Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $727
Standard/Professional
$400
$1001+
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Budget
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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
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Lead II is favored for alternative tunings, appealing to musicians inspired by bands like Sonic Youth, highlighting its versatility in experimental music styles.
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Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 8 Ratings
630
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.
210
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
In the live performance video of "Human Performance" at The Bell House in NYC, Andrew Savage of Parquet Courts can be seen playing a Fender Lead II.
In this article, Bob Moses notes, "I spent a lot of time with those Leads during Burma’s first incarnation, watching from behind Roger’s amp, minding the guitars. I owned four over the years, including the early Lead II that is Roger’s primary guitar now."
Reis' second guitar, as mentioned in this June 5, 2018 Reverb.com interview.
"My first guitar ever was a Japanese Les Paul knockoff that was sold through the Sears catalogue. It was a cool guitar—it had these built-in effects that were in the guitar itself. If I remember correctly, it definitely had a fuzz, distortion, and two other effects—I want to say some kind of auto-wah kind of thing," Reis says. "My second guitar was a Fender Lead II," the oft-overlooked model most known in the underground as the choice of Mission of Burma's Roger Miller. "And since that guitar I've had… more than a couple."
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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