Fender Lead Series
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| Manufacturer | Fender |
|---|---|
| Period | 1979–1982 |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Body | Ash or Alder |
| Neck | Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood or Maple |
| Bridge | Hardtail, strings through body |
| Pickup(s) | Variable, see models |
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1979–1981: Black and Wine (transparent red). 1981–1982: Black, Arctic White, Cherry Sunburst and Sienna Sunburst. |
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1979–1981: Black and Wine (transparent red).
The Fender Lead Series was produced by the Fender/Rogers/Rhodes Division of CBS Musical Instruments. The series comprised Lead I, Lead II, Lead III and Lead Bass models.
The original concept for the Lead Guitar series, including the name lead came from Dennis Handa, then Marketing director for Fender Guitars. The idea was to have a guitar that was cheaper than the Stratocaster and be attractive to players because of the neck feel as well as the pickup options. The smaller and the neck were both patterned after earlier Fender necks. Originally Steve Morse of the Dixie Dregs was the first endorser of the guitar and premiered it at a NAMM Show show in Atlanta Georgia. The Lead Guitars were manufactured between 1979 and 1982 by the Fender Musical Equipment Co. under the direction of Gregg Wilson and Freddie Tavares. Gregg Wilson was succeeded by John Page, who eventually headed the Fender Custom Shop. The Lead Series have elements of the and Telecaster in their design with a body that is slightly smaller and with a slightly different shape than the Stratocaster, a Stratocaster-like neck (and headstock), and hardtail bridge with Telecaster-like string ferrules on the back of the body.
The Lead Series headstock was smaller than that of the then Stratocaster models and similar though not identical to the 1954 Stratocaster design. The models at the time of the Lead Series release in late 1979 were still using the larger headstock design until the introduction of the Dan Smith Stratocaster in 1981. At some point during 1982 the lower bout of the headstock was shifted towards the body giving the headstock a more elongated look.
The Lead Series were manufactured at Fender's Fullerton, California plant and priced below the Stratocaster models of the time (approx. $495.00). They were eventually replaced in Fender's line up by the Fender Japan Squier JV model in 1982 as Fender expanded its operations by starting Fender Japan.
Notable guitar players who have utilized the Fender Lead series include:
Fender Lead I/III Humbucker Pickup Specifications
The DC resistance of the Lead I/III Seth Lover designed humbucker pickup is approximately 13 kΩ. The Lead I/III humbucker pickups have 12 adjustable pole pieces and have a ceramic magnet.
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