1983-91 Interceptor (All Body Styles)
MM's 1984 NAMM Show Interceptor (First-style X-body)

Photos
History
Registered Examples

Return to www.guitarsbyleo.com's Registry

The following images of first-style X-body Interceptors are in the '84-'85 Memorabilia and Interceptor sections of the Pictures Gallery: The following images of second-style X-body Interceptors are in the '86-'87 Memorabilia and Interceptor sections of the Pictures Gallery: The following images of Strat-style body Interceptors are in the '88-'89 Memorabilia and Interceptor sections of the Pictures Gallery:

The first-style X-body Interceptor was made from 1983 to 1986 and has pretty much everything going for it in terms of collectibility - it's a very limited-production guitar that looks way cool and sounds and plays great. The guitar's cosmetics are clearly aimed at the heavy metal / "hair rock" set; Leo Fender hated the design and only approximately 70 guitars sneaked their way out of the factory before the model was cancelled.

The first-style guitars feature the G&L dual-fulcrum tremelo, front-loaded controls, and choice of pickup configurations - Sing/Sing/Sing or Hum/Hum (the latter employing the use of the slanted Cavalier humbuckers). In addition, there are a (presumably very small) handful of "transitional" guitars that feature the first-style body, but which have many features of the second-style guitars (rear-loaded controls, Kahler tremelo, Schaller humbuckers).

A second-style X-body design was also attempted a bit later - the second-style X-body Interceptor is exceedingly rare and quite sought-after by collectors. The guitar's body had a more "rounded" appearance than the first-style guitars, and featured a Kahler tremelo and rear-loaded controls. Choice of pickup configuration was again available, though Schaller humbuckers were used in place of the Cavalier humbuckers that appeared in the first-style guitars.

Though the second-style X-body Interceptors were clearly aimed at the "hair rock" market, the design is actually quite beautiful. Regardless, Leo Fender simply despised this guitar (as he did the first-style as well), and despite the fact that advertising materials for the guitar had already been put together, he put his foot down on the project before it ever reached official production. Hence the second-style X-bodies are all considered prototypes, and according to Vintage Guitar columnist Paul Bechtoldt there may only be as few as 8 to 12 in existence. The "experimental" nature of these prototypes can be observed by a visit to the Gallery on the site (see phpoto links above). Compare the finish and control placement on my 1986 example with the finish and control placement on the guitars in the ad slick.

As a side "tidbit", Joe Perry (lead guitarist for Aerosmith) reportedly owns a hot pink second-style X-body Interceptor - hopefully he'll register it!

The final Interceptor had a Strat-style body and hence was a bit more "conservative" in appearance than its dramatic X-bodied predecessors. It was again available with a variety of pickup offerings, though the Hum/Single/Single combination is by far the most common on this model. Production figures on the Strat-style guitars are not known though is thought that they are quite a bit more plentiful than the other Interceptor styles. Also note that there is rumored to be a third "X"-body style between the second-style X-bodies and this last Strat-style; however, the details on this are very sketchy, and the only "candidates" we know of so far are slight cosmetic one-offs of the second-style guitars.

Also check out this page on this page on Greg Gagliano's site for more information and specifications for first-style X-body and Strat-style body Interceptors. And finally, if you submit an Interceptor to the Registry, please be sure to include clarification in the Comments field as to which style of Interceptor it is!

