NGD: Music Man Albert Lee 70th Birthday Ltd Edition Model

I was going to title this thread, "I've got a Prince Albert" but the connection was too loose.
And I really need to grow up. (too late).

After selling some gear, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to get another "surf" guitar. And to my mind, the quintessential surf guitar, is the Fender Jaguar.

Previously I'd played my surf on Burns Marvin 64s and Fender Jazzmasters. And my feelings on the Jag, have been mixed. On the pro side, they have thier own, unique pickups, which I really like. The Jag is just so compact and stylish. On the down side, I've heard from a number of sources (guitar techs) that they are a real handful. With their short scale and bridge/trem system, they can prove tempramental. Nevertheless, I was still keen and close to a purchase.

Then, whilst checking the Sound Affects website, I noticed they had a Music Man Albert Lee 70th Birthday Limited Edition Model, in. Now I've had a hankering for an Albert Lee (not necessarily the 70th anniv. model), for years. And have been a big fan of Music Man, too. Having had 3 before.

So, off i went this morning, to investigate. Walked in the shop, located the Albert, picked it up and thought straight away, I want this. Somehow they look so much cooler, in person. More compact and stylish, than in pics. Of course, I had to plug it in and have a session. But being a MusicMan, I kind of knew what to expect and wasn't disappointed. Total pro gear. Beautiful woods, top hardware, great build quality and design. The single coil pickups are the same as on the Silhouette, I'd had. Seymour Duncans, with a bit of snarl, to go with the sparkle and chime. Their "vintage" tremolo is the smoothest in the business, as far as I'm concerned. What more could a surf guitarist want?

I have never seen a surf, lead guitarist, with any Musicman, let alone an Albert. But I reckon, like Fender's Jazzmaster and Jaguar, the Albert Lee is a little off the wall. Not crazy looking but a little wacky, nonetheless. So, in my view, the MM Albert Lee 70th, not only plays and sounds, just right for surf, aesthetically it fits
the bill too. Stylish in a slightly rebellious fashion.

Got it home and wacked it through some lovely spring reverb and a little echo. Mmmmmm..........surftastic. Probably put some heavier strings on and then I'm set.

Specifications:
Model: Albert Lee 70th Birthday Limited Edition Model
•Size: 12-11/16" wide, 1-3/4" thick, 36-9/16" long (32.2 cm wide, 4.5 cm thick, 92.7

cm long)
•Weight: 6 lbs, 5 oz (2.86 kg) - varies slightly; 7 oz (0.2 kg) more with tremolo
•Body Wood: Southern Ash
•Body Finish: High gloss polyester
•Bridge: Music Man® vintage tremolo of chrome plated, hardened steel with bent
steel saddles
•Pickguard: Shell
•Scale Length: 25-1/2" (64.8 cm)
•Neck Radius: 10" (25.4 cm)
•Headstock Size: Only 5-7/8" (14.9 cm) long
•Frets: 22 - High profile, medium width
•Neck Width: 1-5/8" (41.3 mm) at nut, 2-1/4" (56.9 mm) at last fret
•Neck Wood: Select maple neck
•Fingerboard: Select maple
•Neck Finish: Gloss
•Neck Colour: Classic Natural
•Tuning Machines: Schaller M6-IND locking
•Truss Rod: Adjustable - no component or string removal
•Neck Attachment: 5 bolts - perfect alignment with no shifting; Sculpted neck joint allows smooth access to higher frets.
•Electronic Shielding: Graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and aluminium lined pickguard
•Controls: SSS: 250kohm volume and tone - .047µF tone capacitor
•Switching: 5-way lever pickup selector
•Pickups: SSS - 3 Seymour Duncan custom wound single coil






Oh yes, as a footnote, whilst in the shop, I had a go on an Epiphone, TV Pelham Blue, SG Custom, with Maestro Tremolo. I have to say, I was impressed. At around £300, it's a great guitar. Chunky necked, yes and the finish wasn't amazing but the pickups and general feel/tone of the guitar was really good.
Even the heavy duty, vintage design tremolo was nice and useable. I want one.