Fender Lead Series

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The Fender Lead Series are electric guitar models from Fender. They were primarily intended for use by beginners and newbies.

Fender Lead I-III

history

The electric guitar models Fender Lead I and Lead II were introduced in 1979 as inexpensive entry-level models to replace the Bronco, Mustang and Musicmaster, which were the cheapest models in the Fender price list at the time. At least the Mustang remained on offer for some time. Even if planned for beginners, the lead was not a low-price model. The guitars cost between 850 and 900 DM when they were introduced in the Federal Republic of Germany (including guitar case). A Stratocaster was available for around 1,300 to 1,400 DM at the time. Since cheap and good quality Japanese guitars were available for around 500 to 700 DM at the time, sales of the lead models were limited. With the introduction of Fender's own Squier models made in Japan in 1982, production of the lead series also ended.

construction

The guitars were offered in the colors burgundy (transparent) and black, each with a one-piece maple neck or rosewood fingerboard. As is typical for Fender, the opaque lacquered models were made of alder wood, the transparent lacquered guitars were made of ash ("heavy northern ash"). The strings were pulled through the body from the back of the body and attached with push-in sleeves. A tremolo was not on offer. With the Lead series, Fender returned to the narrow headstock for the first time since 1965 .

While the Lead I was equipped with a humbucking pick-up, the Lead II had two single coil pickups. In addition to a three-way switch with which the two coils of the pickup could be switched individually or together, the Lead I had an additional switch to switch from series to parallel operation of both coils. In addition to the three-way switch, the Lead II had a phase reversal switch. The two additional switches each produced a slightly thinner, higher-pitched sound.

Further developments

In 1981 Fender launched the Lead III as another model. It had two humbucking pick-ups and, in addition to the usual three-way switch, had a coil selector switch with which the front coil of each humbucker could be switched off. In the middle position, neither of the two coils was switched off, i.e. H. both pickups worked as humbuckers in series production. This circuit enabled seven different sound settings. During this period, the color palette was expanded to include white, cherry sunburst and sienna sunburst, while wine red disappeared from the list. The guitars were then also offered with a white pickguard and corresponding pickup covers. By the way: a lead bass was also planned. The long-scale model, equipped with two single coil pickups, never went into series production.

particularities

A widespread "illness" of the early lead models was extensive paintwork damage, which often appeared after just a few months. The reason for this were attempts by the manufacturer with new types of paint, possibly also the use of poorly seasoned wood. Often extensive cracks soon appeared on the body, which eventually led to a blue-gray discoloration. For this reason, many used lead models are now offered in an unpainted state with a so-called "natural finish".

The lead in music

As an entry-level or mid-range model, the Lead never achieved recognition by professional guitarists such as the Stratocaster or the Telecaster. Musicians who played the lead regularly, or at least occasionally in public, included Moon Martin, Elliot Easton (The Cars), Steve Morse (Dixie Dreggs, later Deep Purple), and Bono from U2.

literature

Web links