Comparison between AL and...

[Rossie]

Ok... Here's the story...

My friend kept on saying that the best single coil guitar that one can get is a F$%&er Strat, but I kept on pushing the AL onto his face. Then I recall there was once a post that listed out all the improvements that was made on Musicman, can anyone please link me to it? Or maybe reply some of the improvements here? Something like the bolt on neck or something.

I'm almost certain to get an AL next, so that I can show my friend the difference in workmanship and tone between the AL and the Strat, as it's almost impossible to try one out locally, but I've read enough good things about it here! It's all your fault rob!

 

[robelinda2]

I do good work! Seriously, the AL is a brilliant axe, a total strat killer if there ever was one. plays better, sounds better, IS better. its not a contest really. hard to win over true strat fans though.

 

[candid_x]

There's tradition and myth, and there's innovation. As much as I respect tradition, I prefer not to drive a model T, or in this case, a model S.

My last Strat shopping trip was at Bizarre Guitar in Reno. I tried out some 7 or 8 American Strats, including a couple of wizz-bang "don't this look like grandpa's old guitar" relics. All I could say was, "you must be joking".

 

[robelinda2]

well several times over the past few months since ive been in AL land, myself and my students have regular comparisons with my ALs and their strats, some of the custom shop too ( even my custom shop strat, which i still have, but not for long!) EVERY time my AL wins, especially in the tone, it just smokes any strat you can produce. BY A MILE.

 

[grumpyoldman]

I agree with Rob.

In my case, my pinkburst AL has replaced the Str*ts I played onstage. I would be very surprised if an F-guitar appeared in my stage guitar stand ever again.

 

[Rossie]

We all believe in EBMM, and the quality and tone it offers, but these are people that haven't played an EBMM before, and will be sceptical after hearing lot's of good stuff from me. As guitarists, we all have a certain extent of preception on guitars, maybe he'll love the AL, maybe he'll still love $trat$. Sigh...

 

[GWDavis28]

I have friends at work, they've tried my guitars out, I know because I bring them to work on Wednesday, since I have my lesson right after work. I make it a point to practice at lunch and I also make it a point to have these friends come by and see and play my EBMM's. They love them, but they are still stuck in the past, that F$nder is the only way to go. It use to bother me too, but if they are too thick to see and understand that EBMM can give them something that F$nder can't, then it's their loss.

I let a guy try mt Blue Dawn Silo out and he was like ah man I gotta get one of these and then 1 week later he bought a brand new F$nder.

I have a close high school friend who also works with me and he just fell in love with the BD Silo, he was ready to sell his Ric, but he just couldn't get enough cash to buy it. I was playing it again today and was in love.

In the end you can show them and point them, but people need to make up there own minds and unfortunately they never come to the realization.

Glenn |B)

 

[robelinda2]

i was teaching a student a SRV tune on Monday, and he comes in with a modded TS9 and his SRV strat. 30 mins later he's shaking his head that the Albert out-SRV'd a SRV strat. It was a classic!

 

[uvacom]

The only "Strat" which I think can hold up to an AL is a Suhr or maybe an Anderson. And neither of those are really Stratocasters. And both cost over 2x as much. And it's still debatable as to whether either is "better". Maybe their wood is made with an extra "A" but I think my AL has gorgeous wood, even if from a lumber standpoint it's "only" AA or AAA. In other words, those guitars may have more "perfect" wood, but not better looking or sounding wood, just more consistent grain and figuring which don't actually excite me - I like character over consistency.

That's virtually the only difference I can think of, in terms of fit & finish the AL is right there, feature-wise it's right there, tonally it's right there, in terms of comfort it's actually better (nothing beats the EBMM neck joint or unfinished neck, and the AL is the most well-balanced guitar ever - even beats out a jaguar which for me, is saying something)...you're getting the picture.

I guess you could say those guitars are really custom instruments and that's why they cost so much - okay, but so what? I like customizing my own instruments, out of the box the AL is 90% what I would have chosen in the first place, and most of it is cosmetic anyway - and that said, I think my AL is one of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen, the fact that it was configured from a (rather generous) list of options means nothing to me.

 

[Smellybum]

Ok... Here's the story...

My friend kept on saying that the best single coil guitar that one can get is a F$%&er Strat, but I kept on pushing the AL onto his face. Then I recall there was once a post that listed out all the improvements that was made on Musicman, can anyone please link me to it? Or maybe reply some of the improvements here? Something like the bolt on neck or something.

