Name: b3 SL Custom Pelham Blue
Brand: B3
SKU: BB3-SLCPB
Price: 5858.0 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

New

Weight

7lbs 5oz

Nut Width

1.687"

Scale Length

24.625"

Pickups

b3 PAFs

Authorized Retailer

Free UPS Ground Shipping On Orders Over $299 (Continental U.S. Only)

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.

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 Pelham Blue (top only) SL features a 1-piece mahogany body and neck, 1-piece plan maple top, rosewood fingerboard (12" radius, 6105 stainless frets), short scale length, b3 PAF style humbuckers (split w/a push-pull tone control), Mann wrap tail bridge, and 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, the SL 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 7lbs 5oz.

What's interesting about the SL is how you play on one. Meaning, though it's essentially a Les Paul, the Strat-like body shape and in-hand feel make the SL feel way more agile, sleek, and fast in hand vs any Les Paul we've ever played. That's really where the Fender aspect of these guitars shows up, which is very, very cool to experience.

The b3 PAF style humbuckers 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.

For our money, the b3 SL is one of the best LP-style guitars on the market, right up there with any sought-after replica builder's work.

Body

Style

Solid

Body

1-Piece Mahogany

Top

1-Piece Maple

Binding

Cream

Color

Pelham Blue

Hardware

Pickup

b3 PAF Humbuckers

Controls

Volume / Volume / Tone (Push-Pull) / 3-Way Switch

Bridge

Mann Wrap

Tuners

Kluson G Mount

Neck

Mahogany

Carve

59 Carve (.890/.980") Soft V

Fingerboard

Rosewood

Inlay

Trapezoid

Radius

12"

Frets

6105 Stainless (22)

Nut

1.687" Bone

Scale Length

24.625"

Finish

Extra Light Relic

Other

Serial #

23 046

Weight

7lbs 5oz

Case

Hardshell

Brand Story

Gene Baker of b3 Guitars 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).

If you're in the market for a high-performance, modern leaning guitar with lots of gorgeous and creative appointments that's still got vintage vibe, feel, tone, and attitude? Give b3 a try, you won't be disappointed.

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