andy Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 Hi guys, I visited the owners club once in a while, hoping to gather some more information about the Alvin Lee Model. Seems very rare. So finally I registered here as Internet research didn’t help much. So I’m new to this forum, my name is Andy and I’m living in Germany and – as mentioned above – I wonder when my Heritage has left Kalamazoo. But first please apologize, my english may have become a bit rusty. I haven’t spoken or written much over the past years so please be gentle... And I hope this is not too hard to read or understand. Well, I own the Alvin Lee since the mid 90s. Exactly this guitar was the exhibition piece at the (I think) 1993 Frankfurt Music Fair where Alvin Lee himself together with the Heritage Company presented their new signature model to the European audience. A friend of mine had a guitar shop at the time and bought it at the music fair right away, kept it a couple of years and finally sold it to me. Originally it was signed by Alvin Lee with something like: To Holgers Guitarheaven, Alvin Lee. I didn’t like the autograph in the first place and I’m not a big fan of signed guitars anyway so I removed it after a while. People told me that that was a stupid decision and they’re maybe right but than again the big silver letters really ruined the looks. To cut it short: As far as I know, the production of the Alvin Lee Model started in 1993 so the serial number should start with a J. The number on my guitar starts with an I (although the letter I looks a bit odd, like the ink has proceeded.) Am I misinterpreting the serial on the headstock and it is actually a J or can anybody here confirm that they started production in 1992? Or is this maybe some preproduction model? And how many did they make, does someone know? Oh, I mailed this also to Heritage Guitars, there was response and I quote: “Only made a couple of years. Not very many made.” Don’t get me wrong, I understand that their business is making and selling instruments and not answering questions by owners of used guitars all day, but I hoped for a little more information. So any help is highly appreciated! Cheers, Andy
SouthpawGuy Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 Hi Andy and welcome to the HOC, there have been a couple of the Alvin Lee models for sale on Ebay or Craigslist in the last 18 months to two years, I think one may have been in the UK. Maybe you could try a search of the HOC for "Alvin Lee" ? As for the serial # it may also be written on the label inside the f hole, also yours seem to have a limited edition number above the normal serial number on the headstock but it's very hard to make it out, again it may also be written on the label in the guitar. Hope this helps.
SouthpawGuy Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 Check out these HOC threads ... http://www.heritageownersclub.com/forums/i...mp;hl=alvin+lee http://www.heritageownersclub.com/forums/i...mp;hl=alvin+lee http://www.heritageownersclub.com/forums/i...mp;hl=alvin+lee http://www.heritageownersclub.com/forums/i...mp;hl=alvin+lee Here's a pic that I saved of the Alvin Lee model
SouthpawGuy Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 .. forgot to mention the guitar in the first link posted was a 1993 model #25 of 25, so it looks like only 25 were made. Of course there may have been another batch made at some point.
andy Posted March 22, 2010 Author Posted March 22, 2010 Hey Southpawguy, thanks for the quick reply and thanks for the help! I did the HOC search (but I'll try that again), there was no new information. I thought there were more than 25 as they promoted it heavily here in guitar magazines. But maybe you're right and there was another batch. Or they just wanted to gain some attention, wasn't a cheap guitar either. I remember a Gibson Les Paul was around 2000 German Marks 1993 while the Alvin Lee should cost 4000,-- There is no serial written on the label in the f hole, only colour and model name. Forgot to mention, the PUs are not the original Schallers but some 80s DiMarzio PAFs. The bridge also has been switched. Thanks again, Andy
smurph1 Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 Andy..first off..Welcome to the HOC.. and secondly that is A SWEET looking guitar..Don't see many of them around..might want to hang onto that baby!! Cheers!! Scott
brentrocks Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 Welcome Andy...that is a very nice Heritage you have there!!!!
SouthpawGuy Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 Hey Southpawguy, thanks for the quick reply and thanks for the help! I did the HOC search (but I'll try that again), there was no new information. I thought there were more than 25 as they promoted it heavily here in guitar magazines. But maybe you're right and there was another batch. Or they just wanted to gain some attention, wasn't a cheap guitar either. I remember a Gibson Les Paul was around 2000 German Marks 1993 while the Alvin Lee should cost 4000,-- There is no serial written on the label in the f hole, only colour and model name. Forgot to mention, the PUs are not the original Schallers but some 80s DiMarzio PAFs. The bridge also has been switched. Thanks again, Andy Hey no problem. It's always good to see some of the more unique Heritage models. i notice that the one I showed has two labels, which is unusual. Don't forget to put some photos of your guitar in the gallery when you get a chance. Paul
andy Posted March 22, 2010 Author Posted March 22, 2010 Hey no problem. It's always good to see some of the more unique Heritage models. i notice that the one I showed has two labels, which is unusual. Don't forget to put some photos of your guitar in the gallery when you get a chance. Paul Hey, there is a gallery! Will take some more pics than and thanks for the nice welcome everyone! Always thought that the Alvin Lee is a unique guitar and the only one I own with a little history... but I'm still a bit stunned and cannot believe that there may be only 25 of these things made. Wow!
SouthpawGuy Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 Check out this Ebay listing for an Alvin Lee model Heritage guitar http://cgi.ebay.com/TEN-YEARS-AFTER-ALVIN-...=item5d286bc219
High Flying Bird Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 I have never seen this one before. Nice. It looks like an "I" to me, just that the ink smeared. I'll bet this may have been one of the first of these made. Welcome to the forum. You have some nice photos as well.
andy Posted March 23, 2010 Author Posted March 23, 2010 Paul, thats exact the add I remember. Man, this is so long ago... Think I might have it somewhere in an old magazine in the attic. It looks like an "I" to me, just that the ink smeared. I'll bet this may have been one of the first of these made. Welcome to the forum. You have some nice photos as well. Again thanks! Looks like an I to me too but I never saw a Heritage with a J serial number personally, so I didn't know what the letter looks like. Guess that confused me. And I put some pics in the gallery. Cheers, Andy
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