S/N
Model Neck Date Body Date Color Fretboard Body Bridge Other Features Owner
1. (None) Interceptor JUN 28, 1991 ??? ??, 1987   Rosewood Maple DF Vibrato System Body similar to 2nd-style Interceptor but has sharpened horns. No serial number. One-off deep black metallic finish. Sperzel locking tuners, 2 humbuckers, sickle headstock. The name GENE is written in neck pocket. Prototype? Employee guitar?  
2. (None) Interceptor     Vintage White Maple   Kahler According to your photos I have a rounded off interceptor x body with a neck from the third style interceptor. skizziks
3. G000002 Interceptor     Clear Red Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System Leo Fender's X-body. Producton log verified with full documentation. Flamed maple front & back, gold hardware. 2 humbucker pickups. JoseyWales
4. G000015 Interceptor     Clear Red/Black Maple   DF Vibrato System 1-X Design, SSS, Gold H/W, Match H/Stk, papers/case. Photo in VG Mag., Photo & Featured in Willie G. Mosley's book "Everyman Guitars" , " The Further Adv. of Leo Fender"., Ex Cond. Personal. Heard rumor 1 of 3. Any Help? West Mobile Music
5. G000003 Interceptor     Red/Black Maple Maple DF Vibrato System This #3 Interceptor was produced on Aug. 24, 1983, the personal guitar of Dale Hyatt, one of only 6 with gold hardware, only 3 with the triple S pickups and gold; unique headstock logo; ad slick guitar for factory Registry Admin
6. G015921 Interceptor     Black Ebony   DF Vibrato System First X-Body, Matching Black Headstock with Gold Decals, Black Crinkle Neck, Control & Trem Plates, 'Pat. Pend.' on Chrome Bridge, Single Coils PhatGuitars
7. G015920 Interceptor ??? ??, 1984 ??? ??, 1984 Red/Black Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System First Style Interceptor with Cavalier type Humbuckers, two tone Red/Black. Very PRETTY! Purchased from Bullfalo Bros on 03/26/05 and George Fullerton personally Signed this Instrument behind headstock in my presence. Much Thanks to George and Tim!! jefF-100
8. G015710 Interceptor     Cherryburst Ebony   DF Vibrato System 1st body style, color match headstock  
9. G015657 Interceptor     Natural Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System Early Intercepter. It has Cavaler Pickups, and sports the rare & beautiful Flamed Maple Finish. I got this Axe from Tom who purchased it direct from Dale Hyatt. jefF-100
10. G015527 Interceptor     Red/Black     DF Vibrato System Original style Interceptor, Dual angled-offset Humbuckers Stonetree@adelphia....
11. G015979 Interceptor     Cherryburst Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System Rare Beast! Twin Cavalier pickup version with special Cherry Pearl-burst finish. GPD
12. G019583 Interceptor     Clear Red/Black Ebony Maple Kahler Second body style X-body, #4 neck with 25 inch radius, SSS pickup config w/ 3 mini-toggles, chrome hardware, interestingly made in 1987 after production of this style had ceased. Most likely a special order, second style, Interceptor Nuggster
13. G017111 Interceptor     Black Ebony Maple Kahler Color match headstock, 3 mini toggles, SSS, X-Body, 1986 2nd body style Big Daddy
14. G015514 Interceptor ??? ??, 1984 AUG 3, 1984 White Ebony   Kahler 1st style X-body, rear loaded controls, 2 Schaller humbuckers Yamato
15. G014962 Interceptor     Clear Red Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System N-O-S, X-body, flame maple top, black back & sides. Sickle headstock, nickel hardware, humbucker pickups. All paperwork & hang tag. (Hidden)
16. G012689 Interceptor     Clear Red/Black Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System 1st style Flame Maple X-body with matching clear red headstock & angled-offset humbuckers PhatGuitars
17. G016014 Interceptor     Clear Red/Black Ebony   DF Vibrato System 1st body style Interceptor. S/S/S pickups. Zombywoof
18. G016193 Interceptor SEP 9, 1983 AUG 11, 1983 Red/Black Maple Maple DF Vibrato System This is a Dale Hyatt log-documented, 1983 NAMM show guitar, with NAMM under the neck pickup routing Registry Admin
19. G015969 Interceptor     Clear Red/Black Maple Maple DF Vibrato System sickle-tit headstock, #2 neck; 2 HG type pick-ups Registry Admin
20. G016032 Interceptor     Black Ebony   DF Vibrato System X-body w/3 single coils. "Well loved"!  
21. G015702 Interceptor APR 18, 1984 MAR 13, 1984 Cherryburst Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System Tag states assembled 40 5-1-84. Also has this initials RC 4-25. 1st style X-body, Two offset Humbuckers Kahzmoe
22. G015709 Interceptor MAY 2, 1984   Cherryburst Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System Humbucking pickups (Hidden)
23. G015644 Interceptor APR 18, 1984 DEC 9, 1983 Natural Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System One of the 8, including the two NAMM natural finished X-Bodies ever built. NOS, mint! GPD
24. G015975 Interceptor   MAR 18, 1984 Clear Red/Black Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System 1st style X-body, 2 Cavalier pickups, flame maple body  
25. G018249 Interceptor JUL 24, 1986 MAY 12, 1986 Clear Red/Black Ebony Maple Kahler 2nd Style X-Body, Pickups HH Yamato
26. G017537 Interceptor   APR 18, 1984 Cherryburst Maple Maple   1st style X-body, maple body, sickle headstock JByrd
27. G015819 Interceptor JAN 9, 1984 MAR 3, 1984 Clear Red/Black Maple Maple cap/Swamp Ash body DF Vibrato System 1st style X-body, ash body, Skyhawk pu\\\'s, # 3 neck Blackmore
