1989 Levinson Blade R3 S-Style Superstrat SSS Misty Violet

Up for sale, a 1989 Levinson Blade R3 in excellent 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 rare, upper-tiered model features Blade’s Variable Spectrum Control switching, gold-plated hardware, and a gloss Misty Violet finish.

Weighing 7lbs 3oz, tonewoods include an ash body, maple neck, and slab ebony fingerboard. There’s a wide array of tonalities via the trio of single coil pickups and active Levinson electronics. The pickups are wired to the active Variable Spectrum Control with a three-way mini toggle EQ boost switch, coupled to a three-band set of adjustable tone pots for a wide sweep of sculptable sounds. This R3 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 .795” 1st fret, .885” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Ebony, 22-fret, 12” radius, dot inlays
• Frets: Jumbo, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 2-3
• Scale Length: 25 ½”
• Nut: 1.650” (42mm)
• Tuners: Levinson-branded, Gotoh
• Serialization: Five-digit stamp on neck plate

Body Specs:

• Wood: Ash
• Pickups: Levinson MDN-S single coil x3
• Controls: Volume, Tone, Three-way EQ Boost mini toggle, Five-way pickup selector
• Harness: Full-size Japanese pots date to July, 1989, VSC circuit powered by 9V battery
• Hardware: Two-point vintage-style tremolo, dome-top knurled knobs, jack cup
• Plastics: One-ply black pickguard

The gloss Misty Violet finish has shallow buckle scuffing on the back, some pick wear on top, one ding on the bass-side body edge, and a few nicks and finish scratches on the rest of the body. The gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean.

A gigbag is included.