Early Albert Lee MM gear question

[kai54]

Hi folks,
Quick question. I've got a bet with a friend over A.L.'s early MM gear. As he transitioned from Teles to MM designs didn't he first play a Silhouette model? I could have sworn that I've seen early photos of him playing a Silo. Thanks in advance.

 

[robelinda2]

Yeah he played a Silo for awhile, pretty cool! He helped design it too. Was 5 or so years until the AL model prototype as we know it came to his hands.

 

[Big Poppa]

he didnt help design it we made one with pickups he liked basically tele in the bridge.

 

[mb99zz]

BP, was Albert the first guitarist to get a signature model from MM or was it Steve Morse?

 

[Spudmurphy]

BP, was Albert the first guitarist to get a signature model from MM or was it Steve Morse?

Can we work this out? - The AL sig model came out in '93. When did the Morse come out?

 

[robelinda2]

Morse model came out in 85 didnt it? WAY before the AL.

 

[Coffeemug]

Looked it up in the history section on the EBMM homepage...

...as Spud said the AL came out in '93

...and the Morse came out in '87

 

[Spudmurphy]

Glad we sorted that one out.
I got this out of my archive

 

[jamminjim]

Love that Silo.... umm ummm umm....

 

[kai54]

Thanks "Spud" - that's the very photo I remembered seeing waaay back when. Haven't seen it in years. So going by "Big Poppa's" earlier comment...I'm assuming that its got a Tele-voiced or actual Tele p.u. in there?

 

[Spudmurphy]

Thanks "Spud" - that's the very photo I remembered seeing waaay back when. Haven't seen it in years. So going by "Big Poppa's" earlier comment...I'm assuming that its got a Tele-voiced or actual Tele p.u. in there?

Albert cites Seymour Duncan as being a "good friend who has stood by him over the years". Albert is also a big friend of Sterling Ball who is god father to his children.
Because of his affinity with SD, I believe that Albert wanted Seymour Duncan pickups in his guitar (quote page 159 of Alberts Biography "Country Boy") and they (certainly the bridge pickup) are voiced close to a Tele - I really, really love these SD SSS pickups used on the Al.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Infact here's the pickups in all their glory, SD for Seymour Duncan stamped into the baseplates, and a metal baseplate on the bridge pickup.

 

[banjoplayer]

hehe I´ve got this one which was entitled somewhen in the forum as "Whitesnake-style"

 

[Spudmurphy]

^
Hee hee - I'd love to get me that photo someday!!!

 

[Dreadge]

Wow, great tread!

 

[mbgreene]

The original guitar was designed by Dudley as a one off and made for Sterling. It was in the mid-late 80's I believe (86/87). It's original name was the Axis which was on the headstock but that name was never used in that model's production. Albert got it and played it at a Christmas party, loved it and BP gave it to him. He used it regularly, but it didn't become a regular production/design model.

After the EVH model stopped production and was slightly modified, the Music Man still had the Axis available name and that had already been given to the new production line of that model. So when the AL did become a regular production model in the early 90's, they just called it the Albert Lee

 

[kai54]

Okay, its official...I've got G.A.S. again. As the proud owner of my own "Pinky" (early-issue A.L.), I've got to get me a SSS Silo (hardtail) to complete my Albert Lee set! "Spud," "banjo" (and all the others) - thanks for the pictures & info.
BTW - does anyone here have a picture of their MM signed by A.L.? He's coming to my area in December and I'd like to get my "Pinky" autographed. Couldn't haul it into the NAMM Show a couple years back when he was there.

 

[beej]

Very nice! I've got a pinky as well, signed by AL on the back of the headstock (when he was doing a clinic in Toronto a while back). A classic.

 

[Spudmurphy]

BTW - does anyone here have a picture of their MM signed by A.L.? He's coming to my area in December and I'd like to get my "Pinky" autographed. Couldn't haul it into the NAMM Show a couple years back when he was there.

I have all 3 of my Als signed on the back of the headstock
Here's the Black cherry burst

Here's the LE AL

I don't seem to have a shot of the hardtail - but it's signed in the same place.

 

[kai54]

Excellent folks! (On the technical side) I'm assuming that I need to use a Sharpie brand marker? Although, I've been told Sharpies fade. Don't know who to believe. "Spud" - the Duncan designed pickups you showed earlier...are they available for general purchase or only in the A.L. models?