1979 Fender Lead II

In 1979, Fender released the next iteration of affordable, two-pickup guitars: the Lead II. In the tradition that includes the Duo-Sonic and the Mustang, the Lead II—with its double-cutaway, non-offset body—offered something new and interesting, but at the same time it screamed Fender. Shortly after the Lead series, Fender unveiled the Bullet series, which was originally made of Korean parts and eventually shipped overseas entirely. Of course, we all know where the Asian production of entry-level Fenders ended up... So in a way, you could argue the Lead II was the last Fullerton-made entry-level, two-pickup Fender. In the decades since, the Lead II has been overlooked and underrated, and that's a damn shame because this guitar checks so many boxes. Its tone and feel are distinctly Fender through and through, but it's not a strat or a tele! It's familiar, but something altogether its own. This first-year 1979 Fender Lead II sports a rosewood fingerboard and translucent red finish, which