Leader brand: Pedal Steel Guitars

Charlie Morgan · From: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

I am looking for any info anyone might have on the Leader pedal steel, as I have 2 of them; a S-10, that I've had since 1981, and a D-12 that I picked up 1-1/2 years ago. They were made in Lincoln, Nebraska, as the S-10 has their card stapled onto the inside of the case. The card reads: Leader-Custom Pedal Steels, 430 N. 2nd Ave., Lincoln, NE, 68508, Tex Hall and Kendall Jones.
The S-10, came with 8 pedals, no levers. Being a graduate from an MSA Red Baron at the time, I had no idea what tuning or co-pedant this animal was, other than it was definitely NOT an E9th. The pedal rod ears were brazed onto the pedal rod axles, and sadly, the original set has been lost or misplaced, due to a divorce and change of residence. I totally rebuilt/replaced the axles, ears, and changer rods, to get it to an E9th tuning/co-pedant. I used 1/4" redi-bolt for the pedal axles, so that I could easily convert it to a C6th, or other tuning down the road.
At this point, I am wondering what a 10-string, 8 pedal tuning/co-pedant may have been, for curiosity's sake, if nothing else.
The D-12 has 8 pedals/1 knee lever. It's a basic E9th on front neck, 3 pedals/1 knee lever to lower the E's. Other 5 pedals work the rear neck, which appeared to be tuned to what I would call an F#7th, which, once I figured that out, lowered it down to an E7th, which makes for a good blues/R&R setup.
I am still working on getting the bugs out and getting it adjusted and fine-tuned; am not sure if the rear neck originally was a C6th, or not, as I'm not that far along into figuring out the pedals on that neck.
I would guess these to be anywhere from mid-60's to mid 70's vintage, as zip codes didn't come into use until the early 60's, if my memory serves me correctly. Recent forays through Lincoln would indicate that this address is non-existant, currently, due to major urban renewal projects.
So, ANY info anyone might have on these Leaders, I would greatly appreciate the feed-back. Thanks for the help.

Roger Shackelton · From: MINNESOTA (deceased)

Hi Charlie,

I recall that Tom Bradshaw listed LEADER PSGs and a few other brands of psgs in his early publications in the 1960s and 1970s.
He may have more information about this brand of guitar.??

ROGER

James Collett · From: San Dimas, CA

S10 8+0 could be a sneaky Pete B6? Jim Sliff could tell you more
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James Collett

Charlie Morgan · From: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

James, thanks. And yeah, the Sneaky Pete thing HAS crossed my mind on this one, a time or two. The early FBB sure perked up my ears, way back then, and still do. Still one of my faves. So sad that Gram Parsons departed this life at such a young age, such talent and musical foresight and intuition.

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

Bet you found that axe in a pawn shop on north Academy.

KP

Charlie Morgan · From: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Ken, U be right on, so am thinking U must have looked at it, eh. First double-neck in my price range, that wasn't so far gone that I figured I could breathe some life into it. Actually, wasn't, isn't in that bad condition, considering it's age and vintage. And, being a D-12, could use just one neck and set it up for a universal tuning.

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

Looked like a pretty cool toy, but I don't know enough to try getting one of those running. I ended up buying something quite a bit more modern. (and then a '60's 'Bud!!)

KP

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Just a word to the wise, Charlie
Be sure you can get parts that will fit that guitar. You mentioned putting a U-12 tuning on -- please realize that no universal tuning works well with less than 5 knee levers and 7 pedals.

It's possible that relatively standard parts (e.g., Sho-Bud or MSA from that era) could be used -- they aren't cheap but are available. You will need to find knee lever kits that fit or can be adapted to fit that guitar.

It may be a wonderful guitar that goes together easily OR NOT. Be sure it sounds and plays like you expect. If not you may be wasting time and money. You didn't mention the price, but if it sounds good you could always strip out the guts and make a really cool D-12 lap steel.
_________________
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Charlie Morgan · From: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Larry, thanks for the warning. And thanks for the "bare-minimum" tip on a universal tuning set-up, pedals & levers. I have seen a few that WERE too far gone, parts missing, etc. This one is all intact, all 8 pedals, but has only 1 knee lever. I've been repairing, fixing, and modify-ing stuff since i was about 8, old enuf to use a crescent wrench and a pair of water-pump pliers, (LOL). Can't really figure out why they made this one a D-12, as its vintage appears to be long before universal tunings were around. I probably will just keep it the way it is, w/the 2 necks, at least for the time being, as I like the E7th neck for bluesy and 3-chord R&R stuff. My first mods will probably be re-do & add another knee lever for "E" raise & lowers on the E9th neck, as the 1 lever just lowers the "E's". It will make for a good "guinea pig" steel.

Charlie Morgan · From: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Ken, ya, it's definitely "legacy", but everything is intact. Worse problem is, one of the legs is bent at the threads and worn and a bit difficult to get it to sit square. Has the older style aluminum changer fingers, Allen set screws for raise & lower stops, but has stayed in tune pretty well. Still needs some tweaking and adjusting on the E7th neck, but it'll get there, bit-by-bit. Just the time-factor, been having to do too much road-dog time for work lately. The mechanic-ing itself isn't hard, just time-consuming.

Rodger Brehm · From: Nebraska, USA

Charlie, I knew Tex Hall some 50 years ago, and recall spending many a Saturday afternoon at his home/factory, picking his brain and watching him work. His guitars were completely his own, using almost no off-the-shelf parts. Tex has no doubt left us by now, as he was considerably older than me and I'm now 75. Back then, I was building my own S10 and Tex helped me with advice and actually gave me a lot of parts. He wound his own pickups with #44 enameled Belden wire in a scramble technique that I tried my best to duplicate. I still have that guitar, but haven't played it in 35 years. Maybe I'll start again, inspired by the forum. Tex meticulously carved all the metal parts except the fingers out of wood and had them cast in a local foundry. Then a lot of hand work with emery cloth and a buff with white and then red rouge made the aluminum look like chrome. I also had a D10 Rickenbacker at the time, and Tex 'pedalized' it for me. I sold it for a lot of money along with a Gretsch Gold plated Country Gentleman.(wish I still had them both). You are correct that Tex's address no longer exists, as has happened to a lot of addresses in my native Lincoln. I hardly recognize it anymore. Your post about Leader guitars brought back a lot of pleasant memories. I didn't realize how many Tex must have produced or that any were still around. Enjoy your Leader, and let me know how it turns out.

Leonard G. Robertson · From: Ozark, Mo. USA

I just called Kendall Jones to see if he is the one that built the Leader psg with Tex Hall. He said yes, while stationed in the air force in Neb. He thought Tex was a mechanical genius & shared stories about working with him. They made both single & double necks. He is 70 now & living in Rockaway Beach, Mo.(close to Branson). He still has some molds & limited parts & has a project to build a double neck eventually. We had a long & interesting talk. Thanks for the post.

Fred Hall · From: Nebraska, USA

My son just found this forum today. Tex was my dad and I also helped as a teenager to build those Leader guitars. He died several years ago but I have his final guitar. Kendall was a good friend of ours. While I never learned to play a steel, I can tell you that in all but one case the upper neck was always an E9th, and the lower a C6th. One purchaser wanted it the other way around. Single 10s or 12s were E9th in almost every case. The Lincoln house stands but the address changed when annexed by the city, though we haven't lived there for 20+ years. You can look for me on Face Book if you want. Fred

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