Albert Lee Gear Chat Archive


WolfM: Albert let's begin with your gear. What are you using these days?

Polly: What is your all time favorite guitar

AlbertL: hi polly my favorite guitar is my musicman signature model

WolfM: Albert. How was it developed

Polly: Where was this picture taken?

WolfM: It was taken in Albert's practice room

sonic: Is the guitar stock?

WolfM: The other is at the gig

finncaster: seems like you prefer maple necks, what kind of wood do you have on the body of your signature model?

AlbertL: finncaster, ash body, check out the musicman website

finncaster: ill have to go down and check out your model on 48th street ;)

Click Here for Music Man site





WolfM: Albert. Is that a B-Bender?



AlbertL: the photo on screen is my music man b bender guitar



WolfM: Albert how does the B bender work?


AlbertL: its a mechanism attached to the strap button that raises the second string a tone


WolfM: Is the technique similar to steel guitar?


AlbertL: by pulling down on the neck you are able to alter the note


WolfM: Are certain chords better than others with Bender?


AlbertL: it is not really similar to steel guitar but you can approximate the sound of it


AlbertL: you tailor the chord shapes to utilize the effect


Click Here for HipShot website



AlbertL: my current equipment of course includes my music man guitar, I am still using my old 130 watt music man amps but have been very happy with a fender tone master and a Rivera amp

JohnH: What is it about Musicman amps that you like?

AlbertL: hi john, musicman amps were built like tanks, they're very loud and clean

AlbertL: twanger, musicman 2x10 and 4x10

Twanger: Do you gig with your Rivera mainly?

AlbertL: twanger, im currently working with rivera to find something that will suit me, they make wonderful amps





WolfM: What are your favorite other guitars in your collection?


AlbertL: The guitar to the left (right) of the screen was given to me by Eric Clapton so that has to be one of my favorites

WolfM: Is that the Delaney and Bonnie Les Paul?


AlbertL: I believe that was the guitar that was used with the Delaney and Bonnie





AlbertL: I also have another Gibson from the same year that was given to me by Don Everly

Twanger: What acoustics are you using?

finncaster: im sorry to keep being so technical because this has been a real thrill to be here-do you lean towards hvy or light strings?

AlbertL: twanger, martin 00028, collings 0m2 and my gibson j200 from don everly

WolfM: That's a beauty!!!

TheRock: Albert are Fender guitars manufactured in Mexico almost as good as those made here in the US?

finncaster: i have a mexico tele and its great!

AlbertL: hi rock, ive seen some guitars made in mexico that i would be very happy to play

TheRock: Cause i have a Strat (mexican) and I see no different


Twanger: Do you still have your old Tele?

AlbertL: twanger, i dont have my original from the 60s, but i have a 52, 53, and 60

TheRock: Are fender guitars any good

Chris: Yes they are!

AlbertL: rock, fenders are very good, but my musicman is better



Twanger: Do you use compession?

AlbertL: twanger, i use a little compression in my korg a-3

AlbertL: by the way, i am looking for another korg a-3, they seem to have disappeared from the face of the earth



owen: String Gauges. On your video you've told the story of the original Ernie Ball unwound G. What gauges do you currently use?

AlbertL: finncaster, electric gauges 10 13 16 26 36 46, ernie ball of course! 

finncaster: do you prefer high or low action?

Click Here for Ernie Ball site


AlbertL: finncaster, low action for fast electric playing, and a higher action for acoustic for the better sound


finncaster: hey albert-what kind of picks do you use-heavy or light? and do you keep your nails trimmed down or is that an issue?

AlbertL: large heavy picks, i used to use small jazz picks, in the 60s but i would be afraid of dropping them now

<check out the Q & A chat archive>

Albert Lee w/Music Man guitar in home studio


Music Man Albert Lee model

 
HipShot B Bender



            B Bender mechanism on Music Man             



     
 B Bender mechanism on Fender Tele

  


    
Music Man HD 130 amp head, Korg A3, Korg rack tuner

Delaney & Bonnie Gibson Les Paul



Gibson Everly Brothers acoustic model

Fender Tele with B Bender








Korg A3 digital delay/processor