Talk to me about the Albert Lee HH

[darchirnoj]

I'm in the market for another guitar.

Sound clips I've heard of the Albert Lee HH seem pretty good.
However, I have some experience with Rosewood necks; double-edged sword for me in that historically, they've sounded a little dark/compressed....but they feel like nothing else with re: to playability.

I'd like to hear that have experience with these Lee HH's.
Please share your thoughts and/or experience.

Thanks,
Jon

 

[Spudmurphy]

Hi Jon

I don't have one but I have played a HH AL with roasted rosewood neck. This guitar is now owned by a knucklehead and was in Knighton Guitars. The afternoon I was there, a representation was over from EB in the USA - one of which was Glen. We were blown away by this guitar. - really!!

I dunno - it's easy to fall into the camps of Rosewood/mahogany = Dark
Maple/Ash = not dark

I guess in the vocabulary of our hobby it is easy to listen to, or to read about these comments then assume that to be the case.

For example, years ago I fell into the camp of basswood = cheap and dare I say it inferior tone wood.
Now I have a guitar built of Basswood that opinion no longer applies.

Anyway back on topic Spud!!! The HH Al I played had tones that none of my 3 Als have. There were definite higher overtones that came to the fore yet were added to by the higher output of the Humbuckers- by so much as to say "Dark? - no way" If you can, try one - because I liked what I tried. Why didn't I buy it? _ yes I will get another guitar - but bets are that it will be a Silo.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Albert HH? Whodathunk?

It's going to be my next guitar.......

 

[Norrin Radd]

Watch this:

Ernie Ball / Music Man Albert Lee HH Guitar - YouTube

Also - for clean tones (I believe he's got the GC model with the coil split on the bridge pickup):

Another good video:

 

[A.J.]

I absolutely love mine. Its my #1 these days. I would not describe the tone as "dark" but rather "warm" (I normally back off my treble anyway but I don't find myself requiring more presence or treble with this guitar at all). Juicy leads out of the neck pickup and some nice crunch/sizzle from the bridge. Positions 2 and 4 give you great single coil-esque tones.

If I were to have only one guitar it would be that.

 

[Norrin Radd]

I agree with A.J. - if I could have only one - the HH AL would be it! (and I'd install the coil split, too! )

I don't find it dark at all - I actually find the all RW board to really add some spank/snap/string clarity - however you want to describe it. When I hear "dark", I think muddy - and the HH AL is anything but muddy. Hands down the best guitar, IMO, in the EBMM stable. If I had lots of dough - I'd buy 10 more HH ALs before getting any another model. They are that good!

I've messed around with mine too - different pickups and a different (maple) neck. Tried all kinds of amps with it too. EBMM got this one right from the start. It is perfect stock! The combination of woods with pickups and controls - it's truly a classic. Talk about versatile: Guys are using them for everything and anything - look at the difference in the two vids I posted above. You can't go wrong with one, IMO. YMMV - try one!

 

[DrKev]

I think it's just a little bit daft to worry about what the neck will do, when the whole construction and pickup choice have their say in the matter too.

Just buy it. I think you'll love it, and if you don't like it, Spud will eat one my hats.

 

[lukather101]

Out all all my guitars it's my Fav , easily the best neck .
Never wanted one when they were available with single coils although i played Spuds a few years ago and it was killer , as soon as they put in two humbuckers it was a no brainer. I got one of the first available here in the uk.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Spud will eat one my hats.

hee hee - like it, (not eating a hat, that is).

 

[Spudmurphy]

Out all all my guitars it's my Fav , easily the best neck .
Never wanted one when they were available with single coils although i played Spuds a few years ago and it was killer , as soon as they put in two humbuckers it was a no brainer. I got one of the first available here in the uk.

and that has got to be one of the nicest looking Als ever.

 

[jzeijen]

Hi Jon

I don't have one but I have played a HH AL with roasted rosewood neck. This guitar is now owned by a knucklehead and was in Knighton Guitars. The afternoon I was there, a representation was over from EB in the USA - one of which was Glen. We were blown away by this guitar. - really!!
.

That knucklehead is me . Besides that AL HH with the roasted maple I also have an AL HH with the full rosewood neck. They are both great. But if you like a brighter tone and don't mind à finished neck, you should really track down a roasted neck AL. The rosewood AL is somewhat 'darker', though not remotely muddy. They both really sing!

 

[brokenvail]

Dude this made my jaw drop.

To the OP. It is def not dark it is actually kind of bright when you think of this wood combo of RW and Mahogany. It is sweet. That neck pup has become my fav neck humbucker. It also sounds great split

 

[darchirnoj]

I've owned a few set-neck, rosewood necked guitars. Aside from the great feeling necks, I could never manipulate the highs the way I was used to. I struggled with finding pickups to change that. I attribute that to the rosewood neck, but darn it if they didnt feel great to play
Of course, those were both set-neck guitars with a shorter scale length.

Based on the clips I've seen (will open the ones posted here later), those pickups sound rich and full, and I was very impressed with the 4 & 2 position sounds...somewhat single-coil like, but more full. Made it seem like there are several tonal options there. & I didn't detect that darkness in the sound clips I've seen, which is why I just wanted to check with actual users & owners vs. clips.

Thanks for all the responses. Extremely helpful.
Jon

 

[Norrin Radd]

and that has got to be one of the nicest looking Als ever.

I concur! That one is just stunning. Beautiful!!!

 

[colinboy]

Wow i want one after watching that premier guitar video.The guitar just sings!!!!!!!!!

 

[darchirnoj]

I see some AL HH's with plastic knobs, others with metal/chrome knobs...
Any reason for the difference?

 

[fsmith]

And here comes that one lone dissenting voice...

I decided to swap pickups in mine. It was really nice with the stock pickups but I have those tones covered with my HH Sport so I decided to mix it up a bit. I dropped a couple of PAF Pros in it the other day and just love it. They were the humbuckers from my '93 Silo and sound really full and warm in the AL.

The Silo is currently waiting for it's new pickups, a set of D Allen Johnny Blades.

fred

 

[Norrin Radd]

I see some AL HH's with plastic knobs, others with metal/chrome knobs...
Any reason for the difference?

The chrome knobs come/came stock on a special run of HH ALs for Guitar Center and have a push/pull pot installed in the tone knob position for splitting the coils of the HBs for more pickup options.

 

[davetcan]

Without a shadow of a doubt it's my #1. To the point that I'm thinking I may just as well get a few in different colours and sell everything else.

 

[darchirnoj]

Beautiful guitars, man.
& I got to see those clips too.
Hadn't seen the clean tone clip.
Im thinking about taking the plunge tomorrow.