A very nice and completely original 1980 Fender Lead II. We purchased this Lead II from its first owner, who bought the guitar in 1980 at Tonika in Groningen. He had seen The Edge playing a Fender Lead II and was immediately sold on the model.

Fender introduced the Lead series in 1979 as a more affordable alternative within the Fender lineup. The series consisted of the Lead I with one humbucker, the Lead II with two single-coil pickups, and the Lead III with two humbuckers. Production continued until 1983. Although the Lead models never achieved the same level of fame as the Stratocaster and Telecaster, they are now highly sought-after vintage Fenders with a character all their own.

Weighing in at 4.1 kg, this Lead II is on the heavy side, which is something we often see with these models. Other than that, this Lead II has remained in completely original condition—from the potentiometers and pickups to the electronics and hardware. The guitar has a beautiful, heavily cracked finish. This cracking is typical of the Lead series and gives the instrument a gorgeous vintage look.

The maple neck with a rosewood fretboard has a pleasant and comfortable profile. The two original Fender single-coil pickups deliver a wide range of tones—from bright and sparkling to sharp and intense. With the three-way switch and the out-of-phase option, you can get a surprising variety of sounds from this simple setup.

The Fender comes in its original case. The first owner used to transport the guitar to band rehearsals on his bike, which has left some visible marks on the case.