Back in the days of superstrats and high-performance shredders, Fender was competing with the likes of Kramer, Charvel, Ibanez, and Jackson. From 1979 to 1982, Fender made the budget-minded Lead series: the single-humbucker Lead I, dual-single-coil Lead II, and dual-humbucker Lead III. Later in the decade, Fender Japan produced the more substantial HM Strat (with that "HM" standing for Heavy Metal), which was subsequently made in the US too.
Now, Fender has announced the return of these shredders, with the same '80s colors and quick-playing features of the originals, along with some updates.
The new The Lead II and The Lead III come in bold finishes like Neon Green and Purple Metallic. They follow the naming scheme of the originals, with The Lead II sporting single coils and The Lead III getting two hotly wound humbuckers, both with hardtail bridges. Pickup phase switches on The Lead II and split-coil switches on The Lead III complete the classic tonal formats. Each is available for just $599.99 USD.
The HM Strat is a faster, more dynamic instrument. Like the early originals built in Japan's Fujigen factory, the reissues will be built in Fujigen as well. The HSS pickup configuration, slim neck (with a flat 17" radius), and Floyd Rose locking tremolo are designed for quick tapping, pick squeals, dive bombs, and more pyro-technical feats of guitar-playing.
The limited-edition run is available in four different colors—Bright White, Ice Blue, Flash Pink, and Frozen Yellow—for $1,199.99.
All of the new guitars—The Lead II, The Lead III, and the HM Strat—will be shipped to dealers in February, and are available for pre-order now. Find the latest news and product releases from NAMM 2020.