Robben Ford Discussion

JackD

I am looking for a new solid body guitar. As principally an ES-335 guy, I am strongly considering a chambered guitar. I am trying to decide between a Gibson Les Paul Chambered Reissue (a "Cloud 9") or one of the Chambered Bakers (like a B1C, etc.). The problem is that I've never seen or played either of these guitars (none around here in Michigan).

Can anyone comment on these--particularly anyone who has tried, played or owned both.

Thanks much!

Victoria · Member Joined: 03 Jan 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Vermont

Hello,

I hope you don't mind my replying to your post, but I wanted to encourage you to check out a friends guitar site that I have posted on here. As I was reading some of the reviews on harmony central , I found one that I thought may be of interest to you, since your post stated you are looking to purchase a solid body guitar.
Here is an excerpt from one reviewer on the Arlen Roth signature model...
I am a friend of Dons and just want to let others know this guitar is out there. the website is: warrenguitars.com
Thanks

This is from Harmony Central...
Overall Rating: 10
My overall rating of this guitar is it’s simply a sonic masterpiece that befits any virtuoso. That fact that this thing, as a solid body, has as much as or more tone and sustain than the finest acoustic steel string (or classical nylon string) guitar proves the amazing engineering and guitar design. This is the Stradivarius of electric guitars, and I would hope such an accomplishment will get its due recognition someday because Don Warren has done something no one else has done. The Warren tone and workmanship clearly surpasses that of all others including PRS, Suhr, Baker, Fender Custom Shop, Anderson or anyone else out there. I’m just the next guy who came along and discovered this, so my comments are only echoing those of the other reviewers no matter which Warren model is discussed. I've been playing since 1969. Currently, I own a 1970 Johnny Smith, a 1969 Les Paul, a recent ES335, a Fender Custom Shop Strat. My favorite amp is a very clean Fender Custom Shop Virbo-King. If my Warren guitar was lost, stolen, or irreparably damaged, I’d suffer immensely until it was replaced. My favorite feature is how the instrument’s superb quality eliminates issues present in other guitars and allows an unobstructed expression. I chose this guitar because of the incredible claims that were being made about Warren-made instruments; as someone who suffers from a truth-seeking personality, I wanted to see if it was true or not. It’s all true. The only downside to this guitar is it makes all of my other guitars mostly irrelevant since it gets all of those sounds and plays easier.

Submitted by Larry C at 04/29/2005 08:12 [/b]

Aeolian · Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:00 am Post subject:

Ahh, I see why people jumped on Victoria. While her enthusiasim for her friends product is admirable, it's off topic here where the discussion is about chambered guitars.

As primarilly a 335 player myself who also owns an 84 Esprit, there are a couple of things germane here.

The Les Paul is intended to be as sonically close to a soild one as possible. Not to emulate anything hollow. Just be lighter.

The Baker (and previous Fenders) that Robben usually plays has a feature more unique than the chamber. A spruce top. That creates a very woody and midrange centered sound. Some 335s have this also, but more by accident than design as they are very inconsistent.

My Esprit is chambered but with a maple top. It sounds nothing like any of the several spruce top RF's I've played, which all share that common "woody" characteristic. There's a certain amount of extra lower midrange compared to a typical Les Paul but nothing like the spruce tops. If you've played a PRS hollowbody, that has a similar "archtop" like character. I've also played a P90 equiped spruce topped Baker, and while the P90's sort of compensate against it, the spruce character dominates compared to any maple top/humbucker Baker I've played.

The effect of the chambers is much more subtle. Towards the end of the run, Fender made some maple top RF's with solid bodies. These were much brighter. The chambers soften it a bit while still retaining the quicker attack of the maple.

The real tradeoff in my mind is giving up the cosmetics of the maple for the tone of the spruce. For instance, Garth Webber turns his RF pretty bright at times, but the spruce (and great hands) keeps it from being overly piercing. The fundamtal note has more body to it. Not some low end thump, but the actual fundamental notes frequency. My 335 doesn't do this, being more like Chris Cains in that it has a lot of attack and dynamics and a broader, less centered tone. I think the red 335 Eric Johnson uses is a better example of a woody, archtop like one.
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JackD · Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 3:58 pm Post subject:

Well, after thinking about it and doing more research, I decided to go with a Baker B1C (photo below). I know that the spruce Bakers, (RF or Bluesmen) would have more of the tone that Aeolian described, but my concern is that it would be TOO much like Robben. I wanted to go for something a little different to give me a chance to find more of my own sound. I have not yet received the guitar--it's being shipped next week. I'll try it out then. There's a good chance I'll be changing out the stock pickups, they are Dimarzio Virtual Vintage PAFs. I'll have to see how it sounds first.

My hope is that the chambered Baker gives it a more open, woody tone relative to the standard B1. I'll let you guys know when I get it.

Ian Hurtt · Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 4:31 pm Post subject:

Sweet looking Baker! Cool

JackD · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:06 pm Post subject:

JackD · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 10:12 am Post subject:

Well it turns out that for full comparison purposes, I ended up purchasing a Les Paul Cloud 9 as well. If you search for my thread on the Gear Page, you can get my full review and comparison of the two guitars. They are both fantastic guitars, but I had to decide and pick one to keep. I decided to keep the Les Paul Cloud 9, a '57 gold top. I selected it because it totally nailed the Les Paul "thing". The Baker was a very wonderful and unique sounding guitar. However, I have other guitars that cover that territory, but none that nail the LP sound.

FYI, for you Baker owners. I posted the Baker for sale on the Gear Page and sold it in one day for $2,700 (I did take a little bit of a hit on the price but nothing serious).