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2005 Victor Baker Model 17

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Serial #: 146 Width: 17" Nut: 1 11/16" Scale: 25" Depth: 3"

Finish: Vintage sunburst finish, nitrocellulose type.

Materials: Solid carved figured tiger maple back, sides and neck; solid hand-carved quartersawn bookmatched Sitka spruce top; solid ebony fingerboard, polished bone nut.

Hardware: All gold hardware includes twin Lindy Fralin humbucking pickups, Schaller 16x1 tuners with ebony keys, solid brass tailpiece with ebony cover, solid ebony pickguard and compensated adjustable bridge; volume and tone controls; 1/4" jack.

Notes: New York luthier Victor Baker's archtop guitars are meticulously constructed entirely by hand, and are popular with top players throughout the Big Apple and around the world. His elegant designs are informed by his extensive experience as a working jazz guitarist as well. This Model 17 is crafted of all solid woods, bookmatched, quartersawn and hand carved throughout. Built expressly for the working player, the 17" Venetian cutaway body is fitted with twin built-in pickups for improved sustain and feedback resistance, in the style of the classic L-5CES. And like the L-5, the solid spruce top is parallel braced, for greater clarity and punch. And the body, neck pickguard and soundholes are all trimmed in highly flamed maple binding, for an elegant, handcrafted look.

This example is in superb, all original condition, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. The body is crafted of tightly figured bookmatched fiddleback maple, with a headstock overlay of deep Macassar ebony. The a gentle D profile neck is easy and comfortable in the hand, with smooth low action over the solid ebony fingerboard. The custom wound Lindy Fralin pickups produce a warm, classic bop tone, with volume and tone controls mounted to the pickguard for easy access. And the solid brass tailpiece grounds the strings to the pickups for quieter performance, and includes Baker's innovative polished ebony cover, which is magnetically secured in place.

Made to order, Victor Baker guitars are rarely seen on the vintage market, and offer hand crafted quality in classic designs. This model currently starts at $5200, with a considerable wait. Grab this rare bird now, at an unbeatable price. One only, call now.

Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished. his instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flatwoundwound strings (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridgewheels.

Case: Original deluxe black arched plush lined hardshell case.