In response to low-priced import competition, Fender created the Lead Series in 1979, featuring a new solidbody design, hardtail bridge and cool new wiring options. . The Fender Player Lead II is an homage to those late '70s models, featuring dual-slanted Player series single-coil pickups, a modern "C" neck shape with medium jumbo frets, dual-toggle switches (one for pickup selection, one for phase-reverse), and Lead double-cutaway shape.