Got an Al HH, thinking I should have gotten an Al MM90

[sbrett]

Picked up a mint green Albert Lee HH with trem this past Sunday. Absolutely amazing guitar. Looks stunning, plays great, etc. Thing is I did an A/B recording between the HH and my Luke, and honestly I thought the bridge position sounded pretty comparable between the two, with the EMG being a little hotter and the HH being slightly more clear. Obviously the Luke is a little more stratty in the rest of the positions.

I'm thinking the MM90 would complement my other guitars more than the HH. Where the HH is pretty smooth with higher gain, I think I'd like something a little more tele-ish and spanky in the bridge position. Maybe just a pickup swap would help? There are only a very few youtube vids that showcase the mm90 setup in the AL--anyone else have any clips?

The preferred alternative would be to own one of each, but that's not an option (at the moment at least)

Anyone have one of each that can weigh in?

 

[Benji Peterson]

I've got each of them and there's a huge difference between the two. The MM90 is definitely capable of more of that spank you're talking about and gets a pretty, albeit a tad darker, start-ish, single coil tone. I personally use my HH Al more often and feel it's more well-rounded than the MM90 but I absolutely couldn't live with one without the other. My ONLY complaint of the MM90 is that with the volume turned down from 10 it loses some sparkle. May be the silent circuit. Anyway, both are rosewood necked. I setup the MM90 with floating trem and the HH is decked. I get very different character out of each.

 

[davetcan]

I have both and agree with Ben. I also prefer the HH for my personal use. My MM90 is maple necked and my HH is rosewood.

 

[threeminutesboy]

I have an AL MM90 and I absolutly love that guitar it's very stratish, mine is the Ash body (regular) and it's very bright and it's also very straty

if you want something teleish try an Axis Supert Sport MM90 or if you love AL Shape and neck get an AL MM90 and compare it to you AL HH and decide which one you will keep or keep both and let the Luke go

 

[sbrett]

I have an AL MM90 and I absolutly love that guitar it's very stratish, mine is the Ash body (regular) and it's very bright and it's also very straty

if you want something teleish try an Axis Supert Sport MM90 or if you love AL Shape and neck get an AL MM90 and compare it to you AL HH and decide which one you will keep or keep both and let the Luke go

I was considering letting the Luke go, but I don't know if I can bring myself to do it. Graphite pearl with piezo--I love that guitar. I prefer the AL shape to the Axis shape, and there is a black MM90 AL at my nearest Guitar Center (which is still 2 hours away). Maybe I'll give it a go.

 

[A.J.]

I have both and prefer the HH for most of the recording I do. But like the other guys said, I couldn't think of getting rid of one over the other. Save up and get an MM90 down the road. Keep the Luke too

If you do swap pickups in the HH... SAVE THE ORIGINALS! Put them in a safe place as you won't be able to get replacements.

 

[assMan]

This is a pretty good vid to hear the MM90s: Mesa Boogie Electra Dyne/Albert Lee MM90 - YouTube

Not to muddy the waters, but the AL in the vid (I think) is an ash body/maple neck, whereas the GC MM90 will be mahogany body/RW neck (at least mine is).

Haven't played the HH, but I love the MM90s.. really depends on what your ear enjoys.

 

[sbrett]

So after a few weeks with the HH, it's staying! The Luke, on the other hand, may be going bye bye so that I can pick up an MM90 version of the Al also. That rosewood neck has spoiled me.Oh, and here's a pic since I left it out originally

 

[jzeijen]

Good for you! The AL is a great guitar, it has completely won me over. Already have 2 AL HH, and an AL MM 90 incoming! By far my favourite guitar ever.

 

[Spudmurphy]

By far my favourite guitar ever.

+1

 

[Icedlatte]

Awesome! The AL HH is a great guitar. In the future I'd like to pick up the MM90 version as well