Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $1,183
High-end/Boutique
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
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Description
The Music Man Sabre II is a solid body electric guitar that merges classic design with modern sound capabilities, making it a versatile choice for guitarists of all levels. This instrument is renowned for its powerful humbucking pickups that deliver a rich and dynamic tonal range, perfect for genres ranging from rock to blues. The Sabre II features a sleek body design that ensures comfort during long playing sessions, while the smooth neck and fingerboard enhance playability, allowing for effortless transitions across the frets.
Its robust build quality is complemented by a range of components that ensure durability and reliability on stage or in the studio. The bridge and tuning machines are designed to provide excellent tuning stability, giving you the confidence to perform without worrying about frequent retuning. Moreover, the Sabre II offers an intuitive control layout, including volume and tone knobs and a versatile pickup selector switch, giving you the freedom to shape your sound with ease.
Whether jamming at home, recording, or performing live, the Music Man Sabre II is a dependable companion that brings out the best in every musical expression.
Key Features:
- Solid body electric guitar
- Equipped with powerful humbucking pickups for a wide tonal range
- Comfortable body design for extended playability
- Smooth neck and fingerboard for easy fret transitions
- Durable bridge and tuning machines for stable tuning
- Intuitive control layout with volume, tone knobs, and pickup selector
- Suitable for a variety of music genres
Product specs
| Brand | Music Man |
| Model | Sabre II with Maple Fretboard, Sabre II with Rosewood Fretboard |
| Finish | Black, Natural Gloss, Natural Satin, Silver, Sunburst, Walnut, White |
| Year | 1978 - 1980 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Alder, Ash, Poplar |
| Body Shape | Double Cutaway |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | String-Through |
| Color Family | Black, Brown, Natural, Silver, Tan, White |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Finish Style | Gloss, Satin |
| Fretboard Material | Maple, Rosewood |
| Fretboard Radius | 7.25" |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 22 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Offset Body | Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | HH |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Wood Top Style | Opaque, Plain |
FAQs
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What are the pickup configurations on the Music Man Sabre II?
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The Music Man Sabre II features a dual humbucker (HH) pickup configuration, providing a versatile range of tones suitable for various musical styles.
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What type of neck construction does the Music Man Sabre II have?
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The Music Man Sabre II has a bolt-on neck construction, which contributes to its bright tone and makes it easier to adjust or replace the neck if needed.
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Is the Music Man Sabre II suitable for playing rock music?
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Yes, the Music Man Sabre II is well-suited for rock music, thanks to its dual humbucker pickups that deliver powerful and versatile tones ideal for rock and other genres.
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What is the scale length of the Music Man Sabre II?
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The Music Man Sabre II has a 25.5-inch scale length, which is standard for many electric guitars and offers a balanced tension and feel.
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What type of fretboard materials are available for the Music Man Sabre II?
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The Music Man Sabre II is available with either a maple or rosewood fretboard, each offering distinct tonal and aesthetic characteristics.
Videos
guitarsib
Musicman Sabre II
Musicman Sabre II
guitarsib
Music Man Sabre II 1978
Unca Stu
1978 Music Man Sabre II electric guitar
Jake Wildwood & Co
Music Man Sabre II Cherry 1978 USA
Loud Lemon Demo
Reviews
PROS
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Built-in overdrive pre-amp offers a monster sound with high output
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Versatile tones, can mimic Strat and Tele sounds but unique in its own way
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Active electronics provide unlimited sound possibilities
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Exceptional sustain and perfect balance
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Rare natural swamp ash body with a stunning appearance
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Designed by Leo Fender, offering a powerful alternative to Fender models
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Holds tuning exceptionally well, even in outdoor settings
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Easy to play and rugged, ideal for live performances
CONS
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Heavy ash body feels like a load of bricks on the neck
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Wiring configuration can be complex and difficult for some musicians
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Price was high for its era, limiting its mass market appeal
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Music Man Sabre II.
Features and functionality
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The Music Man Sabre II includes a black switch for phasing and a white switch for treble boost, enhancing tone when used with tube amps.
Source -
The Sabre II has a 7.5" fretboard radius, which is appreciated for its comfort despite being a 40+ year-old design.
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The Sabre II's active electronics include a coil split and an active/passive switch, with active mode offering treble and bass boosts.
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Comparisons
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Owners compare the Sabre II's playability and build quality favorably against Fender, Gibson, and even some PRS models, highlighting its unique neck feel.
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User experience
Value and pricing
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A user acquired a Sabre II for $800, praising its minimal wear and high-quality aesthetics, describing the black finish as versatile.
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Build quality
Use cases and applications
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Capable of mimicking a wide range of tones, from Telecasters to Les Pauls, fitting various musical styles.
Source
5.0 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 2 Ratings
Artist usage
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In the music video for "Dancer," at approximately 1:39, Mark Bowen is clearly seen playing a Music Man Sabre II guitar, as evidenced by the image provided.
In this photo, you can see Amelia play a 1970's Music Man Sabre II, in sunburst finish. (2017).
“I played acoustic for the first time – a J-200 on the intro and outro of ‘All Of This And Nothing’ – but my main guitar was a Music Man Sabre II. I put a Les Paul pickup in the neck and a Bill Lawrence in the bridge, and cranked it up through a baby Vox and a Pignose. Pedal-wise, I was using an MXR flanger, a Rat, a Roland Space Echo, delays and wah. I was always much more into effected-sounding lines than straight ones, and I used a lot of textures and volume pedal swells and some harmonics.”
In the 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads, Alex Weir can be seen playing a late 1970s Music Man Sabre II guitar. He switches between two of these guitars in the film, one in a natural finish, and one in a white finish. They are both dual-humbucker.
Can be seen using one throughout this video, starting at 0:07.
Album Usage
The Music Man Sabre II has been featured on the following albums:
![Music Man Sabre II as heard on Stop Making Sense (Deluxe Edition) [Live] by Talking Heads (2023)](https://images.equipboard.com/uploads/album/image/44044/stop-making-sense-deluxe-edition-live.jpg)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Music Man Sabre II, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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