Les Paul Guitars To Baker Guitars Comparison |
Les Paul / Baker Shootout |
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Home > All Guitars > Baker Guitars Comparison & Commentary By Ed Roman
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Both
Gibson & Baker Guitars are made on CNC Machines & by the way those
old original Gene Baker guitars that used to sell for $4,500.00 were
also made on a CNC Machine. Don't be fooled by photos of some guy in
a catalog carving a body. It really ticks me off when I hear some
know it all salesman tell a customer that "These guitars are hand
made." I guess it does take a hand to push a button to start the CNC Router. Just in case you have been in deepest darkest Africa for the past 10 years and don't know what CNC means. It means Computer Numerically Controlled. A CNC Router can make a guitar body in minutes where it would take a craftsman hours. A craftsman will pay attention to the detail of the wood grain, If he's any good he will marry the woods that sound the best together, he will position the wood so that an occlusion will fall inside a pickup route or under a pick guard. In other words he will give a $hit. CNC Machines, just don't give a $hit. But they serve their purpose in keeping costs to a minimum. Mid priced Baker's, Gibson's, PRS, Fender, ESP, Ibanez, Washburn, Yamahaha are all made on CNC machines. Nothing wrong with that as long as the price reflects it. Fenders are cheaper and better today than have been in years. Fender is a company that offers excellent value. In fact as long as you don't go crazy on price with a Fender custom shop model you cannot go wrong. The Custom shop models are overpriced and simply not worth the extra cost. However there are people out there that would disagree with me on that. I tend to think, the reason they disagree with me is. They probably already own one, they have already spent a fortune on it, they just don't want to face up to the fact that they paid too much. (Let's face it most people won't admit to making a mistake, not even to themselves) Gibsons on the other hand have gone through the roof in price because their little game works like this. A typical non informed customer will assume it's a better instrument if it costs more. The sad sad very sad thing is Gibson is right. Many people spend a small fortune on Gibson's because they feel it must be better because it costs so much more. I have noticed this with exotic pickup manufacturers also. Lollar builds a good pickup but a Seymour Duncan antiquity or even a regular 59 will stand right next to it for 1/3 the price and Duncan will even let you trade out your pickups until you are happy. Many of these people eventually become disillusioned with Gibson privately but they can't admit it because they are trying to sell theirs or at least keep the value as high as possible on the one they bought. Ed Roman says "Smoke & Mirrors."
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Important
This paragraph is directed at a person who wants to pay more for the brand name.
These people could read these comparisons for the sole purpose of comparing the Gibson & the PRS.
I had to include this recommendation for these people.
If you spend the time to read both of these
comparisons, between the mid priced Baker & Les Paul, and the Baker & the PRS.
Unless you have been around guitars for a long time you might come
out thinking that the Gibson offers more than the PRS therefore it
is better.
There are certain things you must know about for that to happen.
I am available to discuss these things in detail with anyone who
wants to call & talk about it. I am especially interested in talking
to people who disagree with me and have constructive comments. I get
very few people who call me with any constructive criticism. I
get plenty of criticism but most of it is childish prattle and makes
no sense. I really am anxious to discuss these and other theories
with guitarists who feel I may have left something out of my
comparisons. Ed Roman June 2007 |
Comparison Below Comparison Re Done 2010
I have come up against a
great deal of flak over my comparisons !!!
I just don't know of any other way to show a customer
how something is a better value.
If you
believe that I am wrong about anything or that I have left something of
importance out !!
If you think this is strictly a self serving article.
Please email me or call, I need something to make the Gibson look better.
I will gladly print any contributing article !!!
Remember
This Comparison Uses The
Lowest Priced Mass Produced Baker Not The Handmade
Ones
Body | Baker B1 | Les Paul |
Archtop Maple Over Mahogany Both Use The exact Same Woods. | Yes | Yes |
Body Binding Available Both Models Offer Body Binding. | Yes | Yes |
Figured Top Low priced Baker standard top looks far better than the Gibson top. | Yes | Yes |
Highly Figured Top Gibson offers it for approx. $1000.00 Baker offers it for $200.00. | Yes | Yes |
Weight Comparison Gibson Les Paul is about twice the weight of a Baker. | Light | Heavy |
Neck | Baker B1 | Les Paul |
Set Neck Gibson Neck Joint highly inferior to all Baker models. | Yes | Yes |
Bound Neck Both guitars come with a bound neck. | Yes | Yes |
Ebony Fretboard Gibson doesn't do ebony except on the custom. | Yes | No |
Rosewood Fretboard Most Gibson's come with a Rosewood Fingerboard. | Yes | Yes |
Ebony Overlay On Headstock (Gibson uses plastic) | Yes | No |
Matching Headstock Available on the Baker only. | Yes | No |
Bound Headstock New For 2010 Models Included In Price. | Yes | No |
24 Frets Les Paul's only come in 22 Frets. | Yes | No |
Custom Inlays Gibson Inlays are low cost plastic excepting for models priced over 4000.00 The Baker now comes with Real Mother Of Pearl and Abalone | Yes | No |
Electronics | Baker B1 | Les Paul |
2 Humbucking Pickups | Yes | Yes |
EMG Pickups Available Baker Will Install EMG Pickups | Yes | No |
Duncan Pickups Available Baker Will Install Duncan Pickups | Yes | No |
Jason Lollar Pickups Available Baker Will Install Lollar Pickups | Yes | No |
Dimarzio Pickups Available Baker Will Install DiMarzio Pickups | Yes | No |
PRS Pickups Available Baker Will Even Install PRS Pickups | Yes | No |
Choice Of Colors Baker offers Black, Crème, White & Zebra Pickups free | Yes | No |
Push Pull Coil Splitters Available only on the Baker. | Yes | No |
Hardware | Baker B1 | Les Paul |
Tune-O-Matic Bridge Available | Yes | Yes |
Tone/Pros Bridge Available | Yes | No |
Gold Hardware Baker includes FREE gold hardware. Everyone else charges for it | Yes | No |
Buzz Feiten System Available From Factory | Yes | No |
Tremolo System | Available | No |
Here's Another No Brainer The Baker Guitar is Much Less Expensive & it is Superior In Many ways. Baker Guitars Come With Real MOP Inlays, Gold Hardware, Tune-O-Matic Bridge, a Gorgeous Quilted Or Flamed Top, Fully Bound Body Neck & Headstock & A Two Year Full Parts & Labor Warranty. The Gibson Doesn't Include Gold, it Cost Thousands Extra For A Figured Top & Only Comes With A One Year Limited Warranty. The Gibson costs more and delivers less. 3/4 of Gibson's outlandish prices is for the name. |
Street Price $1,150 |
Street Price $2,350 |