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Average Price: $727
Standard/Professional
$400
$1001+
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Price History
Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Fender Lead II". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Step into the realm of timeless design and modern innovation with the Fender Lead II, a guitar that seamlessly bridges the past and present. Born from the creative surge of the late '70s, the Lead II embodies a unique blend of vintage charm and contemporary playability. Its dual-slanted Player Series single-coil pickups inject a lively, dynamic tone that caters to a wide spectrum of musical styles, making it a versatile choice for both stage and studio.
The Fender Lead II sports a sleek, double-cutaway alder body, providing not only an eye-catching aesthetic but also a comfortable playing experience. The modern "C" maple neck, paired with a pau ferro fingerboard, ensures smooth, fast playability, while the medium jumbo frets offer precision and ease in navigating complex chord progressions or intricate solos. With its distinctive dual-toggle switches, you have the power to explore a diverse tonal palette, including a phase-reverse option that adds a unique twist to your sound.
The hardtail bridge and "F" logo tuning machines contribute to its robust build, ensuring reliable tuning stability even during the most intense performances. This guitar is not just an instrument; it’s a tribute to Fender’s legacy, crafted for the modern musician seeking to push the boundaries of their creativity.
Key Features:
- Gloss-finished alder body with a double-cutaway design
- Modern "C" maple neck, satin urethane finish on back, gloss front
- Pau ferro fingerboard with medium jumbo frets
- Dual-slanted Player Series Alnico 5 Strat single-coil pickups
- Dual-toggle switches for pickup selection and phase-reverse
- 6-saddle string-thru-body hardtail bridge with block saddles
- "F" logo tuning machines and synthetic bone nut
Product specs
| Brand | Fender |
| Model | Lead II with Maple Fretboard, Lead II with Rosewood Fretboard |
| Finish | Arctic White, Black, Brown Sunburst, Cherry Sunburst, Ivory, Sienna Sunburst, Wine |
| Year | 1979 - 1983 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Alder |
| Body Shape | Double Cutaway |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | String-Through |
| Color Family | Black, Brown, 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 | SS |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Series | Fender Vintage CBS Era |
FAQs
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What type of pickups are used in the Fender Lead II, and what tones can they produce?
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The Fender Lead II features two single-coil pickups that deliver bright, clear tones suitable for genres like rock, blues, and pop. These pickups are known for their crisp articulation and dynamic range.
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Is the Fender Lead II suitable for beginner guitarists?
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Yes, the Fender Lead II is suitable for beginners due to its comfortable neck profile and straightforward control layout, making it easy to play and understand.
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What is the neck profile like on the Fender Lead II, and how does it affect playability?
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The Fender Lead II features a C-shaped neck profile, providing a comfortable grip that suits a variety of playing styles and hand sizes, enhancing overall playability.
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Does the Fender Lead II have a phase switch, and what is its function?
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Yes, the Fender Lead II includes a phase switch that allows for out-of-phase tones, offering unique sound possibilities, particularly in the middle pickup position.
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How does the Fender Lead II compare to the Lead III model?
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The main difference is that the Lead II uses two single-coil pickups with a phase switch, while the Lead III features two humbuckers with coil-splitting capabilities, resulting in different tonal options.
Videos
Andertons Music Co
Fender's Lead Series Is Back & Better Than Ever! - Vintage Looks, Hot Rodded Tones & Player Upgrades
Fender's Lead Series Is Back & Better Than Ever! - Vintage Looks, Hot Rodded Tones & Player Upgrades
Andertons Music Co
A Reissued Blast from the Past! | 2020 Fender Player Lead II Neon Green MiM | Review + Demo
The Trogly's Guitar Show
Fender Player Series Lead II & III Guitars - Revamping Awesome Original 70's Fenders!
PMTVUK
Fender Player Lead II - Product Demo
Rock Hard Music
Fender Player Lead II PF, Crimson Red Transparent | Gear4music demo
Gear4music Guitars
Fender Player Lead II - EMPIRE MUSIC
Empire Music
Fender Player Lead II MN electric guitar, Neon Green | Gear4music demo
Gear4music Guitars
Reviews
PROS
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Lightweight and comfortable for extended playing sessions
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Smooth, glossy maple fretboard enhances playability
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Amazing sound both clean and with distortion
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Hot overwound pickups offer great rock and roll tones
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Offers versatile tonal options with unique pickup configurations
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High-quality build for an affordable price
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Smaller body size makes it easy to handle
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Vintage-inspired design with modern features
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Made in America, adding to its appeal
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Great for beginners and experienced players alike
CONS
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Some units arrive with minor defects like broken toggle switches
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Old-style tuners may be challenging for some users
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Body can feel heavy, although still manageable
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Lead II.
Build quality
Features and functionality
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The Lead II has a phase switch that alters sound color by putting pickups out of phase, offering unique tonal possibilities.
Source -
The Lead II's phase switch offers unique sound alterations, which some players may prefer for specific genres like progressive or alternative rock.
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The Lead III's humbuckers are praised for their sound quality, with the coil split providing an additional layer of tonal flexibility.
Source
Comparisons
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The Lead series is described as akin to a hardtail Stratocaster but with a smaller body and non-traditional electronics, making it feel more like a 25.5 scale Duo-Sonic.
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The Lead III, with its humbuckers and coil-splitting capability, is considered more versatile than the Lead II by users who prefer dynamic sound options.
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The Duo-Sonic is suggested as an alternative to the Lead II, offering similar aesthetics but with a shorter scale length and different pickup configurations.
