Members newmaxnew Posted March 17, 2010 Members Share Posted March 17, 2010 Anyone know anything about levinson blade guitars? I see one for sale but I can't find much info about the guitar. I know some were made in Switzerland, some in England, and I think some in Japan. The guitar I am looking at appears to be the California model and it has the large Blade logo on the head stock. It looks like it has a wilkenson or similar trem on it. Anyone know where the models with the big logo were made? Are these things good playable guitars? Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Patuney Posted March 17, 2010 Members Share Posted March 17, 2010 The early ones made in Switzerland were top notch- equivalent to custom shop models. Somewhere along the line the company got bought and sold and lesser quality came with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DenverDave Posted March 17, 2010 Members Share Posted March 17, 2010 I use to own a Levinson Blade California model. Pics below.... I traded it because I did not like the neck profile, but that was not a reflection of the quality, tone, or playablity of the guitar. In all those areas it was a great guitar that was every bit the equal to a MIA Fender. My guitar was MIJ and was really well made. It is actually very hard to get any info on the guitars. If you have the serial number you can email Levinson and they will give you info on the model and build of the guitar. I was impressed with the guitar and had I not gotten such a great trade offer I probably would have kept the Blade. They make really nice stuff! But I needed a killer acoustic and that was what i was offered in trade (a $1100.00 acoustic) so I couldn't refuse. Definitely look into it. As far as I know, Gary Levinson still owns the company and they are still headquartered in Switzerland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bsman Posted March 17, 2010 Members Share Posted March 17, 2010 I'm not aware that they are available anywhere in the US. At least, I've never seen one 'in the flesh'... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newmaxnew Posted March 17, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 17, 2010 Musicians Friend used to sell them at one time. If I remember they were around $900-$1000 new. However it looks like thay changed production locations a few times. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Yarbicus Posted March 17, 2010 Members Share Posted March 17, 2010 Musicians Friend used to sell them at one time. If I remember they were around $900-$1000 new. However it looks like thay changed production locations a few times.Max Yeah, we had a couple when I worked for MF. Awesome guitars in cool finishes. If you want a straty guitar, you can't go wrong. FAR superior to almost anything I have seen from Fender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newmaxnew Posted March 17, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 17, 2010 Well I guess I will buy if I can get a good price and then maybe sell my classic players strat. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newmaxnew Posted March 18, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 18, 2010 Update, I bought the Levinson Blade guitar with case for $485 on Ebay from some pawn shop. It looks to be in real good condition. The VSC tone circuit should be pretty cool also. I will give a little review when the guitar arrives. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knotty Posted March 18, 2010 Members Share Posted March 18, 2010 All the reports I have read, on each model sounds great. I always fancied one. I have never seen one in the flesh . Dont know what they do for distribution in the UK. They seem rarer than Yamaha which is saying something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paul88lx Posted March 22, 2010 Members Share Posted March 22, 2010 Has the guitar arrived yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted March 22, 2010 Members Share Posted March 22, 2010 I've only seen two of them, but were used at the same shop in Rhode Island. Both were on consignment from the same guy that supposedly regularly gigged with them. They were pretty beat up but both played absolutely like a million bucks. Only plugged the strat in and it sounded pretty decent, but not super boutiquey great stratty, but very decent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newmaxnew Posted March 22, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 22, 2010 UPS says out for delivery and my wife is at home today so she can sign for it when it arrives as long as she can hear them knock. If I get it tonight I'll right up a first impressions review and then take it to the Friday/Saturday gig this weekend and then write up a full review based on two 4 hour sets of playing it. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paul88lx Posted March 22, 2010 Members Share Posted March 22, 2010 UPS says out for delivery and my wife is at home today so she can sign for it when it arrives as long as she can hear them knock.If I get it tonight I'll right up a first impressions review and then take it to the Friday/Saturday gig this weekend and then write up a full review based on two 4 hour sets of playing it.Max If you are a strat guy at all, you will love it. Here are mine..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newmaxnew Posted March 23, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 23, 2010 OK, the guitar arrived and it was packaged well. I gave it a little inspection and found only a few minor scratches in the clear coat on the back of the guitar. The guitar looks great it is a dark blue burst that looks almost black in darker light. I take off the strings so I can polish the frets and oil the fingerboard. Oh no! After taking all of the string off I notice that the fretboard has begun to seperate from the neck. The glue bond is gone from the nut down to about the 5th fret. The good thing is that it is a clean seperation, there is no lacquer on the fingerboard sides so it doesn't look bad. It looks like a cheap and easy fix. I take the guitar to a local shop and they tell me that for $25 they will glue the fingerboard back and be careful not to get any glue in the truss rod channel. I should get the guitar back on Thursday this week. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members timmyfirst Posted March 23, 2010 Members Share Posted March 23, 2010 Its the one on the chair, original swiss model, played fantastically, sounded awesome, built to an impeccable level too, i only sold it because i played my fenders more. I miss it though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members peavey_impact Posted March 23, 2010 Members Share Posted March 23, 2010 ^ that gold strat is sexy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted March 23, 2010 Members Share Posted March 23, 2010 Yeah, the one I played looked just like DenverDave's but was that super dark blue/black burst. But it had that unique pickguard and that shape of a headstock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paul88lx Posted March 23, 2010 Members Share Posted March 23, 2010 Looks like a Texas Deluxe or Special. The California Series has a different pickguard and rear body rout as stated by cratz2. It's pretty much the same as my honey colored guitar posted above. Wait, I'm confused. Is the guitar in the chair the one you bought? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newmaxnew Posted March 23, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 23, 2010 Here is a pic of the guitar I bought. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paul88lx Posted March 23, 2010 Members Share Posted March 23, 2010 It's a California Classic or Standard. I was eying that on Ebay myself. Funds wouldn't allow it tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newmaxnew Posted March 23, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 23, 2010 I am hoping the seller will refund $25 to cover the repair( I want lose much sleep if he doesn't since it is only $25). The fingerboard issue would not be noticable until you removed the strings. The tension over the nut was holding that part of the fingerboard down flat. I should have it back and have time to set it up in time for some gigs this weekend. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newmaxnew Posted March 24, 2010 Author Members Share Posted March 24, 2010 Cool, the seller has offered to refund $30 which covers the repair which only cost $27. I can't wait to get the guitar back and get it setup. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kaliminus Posted August 29, 2013 Members Share Posted August 29, 2013 hey !! have got a blade to and want to sold it its an blade RM-L limited 1991 geat sound if you guys know were i can sold it or if somewone want it im going in DC in a week so let me know mail to s_pierre@yahoo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted August 30, 2013 Moderators Share Posted August 30, 2013 newmaxnew wrote: Anyone know anything about levinson blade guitars? I see one for sale but I can't find much info about the guitar. I know some were made in Switzerland, some in England, and I think some in Japan. Actually thats all wrong and all right. They were designed and specced by an English dude, mainly manufactured in Japan with some assembly in Japan, and then setup and shipped from Swizerland. I've never heard a bad thing about one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knotty Posted August 30, 2013 Members Share Posted August 30, 2013 Ratae Coritanorum wrote: newmaxnew wrote: Anyone know anything about levinson blade guitars? I see one for sale but I can't find much info about the guitar. I know some were made in Switzerland, some in England, and I think some in Japan. Actually thats all wrong and all right. They were designed and specced by an English dude, mainly manufactured in Japan with some assembly in Japan, and then setup and shipped from Swizerland. I've never heard a bad thing about one You certainly wont hear me saying anything bad about mine. I would take it over any Fender Tele I have ever tried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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