28. G015791 Interceptor OCT 23, 1999 NOV 25, 2003 Clear Red/Black Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System 1st Style X-Body, Pickups SSS Yamato
29. G015690 Interceptor APR 18, 1984 APR ??, 1984 Clear Red/Black Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System 1st Style Body, SSS Pickups Yamato
30. G015681 Interceptor MAY 14, 1984   Pearl Blueburst Ebony     1st style X-body, Cavalier pu's  
31. G015455 Interceptor APR 15, 1984 MAR ??, 1984 Clear Red/Black Ebony Maple DF Vibrato System 1st style X-body, Pickups SSS, The Former Owner Wrote "4/13/84 Completion Date" Yamato
32. G015358 Interceptor MAY 21, 1984   Pearl Blueburst Ebony     1st style X-body, single coil pu's  
33. G016664 Interceptor     Hot Pink Ebony   Kahler    
34. G016664 Interceptor     Hot Pink Ebony   Kahler    
35. G018848 Interceptor     Clear Red/Black Ebony Maple Kahler 2nd-style X-body, chrome hardware, hum-hum BWT
36. G016688 Interceptor JAN 14, 1986 OCT 2, 1984 Black Ebony   Kahler 2nd style X-body, all-black hardware and tuners. This guitar appears in the ad slick for the second-style X-body Interceptors. BWT
37. G015248 Interceptor     Natural Cocobolo     1st style X-body (flame maple), single coil pu's, NAMM Show guitar  
38. G024354 Interceptor     Purple/White Rosewood   DF Vibrato System 3rd body style, matching purple, sickle head stock, locking tuners, S/S/H  
39. G022555 Interceptor FEB 16, 1988   Black Rosewood   Fine Tuner, Pat # 3rd body style, matching black sickle headstock, Guitar Tech Locking nut, sing-sing-hum PhatGuitars
40. G024915 Interceptor ??? ??, 1988 ??? ??, 1988 Black Rosewood Poplar Fine Tuner, Pat # rare monochromatic black body, last style; rare fine tuner vibrato bridge, ambidextrous Registry Admin
41. G020641 Interceptor     Clear Red/Black Rosewood Maple Kahler   stewodonnell@optusn...
42. G022964 Interceptor JAN 16, 1988 JAN ??, 1988 Black       repair between neck pocket and pickup pocket  
43. G021772 Interceptor     Blonde Rosewood   DF Vibrato System   dpennington30@yahoo...
44. G024854 Interceptor       Rosewood   DF Vibrato System Last body style Interceptor, purple / white with matching sickle headstock. Locking tuners, S/S/H .  
45. G023300 Interceptor FEB 5, 1988 JAN 3, 1988   Rosewood Maple DF Vibrato System Last style Interceptor with 2 tone blue/black finish and matching blue headstock. #4 neck with S/S/H electronics.  
46. G024650 Interceptor     Purple/White Maple Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System 3rd body style; # 4 neck; 4/11/89 completion date gnlgod
47. G020406 Interceptor     Red/Black Ebony Maple   Strat style X body goingfishing2@earth...
48. G028366 Interceptor     Clear Red/Black Maple     Half of the fretboard is inlayed with what appears to be ebony. This inlay is set at an angle starting with the largest portion under the nut tapering to nothing at the last fret. zookeeper
49. G020492 Interceptor AUG 12, 1984   Black Ebony Maple Kahler 2nd Style X-Body, SSS pickups w/ 3 mini-toggles, chrome hardware, 2nd Green Neck Data 08-14-87 Yamato
50. G022537 Interceptor       Rosewood     guitar is not original color, original color is purple, but has been repainted grey. would like to know approxamate value. otttands@aol.com
51. G022500 Interceptor JUL 18, 1988 FEB 18, 1988 Blue Rosewood Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System Third Body Style Color blue/black with three single coil pickups GNLDAVE
52. G022251 Interceptor     Viking Blue Rosewood   Fine Tuner, Pat # Strat-style, Viking Blue w/ black trim  
53. G024550 Interceptor MAR ??, 1988 ??? ??, 1988 Purple/White Maple   DF Vibrato System 3rd Style Body, Sickle Head Yamato
54. G023198 Interceptor ??? ??, 1987 ??? ??, 1987   Rosewood   Fine Tuner, Pat # 1987-88 NOS with hang tags,Mint, two tone, Blue Pearl Flip-Flop/Cream white West Side Duck
55. G022514 Interceptor NOV 16, 1987 JUN 8, 1988 Clear Red Rosewood   Kahler The only LEFT HANDED Interceptor ever made? Gorgeous 3rd style clear red front and back with matching headstock. (Hidden)
56. G022844 Interceptor     Natural Rosewood        
57. G025032 Interceptor     White Rosewood   Fine Tuner, Pat # 3rd style, hum-hum, Leo Fine Tuner vibrato (Pat. #), matching headstock SteveK
58. G020975 Interceptor JUL 24, 1986   Blue/Black Rosewood   DF Vibrato System Unable to make out the body date i have loaded images on my profile for all to enjoy, If any one could give me more info on this model like production numbers would be appreciated emyth1@hotmail.com
59. G034168 Interceptor JUL 20, 1992 APR 5, 1988 Sparkle Purple Rosewood Swamp Ash Fine Tuner, Pat Pend 3rd style, ash body, # 1 neck, sc-sc-hum, Fine Tuner Vibrato (Pat Pend), sickle headstock, MIJ pots, employee guitar  
60. G038067 Interceptor     Bahama Blue Maple   Fine Tuner, Pat Pend Third body style, sickle headstock, 2 humbuckers, sold by a Japanese guitar store  
61. G046256 Interceptor ??? ??, 1984 ??? ??, 1984 Red/Black Maple Swamp Ash DF Vibrato System Cavalier style HG-2 pick-ups, Black painted headstock. An employee built guitar from Brads personal collection JByrd
You can click the serial numbers in this column to edit the corresponding Instrument.
[Total Produced: Unknown]
[Total Registered to Date: 61]

Return to www.guitarsbyleo.com's Registry

www.guitarsbyleo.com Copyright © 2012 BBE Sound, Inc. All rights reserved. Please contact us for approval before copying or quoting anything found on this site. Thanks!