That Was The Year... 1978
MuSic MAN rElEASES ThE SABrE i AND ii
guitars and the much anticipated twin pickup Sabre bass. The guitars were basically an upgrade of their original Stingray. The models look identical but the Sabre I has a fret board radius of 12” and on the Sabre II it’s 7.25. Most models are finished in Sunburst or natural and although the bass features two humbuckers they are smaller units than on the Stingray Bass.
SEvErE BliZZArDS hiT
the south west during February; four piers are ruined at Skegness, Herne Bay, Hunstanton and Margate due to a North Sea storm surge; the first official naturist beach opens in Covehurst Bay near Hastings; public outcry leads to a reduction of Grey seals being culled in Orkney and the Western Islands; and the first woman to sail single-handedly around the world is Naomi James.
by opposition leader Margaret Thatcher that many Britons fear being ‘swamped by people with a different culture’ opinion polls put the Conservatives eleven points ahead of the Labour government. The State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme is introduced, plans are announced for a new exam to replace O Levels and CSE’s unemployment reaches one and a half million while Inflation drops to 8.3%, the lowest level for six years.
Douglas Adams’ play The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; the Prince Edward Theatre in London stages Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Evita; Milton Keynes sees the arrival of their iconic Concrete Cows; Motability is founded to provide cars for disabled people; strikes lead to the closure of 23 Ford car plants; a baker’s strike leads to panic bread buying so bakeries impose rationing; and Norton Villiers Triumph motorcycle manufacturer is liquidated
to the Sex Pistols’ final gig in at the Winterland Ballroom and the Dead Kennedys’ first one at the Mabuhay Gardens; Saturday Night Fever and Grease dominate cinemas and the album charts; The Who play their final show with Keith Moon during a filmed performance for The Kids Are Alright movie as Keith dies just 20 days after the release of their eighth studio album, Who Are You; Gary Moore replaces Brian Robertson on guitar in Thin Lizzy and Michael Schenker leaves UFO to rejoin Scorpions.
the design of its range with a change of typeface, replacing the iconic basketweave grille with black material and a sleeker look generally for the Hustler and Series Two ranges of guitar and bass amplifiers. The Orange Hustler 125 Reverb Twin is a two-channel combo with a solid plywood carcass, two 12-inch HP speakers and 2 huge transformers! The Orange Shop is forced to close due to the redevelopment in New Compton Street.
FolloWiNG A STATEMENT
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SAN FrANciSco plAyS hoST
orANGE AMpliFicATioN upDATES
Prs Guitars eurOPe has announced the launch of a new, limited edition se signature model, available exclusively this side of the atlantic. created in conjunction with guitarist ace from multi-platinum brit-rockers