Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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JamesSGBrown
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Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by JamesSGBrown » Tue Oct 26, 2021 2:42 am

Been after one for an age, managed to snag one on Reverb just as it was listed with the OG moulded hardshell case!

It's en route, listing pic whilst I wait...

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Larry Mal
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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by Larry Mal » Tue Oct 26, 2021 4:39 am

I owned one for years, I really liked it. Be prepared for just about the best neck pickup you've ever heard on that one.

Congratulations!
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by stevejamsecono » Tue Oct 26, 2021 5:47 am

Larry Mal wrote:
Tue Oct 26, 2021 4:39 am
I owned one for years, I really liked it. Be prepared for just about the best neck pickup you've ever heard on that one.

Congratulations!
Bridge pickup is no slouch either. Lotta power in both.

I've had 2/3 of these at this point and they are definitely cool sounding.
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

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Larry Mal
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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by Larry Mal » Tue Oct 26, 2021 8:02 am

stevejamsecono wrote:
Tue Oct 26, 2021 5:47 am
Larry Mal wrote:
Tue Oct 26, 2021 4:39 am
I owned one for years, I really liked it. Be prepared for just about the best neck pickup you've ever heard on that one.

Congratulations!
Bridge pickup is no slouch either. Lotta power in both.

I've had 2/3 of these at this point and they are definitely cool sounding.
Yeah, they really work, huh? The X1 pickups were hot wound for the day, I guess, but they aren't all that exceptional now. Somehow, though, the sound is just great with them, and I always wondered if they were doing more with these pickups than just winding them a little more.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

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JamesSGBrown
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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by JamesSGBrown » Tue Oct 26, 2021 8:30 am

As my ideal Strat would be hardtail with hotter pickups and no middle pickup (me no likey the quack), and my ideal Tele would have a Stratty neck pickup, I think this might be a winner.
Also, Roger Miller.

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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by stevejamsecono » Tue Oct 26, 2021 8:39 am

JamesSGBrown wrote:
Tue Oct 26, 2021 8:30 am
As my ideal Strat would be hardtail with hotter pickups and no middle pickup (me no likey the quack), and my ideal Tele would have a Stratty neck pickup, I think this might be a winner.
Also, Roger Miller.
Always worth reminding people this gem exists:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGx0xmwD8dA
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

Resident Yamaha Fanboy

COYS

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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by Maggieo » Tue Oct 26, 2021 9:04 am

JamesSGBrown wrote:
Tue Oct 26, 2021 8:30 am
As my ideal Strat would be hardtail with hotter pickups and no middle pickup (me no likey the quack), and my ideal Tele would have a Stratty neck pickup, I think this might be a winner.
Also, Roger Miller.
Roger Miller. Fuck yeah!
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by Jonesie » Tue Oct 26, 2021 10:01 am

Can we just make this a Roger Miller praise thread? (along with saying awesome Lead 2.)

I've been lucky enough to play a show with Roger's new band (Trinary System) and I booked them for a festival I was doing too, and he might be the nicest person in the universe. The man just deserves all of the praise in the world.

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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by JMFan » Tue Oct 26, 2021 11:00 am

Congrats. When I was a freshman in high school (81/82 school year) a guitar shop was behind school and my friends and I would go there after school on occasion and they had Lead II there. I remember black, red and I think white, only. I wish I had gotten one. My mom bought me an electric guitar which I chose at Guitar Center in Hollywood but was an Ibanez Destroyer. Wish I had gotten the Lead II. I probably would have chosen red.

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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by cestlamort » Tue Oct 26, 2021 11:33 am

stevejamsecono wrote:
Tue Oct 26, 2021 8:39 am
JamesSGBrown wrote:
Tue Oct 26, 2021 8:30 am
As my ideal Strat would be hardtail with hotter pickups and no middle pickup (me no likey the quack), and my ideal Tele would have a Stratty neck pickup, I think this might be a winner.
Also, Roger Miller.
Always worth reminding people this gem exists:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGx0xmwD8dA
Whoa. Great!

Congrats on the new guitar!

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JamesSGBrown
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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by JamesSGBrown » Wed Nov 10, 2021 12:01 am

No pics yet but my Lord… new #1. The X-1 pickups are brilliant- loud and clear. It’s like the Strat/Tele hybrid I’ve always wanted!

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JSett
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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by JSett » Wed Nov 10, 2021 1:59 am

JamesSGBrown wrote:
Tue Oct 26, 2021 2:42 am
Been after one for an age, managed to snag one on Reverb just as it was listed with the OG moulded hardshell case!

It's en route, listing pic whilst I wait...

Image
I saw that one too and nearly pulled the trigger! If it had been a rosewood neck I'd have likely stole it from under your nose :D
It looks great!
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?

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JamesSGBrown
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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by JamesSGBrown » Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:07 pm

Update: a bit of Dutch courage pushed me to pull the trigger on a rosewood-necked Lead I last night also...

Image

Should I be buying shit this close to Xmas? No! But I feel like these vintage Leads are gonna creep up in value. Maybe by not a lot, but hey if it's higher than 0.25% right...

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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by JSett » Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:26 pm

JamesSGBrown wrote:
Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:07 pm
Update: a bit of Dutch courage pushed me to pull the trigger on a rosewood-necked Lead I last night also...

Image

Should I be buying shit this close to Xmas? No! But I feel like these vintage Leads are gonna creep up in value. Maybe by not a lot, but hey if it's higher than 0.25% right...
These remind me of a Travis Bean TB500

Image
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?

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JamesSGBrown
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Re: Incoming NGD: 1980 Fender Lead II

Post by JamesSGBrown » Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:20 am

johnnysomersett wrote:
Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:26 pm
JamesSGBrown wrote:
Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:07 pm
Update: a bit of Dutch courage pushed me to pull the trigger on a rosewood-necked Lead I last night also...

Image

Should I be buying shit this close to Xmas? No! But I feel like these vintage Leads are gonna creep up in value. Maybe by not a lot, but hey if it's higher than 0.25% right...
These remind me of a Travis Bean TB500

Image
I'm a big Unwound fan, they kinda remind me of the Ampeg Dan Armstrong Lucite copy he used...

Image

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