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Post subject: Lead II Tremolo
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 5:33 pm
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Hi All,

I have a cherry red 1979 Lead II (yes the really heavy one). I've had it for about 12 years and haven't played it in a long time as I upgraded to a Strat about 8 years ago. I've now rediscovered my trusty old Lead II and would like to upgrade it a little.

I'd like to install a tremolo unit on it, upgrade to locking tuners, and install an LSR nut. I think a Bigsby B500 tremolo unit would work but I'm not sure what bridge I should put on it. I'm going to have a professional do the work but I wanted to get an idea of what all I needed, and a sense for cost, before approaching my luthier. I might upgrade to two active EMG pickups too...

I had the neck replaced (by fender) when I bought it from the previous owner as it was cracked. It's in good shape, obviously lots of paint wear (cracks and quite a bit of the infamous clouding).

Any recommendations?

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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:21 pm
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Whatever you decide..don't use a Kahler. I put one on a Lead. It was fine until the strings started wearing into the pivot block. Then the strings would unraval or break constantly. In other words Kahlers are poorly designed. If you are going to have it done professionally. I'd put a traditional strat style. Wilkinson biridges are very nice and easy to find. Carvin sells them. Or go crazy and put a Floyd Rose on. Floyds are awesome if you maintain them and understand how they work....if you don't you probably hate it.

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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:12 pm
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Thanks for the recommendation.

I considered putting in an American Strat Tremolo (two point like my strat) but I thought it would be tragic to have someone cut out part of my lead (although it would lighten it a bit). Also the paint is in such poor condition that I fear it might chip and cause flaking (although at this point maybe I shouldn't care) where they cut out the space for the tremolo. That's why I considered the Bigsby, they're fairly easy to install and seem to perform well.

I've never tried a Floyd Rose although I hear the locking can be tedious and annoying. I've heard many mixed opinions, I should get over to Guitar Center and try a guitar with one.

I briefly played a Gretsch hardbody that had a bigsby and I did ok with it (although I'm so used to the thin tremolo arm of the standard strat it did take a little to get used to).

I thought the Bigsby would be the easiest solution without gutting the guitar too bad. How difficult was it for you to get the floating bridge on your Lead? You've got me wondering now...


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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:45 pm
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Hi, The bridge I put on was a Kahler (don't use a Kahler). It is not a flaoting bridge..it was a roller style...sorta like an advanced Bigsby. I've never seen a Fender style guitar with a Bigsby tremelo on it..not that it can't happen ...however you would need a tune-o-matic bridge which may or may not work due to a string height issue. I have never routered a Lead for a Strat style spring caviity...I would leave that judgement to a pro...he could tell it there was enough wood between the pickup cavity and the possible spring cavity on the back side. Floyds are awesome if you can tolerate them. I like the way they float allowing a reverse pull...and once the strings are streched they stay in tune. The problem is you are stuck in one pitch...and one tuning only.

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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:02 pm
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Cool, will avoid Kahler. I'm going to have my luthier take a look at it and see what he recommends. I'm having my Lead shipped here so it may take some time before I get to do that but will definitely post back here to let you know how it turned out.


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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:12 pm
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Right on! Good luck man.

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Post subject: Re: Lead II Tremolo
Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:05 am
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[

Hey ! I put a floyd rose on my lead 1 back in like 83. its great but get a real floyd rose not a licensed one and have the work done by someone good as screwing this up would be bad news. as for losing any weight the hardware makes up for the loss of wood. personaly I think a bigsby would be clunky looking and won't have near the versatility of the floyd. you can also put the van halen dtuna add on to the floyd and then you can drop d tune in an instant. Also checkout wilkenson trems and super-vee.com wilkenson won't require a locking nut.
I have to ask about the new neck you got.I bought an esp guitar with jumbo frets and now when I play the lead 1 its like the thing is fretless I would love to put a new neck on it with jumbo frets or at least bigger frets I think bolting a new neck on it may be the best and least expensive idea.I have not been able to find an aftter market neck that will fit. I'm going to see if fender can help me out with a new neck.
I have a dimarzio hb in the bridge on my lead1 and a dimarzio chopper in the neck position but I tore the wiring out and the switches and the tone knob and so now its just volume and a bridge humbucker.
back in 1980 steve morse endorsed the fender lead 1 and 2
ok done rambling, hope I helped a little.


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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:04 pm
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Mad mark. Refret that baby! I had all three of mine done with larger wire by a proffesional. I think this is batter than a new neck because you would totally change that guitars feel and personality by changing it. Plus the original says "lead I" which is too cool.

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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:15 am
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I 've never refretted a guitar whats the ball park cost? It would be awsome to actually have frets, lol. I'm trying to figure out how to put a pic. in here. I'm pretty new to the whole forum thing.


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