👕 Get New Ernie Ball Merch Now!
  • Ernie Ball
  • Music Man
  • Sterling by Music Man
  • Security notice: Ernie Ball staff will never send you a direct message about a prize or giveaway, and will never ask you to click a link to "claim" anything.
    If you receive a message like that - even from an account whose name looks official - do not click the link. Please report it using the Report link on the message so the moderators can act. A scam campaign impersonating admin accounts was blocked on 29 July 2026; those accounts are banned and their messages have been deleted.
Majesty Premium Select

When was the Albert Lee guitar introduced?

Spudmurphy

Spudmurphy

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
From my very limited knowledge of EB Albert Lee guitars, I understand that the guitar was introduced in 1993.

Also I understand that it was equiped with single coil pickups designated SSS.

Can anybody tell me when the MM90's became available ? Were they a "part of the package" in '93?

Also what year was the silent circuit added?

Are there any other changes that have been made to the AL since it was introduced?

Cheers
Spud
 
Here's a couple of interesting tidbits about the Albert Lee:

First, this unusual guitar design was originally christened the "Axis". A prototype was presented to Albert Lee by Sterling Ball at a Christmas party in the mid-80s, and Albert loved the unique, trans-pink finished instrument so much that he played it religiously for more than six years prior to it ever becoming a Music Man production model. The only other person besides Mr. Lee himself to have one of these ergonomic wonders in all that time was Sir Paul McCartney, who liked Albert's guitar so much he ordered a left-handed model for himself. Anyway, by the time EVH defected the EB/MM camp, the Albert Lee model had become a reality, and the Axis name was recycled for the line based on Dudley's "Van Halen" design.

So, the Albert Lee Signature model was finally released as a production instrument in 1993, due largely to a groundswell of interest from Albert fans in America and the UK. The guitar's unique Fender-meets-Jetsons design was originally offered only in the trans-pink finish of Albert's original, but I believe you could get it in a hardtail or tremolo model right from launch.. The Silent Circuit wasn't added until 2001, however, though it had been available on other models for some time prior to that. I'm not certain when the MM90 model was introduced, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was around the same time as the Silent Circuit was added to the original design.

...and that's all I know off-hand...
 
Jimi D said:
Here's a couple of interesting tidbits about the Albert Lee:

First, this unusual guitar design was originally christened the "Axis". A prototype was presented to Albert Lee by Sterling Ball at a Christmas party in the mid-80s, and Albert loved the unique, trans-pink finished instrument so much that he played it religiously for more than six years prior to it ever becoming a Music Man production model. The only other person besides Mr. Lee himself to have one of these ergonomic wonders in all that time was Sir Paul McCartney, who liked Albert's guitar so much he ordered a left-handed model for himself. Anyway, by the time EVH defected the EB/MM camp, the Albert Lee model had become a reality, and the Axis name was recycled for the line based on Dudley's "Van Halen" design.

So, the Albert Lee Signature model was finally released as a production instrument in 1993, due largely to a groundswell of interest from Albert fans in America and the UK. The guitar's unique Fender-meets-Jetsons design was originally offered only in the trans-pink finish of Albert's original, but I believe you could get it in a hardtail or tremolo model right from launch.. The Silent Circuit wasn't added until 2001, however, though it had been available on other models for some time prior to that. I'm not certain when the MM90 model was introduced, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was around the same time as the Silent Circuit was added to the original design.

...and that's all I know off-hand...
Click to expand...

Wow thats very cool i always liked the pink burst AL's when i get mine it will be a pink Burst!!!!
 
I found this on Harmony Central but I'm not sure if this is an official press release or just an article from HC

Ernie Ball’s Albert Lee Signature Model Guitar Now Features 3 MM90 Pickup Option
February 2, 2001

Fans of Ernie Ball’s Albert Lee Signature Guitar now have more tone choices with the option of 3 MM90 vintage style "soapbar" single coil pickups or the standard 3 Seymour Duncan pickups, with or without a tremolo. All Albert Lee guitars will also feature the patented Music Man "Silent Circuit" on both types of pickups, reducing hum while still retaining true single coil sound.

"The new option was an instant hit with Albert," said Dudley Gimpel, head of research and development for Ernie Ball. "Besides looking just plain cool, the Albert Lee has always been an incredibly comfortable guitar to play, with an unmatched sweet single coil sound. Stepping up to the MM90 pickups, its tone got bigger and bolder, without losing an ounce of twang."

The Albert Lee Guitar body is made from southern ash, with a maple neck and fingerboard. It comes in dozens of Ernie Ball Music Man colors, from basics such as black and white, to translucents in gold, blue or purple. Vintage Sunburst is also available. It features Music Man Strings-thru-the-body bridge of chrome plated, hardened steel and vintage steel saddles.

