Robben Ford Discussion

tonemaster2_11 · Member Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 37

What's the story with Baker Guitars?? Have they suddenly gone out of business? What happened?!! Sad

I was still SAVING $$$ for one !!

PierreL · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 12:38 pm Post subject:

They went bankrupt . I heard that the name "Baker Guitars" was bought by a guy named Ed Roman, who seem to have a very bad reputation in this business. I think that Gene Baker went on to work for Ernie Ball ( or another famous guitar maker ) .

tonemaster2_11 · Member Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 37

BUMMER.
Thanks for the info.
I've never dealt with Mr. Roman but by what I've read on the net and my impression of his website I am a little suspect of his credibility. Besides, if Mr. Baker isn't actually making the guitars then what good is the name?

iamthewalrus · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 1:50 pm Post subject: Baker Guitars

Fine Print from Gene Baker's current web site,

"Baker is currently a registered trademark of Ed Roman and Robert English. Gene Baker is not affiliated in any way with the new trademark owners.

The above photos are only shown as prior work history of the work we did while owning and operating Baker Guitars where the trademark was created."

So, looks like Gene sold to Ed Roman. Mr. Roman's guitar "superstore" is in Las Vegas. I imagine all of you with Baker Robben Ford models have just seen their resale value leap!

Link to Ed Roman's guitar site with news about the purchase:

http://edromanguitars.com/guitar/home_bak.htm

Inventory at their Las Vegas location is mind boggling.

Cheers!
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Andersen · Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 1:46 am Post subject: Baker blues

So is the Ford Baker out of "print" now???? Confused

Rasmus Andersen, Denmark
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iamthewalrus

Looks like there will be "Baker" guitars built by Ed Roman and friends but no Gene Baker built "Bakers." Maybe Mr. Baker is going to build "Mean Genes," who knows? Anybody know the guy and can ask? Daved?
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garylamarLOUDguitar · Member Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 14

Here is a quote from Gene Baker from the Baker Guitars Forum ( it still exists, although very few new posts).

« on: 11/19/03 at 07:57:59 »

New "Gene Baker" Models

Hey there one and all sorry for being away for so long, I miss you all. Here to give an update as to whats going on and when we expect to bust out some new "Gene Baker" models at Ernie Ball www.ernieball.com

The delay in all of this is me getting trained on new software for design. I am currently training on Pro E which is an extremely powerful design software that will take my design abilities to the next level. Most complex software requires about a full year to be comfortable and execute work as we like it. I just started training early November 03 and will be heading off to school for a week sometime before the new year.

We have a few projects that are on the board that were slated before I began working here and I am getting involved with some of these coming Jan 04 NAMM releases of new EB fiddles stay tuned for that cool stuff. We plan for the "Gene Baker" models to be released at Jan 05 NAMM, sorry for the wait but it will be worth it.

All my best as always and many thanks again to you all for your continued devotion and support to what we all started together, we could never have done it with out the help of you all.

Hope you all have a great holidays and a most enjoyable New Year.

PS Gil "Axdoctor" is rocking the house in the EB woodshop and as always doing an amzing job building them fiddles with a crew of great guys.

Gene

So it looks like we will be waiting over a year longer to see the next generation Robben Ford model. I had one on order when it all went bad, and was pretty bummed to say the least. Life goes on. We wish him the best, and the dealer I was working with did tell me along the way that the folks at Ernie Ball do value the relationship with Robben, and want to keep him happy.
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johan · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2003 1:04 am Post subject:

So Daved....will Robben continue working with Gene Baker now when he's at Ernie Ball?

renico00 · Member Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 32

Johan, I'm not sure anyone really knows that answer at the moment. I personally feel there will not be an affiliation any longer. The problem is that EB is not making a guitar like the Baker right now. Nothing in the EB line pops into my head as being like Robben's last two signature guitars (Fender and then Baker). I think everyone is still waiting to really see where all of this goes -- what will EB do with Gene; what will Roman do with Baker......

Jeff

kirk95 · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 1:26 pm Post subject:

midc74 · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 11:56 pm Post subject:

For those of you that own Baker's, or have played them.. What are the necks like? The size/shape/feel? Can you compare them to anything else?

Does anyone know what the scale of the Bakers are offhand?

Thanks,
Patrick

iamthewalrus · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 8:03 am Post subject: Baker Guitar Stats

At Gene Baker's "MeanGene.org" web site click on the "Baker Guitars" link and you'll get to an index of, what looks to be, manufacturing specs on every guitar "Baker Guitars" built.

Look for the "Guitars built by year" heading; "sorted by date" "sorted by serial number."

Never having played one I have the following "take' on these: I think of them as a Les Paul style guitar that could be ordered Fender or Gibson scale length and with a variety of custom options. Most of you know Gene was the builder of Robben's signature Fender guitar. It only made sense Robben would stick with Gene when he went on his own. It will be interesting to see what the Ernie Ball/Baker situation brings. I doubt Robben will be getting any Marshalls anytime soon.
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JohnnyZ · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 6:17 pm Post subject:

I'm strongly considering buying a Baker from Black Creek Guitars (kirk is right, advertising works!). You've all probably seen it flash on your screen here from time to time- it's the Koa wood flame top hollowbody with the palm tree cutout. It's listed as a California Jr. I'm assuming that the California is a particular model with at least one feature to distinguish it from say, a Robben Ford model. But, does anyone know what makes it a Jr.? Black Creek also has another Baker Jr. for sale, so obviously, there's something about a Jr. that makes it a Jr. Size-wise, it appears to be the same body and neck size as other Bakers not labelled as a Jr., but I just cannot see any (obvious) difference(s). I have this question out to Gene, but in the mean time, I'm curious if anyone here can offer any insight.

Also, would anyone want to layout a little capital funding? :-)

Thanks,
~JohnnyZ~
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kirk95 · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 7:04 pm Post subject:

It's similar to the difference between a Les Paul and a Les Paul Jr. The Les Paul or B1 has a carved top and the Les Paul Jr. or BJ has a flat top.
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JohnnyZ · Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 7:44 pm Post subject:

Mean Gene Baker has been extremely responsive to my emails. (I bet he'd be the most talkative person at a party!) Besides giving me great answers and descriptions, he also directed me to the models section of the Baker guitars website which has more info than i had imagined. The company may be dead, but the website is very much alive. I still wouldn't mind any further insight and discussion on this particular Baker model...

~JohnnyZ~
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