Music Man Sabre II guitar

[El Gogor]

Hi alls,

Someneone could tell me why nobody talk about M.M. Sabre 2 guitars ? These where the firsts guitars made by Leo fender for Music Man in the 70th's. I have one since 1977, and I never have any troubles with it. It is a really great instrument and I am surprised that on the Ernie Ball site, this guitar is never mentioned.

Has somebody the same one ?

I am from France (near Paris)

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I would imagine they are not discussed because these guitars were made before Ernie Ball bought the Music Man brand. They don't have a great deal in common with the current company or line, other than the name.

Mind you, I understand they are great guitars!

[tommyindelaware]

wow 77.......that must be the first one ever....since they didn't hit the walls till 79.
sabre 1's were first.

i had a silver sabre II also.......used it from 79 til 81/82 or so. that preamp was fun. i had to install a db cut switch for rhythm playing. for soloing.....i'd use the preamp on to very nicely ( very quietly) overdrive the front end of ANY amp. i wore the frets down to 0 !!! it turned green from all the bar smoke !!!!

ernie ball didn't built those guitars........therefore they don't have much insight to offer as far as there history goes.

[John C]

wow 77.......that must be the first one ever....since they didn't hit the walls till 79.
sabre 1's were first.

i had a silver sabre II also.......used it from 79 til 81/82 or so. that preamp was fun. i had to install a db cut switch for rhythm playing. for soloing.....i'd use the preamp on to very nicely ( very quietly) overdrive the front end of ANY amp. i wore the frets down to 0 !!! it turned green from all the bar smoke !!!!

ernie ball didn't built those guitars........therefore they don't have much insight to offer as far as there history goes.

Tommy - actually the Sabre I & II came out at the same time; the Roman numeral refers to the neck radius. The "I" had a 12" radius and the "II" had a 7.5" radius.

El Gogor - Music Man went bankrupt in 1984, about 4 years after Leo left the company. By the way, Music Man didn't make the guitars and basses, Leo's other company "CLF Research" made them and sold them to Music Man, who in turn sold them to the dealers. When Leo left Music Man, he basically "converted" CLF Research into G&L, and made both lines in the same factory for a year or so (there were supposedly some quality issues with the Music Mans causing Music Man to terminate the agreement with CLF Research in 1981 or so). In fact, the early G&Ls like the F-100 are a lot closer to the Sabre than anything EBMM has ever made; the EBMM guitars are a completely new line designed by Dudley Gimple that begins with the Silhouette and the Steve Morse Signature back in 1985/86. EB only produced the Sting Ray Bass and the Sabre Bass from the Leo era, and the Sabre bass has been retired for a while.

[Sigmunds Couch]

Can you provide a serial number for it. With some luck, maybe someone can place it. From what I understand, EBMM does not have records from back then but the dots can be connected from what serial numbers are known and give an approximate DOB.

[John C]

Oops - I forgot to add that some of the folks on the G&L forum (guitarsbyleo.com) also collect and track the Leo-era Music Mans; you could also try for info over there.

[digeratidave]

Music Man Ash Sabre II (A001123) with Sabre - 2EQ & Toggle Switch
(Original Owner purchased from Happy Logan Music, Denver CO)
I heard Eric Clapton play it at Red Rocks and bought it the next day!
P.S. I had to pick between it and a matching fretless 3+1 Bass. OOOOPS!!