The Fender Lead - History
Author: guitartrends // Category: lead
The Fender Lead series electric guitars were manufactured from 1979-1982. The Fender Lead series was produced in Fullerton, CA factory under the direction of Greg Wilson and John Page.
They resemble Fender Stratocasters in appearance, but have a unique set of features. Steve Morse endorsed the Fender Lead for Fender.
In 1979, Fender introduced the Lead I. The Lead I had a only one pickup, a humbucker in the bridge position. The Fender Lead series models all had a shorter 24 3/4″ scale neck, rather than the 25 1/2″ neck of a Fender Stratocaster. All Lead models were available with either maple or rosewood fretboards.
The Fender Lead I controls are unique. There is a 3 position pickup selector switch (Neck pickup, Neck & Bridge parallel mix, Bridge pickup) a phase switch, a master volume control, master tone control. The volume and tone potentimoters are 250k and the tone capacitor is 0.05 uf ceramic.
The Fender Lead I was manufactured until the end of the Lead series in 1982. The price of a Fender lead I in 1979 was $399. Today a Fender Lead I in excellent condition sells for $400 - $475 *.
The Lead II was also introduced in 1979. It featured Two specially designed X-1 single coil pickups. The X-1 pickups were promoted as “wide range single coils” and are slightly hotter than a standard Strat of that era. Both the Lead I and Lead II were normally finished in either black or brown.
Today a Fender Lead II in excellent condition sells for $450 - $550 *.
The Lead III was manufactured in 1982 only. The Fender Lead III electric guitar had 2 pickups, a humbucker at the bridge and a X-1 single coil for the neck. Some models had 2 humbucking pickups.
The Lead III models were made in a greater variety of colors than the Lead I and Lead II electric guitars.
Today a Fender Lead III in excellent condition sells for $600 - $700 *.
* 2008 Vintage Guitar Price Guide
August 5th, 2009 at 02:30
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August 6th, 2009 at 11:33
I did not realise that Eric Clapton and Steve Morse played Fender Lead guitars! I did know that Jeff Healy played a Fender lead at one time.
September 20th, 2009 at 09:03
I am a proud owner of a 1981 Fender Lead III. I bought it in 1982. It is in excellent condition and is my #1 guitar, gig with it all the time. I haven’t seen anyone in the R.I. or Mass. area ever play one, and I’ve been gigging for a long time. The finish is cherry sunburst with an ebony fretboard. I put a mother of pearl pickguard on her, but still have the original. No one seems to know about these guitars, and I get asked all the time what model Strat it is that I’m playing.. I’m going to have it refretted very soon. It’s my favorite to play, the neck is soooo fast, the body is a little smaller than a Strat, I love it. If you have a chance to get your hands on one, grab it. There’s not many around!!
November 15th, 2009 at 14:30
thank you i found this site and very happy i did because i to have a fender lead and when ever we play some were at birthday partys and such they allways want to know what im playing were very surpriesed and happy with the sound it just viberates oof the neck with 1 humbuker white 1 pice neck i love it awsome sound and i have about 35 or so guitars i consider this one to be the bast that ive herd thanks for the awsome onfo ike
November 15th, 2009 at 16:51
Hey thanks for the good words Ike!
November 30th, 2009 at 21:42
These ARE significantly under rated guitars for price, play, looks, durability. If you have one keep it. If you have many (like I do) share them, (but keep your favorite close to you). Hard to find the switches though. Anyone know where to find them please let me know. Catch me on ebay stores under Prosound Project.
December 1st, 2009 at 07:30
Thanks for your post Al!
December 15th, 2009 at 22:21
I’ve had a fender lead 1 for about 17 years. i’ve used it in several bands. I have the original pick up and tone pot, but I replaced the pickup with a Fender Lace sensor in the neck position and a Dimarzio humbucker ( the beige one )in the bridge position. I’ve taken the tone pot out as I said but I still have it. The guitar is small as you know
if you’re familiar with a lead 1 or two. The neck is a little hard to play lead bacause of the spacing between the strings, not much room to bend strings, but I love this guitar. It has an ash body I know because when I bought it the guy who had it took the red varnish or whatever it’s called off. It’s woodgrain since I’ve had it, but I can see the color under the pick guard and I know the guy who had it. I’ve traded this guitar
once since owning it for a Deluxe American Standard Strat and some money of course, only to go back six months later and but it back. I was so happy the guy had not sold it, I coudn’t believe it. He said he would sell it to a Japanese or Orental person because of the small neck. He had no clue what he had in my book.
I can play rock or beach or country on this thing with these pickups and a five way selector that I put on it. It has medium guage frets I believe unlike the new guitars with jumbo frets. I trip over those things. Anyway I’ve certainly got my money out of this guitar. I’m thinking of buying a friend’s old Peavey Mace with 6 6L6s in it.If you have any info on those,please let me know.