Music Man Sabre II Natural 1978

The Music Man Sabre II was introduced in 1978 as one of the company’s early electric guitar models, developed during the period when Leo Fender was closely involved with Music Man and CLF Research. It combines familiar Fender-style construction with a much more elaborate active electronics system than most traditional solidbody guitars of the period.

This 1978 example has a natural-finished ash body with a one-piece maple neck and fingerboard. The neck has the same familiar narrow, rounded feel that a lot of 70s Fenders have, with the original low frets. It plays great though.

The Sabre II uses two original Music Man humbuckers feeding an onboard 9V active preamp. Controls consist of master volume, bass and treble, together with a three-way pickup selector and additional Bright and Phase switches. The result is a much broader control range than on most passive guitars from the same period, with plenty of clarity and attack available from both pickups.

This particular guitar is exceptionally lively acoustically, with a loud and very twangy response even before plugging in. The guitar has normal wear for the age. The original strap buttons have been replaced with Dunlop locking items. No case included. Weight is 3600g, which is fairly light for one of these.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model: Music Man Sabre II
• Year: 1978
• Country of manufacture: USA
• Body: Solid ash
• Finish: Natural gloss
• Neck: One-piece maple
• Fingerboard: Maple
• Neck construction: Bolt-on
• Neck joint: Three-bolt with Micro-Tilt adjustment
• Neck profile: Narrow rounded profile
• Scale length: 25.5″
• Fingerboard radius: 7.25″
• Frets: 22 small vintage-style frets
• Fret condition: Original, low but playable
• Nut width: Approx. 41 mm
• Position markers: Black dots
• Truss rod: Adjustable
• Headstock: Six-in-line
• String retainer: Bar-style retainer
• Tuners: Music Man branded enclosed tuners
• Pickup configuration: HH
• Neck pickup: Original Music Man humbucker
• Bridge pickup: Original Music Man humbucker
• Electronics: Active 9V Music Man preamp
• Controls: Master Volume, Bass, Treble
• Pickup selector: Three-way blade switch
• Additional switching: Bright switch, Phase switch
• Bridge: Original Music Man cast bridge
• Saddles: Six individually adjustable saddles
• Stringing: Through-body
• Pickguard: Black
• Control plate: Black
• Hardware: Chrome
• Strap buttons: Dunlop locking strap buttons
• Weight: 3600g
• Case: No case