Rob Baker

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Rob Baker


Img_capt = Rob Baker performing with Stripper's Union, 2006
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name =
Alias = Bobby Baker
Born = birth date and age|1962|4|12
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Died =
Instrument = Guitar
Genre = Rock
Occupation = Musician, songwriter
Years_active = 1983–present
Label =
Associated_acts = The Tragically Hip, Stripper's Union
URL =
Notable_instruments =
Family_Members = Leslie Baker (wife, Boris Baker (son)

Rob Baker (born April 12, 1962 in Kingston, Ontario) is a Canadian guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. He has also released an album with the side project Stripper's Union in 2005.

Biography

Rob Baker is the son of the late conservative Judge P.E.D. Baker. Baker is a former student of Queen's University where he studied visual art. Later he designed many of the band's t-shirts and album art. Until the Tragically Hip's fifth release, "Day for Night", he was credited in the liner notes as Bobby Baker.

Baker's style is eclectic, ranging from country influence on tracks such as "Twist My Arm" and the country styled solo on "Long Time Running", to his frequent use of slide, either on a regular electric guitar, or a lap steel. This sets him apart from many of his contemporaries, and incorporates a distinct blues sound on some tracks. Baker also exhibits very modern alternative styles at times ("Gift Shop").

He was inducted—as a member of the Tragically Hip—to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in April 2005 at the Juno Awards in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was also one of the winners of a 1999 Juno Award for Best Album Design, for The Tragically Hip release "Phantom Power".

Gear

Up until the mid-1990s, he used a 1970s burnt umber Fender Stratocaster along with Mesa Boogie amplification and more recently Hamilton amplifiers. He now uses a variety of guitars such as Paul Reed Smith, Ernie Ball Music Man and Ovation Guitars, as well as a cream coloured Fender Telecaster, and Garrison acoustics.

Baker uses these specific guitar models on stage:

Garrison: G-41-CE

Garrison: G-50-CE

Ernie Ball Music Man: Silhouette Special

Paul Reed Smith: Custom

Rickenbacker: 360/12 JG

Fender: Stratocaster

Fender: Telecaster