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Mods and upgrades
User experience
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The Lead II's satin neck is preferred over gloss necks by some users, enhancing playability for those sensitive to neck finish.
Source -
Vintage Lead II guitars can endure significant wear and tear yet maintain playability; some owners note the durability of frets despite heavy use and alternate guitar rotations.
Source
Use cases and applications
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For those favoring single-coil tones for genres like punk and pop, the Lead II is recommended over the III's split humbucker sound.
Source -
The Lead II is favored for alternative tunings, appealing to musicians inspired by bands like Sonic Youth, highlighting its versatility in experimental music styles.
Source
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 8 Ratings
615
An incredible guitar
Bought it new in 1999. It was already 20 years old or so and looked like it had been barely played. It was transparent red at the time and, contrary to the myth, the lacquer had not suffered at all. However, following an incident I had with it, I had a luthier redo the lacquer but this time in transparent white/cream. The story behind the quite unconventional model is that they those were quite cheap US-made guitars, that Fender (in the CBS era) produced to cope up with the production overseas. It was supposed to have "modern" features. Those were achieved using a combination of two X1 pickups and two switches, one changing the polarity, which only affects the middle position (so that there are four different sound that you can get with this guitar). Some of those were made of alder, others of swamp ash, but each copy was quite different and uneven in terms of quality. Seems like I got a good one. It's in swamp ash and, while it's quite heavy, its body vibrates in a way that all good Fender guitars do. The sound out of the original pickups was already quite full, not as clear as those in a Fender Strat but with something of their own. After playing it for about twelve years of so, I had those original pickups swapped for a couple of DiMarzios. This was the best decision I've ever made on an instrument. The Fast Track (neck) and Chopper (bridge) are truly wonderful. Don't let yourself being fooled by the company's image as a provider of clean, sterile pickups for shredders. Those pickups are just a tad hotter than normal single coils but they're noiseless, extremely articulate, and they are perfect to achieve a vintage sound. With this change, this is the best guitar I possess. You can do whatever you want with it, from crisp, articulate funky licks to quite heavy sounds when coupled with a good distortion on a Marshall-like amp.
220
My Workhorse
I modded mine heavily. Removing all the electronics and doing a single humbucker and volume knob. Added locking tuners, changed all hardware to black. The thing is a beast and super comfortable to play.
Great for jazz events
Really good guitar. Not as much tone and distortion, though, as I have a Lead II with 2 single-coil pickups, but sounds amazing for clean jazz events.
Artist usage
Add artist
This guitar resides in the London Hard Rock Cafè. It's one of the first of the HRC memorabilia collection.
This picture from Annie's performance at Coachella 2015 shows her using the Lead II. Originally a Fender Lead II Circa 1980. It has a lots of changes: 2 EMG pickups, refinished green, added Roland synth pickup with pin output as well as regular output. Neck has considerable wear but she plays and sounds great.
"This guitar was borrowed from Dredd Foole and the Din for an impromptu 2-song cover set at the Rat in Boston on May 9th, 1987."
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eff with my Fender Lead II. Pic approx 1984/85 When I met Jeff, I had a Gibson “Sonex” guitar my daddy had bought me when I thought, I could possibly play guitar. 🤦♀️ I was still in high school and an acquaintance had this gorgeous Candy Apple Red Fender Lead II guitar and wanted to trade. I asked Jeff what he thought, and his reply, was…..heck yeah, that is a much better guitar. So, I reluctantly traded. The Fender guitar had t.s.o.l. carved into it unfortunately, but Jeff was a huge T.S.O.L fan. I found out a week later the guy that I traded my Sonex with had set (his now) guitar up on a shelf and it had fallen off and the neck broke. Jeff had taken the Fender to the studio on many recordings, however, if it was ever used, I do not know for sure. He loved that it had a “squeal” sound to it. A few years after Jeff had passed, this guitar and many of Jeff’s were gifted to his best friend Rocky George
Here’s David playing a red Lead II.
In this video, Bono can be seen playing a Black Fender Lead II in a live performance with U2 at Red Rocks.
Steve Morse can be seen playing a Fender Lead II in this picture.
Jimmy uses a heavily worn 1980s lead 2 in the video for In Degrees
In this photo taken from his instagram, Peter can be seen showing off a red Fender Lead II on the top right.
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A photo of a recent performance, showing Mr. Sagar playing a Fender Lead ii
No photo exists of Elliot actually playing the Lead II but he does own one. I happened to capture one of his guitars (the one used on Shake It Up for the title track and the song "Cruiser") before the Hard Rock Cafe took the images of those guitars offline (they had at least 3 of Elliot's leads - one red Fender Lead 1 1/2 that looks like a survivor of a house fire, the red Lead II I posted the link to below, and a white Fender Lead I that was used to record the solo to "Touch and Go" on Panorama).
Here's the picture of EE's straight off of Pinterest - I saved it from the Hard Rock Website when it was still there https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5e/13/19/5e13198f3fe0d9b01861b547cffb8bc3--the-shakes-shake-it.jpg
The Daily Event's Book Blog also lists out the Lead II's use on "Shake It Up" in a interview taken from Musician Magazine in 1982 done during the release of that album http://dailyeventsbookpagethree.blogspot.com/2007/04/cars-musician-magazine-shake-it-up-1982.html
Let's start with Easton's short-form guitar list. The Fender guitars he used on the album were mostly the Telecaster and the Lead II. "I didn't play the Stratocaster on the whole album, except for 'Cruiser,' that crazy thing where it ends slamming the door."
Album Usage
The Fender Lead II has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Lead II, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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