So you love Les Pauls but wish they balanced a bit better or felt a smidge more nimble?

Why We Love This

So you love Les Pauls but wish they balanced a bit better or felt a smidge more nimble? Or you're loving your Strat but want a Gibson, just can't find one that feels quite right?

Enter Gene Baker's masterful b3 SL Custom. Who better do meld a Strat and a Les Paul than the man who was Fender's first Custom Shop Master Builder along with a stint at the Gibson Custom Shop (amongst many other career highlights).

We have to admit, we're suckers for a Silverburst guitar. There's just something cool about this sought-after color (rumored to have been made in the 70s for the "silver" anniversary of the Les Paul), made even more popular by Tool's Adam Jones. Unlike a true 70s LP Custom, this is a much lighter weight Les Paul Custom style guitar (8lbs 10oz), just melded with some of the best bits of a Stratocaster.

What makes this SL Custom different - dare we say, better? - than a Les Paul are indeed those Strat influences: the guitar balances better, has better upper fret access, and sports a tummy cut, all of which make this guitar a dream to play. Simply put, you get all the things you love and want from a killer Les Paul in a package that's way easy to play.

The neck carve on this guitar is a highlight and warrants mention. Truth be told, it's one of the highlights on all b3 guitars - they just know how to do Gibson-inspired neck carves like few can. They're not overly fat, yet, not lacking in depth or shoulder.