Description

New to Gene Baker's b3 Guitars? Gene is a legend in the guitar world, long known for his flawless builds and meticulous attention to detail. He was a Senior Master Builder at the Fender Custom Shop, also worked at the Gibson Custom Shop, and was the builder responsible for building the Koll, Gustavsson, Fano, Schroeder, and Giffin guitars under the Premier Builder's Guild brand to name a few highlights. Oh, and Robben Ford slung a Baker guitar for many, many years (as have many other pros). 

While all of Gene's guitars are incredible, this particular SL Deluxe is a special guitar. We asked Gene if he would rebuild #001 for us - the very first SL he'd ever built, the prototype. Like many of you, we scroll through our favorite builder's Instagram accounts and when we saw #001, we knew we had to have one. There are many stunning builds on the b3 IG page, but this one just blew us away. 

This lightly relic'd SL Deluxe, with its Strat-meets-Les Paul body, is incredibly comfortable to play. Better balance than a Les Paul, a tummy cut, effortless upper fret access...all while sounding and looking very much like an old Gibson (that 5A top though...!!!). It's such a joy to play and has one of the best Gibson style necks we've played in a very long time. It's dead on with a lot of vintage Gibson's we've played, truth be told. 

Wired with a set of b3 PAF style humbuckers, a two volume, two tone (push/pull coil taps), 3-way setup, the sounds are exactly what you'd expect - clear and articulate neck and bridge position tones coupled with a sweet, forward midrange puts you squarely in vintage Les Paul land. 

Fans of high-end PRS, Yaron, Gustavsson, Probett, take note and check out this killer SL Deluxe prototype rebuild from b3 Guitars. A stunning guitar by any measure! Priced with hardshell case.

Specs

• Mahogany body (tone chambers), 5A Flame Maple top
• Light Tobacco Burst, Extra Light Relic'ing
• Mahogany neck
• Rosewood fingerboard
• 59 Carve - .87"-.95"
• Cream binding
  
• 24.625" scale length
• 12" Radius
• 6105 frets, 22
• 1.687" nut width
• b3 PAF humbuckers
  
• Volume/Volume, Tone/Tone (push/pull coil tap), 3-way
• Lightly Aged Nickel hardware
• TonePros TOM bridge
• Dunlop straplocks
• Grover Kluson style tuners
• Strung with 10's
• G&G Hardshell Case
• SN 21 071
• 8lbs 8oz