Robben Ford Discussion

Cheebatone · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:56 pm Post subject: Fender Elite vs Baker RF

I've never had the opportunity to A/B test a Fender Elite and a Baker RF Model. Could anybody who has, please give me their impressions? I'm thinking mainly of the body differences between alder (Fender) and mahogany (Baker).

Any insight into why Robben changed the body wood would also be greatfully received.

Cheers!

Charly
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Aeolian · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:51 pm Post subject:

The earlier Baker's were also alder. But then with the black one, Gene decided to try mahogany and Robben loved it. Having heard Robben play it in comparison to someone else's Baker at a clinic I'd say it was more woody sounding. More like an archtop with the attack and sustain of a solid guitar.
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Cheebatone · Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:26 am Post subject:

Interesting... So is it a permanent switch to mahogany?
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I first started to play guitar 35 years ago... Trouble is, I had 20 years off in the middle.

Daved · Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:13 am Post subject:

Robben finally received his new Baker B3 (Built-By-Baker). A beautiful instrument, sort of a plum color that is so deeply dark it looks almost black.
Robben tells me it is Mahogany.
At his request I am today installing a set of J.M Rolph "Vintage Pretender" pickups to test.
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meangene · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:49 am Post subject:

Hey Dave Gene tagging in, just stumbled across this thread and its great to see you and Robben running the git fiddle through some paces.

For those interested the guitar was loosely built at Robbens request in a sort of tribute to Jeff Becks Oxblood Blow By Blow LP, hey theres another spin on the b3 name, Blow By Blow.... It was built to go toe to toe with his RI LP's with the tweaks that keep it built around his once Baker signature model, why build another Spruce top for the moment when he already has his Baker signature version in the arsenal so we did something a little different.

Although whats been interesting to me is a story I have been hearing from Jeff Rivera about this vintage LP that was bestowed upon Robben as a gift from Larry Carlton, now theres some serious mojo Karma going on there and I expect a little love affair between Robben and his new/old fiddle. How could it be denied a romance, how cool is that? Gotta love it! But all the same I am curious to catch up with you guys and see what has come to fruit as he gets use to his new b3 plus comparing to his LP's will be a perfect test to see how close we got.

PS with Robben heading to Japan soon I just got a call from my distributor over there that would like to inquire on possibily setting up a magazine interview with Robben, I am sure they would enjoy having you there too picking up on the tech side.

Hope the world is shining on you cats always, talk to you soon.
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Bill Morgan · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:07 pm Post subject:

BlueRunner · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:31 am Post subject:

Wow. Looking forward to seeing and hearing the new axe sometime soon. In the meantime, Gene: Your web site is looking better and better. Hope to get up to the Pit Stop some time before too long to hear you and the Portable Jons.
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meangene · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject:

I just did a revamp on the site this morning now that I have a bunch of photos building up of guitars built to date. For awhile it was going right to Destroy All Guitars after you clicked my enter/index page. Mad scientist at work.....
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Ian Hurtt · Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 8:08 pm Post subject:

Great looking group of guitars, Gene! Is Robben's s/n 0 003? I really like the motif you have going with the model names. Fantastic stuff!!

meangene · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:05 pm Post subject:

Yep #0 003 is Robben's. Thanks for diggin the new model tweaks, I'm feelin good about it.
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Mean Gene

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