When Leo Fender left Music Man in 1978, the company was left without a production arm, as Fender’s CFL company had been contracted to supply instruments to Music Man. Grover Jackson stepped in for a short time, but his attention was focused on his growing Charvel/Jackson company. After several years of difficulties, the owners decided to sell.

One of Music Man’s employees, Sterling Ball, was the son of Ernie Ball, a musician, music store owner, string designer, and the maker of Earthwood acoustic basses in the early 1970s. In 1984 Ball became the new owner of Music Man, and he opened a new plant in San Luis Obispo, on the coast of CA. Ball was able to continue Music Man’s success with the Sabre and Stingray basses, and in 1986 introduced his first new guitar, the Silhouette.

Although it was basically a “Super Strat”, it also featured such innovations as the four-and-two tuner arrangement, a Teflon-coated truss-rod for easier adjustment, and quick-change solderless pickup assemblies.