"My passion was embedded into the ’59 Les Paul and all things cool about vintage Gibson models...but then you take Leo Fender as the father of a great format for modification, find a way to blend the two and you can lean into any direction you want."
~ Gene Baker (via guitar.com)
Founded by Gene Baker, b3 Guitars is the culmination of a career that's touched nearly every major name in American electric guitar building.
Gene apprenticed under Roger Giffin at the Gibson Custom Shop, joined the Fender Custom Shop in 1993 and rose to Senior Master Builder, then went on to serve as Chief Master Builder at Premier Builders Guild from 2009 to 2015, overseeing production of guitars designed by Dennis Fano, Roger Giffin, Saul Koll, Johan Gustavsson, and Jason Schroeder.
Since 2015, he's run b3 independently building the Earth, Fire, Wood, Water, Metal, Phoenix, and Ring Master models - each designed around a specific tonal target and named after the five phases of the Chinese cycle of Wu Xing.
The Music Emporium has carried b3 for years, with a selection that spans Gene's core models and the one-off custom builds his shop is known for. Gene plays every guitar before it leaves the bench, and after thirty-plus years of building at the highest level, that final check is worth what it sounds like.
Modern Vintage
b3 guitars blend classic forms with modern sensibility, channeling the best of vintage feel and tone while refining playability and design for today’s players.
Masterbuilt Mentality
Every b3 is handcrafted by Gene Baker - former Fender Custom Shop Master Builder - and his small team. Precision, consistency, and artistry define each instrument.
Custom Without Compromise
With an array of body styles, finishes, pickup configurations, and hardware options, b3 Guitars offer custom-shop flexibility backed by decades of pro-level experience.
