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).
We spec'd this gorgeous SL Deluxe to have a charcoal stained 5A quilt maple top and a natural, 1-piece mahogany body, mahogany neck w/a rosewood board, 59 carve (.89"-.98", soft V), 12" radius, trapezoid inlays, b3 PAF humbuckers, TonePros bridge/tailpiece, 24.625" scale, and a 1 11/16" nut. Oh - and a stinger on the back of the headstock! Too cool. Whew, okay - with that out of the way...
For all intents and purposes, this SL Deluxe is a Les Paul - but - its quite a bit more comfortable to play with better balance, a tummy cut, and effortless upper fret access. Plus, it weighs in at very comfortable 8lbs 9oz!
Wired with a set of b3 PAF style humbuckers, a two volume, two tone (push/pull coil taps), 3-way setup, this SL Deluxe sounds the part as well. Clear and articulate neck and bridge position tones coupled with a sweet, forward midrange puts you squarely in vintage Les Paul land.
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