A Piece of Early-'80s Fender History, Ready to Play
The Fender Lead III doesn't get nearly the respect it deserves. Built at Fender's Fullerton, California plant between 1979 and 1982, the Lead Series was Fender's answer to the growing wave of affordable imports — and the Lead III was the hot-rodded flagship of that lineup, packing dual humbuckers and coil-splitting switches into a compact, double-cutaway body. Sienna Sunburst was introduced for the Lead III in 1981 and was only available through 1982, making this finish as period-correct as it gets.
This Fender Lead III is in Very Good condition. The guitar is fully functional and will go through a full tech set up prior to shipping. It has a minor play wear noted, scratches on back plate noted.. Please review the photos carefully for full condition.
It's a slimmed-down Strat alternative with its own distinct personality — a harder-edged, more versatile voice than most of what Fender offered at the time. The dual humbuckers were actually designed by Seth Lover, the engineer behind the original Gibson humbucker, and each can be switched to single-coil mode independently. That means you're getting a genuinely wide tonal range in a straightforward, no-fuss package.
If you've been looking for a USA-made vintage Fender that isn't a Strat or Tele, the Lead III is one of those overlooked gems that rewards players who take the time to find one. This one comes with a hardshell case and will be fully set up by our licensed tech before it ships.
A Body Built for Playing
The Lead III sports a solid alder body with a double-cutaway design that's noticeably more compact than a Stratocaster — easier to reach the upper frets, lighter on the shoulder, and comfortable whether you're sitting in on a rehearsal or standing through a full set. The Sienna Sunburst gloss finish on this guitar is the same warm, amber-tinted burst that Fender introduced in 1981, giving the guitar a distinctly vintage look that holds up beautifully four-plus decades later.
The bolt-on maple neck features a vintage-style "Soft C" profile with a 7¼" fingerboard radius — that tighter radius is very different from modern guitars and lends itself to chord work and lower action feel. Scale length is the standard Fender 25.5", so string tension and feel will be familiar to any Strat player.
Dual Humbuckers With a Twist
The Lead III's two humbuckers were designed by Seth Lover — the same engineer who invented the humbucker for Gibson — giving them serious pedigree. Each pickup can be switched to single-coil mode independently via a separate mini toggle switch, opening up a wide range of tones beyond what a typical HH guitar offers. Coil-split tones are lighter and snappier; full humbucker mode gives you warm, thick output with the kind of mid-forward character that cuts through a mix.
A 3-way toggle selects between bridge, both, and neck pickups, while the coil-split toggle handles the single-coil switching. Master volume and master tone round out the controls. Simple, logical, and easy to dial in quickly on stage or in the studio.
Hardtail Bridge and Vintage Hardware
The Lead III uses a hardtail string-through-body bridge — no tremolo, no floating saddles, just direct coupling between the strings and the body. Players who prioritize tuning stability and sustain tend to love this setup. The original "F"-logo tuners (West German-made on original production models) are a period-correct detail that speaks to the quality Fender put into this series even at an accessible price point.
The guitar features 21 medium frets on a rosewood fingerboard, a white plastic nut, and a 3-ply pickguard. Everything about the construction reflects Fullerton-era American Fender craftsmanship.
Product Features:
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Body: Solid alder, double-cutaway, Sienna Sunburst gloss finish
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Neck: Maple, bolt-on, vintage "Soft C" profile
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Fingerboard: Rosewood, 7¼" radius, 21 medium frets
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Scale Length: 25.5"
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Pickups: Dual Seth Lover-designed humbuckers (HH) with per-pickup coil-split switching
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Controls: 3-way toggle pickup selector, coil-split mini toggle, master volume, master tone
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Bridge: Hardtail, strings through body
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Tuners: "F"-logo vintage-style
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Country of Origin: USA (Fullerton, California)
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Includes: Hardshell case
Brand: Fender
Model: Lead III
SKU: U-LEADIII-CSB|E103679
Condition: Used
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