I'm almost certain to get an AL next, so that I can show my friend the difference in workmanship and tone between the AL and the Strat, as it's almost impossible to try one out locally, but I've read enough good things about it here! It's all your fault rob!

don't compare - go buy - that's an order!

 

[threeminutesboy]

it could be interesting to know how the number of AL sold is increasing due to the all AL owners efforts

The AL was really not one of my future axe but definitly is now

 

[Rossie]

don't compare - go buy - that's an order!

Lol I'm not comparing, it's beyond comparison! I wish I could get one now, but I've got an F-1 on order, can't afford another axe till it arrives! But I'll certainly get one after! In the mean time, hit me with some color suggestion on the AL?

it could be interesting to know how the number of AL sold is increasing due to the all AL owners efforts

The AL was really not one of my future axe but definitly is now

It's scary to see how they work

 

[candid_x]

In the words of my old friend, David Peel - the masses are the asses. That won't change anytime soon. There's followers and there's leaders; and there's always fewer leaders than followers.

Personally, I like playing a guitar which is out of the main-mainstream. I even like it when someone says to me "I didn't know Ernie Ball also made guitars!" I have no evangelical calling to make converts, nor am I paid a commission, but I do freely share my enthusiasm when asked.

Those with Balls don't need the affirmation of others to be great.

 

[KungFu Grip]

In the words of my old friend, David Peel - the masses are the asses. That won't change anytime soon. There's followers and there's leaders; and there's always fewer leaders than followers.

Personally, I like playing a guitar which is out of the main-mainstream. I even like it when someone says to me "I didn't know Ernie Ball also made guitars!" I have no evangelical calling to make converts, nor am I paid a commission, but I do freely share my enthusiasm when asked.

Those with Balls don't need the affirmation of others to be great.

This pretty much sums up my feelings to a 'T'. It's like we have the same brain.

Guitarists are a traditional, fraidy-cat bunch. They're just not very apt to take the plunge into something different, even if that 'something different' isn't nearly as different as they make it out to be. However, I think a lot of that "vintage" craze it going to die with the Baby Boomers.

I look forward to an age where guitar players are willing to take risks again. Maybe then I'll actually find some friggin' Music Mans in the local shops in my area.

 

[jazzbo jim]

I love my Balls too but my G&L Legacy as an awesome strat tone too

 

[Pablo]

I hate to break up the party, but quite a few Strats are very nice as well... You have to work your way through the trash to find one of the diamonds, but when you do, a Strat is an imensely satisfying guitar. My cream coloured Malmsteen Strat is such a diamond - it is quite simply the best playing, best sounding Strat I've ever heard and I'll never part with it. My blue one, however, was obviously built by a different guy on a different day. It plays o.k. and sounds o.k. but there are so many small things that aren't quite there and thus it only serves as a backup guitar. I only wish EB offered scalloped necks for us weirdos... Had that been the case I would never have gone back to Fender, but bought either an AL or a Silo Special, back when I sold my JP and actually had money to spend...

I love Suhr Strats as well, but here in Denmark they are in an entirely different price bracket than the average Strat or Ball... However, I absolutely don't get why anyone in their right minds would buy a Custom Shop Strat over a Suhr, Vigier or Ball - the quality simply isn't there and the prices are downright ridiculous. The main problem with 7€nder is consistency, QC and general attention to detail (even on high end CS instruments) - a problem you'll never have if you go Ball... Which in itself is a darn good reason to get an AL.

IMHO the only "problems" with the AL and SS are that they are rarely in stock and that they don't really look like Strats. Hence, the average buyer will never be presented to the two great options that Ball offers in the world of Str@t and you'll be hard pressed to convince a traditionalist that the guitar he is looking at is in fact nicer than what Jimi played...

Oh, back on track. Disregarding my love of scalloped fretboards, I would pick an AL (or a Silo Special) over a Strat any day of the week. I prefer the rounded heel, the neck finish, the trem that actually stays in tune and the overall ergonomics... Not to mention the better craftsmanship, better quality woods and the fact that you know it'll be a great instrument the moment you order it.

Cheers

Eske

 

[mbgreene]

It's scary to see how they work

Step into the light children......all are welcome...

 

[threeminutesboy]

we wil, we will it's just a matter of time

 

[Rossie]

Step into the light children......all are welcome...

I can see the end of the tunnel not far from here!!!

we wil, we will it's just a matter of time

Reminds me of a DT song...........

 

[candid_x]

I love my Balls too but my G&L Legacy as an awesome strat tone too

Legacies are pretty cool, but that tank of a floating trem system is a bit much. I had a light body hardtail that was nice.