They were probably aware that Fender had been approaching builders looking for licence payments that came with conditions, and decided to change the shape before that happened (a lot of other manufacturers did this). It does, however, seem a bit coincidental that around 1993 or 1994 Levinson changed the headstock on the Blade guitars from one closely resembling a Fender Strat to the current one that is like a cross between a Peavey and Suhr shape.
#Levinson guitars blade serial numbers
There seems to be a grain of truth in some of the Internet information suggesting that pre-13xxxx guitars were made in Japan and post-13xxxx and later ones were made in Korea, but by Gary Levinson's own account (and the fact that serial numbers are stamped on the neck plate rather than on the body parts) serial numbering sequencing is NOT accurate. Levinson’s first Blade was exhibited in 1987 a decade after the "lawsuit" era. There NEVER WAS a lawsuit by Fender, or by any other large company against Levinson, and the "lawsuit era" is referred to as pre or post 1977 when Gibson sued Ibanez over the headstock shape. There are an amazing number of self-professed experts out there referring to rare "Made in Switzerland" Blade guitars, and even worse are the ones that refer to "Pre-lawsuit" models.
The information came from the original owner (he lives in Wales and may be a member here). My guitar shows Serial no: 13xxxx (on neck screw plate). The neck plate detail misleads some people because some read "designed in Switzerland", or "Gary Levinson, Switzerland" (where he was based in the early years).
NO Blade guitars were "Made in Switzerland" other than prototypes and the very early ones for trade shows.
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