Fender Lead I Electric Guitar

$675.00 Price Tier: Standard

5.0 (3)

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Page last updated Jun 14, 2026

Pricing and availability

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5.0 (6)

$675.00 16 available Used

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Average Price: $675

Standard/Professional

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

In the Solid Body Electric Guitars category, Fender Lead I Electric Guitar is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

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Description

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Introducing the Fender Lead I Electric Guitar, a solid body electric guitar that captures the spirit of innovation and versatility. Originally introduced in the late 1970s, the Fender Lead series made a significant impact on the guitar world with its bold design and unique features. The Lead I is a modern reissue that maintains the vintage charm while incorporating some contemporary upgrades to meet today's playing demands.

At the heart of the Fender Lead I is a single, powerful Fender-designed humbucker, delivering a robust tone that can handle everything from crunchy rock riffs to smooth, melodic solos. The simple yet effective control setup includes a three-way toggle switch, allowing you to split the humbucker for single-coil tones, offering a wide tonal palette for various musical styles.

The guitar's C-shaped neck profile and 9.5-inch radius fretboard provide a comfortable playing experience, making it ideal for both beginners and seasoned players. With its sleek, lightweight body and distinctive pickguard, the Lead I stands out not just in sound but in style, embodying the rebellious spirit of its era.

Whether you're diving into your first electric guitar or adding a unique piece to your collection, the Fender Lead I offers a blend of vintage and modern elements that inspire creativity.

Key Features:

Solid body electric guitar
Fender-designed humbucker with coil-splitting capabilities
Three-way toggle switch for versatile sound options
C-shaped neck profile for comfortable playability
9.5-inch radius fretboard
Vintage-inspired design with modern upgrades

Product specs

Brand	Fender
Model	Lead I with Maple Fretboard, Lead I with Rosewood Fretboard
Finish	Arctic White, Black, Cherry Sunburst, Sienna Sunburst, Wine
Year	1979 - 1982
Made In	United States
Categories	Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Material	Alder, Ash
Body Shape	Double Cutaway
Body Type	Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type	String-Through
Color Family	Black, Red, White
Finish Pattern	Sunburst
Finish Style	Gloss
Fretboard Material	Maple, Rosewood
Model Family	Fender Lead
Neck Construction	Bolt-On
Neck Material	Maple
Number of Frets	21
Number of Strings	6-String
Offset Body	Non-Offset Body
Pickup Configuration	H
Right / Left Handed	Right Handed
Scale Length	25.5"
Series	Fender Vintage CBS Era

FAQs

What type of pickup does the Fender Lead I Electric Guitar have?: The Fender Lead I Electric Guitar features a single humbucker pickup, offering a powerful and warm tone suitable for various music genres.
What is the neck profile of the Fender Lead I Electric Guitar?: The Fender Lead I has a comfortable C-shaped neck profile that is easy to play, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced guitarists.
Is the Fender Lead I Electric Guitar suitable for heavy music styles?: Yes, the humbucker pickup on the Fender Lead I provides a thick and robust sound, making it well-suited for heavier music styles like rock and metal.
How does the Fender Lead I Electric Guitar differ from the Lead II?: The main difference is that the Lead I has a single humbucker pickup, while the Lead II features two single-coil pickups, offering different tonal options.
What type of wood is used for the body of the Fender Lead I Electric Guitar?: The body of the Fender Lead I is made from either alder or ash, both of which contribute to its balanced tone and resonance.

Videos

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The Trogly's Guitar Show

"The First Good Guitar Ever" | 1981 Fender Lead 1 Wine Red | Fender Friday Review + Demo

The Trogly's Guitar Show

Fender Lead 1 Custom

Jack Mason

Reviews

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PROS

Affordably priced vintage USA Fender from the early 1980s
Unique and distinctive model often overlooked, offering a standout choice
Chunky neck and smaller strat-type body provide comfortable handling
Hotter wound pickups deliver powerful and varied tones
Versatile coil splits and series-parallel switching for four distinct tones
Excellent for certain songs and styles, a valuable studio asset
Seth Lover-designed pickup adds historical value
Increasing value makes it a potential investment piece

CONS

Heavier than contemporary models, which may affect playability
Finish prone to stress cracks, though some see this as an opportunity for relic work

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Lead I Electric Guitar.

Build quality

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The body contours are reportedly incorrect, suggesting a non-original Fender body, which could impact the guitar's authenticity and resale value.
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Features and functionality

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The high E tuner does not match the rest of the set, indicating potential mismatched or replaced hardware that may affect tuning stability.
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The Lead II reissue allows running the two pickups out of series, enhancing versatility and tonal options.
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Value and pricing

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It's suggested that the neck alone holds little value, with recommendations to purchase only if the price is between $150-$225.
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User experience

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Owners note that Fender Lead I guitars often suffer from heavy finish checking, which can affect the guitar's aesthetic over time.
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Owners note the Lead II reissue's smaller body compared to a Strat, contributing to unique playability.
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Comparisons

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One user recommended opting for a Fender C1 for better quality and value, stating it as a more reliable option for similar musical needs.
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The Lead II reissue is described as more aggressive-sounding than a Strat, appealing to those seeking a distinctive tonal character.
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Setup and maintenance

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Early pao ferro fretboards on the Lead II reissue required extensive conditioning to improve their initially pale and dusty feel.
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Use cases and applications

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A user playing experimental and shoegaze music prefers the Lead II's pickups over humbuckers for their style.
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Artist usage

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Ritchie Blackmore

Guitarist

Deep Purple

Verified via Photo

In a promotional photo for Fender, Ritchie Blackmore is pictured with a Fender Lead I Electric Guitar.

Sam Halliday

Guitarist

Two Door Cinema Club

Verified via Twitter

Sam tweets - "Tapping out after half an hour of too much fun. The blisters are setting in. Blaming this blast from the 80s." - with a picture of the Fender Lead.

Elliot Easton

Guitarist

The Cars

Verified via Lespaulforum

Elliot Easton used a Fender Lead I on the guitar solo for "Touch and Go" off the Panorama album. Here's the Quote from the Forum, right from the source himself.

01-06-08, 02:08 PM #29 Elliot Easton Elliot Easton is offline Les Paul Forum Member Elliot Easton's Avatar

Join Date Mar 2003 Location Los Angeles Posts 3,416

Re: Question for Elliot Easton

thanks, it's one of the solos that i'm proudest of. i used a fender lead 1 guitar through a boogie head into a marshall cab in case you're interested. i also 'composed' the solo beforehand. it wasn't one where i simply 'winged' it, that's for sure!

"A little bit of knowledge can be a very dangerous thing."

Claudio Narea

Singer, Guitarist

Los Prisioneros

Verified via Photo

Claudio Narea using the guitar during "La Cultura de la Basura"

Roger Miller

Singer, Guitarist

Mission of Burma

Verified via Photo

In this article, Roger Miller talks about Fender Lead I guitars. He says, "I chose the Lead I because it was a brand new model of guitar, and no one had ‘made a mark’ with it, so I could start off with a fresh slate to make my own marks."