Pierre
Stratologist
A while back, my #1, a Coral red EBMM Albert Lee HH was stolen along with an Axis SS with piezo and vibrato. Both were non-replaceable: they're all discontinued models and/or colors.
While I did get some more axes to make up the numbers (had already ordered them, so it just worked out that way), none brought me quite the joy of playing like the AL HH did.
Sooooo I had to get another one. They only come in two colors now, and aren't in stock much. Most are with trem as well which I wasn't keen on. So second hand it is.
Even after a few weeks of waiting I could not find a vibrato-less model. So I sucked it up and went for one with a vibrato anyway.
She's in fantastic condition, sounds/sustains GREAT and is just very, very pretty. I've never really had a black guitar before, and this one is offset by the lovely grey pearl pickguard/vibrato cavity cover.
So there. I COULD do a full review on this. I guess.
If you've played a JP and are a fan, forget everything you thought you knew about EBMM.
From the very first time I played one in a shop rue de Douai in Paris, I HAD to have one. They're perfect. Just Mahogany and Rosewood, nothing else. Purposefully built for two things: tone and playability.
The neck feels as if you've played it your entire life. A chunky C, and one that has NEVER given me cramps. Of course, raw Rosewood feels exactly as you'd imagine. If I had to describe it, you wouldn't get it.
Nah. I could. And I will. It's frictionless, but also feels... soft. It's a very, very comfortable surface to hold. The fact that it's not uber-thin makes it even easier to play as you have more strength in your hand to hold notes.
It's got a 5 way switch and tone + volume controls. These days that's the setup of all my guitars, with the following combinations on the blade switch:
1) neck
2) neck + bridge outer
3) neck + bridge parallel
4) neck + bridge outer
5) bridge
These guitars are POWERFUL. They're all about crunchy mids and a very punchy sound. Even unplugged, the notes just jump out at you clearly and last for ages. Totally the opposite to the JP I had, which was a nice guitar and played well (albeit in a much more modern style), but did not sustain and sounded a little flatter.
I love my guitars to have that amazing 'KRAAANG' crunch when playing an open A5, and this delivers.
I'm not a huuuuge fan of the bridge pickup... a little grainy. I'll eventually replace it with something more... ballsy. My previous guitar had a BK Rebell Yell; since this specimen is a little brighter, I'm thinking a HolyDiver would do the job nicely.
What else is there. I've not mentioned the flawless build because there's no need.
Oh and I do mean flawless. I do not mean 'practically flawless' nor 'there's some flaws which I forgive'. Read my other reviews/NGD. I am EXTREMELY picky. This may be my only actually flawless guitar.
Enough prose. On to the pictures.
Oh and the money shot:
I need a bigger couch...
While I did get some more axes to make up the numbers (had already ordered them, so it just worked out that way), none brought me quite the joy of playing like the AL HH did.
Sooooo I had to get another one. They only come in two colors now, and aren't in stock much. Most are with trem as well which I wasn't keen on. So second hand it is.
Even after a few weeks of waiting I could not find a vibrato-less model. So I sucked it up and went for one with a vibrato anyway.
She's in fantastic condition, sounds/sustains GREAT and is just very, very pretty. I've never really had a black guitar before, and this one is offset by the lovely grey pearl pickguard/vibrato cavity cover.
So there. I COULD do a full review on this. I guess.
If you've played a JP and are a fan, forget everything you thought you knew about EBMM.
From the very first time I played one in a shop rue de Douai in Paris, I HAD to have one. They're perfect. Just Mahogany and Rosewood, nothing else. Purposefully built for two things: tone and playability.
The neck feels as if you've played it your entire life. A chunky C, and one that has NEVER given me cramps. Of course, raw Rosewood feels exactly as you'd imagine. If I had to describe it, you wouldn't get it.
Nah. I could. And I will. It's frictionless, but also feels... soft. It's a very, very comfortable surface to hold. The fact that it's not uber-thin makes it even easier to play as you have more strength in your hand to hold notes.
It's got a 5 way switch and tone + volume controls. These days that's the setup of all my guitars, with the following combinations on the blade switch:
1) neck
2) neck + bridge outer
3) neck + bridge parallel
4) neck + bridge outer
5) bridge
These guitars are POWERFUL. They're all about crunchy mids and a very punchy sound. Even unplugged, the notes just jump out at you clearly and last for ages. Totally the opposite to the JP I had, which was a nice guitar and played well (albeit in a much more modern style), but did not sustain and sounded a little flatter.
I love my guitars to have that amazing 'KRAAANG' crunch when playing an open A5, and this delivers.
I'm not a huuuuge fan of the bridge pickup... a little grainy. I'll eventually replace it with something more... ballsy. My previous guitar had a BK Rebell Yell; since this specimen is a little brighter, I'm thinking a HolyDiver would do the job nicely.
What else is there. I've not mentioned the flawless build because there's no need.
Oh and I do mean flawless. I do not mean 'practically flawless' nor 'there's some flaws which I forgive'. Read my other reviews/NGD. I am EXTREMELY picky. This may be my only actually flawless guitar.
Enough prose. On to the pictures.
Oh and the money shot:
I need a bigger couch...
