The core of Gene Baker's SL Deluxe design is simple in theory - take the best aspects of a Stratocaster and a Les Paul and combine them. While other builders like Paul Reed Smith have worked from similar concepts - Fender meets Gibson - b3 guitars have a decidedly more vintage feel and tone vs a PRS (makes sense given that Gene was a Master Builder at the Fender Custom Shop and also spent time at Gibson's Custom Shop - he has intimate knowledge of what makes great instruments from those brands tick).

This Oxblood SL tips its hat the Jeff Beck's famous Les Paul and features a mahogany body and neck, plan maple top (painted Oxblood), rosewood fingerboard (12" radius, 6105 frets), short scale length, exposed coil Lollar Imperial humbuckers (split w/a push-pull tone control), Mann wrap tail bridge, and Grover Kluson tuners. 

Gibson players will no doubt recognize these specs as the basic "recipe" for a Les Paul style guitar. For all intents and purposes, this is a Les Paul - but - its quite a bit more comfortable with better balance, a tummy cut, effortless upper fret access, and it weighs in at only 8lbs 2oz.

The Lollar Imperials deliver a slightly scooped midrange, medium output, and a clear, articulate top end that excels at both clean and overdriven tones. You can easily pull gorgeous, almost ES-335-like clean tones out of this guitar in addition to killer overdriven tones.

We'll cut to the chase - if you're a Les Paul fan in any way, shape, or form, we can't recommend these guitars enough. For our money, they're some of the best LP-style guitars on the market, right up there with any sought-after replica builder's work. Priced with hardshell case

• Builder: Gene Baker / b3 Guitars
  
• Model: SL Custom 
• Serial Number: 22 049
• Weight: 8lbs 2oz
• Materials: Mahogany, Rosewood
• Finish: Nitrocellulose, Oxblood
• Neck Shape: '59 soft V, .89-.98"
• Electronics: Lollar Imperial humbuckers, 2 volume, 1 tone (coil tap), 3-way switch
• Hardware: Mann wraparound bridge, Grover Kluson tuners
  
• Measurements: 24.625" scale, 1.687" nut, 12" radius, 22 frets (6105)
• Case/Papers: Hardshelll, CoA