NGD - Sterling Albert Lee

[Wattage]

Stumbled into this guy in the used section of a local GC. I've always like the AL model but wasn't really looking to spend that kind of coin for one. I did not know they had a Sterling version, while certainly not the quality of the EBMM version it's still a pretty sharp guitar. This thing had all the plastic still on it, maybe someone tried to play it but it was like new except for rusty strings and some sprout.

Did a full setup and I've played nothing else for the last 3 days, nice blizzard guitar lol.

I am a huge fan of the band Starz and their guitarist Richie Ranno, Richie has a 3 P-90 version that I dig so when I saw this it was a no brainer. It looked a little plain with the wood headstock so I had a little fun with it and made a faux signature model out of it Makes it a little more fun anyways

So this is really a pretty sweet guitar, nice reasonably full neck profile, slightly D shaped maple/rosewood board. The pickups are pretty bland but lots of sounds out of it with a 5-way (full-split-both-split-full) decent wiring, nice sized frets that needed serious polishing, a 2-point trem that works, good tuners too. It's got an African mahogany body that has a bit of weight to it but it is super comfortable, the layout makes the guitar feel a little smaller than most 25.5 scale guitars because the bridge sits back more. Oh and the MM neck heels are brilliant!

Getting a JB/59 set in it this week, this will be a fun guitar for sure



My man Richie deserved a lot more props than he ever received so a little vinyl did the trick

 

[Benjy_26]

I always loved the AL models from EBMM. I've played the SSS/hardtails. I never knew they had released HH trem'd models.

 

[Artie]

Nice! I also find it interesting that the JB/59 combo seems to be getting more mention than the classic JB/Jazz combo. :scratchch

 

[Securb]

Sweet axe. I don't remember seeing you playing anything with a tremolo. You threw me a curve ball this time.

 

[jeremy]

sweet! betcha itll kick ass with the new pups

 

[d1dsj]

Hell yeah very cool!

 

[Wattage]

Nice! I also find it interesting that the JB/59 combo seems to be getting more mention than the classic JB/Jazz combo. :scratchch

I have a Jazz but it isn't 4-wire, might twear it so I can use all the positions

 

[Wattage]

Sweet axe. I don't remember seeing you playing anything with a tremolo. You threw me a curve ball this time.

Once in a blue moon lol, I mean I have a Strat but the trem is sort of blocked and I don't have a bar for it

 

[jeremy]

I have a Jazz but it isn't 4-wire, might twear it so I can use all the positions

thats why i used a wlh with a jb in that blonde tele i just wired up instead of some other things. nice to have some split coil options!

 

[Mincer]

An EB/MM Albert Lee is on my list. I wanna try the Sterling version. What a great instrument.

 

[Wattage]

An EB/MM Albert Lee is on my list. I wanna try the Sterling version. What a great instrument.

The EBMM version's are so nice. I work p/t for an MM dealer and when they come in they are everyone's favorite guitar in the shop. They do a baked flamed maple neck that is insane! I think I am going to take the the thin satin poly off this neck and see if I can get a good oil/wax finish like they do on the high end EBMM's.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

I think I am going to take the the thin satin poly off this neck and see if I can get a good oil/wax finish like they do on the high end EBMM's.

I do that with all my maple necks. Couple coats of tung or tru oil, followed with Howard’s Feed & Wax beeswax, they all end up feeling like my EBMM JP6.

 

[Wattage]

Swapped the JB/59 set in, giving it a light workout since it's late

 

[Mincer]

So what are the differences in feel compared to a EB/MM one?

 

[Wattage]

the neck is probably the biggest immediate difference, full on roasted maple with SS frets and much better attention to fretwork and detail

no real comparison in stock pickups

the Sterling is nice and it certainly has a lot of potential with a few tweaks but it is not on par with the USA models

 

[ErikH]

Not a fan personally of that model but EBMM makes some great stuff! I still jones for an Axis.

 

[Mincer]

the neck is probably the biggest immediate difference, full on roasted maple with SS frets and much better attention to fretwork and detail

no real comparison in stock pickups

the Sterling is nice and it certainly has a lot of potential with a few tweaks but it is not on par with the USA models

But I bet the Sterling is fun to mod. How is the neck shape in comparison to the US model?

 

[Wattage]

Oh it's fun I just want to make sure I didn't over sell it

I have had a blast with it so far and everything i do is making it better. Not sure the JB is right for it though, I wanted the JB for a very specific project but I just don't like JBs very much lol. I have to change the splits so I get the outside coils not the inside, I think that'll make me feel better about it.

i don't have access to an EBMM at the moment so I am going off memory but I don't think the Sterling neck is quite as full, it's a little flatter profile IIRC

I've been gently rolling the edges of the board to give it a smother feel. I also had the trem set for a slight float but it seems to have lost that, might've been me as I tweak it not sure.

One thing that is definitely different for me with this guitar is how much higher I have to wear when I am standing. I guess because the bridge sits back further it creates a weird angle reaching the upper register unless I wear it higher up. I don't mind, just an observation. It hangs well on a strap fwiw.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I suspect the Sterling may have a more normal sized neck.
I like my Musicman ALHH a lot - the stock DiMarzios sound great, and I especially love the feel of the oil/wax neck finish.

But the AL sig neck itself is tiny and narrow, made for small hands. I've been told it's the same profile used on the St Vincent.
I'm okay with most thin necks but the narrowness is really inconvenient.
There are several favorite chord forms I literally can't use avoid when playing that guitar.

Even so, any time I even think about selling, I realize I just couldn't ever let it go.

 

[Mincer]

I suspect the Sterling may have a more normal sized neck.
I like my Musicman ALHH a lot - the stock DiMarzios sound great, and I especially love the feel of the oil/wax neck finish.

But the AL sig neck itself is tiny and narrow, made for small hands. I've been told it's the same profile used on the St Vincent.
I'm okay with most thin necks but the narrowness is really inconvenient.
There are several favorite chord forms I literally can't use avoid when playing that guitar.

Even so, any time I even think about selling, I realize I just couldn't ever let it go.

See, I like the 'tiny and narrow' neck. I have a Silo Special, and that's the neck I like. Most people hate them.