Brand: Ernie Ball MusicMan
Instrument Categories: Bass, Electric, Guitars, SOLD, Solidbody
Here’s a rarity and bit of history – a Music Man Sabre Bass, built during 1978 in Fullerton, California by CLF Research for Music Man. CLF stood for Clarence Leo Fender. Music Man was founded in 1974 and in 1975, Leo Fender’s non-compete agreement lapsed 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.
On March 7 1984, Ernie Ball bought the remains of Music Man and moved production to his own factory in San Luis Obispo, California, where Ernie Ball Music Man instruments are still made.
Here we’re looking at a Music Man Sabre Bass, featuring an Ash body and Maple neck with the 3+1 headstock layout. It also has the then-revolutionary active tone circuitry and a pair of humbucking pickups. This bass shows a number of Leo Fender’s other innovations, including a three-bolt micro-tilt neck joint and a fairly massive bridge with built in adjustable mutes.
This Music Man Sabre Bass is a very lively, resonant instrument with a very solid feel. It’s in overall good and original condition with the wear expected from decades of use. Presently, it is strung with roundwounds but given the very light fret wear, flat wounds were used for much of its life. The finish is somewhat oxidized, dulling the gloss, and has a fair amount of checking and a number of small dents and bumps but nothing significant.
Overall, this is a professional quality instrument in good condition, with some history attached.
A Stagg hard shell rectangular case is included.
- Model: Sabre Bass
- Year: 1978
- Finish Sunburst
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: C004407
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 24/03/2020
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 10.3lbs 4.68kg
- Scale Length: 34in 863.6mm
- Nut Width: 1.66in 42.2mm
