Just curious as to how many Fender Lead I or II guitars are left out there, and what your opinions are on them.
Thanx :rofl
Just curious as to how many Fender Lead I or II guitars are left out there, and what your opinions are on them.
Thanx :rofl
Thanks for the comeback. I purchased mine in 1980. It is still stock, and because we are three piece, I find it to be a very versitile guitar. It is mellow and also will scream with the right amp.
i have a freind that has one that he won and has never taken it out of the case to play it.
Hey Lightening,
What color.......I have a red with a black pickguard and maple neck. I believe they also came black and white.
lead2,
I have a near twin to your's - wine red with the black pickguard but a rosewood board.
Got it for Christmas in '79, and I still have it.
John C.
John,
Didn't know they came with rosewood.
I had a brass nut installed for a little better sustain.
Of the 3 Leads, I've seen more IIs with rosewood than I have either Is or IIIs.
Glad to hear yours is still your player; mine developed a slight twist to the neck. Given its age and that it has more sentimental value than actual value, I decided to live with higher action than I have on my other guitars. I've been using it for tuning experiments and a really pitiful attempt at playing bottleneck.
John C.
John,
Forgot all about the III's. Never had a great affection for triple upus anyway.
Lightening,
Do you have a maple neck?
lead2,
Actually the IIIs had two of the large humbuckers like in the I; I think they were only made from '81 through '83. I've only seen them in ads; never saw one in the flesh.
I do remember Elliot Easton of the Cars and Steve Morse had modded Lead "I 1/2" guitars - a Lead I with a Lead II single coil in the neck. Morse's had an extra toggle switch; don't remember about Easton's.
John C.
Thank You to all for the comebacks. Mine still goes strong. New strings every gig and we're ready to go!!!!!!!
Whats Not to like about a lead III?
I love my Seinna Sunburst, white guard, super light weight, Smith headstocked, Late Production Lead III.
I wish my Lps had a neck pickup this nice.
I have to finish a neck for mine, I just put in 2 Dimarzio pickups in it. Neck is 9.3 and the bridge is 12.9. Should be pretty dynamic with that HEAVY body.
I jammed with a Lead III a few times. It wasn't mine, so unfortunately I had to give it back. I found it to be quite jangley. I really liked it! Kind of a Mustang-meets - Rickenbacker sound. Certainly unique. And CHEAP!
My first 'quality' guitar was a Lead II purchased in 1979. Mine was transparent red with a maple neck. I loved that guitar and played the hell out of it until I got my first strat in 1988. I ended up selling the lead II to a kid who was just starting out. (I wish I had kept it.)
"If you're cool, you don't know nothin' about it. It just is...or you ain't." - Keith Richards
I've got two Lead IIs (2 single coil pickups) and one Lead III (two humbuckers). Great vintage stuff for a fraction of the price. Build quality is as good as anything else made around that time (79-83), which isn't known to be a particularly great time for Fender but the Leads have matured well. Except for the ones with black finish - those crackled and flaked long ago due to some sub-standard paint experiments. But the other colours seem to have held up ok.
My buddy had a black Lead II with one humbucker at the bridge when we were kids, 1981? - It had a nice neck.
Gee, now I want to search e-bay just to look pictures.
LOOK OUT - NO BIDDERS YET AT $300.00
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=47069
Last edited by studio1087; 12-16-2003 at 05:12 AM.
Carry On!
John
I wish Fender would resissue these things. I never got around to owning one back then. I did have a Hondo knock off of one though.
I had a Lead III last year. Sounded okay for a heavy ash body - pretty bright and peircing - but not as bad as my 76 Strat was. Loved the neck.