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Post subject: Re: fender lead series guitars
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 12:23 pm
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Old thread, I know, but there's not enough info out there on these awesome guitars ...

I'm on the hunt for a Lead I, and I keep coming across versions that have a single-coil in the neck position (along with the standard humbucker at the bridge). I've seen one on Reverb and a few on YouTube when searching for Lead I. The headstocks on all of them read Lead I, not Lead II.

Was this an option at some point, or am I just happening to come across a lot of instances of a popular mod?


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Post subject: Re: fender lead series guitars
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 12:47 am
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As far as I know, the Lead I's came out the factory with just the one humbucker.
If you have the chance, check the wiring; mods should be easy to spot.

Here's some more on Leads:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=86739


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Post subject: Re: fender lead series guitars
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 7:40 am
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That seems to be the case ... The "Steve Morse mod" ... thanks!


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Post subject: Help Restoring My Fender Lead I
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:43 pm
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Hello! New to this forum, but excited to see so many other Lead owners.

I've been searching high and low, with few answers...so I'm counting on your good will to help me resuscitate my very first electric guitar! This thing has been sitting dormant for decades.

I was 12 when my mom and dad bought it for me (lucky me), it was used in 1983.
The pickup cover has always been missing, and at the time nobody was really talking about the now-coveted pickups. years later I sort of assumed that the pickup had been snatched back in the day.
Recently, one source has confirmed that this is indeed the original pickup, sans cover. I sure hope that's true, but I'm not sure how to ID the pickup. Visually it checks out, I've opened it all up and it sure looks original to me.

Anyway...I'm busy now dealing with all of the corroded hardware and thinking about re-fretting and all that...but what I'm really on the hunt for is a replacement cover!

Googling ain't helping, so I'm gonna share some pics here along the way and hope that some wise person can offer some tips. Hopefully the links below will work for folks. Anyway, thanks in advance - and help locating parts or even just ideas for a proper rehab will be welcome!

Jeff in Boston

https://www.dropbox.com/s/060kvbx37kvadl6/body.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/acgkzwmd9150x ... p.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5q1pjhcqk4kim ... k.jpg?dl=0


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Post subject: Re: fender lead series guitars
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:55 am
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Hi & welcome.

On the tips side, and with all due respect - I'm not telling you what to do but giving food for thought…
Consider once more what you want to do. It's an old guitar, so maybe let it look old instead of trying to polish & whatnut so it looks brand new again.

The hardware may need some work to be functional - but maybe just clean&polish the contact points, and lube the threads.
A fret leveling may be in order, but do you need a full refret? (I'd even consider a partial refret before a full one if there are just a few problem frets.)
Don't know what you mean by "all that", but things like a refinishing (paint & lacquer) would - IMHO - be overkill.
On old instruments, it's often best to do as little as possible...

On the pickup, it looks original to me. There have been some (full pickups) for sale, and the price was somewhere under 100$. But I don't remember ever seeing 'ring cover only' ads (and knowing the greed of sellers and the despair of buyers, a ring would probably cost the same 100$). So you just have to wait patiently until you get lucky.
Of course, one good option is to let it be as it is; the young you didn't mind. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: fender lead series guitars
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 6:28 am
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jmattis wrote:
Hi & welcome.

On the tips side, and with all due respect - I'm not telling you what to do but giving food for thought…
Consider once more what you want to do. It's an old guitar, so maybe let it look old instead of trying to polish & whatnut so it looks brand new again.

The hardware may need some work to be functional - but maybe just clean&polish the contact points, and lube the threads.
A fret leveling may be in order, but do you need a full refret? (I'd even consider a partial refret before a full one if there are just a few problem frets.)
Don't know what you mean by "all that", but things like a refinishing (paint & lacquer) would - IMHO - be overkill.
On old instruments, it's often best to do as little as possible...

On the pickup, it looks original to me. There have been some (full pickups) for sale, and the price was somewhere under 100$. But I don't remember ever seeing 'ring cover only' ads (and knowing the greed of sellers and the despair of buyers, a ring would probably cost the same 100$). So you just have to wait patiently until you get lucky.
Of course, one good option is to let it be as it is; the young you didn't mind. :wink:


Hey, thanks for the reply! Appreciate the thoughtful comments. Agree that I shouldn't aim to make it new. A couple of the saddles are really shot...but the plate cleaned up pretty well, so I may reuse it. I'm definitely reusing the three screws! And I may only replace the worst of the saddles. I've ordered a Fender replacement "vintage narrow" set, we'll see how they fit.

I'm not touching the paint, it's in pretty great shape. And I think for now I'll just give the frets a polish. One of the F tuners is pretty wobbly, possibly repairable...if not, maybe just replacing the one.

Thanks again, I'll share pics as it comes together!


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Post subject: Re: fender lead series guitars
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 12:10 pm
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Location: Hometown of THE GODZ and Rosie
In the early 80's I went from a Bullet S-3 to a Stratocaster, but a bandmate of mine played a Lead II.

Ten or so years ago a Lead II showed up on my local Craigs' and I snagged it. I figure it is an '81 or later as the finish is fine except for wear. The bridge pickup had been replaced with a DiMarzio Evolution. While I searched for a replacement X-1 the neck went out and even my luthier could not cost effectively save it. At that point I decided restoration was not in the cards but I did want to get it playable again.

On went a '72 Telecaster Deluxe replacement neck, using the hardware from the original Lead II neck. I had the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop create an X-1 specification pickup and Pickguardian created an original cut pickguard.

I truly enjoy playing the 12 inch radius fretboard and the Lead II has a great tone that takes me right back to my early 80's band days!

Lead II in case

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Bullet S-3
'62 Vintage RI Stratocaster
Del Mar
Lead II
Standard Stratocaster
Player Lead III


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