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Spudmurphy

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OK - I found it -the BP quote

Spud and the other children sit around BP's chair next to the blazing log fire waiting for the storyteller to unfold the untold mysteries of the Albert Lee guitar, BP takes a deep breath and starts the story ....


Now the Albert Story


My dad came home from the record store with this double album from a band called Heads, Hands, and Feet from England. He played us this track called Country Boy and my dad was really blown away with this English kid named Albert Lee and how great he was on the guitar.

As fate would have it Heads hands and feet werre coming to town first to open up for Jethro Tull at the Forum and then a gig at the Whisky the next night. My dad and my brothers went to the Forum and I wanted to hear more so I went to Whisky gig and was talking to some girl that was wearing an Ernie Ball t Shirt and it tuns out she was a groupie hanging with Albert. She said that he would love to meet me so after the show I went back and met him and he was really nic and we hung for a hour or so. I said my Dad would really like to meet you and what were they doing tommorow. Albert said it was one of a few days off and so I invited him down to our then factory in Newport Beach. The whole family and ALbert hit it off and we stayed in touch.

Albert came back to the states shortly thereafter and needed a place to crash so He slept on the couch at my moms house while I was in High school (1972-73) He stayed for weeks and even did our winter dance with my band. He fell in love with our girl fluteplayer/lead singer and got divorced and they hooked up for Awhile. She became known as Michael Steele of the Bangles.

As ;years went on Albert and I were and still best of friends. I was best man at his wedding with his wife of 30 years now Karen and I am the godfather of all of his kids.

When I bought Music Man Albert was famous for his tele but he really liked the Silhouete and started playing it about half of the time. When Dudley made me that Axis prototype that is the one on the cover, Albert played our company Xmas party and I showed him my Xmas present and he fell in love....I said "Its yours now" That is how the Albert lee guitar came about.


Spud holds up his hand and asks
"Was that back in '93 sir ?"

Edit - See Spud's post after Pug's
 
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PugNinjas

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How incredibly cool it is when BP shares stories like this. I remember reading to in the original post and it still puts a smile on my face:D
 

Spudmurphy

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Spud holds up his hand and asks
"Was that back in '93 sir ?"

BP said later in the same thread that was in 1972.

JimiD posted a good bit of info on the AL in another thread saying that it (the Xmas party)happened in the 80's and Albert played the guitar for 6 years before it went into production in 1993.
 

MCBTunes

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that looks cool... i'm kind of curious if i would grow tired of it... put it on a stingray and maybe we'll see :)
 

Spudmurphy

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Hey BP how about telling us :-
The Steve Morse Story
The John Petrucci Story
The Steve Lukather Story
The Benji Madden Story
The Dudley Gimple Story

Edit - Sorry, I seem to be taking this thread off course!!
 
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Spudmurphy

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It seems that the Albert Lee signature model was introduced in '93.

Albert had been playing it before it became his signature model.
BP says he (Albert Lee) was introduced to the guitar in a Xmas party
see thread
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15440

I asked BP what year this was and he said "1972".

If BP sees this thread maybe he can confirm the date as '72 seems like a long time before it became an EB signature guitar.

JimiD also knows one hell of a lot about the AL.

Of course I don't expect our CIC of the ALOC (Mbgreen) to know the answer as he has far too many issues to take care of running the club, and keeping members in check and looking after decoder rings, overseeing missions to get members to post pics of their LEALs and making up new secret handshakes!

You joining the club soon Rob ;)

PS I think a AL "Decoder ring" would look cool ! - any designs out there?
 

mbgreene

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I think Spud just called me out:eek:

I believe 1972 was the time frame BP and Albert first got together as friends.

The guitar, which was designed by Dudley and made for BP came along in the mid-late 80's. BP didn't buy Music Man until 84 and I believe it was a few years after. It's original name was the Axis which was on the headstock but that name was never used in that model's prodution. Albert got it at the infamous Christmas party, loved it and BP gave it to him. He used it regularly, but it wasn't a regular production/design model until it officially came as the Albert Lee around 93.

After the EVH model stopped production and was slightly modified, the Music Man still had the Axis name and that was given to the new production line of that model.

Edit
I see BP has posted while I typed, but I still had to take on Spud's challenge.;)
 
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scottie

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Man, I just coming back to these pictures and drooling! I want an AL soooo bad! :D

Also, I dunno who took those pictures but they should get some kinda Pulitzer Prize for capturing the beauty of it from all those angles!

--scottie
 

Spudmurphy

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I think Spud just called me out:eek:

I believe 1972 was the time frame BP and Albert first got together as friends.

The guitar, which was designed by Dudley and made for BP came along in the mid-late 80's. BP didn't buy Music Man until 84 and I believe it was a few years after. It's original name was the Axis which was on the headstock but that name was never used in that model's prodution. Albert got it at the infamous Christmas party, loved it and BP gave it to him. He used it regularly, but it wasn't a regular production/design model until it officially came as the Albert Lee around 93.

After the EVH model stopped production and was slightly modified, the Music Man still had the Axis name and that was given to the new production line of that model.

Edit
I see BP has posted while I typed, but I still had to take on Spud's challenge.;)

Ya see!!! That's why he became CIC of the ALOC!! He's not just a figurehead he knows his stuff.
SpudMurf salutes, turns, and after using his decoder ring to release the heaviily fortified gates, he exits the inner sanctum of the ALOC HQ. He shakes hands (using the secret h/shake) with the security guards and drives out into the misty night ....... ;)
 

scottie

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What's stopping ya ? :)

$$$$

I hoping to be in a better spot in 2007 once a few other things are paid off. And then, I can treat myself to something special as a reward. But then the REAL dilemma starts, what color! 2007 is gonna offer overwhelming choices it seems. :)

Until then, I'll keep playing my Pet.

--scottie
 

roburado

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Hey BP how about telling us :-
The Steve Morse Story
The John Petrucci Story
The Steve Lukather Story
The Benji Madden Story
The Dudley Gimple Story

Edit - Sorry, I seem to be taking this thread off course!!

I think the JP story may not be very exciting. Back around 1999, I think JP was looking for a little something new, and Ibanez wasn't giving it to him. Speculation on the DT boards was that he wanted a signature 7-string, and Ibanez wasn't giving it to him due to the deal they had with Vai. DT's management and Steve Morse's was the same at the time, IIRC. Morse or hooked up JP with BP. Boom. We got the JP6 and 7. I suppose BP can confirm and/or deny, give his perspective, if he wishes.
 

Spudmurphy

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I think the JP story may not be very exciting. Back around 1999, I think JP was looking for a little something new, and Ibanez wasn't giving it to him. Speculation on the DT boards was that he wanted a signature 7-string, and Ibanez wasn't giving it to him due to the deal they had with Vai. DT's management and Steve Morse's was the same at the time, IIRC. Morse or hooked up JP with BP. Boom. We got the JP6 and 7. I suppose BP can confirm and/or deny, give his perspective, if he wishes.
That's cool - thanks for that.

Ya know - I would REALLY like to know the Dudley Gimple story?
 

Smellybum

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BP, just reading this I had a thought (6 in a month I need retested!) - anyway - with all these stories, and with your unique perspective on the industry -ever think of putting pen to paper (or finger to key) and typing your memoirs/biography/blackmail book?

I reckon all us knuckleheads would have a copy, and it's maybe a way of finding out how many lurkers there are out there!?
 
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