Neck specs are 25 1/4" scale; 10" radius; and a 5 7/8" long headstock with an optional matching painted headstock available. The 22 frets are high profile, medium width. It comes with Schaller M6-IND locking tuners. The guitar has 250kohm volume and tone controls and a 5-way lever pickup selector.

For more information, visit their web site at www.ernieball.com.

PugNinjas
 
Last edited:
The interesting thing about that first guitar is that it wasn't capped with the flame maple it was the whole piece!

Untitled-1.jpg


Untitled-2.jpg
 
Thanks Jimi, Colin and Pug.
When I first joinned the forum Jimi was kind enough to give me info on the Albert Lee.
The remaining fact I need to pin down is when the MM90's were introduced.

I also know that Albert has one with a b bender - was this ever a commercial option?

Cheers
Spud
Edit: Hang in there Pug - not too long now !!!!
 
The original Al was made out of super flame one piece body. It was not only beautiful but VERY light....which is quite rare and that is why we couldnt offer it as a regular production model and actually Albert preferred the ash body
 
Big Poppa said:
The original Al was made out of super flame one piece body. It was not only beautiful but VERY light....which is quite rare and that is why we couldnt offer it as a regular production model and actually Albert preferred the ash body
Click to expand...
another little tidbit............awesome thanx BP!
 
Thanks for the info, BP.

That guitar is gorgeous, on one of the Albert DVD's I have you can see how flamed the guitar really is....


PugNinjas
 
Spudmurphy said:
What DVD is that Pug ? - I may also have it.
Spud
Click to expand...


Spud,

I would have to check them out, the only one I have here at home is the Highlights DVD, that one shows off the awesome neck which looks like it is coated with a clear gloss finish :eek:
When I get the other DVD's back I will check them out and let you know
 
PugNinjas said:
Spud,

I would have to check them out, the only one I have here at home is the Highlights DVD, that one shows off the awesome neck which looks like it is coated with a clear gloss finish :eek:
When I get the other DVD's back I will check them out and let you know
Click to expand...

Cool.
I don't remember seeing one with"Axis" on the headstock.

Not to long to wait now then ? :D ;)
 
Spud,

My wait is a little more than half over:eek:

The dealer I ordered it from was breaking my chops because I'm so anxious for this guitar. Then, just to rub a little salt in the wound he puts on the Albert Lee Country Legend DVD and cranks it in the store. My favorite part of that one, besides Albert's playing, is the black & white clip of Chet Atkins playing "Black Mountain Rag" Chet is bad ass in this clip and he shoots a look to the camera while he's playing that is perfect, it almost says "yeah, try and learn this !!"

Pug
 
That's one DVD I don't have.
It's my birthday the end of the month maybe I'll treat myself !!

Man do I want an AL with MM90's. There one on E bay "buy it now" for a price in the UK that I would die for !!
Spud
 
Hmmm, your B-Day is at the end of the month and there's a MM90 Albert just waiting for you :eek: :eek:


Definitely get that Country Legend DVD, it's worth it alone for the Chet Atkins clip, the look he shoots at the camera is amazing. I wanted to use a different phrase to describe it, but I figured I better keep it family friendly on the boards:D


Ya know, you could always get that other Albert and send it to me until mine finally arrives :rolleyes:


Pug
 
Pug
I'm loving the Albert - it's probably due to the change in my style of playing.
I'm sure you will love it too - if ya don't I'll take it off your hands - maybe you could bring it over for me !! :rolleyes:

I don't get to change my gear very much (just look at my sig, everything I bought was new except for the Uke and Paramount) so to say I'm gassing for another AL speaks volumes for EB gear.

I'd like to get a second hand one - maybe get one that relates to the year the MM90's were introduced (I'll post a "Bump" to try and get that info).

It won't be long now - I was so suprised when I got mine.

Beth in Customer Services actually told me that it was being shipped to the UK, a month before I was expecting it.

Trouble was it was the Xmas/New Year period and that meant I had to wait just a little bit knowing that it was with the UK distributors.
The wait goes on .......
 
Bump
Anybody out there know for sure when the AL had MM90's as part of customer spec.

Another one - when was the Piezo introduced on the AL ?

fangyouvarymuch !
 
I'm pretty sure from Pug's Harmony Central info that it was 2001 for the MM90's.

Glenn |B)
 
Harmony Central has a ton of good info and even some of the user reviews are useful but that forum can get nasty !!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Classic Rock N Roll Slinky
Back
Top