 | 1983-91 Interceptor (All Body Styles) |
| 1983-91 Interceptor (All Body Styles) |
| 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: |
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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! |
