Brand: MusicMan
Instrument Categories: Electric, Guitars, SOLD, Solidbody
Built by Leo Fender’s CLF Research for Music Man from 1978 to 1982, the Music Man Sabre 1 featured an Ash body with 12″ radius Maple neck, humbucking pickups and innovative, versatile switching and active controls powered by a 9v battery. It has two features that Leo Fender had introduced just before selling Fender to CBS – the truss rod located at the head, and the three-bolt Micro Tilt adjustment.
The controls include a three-way pickup selector switch, Volume control, active Treble and Bass controls, a Bright switch and a Phase switch. The Phase switch refers to the phase relationship of the two pickups, so in one position both pickups are always on regardless of the pickup selector position.
The Music Man Sabre 1 guitar itself was designed by Leo Fender and George Fullerton following the Sting Ray bass design. Leo had just ended a ten year non-compete agreement with CBS that ran until 1975, and he became President of Music Man. Until 1979, Music Man guitars and basses were built by Leo’s other company, CLF Research. After 1979 and until Music Man folded in 1984, Grover Jackson built the bodies and necks and assembled the instruments.
The company was then sold to Ernie Ball, and is now known as Ernie Ball Music Man. The Sabre is still offered, but the design is quite different.
This Music Man Sabre 1 has a body date stamp of April 12 1978 and was built in Fullerton, California. It is in good condition with expected wear for a now-45 year old instrument. Fret wear is light, and the guitar plays and works well.
The original hard shell case is included.
- Model: Sabre 1
- Year: 1978
- Finish Walnut Brown and Natural Maple
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: A001509, body date April 12 1978 at Fullerton CA
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 12/04/2023
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 8.536lbs 3.88kg
- Scale Length: 25.5in 647.7mm
- Nut Width: 1/607in 40.82mm
