 15 inch Jensen 1964 Pn15 speaker. It is so sweet and clear. Just last week, a friend came over and I played for him and he commented on the clarity of the sound. It sparkles with classic jazz tone. I have the tone set brighter than most but that's the way I like it.

I suspect that it will continue to open up and sing as time passes.

I have it set up with with flat wounds - 13's. This seemed to make the guitar sing. I had it set-up ($75.00) and this took care of a few minor issues, but in my experience, a set-up is something to be expected.

I have had it for about 6 months - no problems. Very reliable.

In the beginning as I was adjusting to the guitar, I contacted Victor regularly with questions. He responded by the next day. Very helpful guy.

Okay, shall I list the archtops I have owned - ES 175, Gibson Johnny Smith, Comins Concert, Unger American Dream, Gibson Howard Roberts. I still have a Heritage Golden Eagle Thin, a Gibson L-50, and a Vega C-56.

At the end of the day, routed pick-ups in an L-5 set-up are THE jazz tone. Fat, meaty and authoritative. Victor has paid homage to one of the great designs of all time and improved it in my opinion with the Lindy Fralin's.

This is the best sounding archtop, plays like butter.

2002 in Victor's shop in Philly. All solid carved, spruce top maple sides/back, 3 (maybe 5? the guitar's at the office now) piece neck (gotta love laminated necks for strength). Armstrong floating HB, mounted to Fingerrest, V & T on the fingerrest (I may have Victor move them to the bass bout someday, I dunno). Ebony fingerboard, bridge, appointments, bone nut, beautifully simple Crown inlay at 12th fret, VB Logo on MOP on headstock. Tuners are Grover, I think. 1 3/4 25" scale, but he'll do others. Came in a nice solid case. Body very comfortable, very light yet solid, Armstrong pickup sounds very natural (mine has a vol and tone knob, and the tone knob takes the sound from almost acoustic to smoky Wes or Kenny B.), perfect fingerboard (mine is 1 3/4, Victor will do whatever you want), design elements I requested artfully executed. In a custom acoustic archtop I'm looking for features like execution of my requests, attention to detail and overall quality - Victor accomplishes all of this and more.

I've had a lot of nice archtops, very high end Gibson, Guild, other custom makers, newer Japanese and less expensive Korean models - the only two that compare with Victor's guitar are the Gibson Johnny Smith and Guild Artist Award. My VB has wonderful acoustic and electric sound - a joy to play acoustically and electrically, and records very well. I use a variety of amps, Polytone, Fender, Roland, it sounds great through them all - but I think the sounds shines the most when played through an honest, clear system. I record direct to disk with a Neve preamp and the sound is lively and warm.

Victor chose the wood carefully and talked to me about all aspects of the finished appearance. For my 17" he used a one piece spruce top and perfectly book-matched quarter-sawn back and sides, with a beautiful and true flame - all solid, not like the glued on flame tops I've seen on many new guitars. The design is similar to a D'Aquisto, delicate and artful, but unique - one thing about Victor's guitars is that he doesn't seem to use a formula. Some custom guys make beautiful guitars that look like they came out of a factory, well made but all alike. Each of Victor's guitars has its own personality, as far as I can tell. Mine isn't like any other I've had before, in terms of design, but a 175 is a 175 is a 175 (and I love ES-175's).

There are no flaws in workmanship, hardware and electronics all work perfectly.

Everything is solid, the finish looks like it will hold up, the hardware is high quality. i have a Johnny Smith that's 38 years old and a 40's or 50's Gibson Advanced Jumbo that's had the top punched through and the headstock broke off and reglued, and both of them are great if a bit worn down... ask me again in 30 years about the reliability of the guitar. But the guitar is perfect in its infancy, and I've seen others that were hideous players right off the rack.

I'm not the guy to ask about gig-worthiness, but my partner at the studio loves to bang on a guitar and see what it's made of, and the VB has only gotten better over time and continued abuse....

Just call Victor, he takes care of you. A lot of the custom guys are like that, but try doing that with the guy that made your 2002 factory guitar (if you can get through the secretaries and on hold messages, after you wrangle the customer service number from the guy at The Store Where You Bought It). Check Victor's website re: warranty, but I'm sure he'd work with you if any issues came up, he's been very helpful with me.

It seems every guitar, archtop, solid, flat top, classical, has its own sound.... But I would definitely recommend Victor for a custom archtop. The coolest thing is that he'll make it according to your design ideas, your color choices and size specs, and bring his expertise and judgment into the process - a great synergy at an affordable price.

Completed in 2003 in Philadelphia, PA. Solid top hand carved archtop. One Kent Armstrong pickup. See Victor's website for photos of his Model 17 guitar.

This is not a guitar to be judged on the number of features.

The sound of this guitar is like no other guitar I have ever played. This thing is alive. I am using this guitar to play jazz and contorted blues styles. I am recording it direct into a mixing board or through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp. Sound is broad as a barn, thick as a brick, wide as the ocean. You can actually hear every grain in the wood. Well, that's a lie, but you get the picture. It sounds wide and bright and full and everything. The overtones are...correct.

The action was a bit low for me at first, but was easily raised. Other than that, the guitar was perfect. It is an exquisite, modern classic.

Built like a tank, hardware is top notch, finish is great.

Victor is a great guy, easy to deal with and very helpful. I just realized I forgot to ask about the warranty. Victor -- what the heck is the warranty?

I have been playing 35 years. I own a bazillion guitars and this one is the KING. The sound, the sound, the sound. And the feel. And the sound. Very, very soundy. If this guitar were stolen, I would get a can of Mace and spray strangers in vexation. I researched jazz guitars for three months -- Victor Baker was the answer.

Vicotr Baker is probably one of the most talented young luthiers to have entered the scene in recent months. His ability to take a piece of wood and turn it into a musical treasure is truly extraordinary. My recent dealings with Victor have revealed an artist who is pleasant, professional, practical and sensitive to the artistic needs of the musician.

Victor takes a great deal of pride in his work and close examination of any piece he produces will quickly reveal that positive attribute. Most importantly, Victor realizes that today's musician is not making a six figure salary....so you will find his prices to be quite reasonable.

In short, any serious jazz guitarist should seriously consider a Victor Baker guitar. The quality is impeccable, the tonality is unsurpassable and the price is incredible.

Soundwise a Victor Baker guitar is comparable to any of the finest instruments made by the more well-known luthiers. I find the guitar to be rich-sounding yet quite flexible in it's ability to vary it's tonality.

One of most satifsying features about purchasing a Victor Baker guitar is one's ability to deal directly with Victor as often as needed. He is always pleasand and professional. I found him to be genuinely excited about his creations.

I have been playing guitar for 44 years. I own a number of archtop guitars as well as quality amplifiers. The thought of losing this piece is truly horrifying.....I would most definitely call Victor immediately for another guitar.