Victor Baker Model 17 Custom

Created in Philadelphia, PA, January-February 2005
This is a custom 17", Venetian cutaway, archtop, with a floating Armstrong pickup. Volume and tone dials mounted under the ebony pick guard. The scale length is 24.75 with 20 frets. Select ebony bridge and tailpiece
The soundboard is a "solid" carved Spruce Sitka which is X-braced. The back and sides
are a beautiful solid carved 4A Maple. I asked Victor for a tight grain pattern and he accommodated me with an excellent choice. This guitar has well balanced, even tone, from string to string extending all the way up the 4A Maple neck. The select Ebony fingerboard features one of Victor's exceptional talents as a guitar builder. A custom inlay creation, featuring Hummingbirds on flowers and vines, flowing the length of the neck, culminating on the headstock. A truely exceptional work of art. Take a look at No. 119 Model 17 Custom in his gallery. The finish is a rather unique burst through the middle of the body with darker tones on top and bottom. Beautiful!!
The action, after one minor adjustment is nice and comfortable. This guitar is a joy to play and look at. A truely unique creation by an artist!


Regarding the features rating. Victor built exactly what I asked for.

This guitar has a classic Jazz sound, but also has a nice range that can accommodate much more. Both acoustic and electric playing.
As this wood ages and opens up, I expect it to be exceptional.

This guitar is definitely built to be used and will have no trouble with gigs.

Considering Victor's tight build schedule, I must say he was prompt and always returned calls, and email messages, within a short period of time. As I live under an hour from his shop, I had the good fortune of visiting a few times and despite his busy schedule, Victor always made time. That was very much appreciated.

Considering all the fine guitar builders out there and the prices that are available,
I believe Victor Baker builds an excellent guitar, with a flexible style that truely accommodates the musician. This at a price that one feels comfortable with!!

Purchased 7/03 from Victor Baker. Handmade in Philidelphia Pa.
20 frets, 25 1/2" scale. Solid European spruce top, master grade bigleaf flame maple back and sides. Flame maple neck with ebony fingerboard, bridge, tailpiece and pickguard. "Antique natural" finish, looks like a natural finish that has darkened and yellowed with age. One Kent Armstrong floating humbucker with pickguard mounted volume and tone controls. 5 ply binding on body only. "VB" in pearl inlaid on headstock.Schaller gold tuners w/ ebony buttons. Not a custom instrument, this was made as a "prototype" and has a slightly different headstock and tailpiece than other VB guitars.
I doubt that he has ever made two guitars that were identical...that's Gibson's job!
Nothing fancy on this guitar, but it oozes quality and vibe, because only the finest woods were used

Acoustically, it's very satisfying , and I find that it's the guitar that I always want to have out and ready to play, even though I have some other very nice ones. Well balanced, even tone from string to string and all the way up the neck.
I can only describe the amplified sound as the ideal jazz archtop tone. Fingerstyle or with a pick, it's articulate, full, not muddy. The Kent Armstrong pickup is real good!

Guitar was well set up, but needed additional setup, due to it being made in Philidelphia and played in Arizona. I like the action low, and string the guitar with 12-52 strings. No problem. Neck shape is described as "medium C shape". It's very comfortable and effortless to play.
The wood is unbelievably fine. Totally flamed maple, perfectly bookmatched. Finish is very glossy nitro-cellulose.
Overall workmanship on the guitar is excellent. But it's not "perfect" in the sense that you feel that it was cranked out by a machine, or part of a large batch of identical guitars. More like a work of art that is really fun to play!

This guitar feels like it will last a couple of hundred years. Very solid, all materials the absolute best.

Victor is a REALLY nice guy. Very willing to communicate. I have no doubt that he stands behind his guitars. But I haven't needed any repairs yet. I think the guitar is guaranteed forever to the original owner

I love this guitar. I don't know how he can build such a good guitar from such costly materials and sell it for such a reasonable price.

Finished 6/13/2001. Handmade in Philadelphia - 17" Archtop, Sitka Spruce Top, Flame European Back, Sides, and Binding. Flame Maple Neck, Ebony Fret Board, Ebony Accents. Antique Natural Finish by Pat Wilkins Guitars-Los Angeles. Case Included. Custom Guitar features as requested.

Fantastic Jazz Sound - Clean, Rich Archtop Sound. Superior sound flexibility demanding quality techniques for the avid enthusiasts' as well as the professional musicians' discerning taste. A true auditory delight. With or without amplification.

Nothings perfect. You'd have to examine carefully to find any flaws. Some barely noticeable finish flaws along binding edges. The finest quality woods handcrafted to perfection. A beautiful guitar for the eyes and ears. Solid Spruce top for highest quality resonance. European flame maple sides and bookmatched back. This is exactly what I ordered. When I opened the case and viewed for the first time I was stunned by the beauty.

This is a sit down instrument. X-braced and as durable as a true performance hollow body instrument can be.

Satisfaction is demanded. Victor took painstaking care to see to it that he understood my vision and met my very critical needs.

I've been playing for 29 years on a variety of instruments. Acoustic, Solid body electrics, etc. I have been searching for the "right" instrument to be both a musical tool as well as a piece of art. This has been painstakingly built by a musician for a musician. I believe I will have years of continued enjoyment trying to live up to the level of artistry defined by this instrument.