Ernie Ball Musicman Albert Lee Guitar | Review | Michael Casswell

"Each one is hand finished and tweaked to perfection when it leaves the factory and will be as good if not better as anything you can buy out there."
Ernie Ball Musicman Albert Lee Guitar Review by Guitar Interactive Magazine. Reviewed in Issue 37 of Guitar Interactive Magazine by Michael Casswell.
Welcome to GI 37, a very special issue as it features the amazing Albert Lee. We've been trying to catch-up with Albert since GI began but so busy is his schedule (even at 70!) that we've only just managed. Don't miss our exclusive interview or Lee Hodgson's unmatchable Albert Lee Tech Session! bit.ly/GI_37
Also in this issue is the hugely gifted Thomas Blug - not just one of the world's top Rock players but also a noted amp designer, which you have to admit is an unusual combination! Tom Quayle's delivers a truly fascinating interview with a great player. bit.ly/GI_37
With a full review line-up of guitars, amps, FX, basses, acoustics, home/project studio and live gear (not to mention the amazing Jaime Vendera teaching us all how to be the next Ian Gillan!) and tuition columns we think it's a pretty tempting package! bit.ly/GI_37
Oh, and freebies? Well how about the chance to win a superb Sennheiser wireless mic system or the brand new Red Witch Zeus FX pedal? bit.ly/GI_37
GI - still growing and still unique! bit.ly/GI_37

[@murrayelliott9956]

Bless him , what a really great player he was RIP

[@robertroberts2822]

love this guy...rip

[@Guitar387]

Michael was a great player and gifted he’s gone to early. RIP.

[@williampereira8868]

love all your videos just plain straight forward and tell like it is like you say not your type of colors but some one else might like it well said keep up the good work William

[@BrettKingman]

Fab review and playing, Michael. Too cool. Thank you. I'm signing up.

[@joeagro6610]

Such a great player, musician & gentlemen....sad he's no longer with us ...rest peacefully mate.

[@Mightyboy66]

A great and unobjective guitar review - plus your a fantastic player that has demonstrated the guitar and features completely - Musicman make awesome instruments - Thanks for your review.

[@plantagenant]

I love the look of this guitar....like some 1950's "space age" design.

[@simoneric8183]

Absolutely. Such a gorgeous design, can't get bored looking at her. Like an everlasting futuristic beauty, she queens in the middle of my room. She's my go to guit.

[@clayy000]

I need this and the humbucker version!! I think these are the coolest guitars on earth, the shape is just too cool

[@knowwhey7559]

Very good review. One small point, the neck technically DOES have a fretboard glued on to it. At the factory, after the neck is rough cut, they saw off 1/4" lengthwise. Then they rout out the truss rod groove and insert the rod. Then they glue on the piece that they cut off earlier. Because it's all the same piece of wood, the grain matches up perfectly. It's so good, that even a player of Michael's caliber can't see the seam.

[@constantine412]

Totally agree with you about the light guitars!

[@beckolajones6640]

I will never part with my 2 Lee's. Fantastic underated guitars!

[@lakingscup]

Beckola Jones Me either! A 5-string BigAl Single H bass and a 4-string SSS.

[@giggs102]

such a unique yet badass body shape

[@AndyvanderRaadt1]

When I look at it it jumps out as a stylized silhouette of America (says this Canadian).

[@CesarAllGuitar]

Michael is a superb player - even a plywood guitar will sound great in his hands. Well done.

[@Kianquenseda]

got one on order can't wait😁

[@AllenPinchloaf]

Love this guitar...are they at Namm this year? I will drop by the booth

[@3niknicholson]

lovely playing

[@kevinspake7338]

The playing is absolutely stellar, and he seems quite taken with the instrument.

[@adamdarmstaedter1256]

I have the same one, but mine is a 2010 with matching s/b headstock. I custom ordered a "mint" green p/g and replaced the under-wound Duncans with Lace Sensors. Wired with solid lead wire and old stock PIO cap. It is better than ANY American Strat I have tried.

[@greatvanzini]

Most inventive design seen in years. Thumbs up. & Albert can make it smoke! Apparently you can too.

[@deans.4705]

nice review. RIP Michael.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

The neck is of the same scale as a Stratacaster. Does that mean it would fit onto one if you took it off of this model?

[@Guitar387]

Problem with unfinished necks is your lovely Birdseye Maple finger board will get grubby and with black smudges really quick depending on your sweat. I’d never get an Albert Lee music man unfinished neck again without getting it sealed in lacquer first and I have one.

[@alexandreguitar]

Michael was amazing guitarist!

[@tomrutledge5621]

What are you playing through; in this clip?

[@CentaurusRelax314]

First time hearing someone advocate a lighter guitar for resonance/"stage gain" properties. Interesting take. I'm kinda liking the burst finish, but i'd rather have it with a black pickguard instead of tortoise.

[@ArielsSmartyPants]

Does this one have that ultra narrow string spacing like other Musicman guitars? Sounds good.

[@eklinge8]

Yup

[@losangulos]

ooohhhh well that's so disapointing . only for little hands/fingers mehhh

[@superstrato9571]

Good sound

[@andrewparfitt5899]

The Casswell tone....all in his fingers whatever he plays

[@stryanx4395]

Mike was kickass in a quiet way great player

[@imitsus]

So radicaly beautiful

[@aldanino]

RIP Michael such a loss of talent

[@jasonmcelveen6295]

Good pickin

[@awadaawada6738]

it looks so small, why?

[@edcolins5498]

This guitar have one flaw, it's not mine ! Otherwise, very good decision for this review is this player and style of playing !

[@davidkennedy1271]

That neck does not look quarter sawn....that's a disappointment for a 1700.00 guitar. Then again it shouldn't matter since there's no fingerboard.....wonder how stable they are since there's no fingerboard to hold the grain together? I wonder how it plays at the first frets since the nut is so narrow......string spacing must be very close.

[@kurthenze2900]

You don't need quartersawn with a hard maple neck. Flat sawn is better with hard maple. IMO. A lot of customs use flatsawn.

[@flavionovaes363]

Pensa numa empresa que sabe fazer guitarra feia. E as que eles acertam a mão com a Músic Man Axis a guitarra para destinada a público infantil, muito pequena.

[@MEGAMIGA]

Sounds like an ultra crisp Stratocaster. The shape, however, is awful XD