Leader

Production

Matsumoku, years unknown

Description

The shape is very similar to the early Concord I and the Paduak.
Two versions are listed in the April 1983 US pricelist, both available only in a natural finish, one with a trem at $219 and one without a trem at $195. This made the Leader the cheapest model available at the time.

This model does not appear in the 1982/3 or 1983 catalogues, and only appears in the April 1983 US price list, so it may only have been available in early/mid 1983.

Specs

  • Single humbucker
  • volume and tone controls
  • coil tap switch
  • standard tremolo or fixed bridge
Westone Leader
New Added October 2012 :

New! Sept 2014  Courtesy Forum member Gittarasaurus:

What at first appeared to be a 2 pickup model turned out to have been “customized” by a previous owner! The neck humbucker pickup at the time of theses pictures is a Schaller. The selector switch and a second coil cut mini toggle switch have been added, and the tremolo bridge replaced with a hard tail. As far as we know, a two pickup model was not produced by Matsumoku.

1982 leader full front1982 leader body front 1982 leader body back

1982 leader headstock back
1982 leader headstock1982 leader controls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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New! Oct 2016 Courtesy of Forum member Gittarasaurus

Here’s another excellent example of the Leader, all original, with a single pickup.

click to enlarge

leader-body-frontleader-body-front-2leader-bridge-controls

leader-headstock leader-headstock-rear leader-logo

leader-fret-board-edge leader-body-rear-string-thru