Music Man Sabre VS Music Man Stingray

[BjornStravinsky]

I found a 1979 Music Man Sabre on sale for $1200 at my local Guitar Center. I was wondering what exactly differentiates this bass from the Music Man Stingray? I noticed that the Sabre has a much more G&L style bridge (only lacking locking function) than the Stingray, and the controls are reminiscent (though not identical) of a G&L L-2000 or ASAT bass.

So what is it? A prototype G&L, a hotrodded two pickup Stingray, something else?

I've been going in and playing it since last week, and I think I will jump on it today. From what I've seen, these don't come up for sale that often and most people who own one have nothing but positive reviews for them (apart from the treble boost and phase switches). The foam mutes are missing, but other than that, it looks all original, and judging from the worn through paint on the arm contour, it wasn't locked in a closet for the last 30-odd years.

[Exploiter8]

Is it brown? My MM Sabre had the skinny jazz type neck which felt like a baseball bat. I traded that in on my Alembic in '82 and never regretted it.

X8

[BjornStravinsky]

No, it's black (I think they painted over a sunburst in the factory because there's a little bit of that color showing through where the paint has faded). It definitely has a wider neck than a Jazz, but it's also pretty thin. I've played baseball bat necks and this isn't one of them.

[Caca de Kick]

Well yes it's very similar to a StingRay, just with two pickups. That forward pickup does give it a way fatter lowend sound, and a tad more scooped tone if you will. The body is a tad more slender (no, nothing near a small Sterling size), and the body also has belly and forearm contours that the preEB StingRay did not have.
I have both.

The details of the Saber are what Leo used to model the G&L L-2000 with. But it's funny...the Sabre ended up being a poor seller for MM and ended up being discontinued. Whereas the L-2000 became the flagship seller for G&L.

[smcd]

Originally Posted by BjornStravinsky

No, it's black (I think they painted over a sunburst in the factory because there's a little bit of that color showing through where the paint has faded)

Uhh... probably not. It's likely that one of the owners had it painted over. Even so, if the black paint is well done, and everything else on the bass is original, $1,200 is a decent deal.

[BjornStravinsky]

Originally Posted by smcd

Uhh... probably not. It's likely that one of the owners had it painted over.

Really? Because I found a picture of another Sabre with the same black over burst paint job going on.



Around the scratches on the arm contour you can see a little brown under the black.

Either way, I agree. $1200's a fair price for a refinished pre-Ernie Ball Music Man and it looks pretty sleek with the black on black pickguard.

[SJan3]

I've owned both. The Sabre, for me, did not have the punch and presence of the Stingray. Nice bass but I found the Stingray, not the Sabre, to be the "holy grail" of pre EB basses.

[BjornStravinsky]

Originally Posted by SJan3

I found the Stingray, not the Sabre, to be the "holy grail" of pre EB basses.

I think that that is the general consensus on Sabres, but honestly I'm just happy to have a Leo Fender era anything. Naturally Leo era Fenders are mostly well out of my price range, and I've yet to come across a used Leo Fender era G&L anywhere (I refuse to buy any instrument unless I've had a chance to at least feel the neck), so this Music Man kind of fits the bill, especially since so many of Leo's design touches are evident on it.

[SJan3]

Originally Posted by BjornStravinsky

I think that that is the general consensus on Sabres, but honestly I'm just happy to have a Leo Fender era anything. Naturally Leo era Fenders are mostly well out of my price range, and I've yet to come across a used Leo Fender era G&L anywhere (I refuse to buy any instrument unless I've had a chance to at least feel the neck), so this Music Man kind of fits the bill, especially since so many of Leo's design touches are evident on it.

No worries. If you love it, that's all that matters and it is a fine instrument. I will say that my issue is the toggle for the pups. I like to blend Ala jazz bass and you can't with a Sabre. Same beef with an L2000. However, the new M2000 G&L might be a contender.
But you want a true Leo bass..

[mcm]

IMO the sabres have a strong g string, unlike the stingray

[Mikebass6]

Buy. It. Now! You really won't be sorry, plus they are very versatile. Actually traded my stingray for the 79 Sabre and the preamp definitely kills.

[Birdland11]

This may help http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8RcRswPp0k&feature=plcp

[Caca de Kick]

Except the HH Ray isn't like a Sabre. I've had a few of them too, and the Sabre is deeper in the low mids and much smoother highs.

Here's funkstar650 in his youtube vids doing a darn great job showcasing the Sabre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axIok...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8MuKMpK7mY

[smiked1]

Originally Posted by SJan3

I've owned both. The Sabre, for me, did not have the punch and presence of the Stingray. Nice bass but I found the Stingray, not the Sabre, to be the "holy grail" of pre EB basses.

Were they both the same year? I've had late 70's Stingrays and Sabres. They sound exactly the same on the bridge pickup. The electronics are practically identical and the pickup position is the same. The Sabre is the better bass with the additional pickup and smaller, more comfortable body. I'm glad this "mystique" exists around the Stingays. I can buy up a few more Sabres, the actual holy grail. Although, it is much harder to find a nice Sabre than a Stingay.

[drTSTingray]

2 pick up Musicman basses with both humbuckers dialled in give the most wicked scooped slap sound known to man - and you can get the normal Stingray slap sound (which is also unique and great) with the bridge humbucker soloed.

Best of luck with buying it.

[SJan3]

Originally Posted by smiked1

Were they both the same year? I've had late 70's Stingrays and Sabres. They sound exactly the same on the bridge pickup. The electronics are practically identical and the pickup position is the same. The Sabre is the better bass with the additional pickup and smaller, more comfortable body. I'm glad this "mystique" exists around the Stingays. I can buy up a few more Sabres, the actual holy grail. Although, it is much harder to find a nice Sabre than a Stingay.

Wrong. The bridge pup on the Sabre is smaller and closer to the bridge than a Stingray. They sound nothing alike when the Sabre is in bridge mode or any other mode for that matter.

[mcnach]

Originally Posted by SJan3

Wrong. The bridge pup on the Sabre is smaller and closer to the bridge than a Stingray. They sound nothing alike when the Sabre is in bridge mode or any other mode for that matter.

+1

The Sabre is actually closer to a G&L L2000. Nothing at all like a Stingray.

Look at the bridge pickup position.
Location, location, location...

[danomite64]

My Sabre sounded a hell of a lot more like my Stingray than it did my L-2000. Both MM's were pre-EB, however; my EB 'Rays didn't sound all that much like my Sabre.

[smiked1]

Originally Posted by SJan3

Wrong. The bridge pup on the Sabre is smaller and closer to the bridge than a Stingray. They sound nothing alike when the Sabre is in bridge mode or any other mode for that matter.

The bobbin is slightly smaller on the pickup, but they are wound almost exactly the same. Anyone have a pre-EB Stingray they can measure the pickup location? I'll measure on the Sabre.

[LanEvo]

Originally Posted by smcd

Uhh... probably not. It's likely that one of the owners had it painted over.

By all accounts, Fender painted over sunburst finishes all the time. If a burst came out looking off, they'd respray a solid finish on top and move it down the line. I wouldn't be surprised if MM were to do the same.