The Monroe is a new model from Gene Baker and the crew at b3 Guitars, which essentially takes their Tele/Firebird-inspired Phoenix model and applies that concept to an offset body shape.

Why We Love This

This Monroe features a truly stunning black limba body and neck, with neck through construction that makes upper fret access ridiculously easy, a rosewood fingerboard, chopped Tele bridge w/brass saddles, 6-on-a-side headstock, and a pair of Lollar Lollartron pickups.

In hand the Monroe feels sleek and fast, and a heck of a lot like an old Gibson Firebird - in terms of the neck carve and playability. The Monroe actually balances quite a bit better, but that old-school, vintage Gibson soul is here in spades. It's stripped down, it's inspiring, it's rock n roll - though Rich Hinman's demo video shows it can cover quite a bit more ground than just rock.

The Monroe is a no frills tone machine - and none are needed when a guitar is this alive, great sounding, and beautiful looking. These specs just roll together in such at a way that the Monroe simply works and leaves us wanting for nothing. Well done, Gene!