Sabre II serial#

[knell]

I got my second hand (all black) Sabre II many years ago. It is still a great instrument. I don't know much about its history, but it would be nice to know the age and place of manufacture. The serial # is A004397. Does anyone has any details or information?

Kjell Arne
Norway

 

[John C]

Kjell,

Although I'm sure someone from EBMM will chime in, I'm almost 100% certain that Ernie Ball didn't get any serial number records when they bought the assets of the original Music Man company in 1984.

Proabably the best way to date your Sabre II would be to remove the neck and check the date stamp on the heel. The body should also have a date stamp in the neck pocket.

I can tell you the guitar was built in Fullerton, California in the plant that now makes G&L Guitars. Long (non-EBMM) story short, Leo Fender was one of 3 principals of Music Man, and Leo also owned a company called CLF Research. Of course, I'm not really aware of the legal reasons why (perhaps because Music Man was organized before Leo's non-compete contract with CBS expired), but Leo used his CLF Research company to build the guitars and basses, which he sold to Music Man. Music Man, in turn, sold the guitars and basses to their dealer network. Leo officially came forward as an owner of Music Man in 1975 after his non-compete contract with CBS (from the 1964 sale of Fender Instruments/Fender Sales to CBS) expired.

Leo had a falling out with his partners in Music Man circa 1979, and sold his shares back to the other two partners. Despite Leo officially leaving Music Man, CLF Research continued to produce the guitars and basses for them. Leo then reorganized CLF Research into G&L Guitars with George Fullerton in 1980. For a couple of years the same factory made G&Ls under their own name and made Music Mans under the CLF Research name. However, there were some issues and CLF Research ended their contract with Music Man circa 1982/83. Music Man never found another guitar manufacturer, also had some problems with their amp factory, and wound up bankrupt by 1984.

EBMM bought the Music Man name and the instrument designs in 1984. EBMM still produces the Sting Ray bass, and did produce the Sabre Bass for a few years. However, all of the current EBMM models except the Sting Ray bass are their own designs.

 

[knell]

Thanks!

Thanks, John C! This information was of great value for me!

 

[John C]

Kjell,

You're welcome! While I don't have copies at home, I have read both Forrest White's book and George Fullerton's book; while it comes up as a "he said/she said" account of Music Man, CLF Research and G&L, you can piece together the story.

Forrest White was Leo Fender's plant manger back when he still owned Fender; White, Tom Walker and Leo were the principals in the original Music Man company. George Fullerton was the "G" of "G&L", which originally stood for "George & Leo".

Edited to add:

And if you think the entire Fender/CLF Research/(original) Music Man/G&L thing is confusing, you should see my research that shows the link between Charvel and Schecter and then follows their family trees out to today.

 

[Colin]

Good post, very informative.