Up for sale, a 1991 Levinson Blade MG-2 in 100% original condition and in perfect working order. Blade instruments are the brainchild of Gary Levinson, designed in Switzerland and crafted with top-notch fit and finish work in Japan. Best known for their Strat-style designs, this particular Blade is the rare Mustang-inspired MG-2, a very obscure model with few known examples both in and outside of Japan. Features include Blade’s active Variable Spectral Control switching, 24 3/4“ scale length, vintage-style vibrato with roller saddles and nut, locking tuners, and splittable paired middle/bridge single coil pickups (as seen on other Japanese guitars like the Yamaha Flying Samurai and Guyatone Sharp 5).
Tonewoods include a white ash body, maple neck, and slab rosewood fretboard, and this MG-2 weighs 7lbs 9oz. There’s a wide array of tonalities via the trio of single coil pickups and Levinson’s proprietary switching: the pickups themselves are smooth and articulate, with a healthy dose of low-midrange warmth and plenty of chime. The push/push (Tone knob) Variable Spectrum Control is coupled to a pair of adjustable trim pots in the cavity that dictate the parameters of an adjustable mid boost, yielding an extra hit of power and a shift in tonal color at the push of a button. The three-way mini-toggle dictates the configuration of the middle and bridge single coils, paired either in series (full and potent) or parallel (slinky hollow quack), or with just the bridge pickup engaged for maximum twang. This MG-2 has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Maple
-Shape: Slender C, measuring .825” 1st fret, .850” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Rosewood slab, 22-fret, 10” radius, dot inlay
-Frets: Slender, no wear
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”, aluminum, roller
-Tuners: Locking
-Serialization: Stamped on neck plate
Body Specs:
-Wood: White ash
-Pickups: Levinson single coil x3
-Controls: Volume, Tone (push/push active Variable Spectrum Control on/off), Three-way pickup selector, Three-way middle/bridge pickup configuration mini-toggle
-Harness: Full-size Japanese pot dates to August, 1991, VSC circuit powered by 9V battery
-Hardware: Strat-style vibrato, roller block saddles, dome-top knurled knobs
-Plastics: One-ply plexi pickguard, cream pickup covers with “Levinson” silver silkscreen logos
The gloss Transparent Black finish subtly reveals the uniform grain in the White ash body, and cosmetic wear includes faint buckle rash at the belly contour, some dings on top behind the bridge, and a few additional minor marks on the body as a whole, largely constrained to the lower bout. The satin finish on the neck profile is smooth and clean.
A faux leather gigbag is included.