Victor Baker Semi Hollow

2008 Semi-hollow 335 design with all solid carved woods: spruce top and center block ,mahogany back ,sides and neck ,ebony fretboard 25 inch scale lenth ,stop tail bridge.335 shape with slightly bigger horns - looks more sorta like Mickey Mouse ears. Victor tried several different pickups on this guitar and ended up putting Kent Armstrong PAF style humbuckers. I wanted a guitar to gig with that's why it has very basic features - no fancy sruff like bindings or fancy inlays...Still looks beautiful though.

I'm a jazz player and wanted a modern jazz guitar with big fat tone but versatile enough to play everything from bebop to overdriven blues to fusion.This axe does it all but generally its tone is more on the "warm" side as it was made for jazz.With the neck PUP it sounds very full and warm with very rich harmonic content - imagine a good jazz archtop (say L-5) combined with sustain of a good semi (say 335).The bridge PUP gives enough bite to make good overdriven tones but on the other hand the tone remains warm and rich - think maybe Santana. It's also capable of producing very convincing B.B.King and Scofield tones.I play through an old Fender Deluxe -to my ears it sounds better with a tube amp than say a polytone - the harmonics are more noticeable Overall great sounding and very versatile axe.

The finish is a beautiful sunburst that looks striking.The guitar came set up perfectly but after a few weeks it started to buzz a bit on the lower fret - I think due to the different climatic conditions. Readjusting the bridge and a few turns of a truss rod key fixed this problem.Also the pickguard was kinda loose and felt wiggly.It's a minor issue but still an isuue - it gets an 8 here...

No opinion here - I'm only using it for a month .Seems reliable so far..

Victor is a pleasure to deal with and he really deserves more than 10 here.Great guy both as a person and a professional!

I'm playing professionally for 15 years and have owned different archtops and semis (an L5 ,an old 335 and a 175) before.And of course I've played many other great guitars that weren't mine.This Victor Baker is a really special axe: the best thing about it is that it doesn't sound like anything else - it's got its own very distinctive tone and can't be confused with any other guitar.I got tired in a way of using vintage Gibsons and wanted something that would make my tone different from the others.Also I wanted an axe with the sound that would be powerful enough to play in louder settings without using too much overdrive.I got what I wanted.I recommend to contact Victor to discuss all the specs and woods before you buy one.Victor can make you an axe that would come pretty close to what you hear in your head.

Hand-made in 2002, the Semi Hollow model is a hand carved flame koa top with ebony fingerboard and carved mahogany back. Nitro finished. Mini Grover tuners, two Kent Armstrong Custom PAF pickups, three way selector, one each volume and tone. Tunamatic bridge with stop tail.

Neck shape is incredible. Imagine a 59 Les Paul that is slightly flatened in the back. It's the best shape I've ever felt and must be a tribute to Victor's own knowledge as a jazz guitar player.

Stunning good looks, including the unique and classy heastock shape and logo.

My style ranges from jazz, to blues, funk, and rock. I use vintage and tube boutique amps.

This guitar has a really unique "snap" to the sound. The range of tones is incredible, from Trey Anastasio of Phish to John Scofield to classic rock and jazz.

I have not found an amp that this guitar does not like: from 60s Vox AC-30 Top Boost; to Marshall Superlead 100, Lead 20 and Park 75; to tweed, brown and blackface Fenders.

Tone and volume pots really work, providing a wide, even taper and lots of control.

The sound of this guitar is really unique. Modeled on a "mini 335", the tones from this guitar are not your standard Les Paul, Strat, or 335 but nicely different.

Action was low and fast, however, the string heights were a little off and required adjustment. String widths were slightly off, but within acceptable range. Frets were accurately placed but benefited from a quick dressing and edgework. Bottom line, a quick setup by a good repair person brought this to outstanding playability.

Small body size (much smaller than a 335) is really nice. Well balanced. Not a featherweight but not heavy either. Lighter than a Les Paul. Couldn't care less about the weight, given the tone.

Feel of the neck and fingerboard are incredible.

All carved top and backs are really, really solid. I think this will be quite durable. I've only had the guitar about five months, so it is hard to say.

Spoke to Victor. Nice guy, very responsive. Fast shipping and good packing. Don't anticipate any issue here.

I have number of classic vintage Fender and Gibson guitars. I would order another, if stolen. I'd really like to add a few design features to another guitar, so I'll probably do business with Victor again in the future!