Victor Baker Model 17 7-String

Finished in March 2001
7-string archtop 17 inches across, 3 inch depth
solid sitka spruce top, solid european maple sides and back (gorgeous flame), sharp cutaway, floating Kent Armstrong pickup, pickguard-mounted volume, tone, endpin jack, wood binding.

I can't give a rating for the features because these are the features I specified when ordering the guitar.

Excellent acoustic sound with relatively light strings (12s). Loud and well-balanced, good bass responce all the way down to the low A.

Amplified sound is balanced as well - feedback can be a problem if played through certain amps, but with a Polytone there is no feedback until fairly high volumes.

Since this was a custom instrument, it came set up just the way I wanted. This is my first custom-made instrument, and the playability is far better than anything else I've owned.
Sometimes there seems to be a little static when I rub my fingers across the pickguard.

Having had this guitar for only a few months I cannot comment on reliability/durability.

Instrument is guaranteed for life against defects. Free adjustment w/in the first 3 months. Since I live in the area, this was as easy as giving Victor a phone call and dropping in. I discussed the static problem with Victor, and he is willing to work with me to determine the cause and eliminate this problem.

I've been playing for 16 years and this is an excellent instrument, built to my precise specifications. I played other hand-made archtops costing twice as much as my guitar and none had the sound or the responsiveness of my instrument.