Why the Fender Lead is the Most Underrated Vintage Guitar.

[@sydallen4381]

Steve Morse did the original ads for these guitars, Clapton donated a Lead 1 to the Hard Rock Café in London and Bono (not known for his guitar skills) used one in the early eighties before U2 hit the big time. I have an '81 Lead II, my first electric & still have it to this day

[@arnolddealiii4259]

Good looking guitar. I imagine those firebird pickups scream with the right distorted tones. I have seen these around for years. I usually find them in black with a white guard. Enjoyed it!

[@evanogden]

That’s what this one was originally. Thick black paint!

[@justinmullenix1523]

Nice video. I've got a Lead project in the works - MIM Lead body paired with a baritone Strat neck. I'm going to run a SD Cool Rails in the bridge and a Vintage Rails in the neck. 6 saddle bridge with brass saddles. I like your idea of the blend pot, I may do that with mine!

[@evanogden]

Its one of my favorite mods! Good luck with the project.

[@TheHumanPurpleTape]

I loved the Lead Series & the new reissues. Another bonus is that they're slightly smaller than a strat. Love the idea of swapping the selector out for a blend knob.

[@randysrhythm]

Hey Evan, never heard of these things. That said, a quick Reverb search says exactly what you pointed out. Fender's Mexico factory seems to be trying to reproduce these? I'll check one out. I've been to Taylor many times, back when I lived in Belton. Great video, brother man 👍

[@evanogden]

Yes - fender re-released these from their Mexico factory. I haven't had any experience with these unfortunately.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Love the Player Series II and III from 2020 so much I bought one of each. It’s a pity they didn’t make a Lead 1 too as I’d have bought that also.

[@Mandobird1]

I have a Player Series Lead II. My favourite axe.

[@bobowrathsovine.]

When I got my first guitar which was a Hondo it had fret problems so the store sent it back to the company to be fixed it took like 2 months. Because I was taking lessons there the store gave me a Fender Lead 2 to use. This was in 1988 and was not a second hand instrument so I guess it was sitting in the store at least 5 years

[@evanogden]

Yeah I had a stock one in the past, it was 'meh'. But they are great modding platforms and have an interesting body shape

[@tfejulienewmar]

These were designed 25 years after a '54 Stratocaster by the founders of Fender's Custom Shop and handmade in the legendary Fullerton factory, with chunky, 50s inspired U necks and rare Seth Lover designed pickups that were never made again. They were deliberately designed to weigh alot, a little over 9 pounds and it gives them an aggressive Les Paul like tone. But they're all different depending on the year of their assembly. The '81 is more contoured than the '79 and '80 model and the '82 features a different pick guard scheme (WBW) and headstock shape too. The Lead's springless tailpiece improves string resonance and the German F tuners have special notches inside the pegs, which allows for a perfect string installation each time. They really were state of the art guitars at the time and never budget instruments, they were only $100 cheaper than an American Stratocaster and featured the same high quality tone woods as them too. They weren't designed for beginners, everyone from Deep Purple to Eric Clapton used them back then. I don't think they took off because they were obviously designed for rock and metal musicians of the era and not all Strat players like high output pickups. My vintage Lead I is an '81 model. It has a 7.25" to 12" compound radius with shredder string action (.60/.40) and that kind of low action feels incredible on such a chunky neck. They're criminally underrated, vintage guitars and if you find one, get it. If you play aggressive music, you'll love it

[@lueysixty-six7300]

I'm a fan of making your guitars unique, so good on ya, well done. It mightn't be what I'd do...but really that's the point. We could all be playing sunburst strats, and wouldn't that be interesting!🙄 - In fact, I have it on good information that 64-7% of players are playing silver skies..... 😑

[@klopfer_im_baellebad]

Would have bought that, but I have already a stratocaster. But it would be all I need :)

[@vynleshmynle7372]

I’ve never seen a lead 2 that looks like your guitar. You have obviously modified the original lead 2

[@beardogtx4546]

Great video! The pickups sound great. I have a lead that I’m planning on modding soon. Where did you get the custom pickguard made?

[@evanogden]

WDMusic.com

[@toneydavis9802]

Evan - how would this neck be for us blues players who like to wrap our thumb over the neck to choke the E and A strings?

[@evanogden]

If you're a thumb wrapper like I am, I would highly recommend this neck. You can easily get around it pretty much all the way up the neck. If you are looking for a Fender Lead neck, just be sure its from the first iteration (1979-1981) I think the new Fender Leads made in Mexico have a typical Mexico Stratocaster neck on them.

[@lowyaw]

they don't look like those were fender's claim to dominate the rock market. and I remember back in the 90s, my Dad referring to them as sort of beginner's guitar. but yeah some day some kid is going to pick one ip and get famous, and the prices will shoot through the roof

[@evanogden]

Exactly. Just like Cobain and the offsets

[@justinjensen4935]

Elliott Easton play one? As well as Bono

[@johnward3874]

Fender lost a lot to Kramer in late 70s and early 80s

[@Mike-fc5vp]

vintage fender lead is fullertone neck , the best fender neck sounded ever ! ( 79 - 82)