Stingray / Sabre question?

Boombass76 · #1 08-14-2010, 11:15 AM

Hi guys,

I have been searching the forum for an answer to a specific Stingray/Sabre question, but I haven't been able to find it. So, here goes...

I have a chance at getting a 79 Music Man Sabre bass. I love the Stingray tone, and therefore, I wonder whether I will be able to create a reasonably genuine SR tone on a Sabre by using the bridge pickup only and bypassing the 'phase' and 'bright' switches?

I have read that the preamp (and maybe even the pickups) in the Sabre differs slightly from the original pre-EB StingRay basses.

So, if anyone here on TB has owend or tried out both these basses, I would like to hear your opinions

If I can make a fairly accurate SR tone, I think I am up for it as I imagine that I can make a whole lot of other great tones using the front pickup and the phase and bright switches as well...

trunkshope6 · #2 08-14-2010, 01:15 PM

ive heard u can get great stingray tones outt of the bridge pickup,but overall with the front pickup ull get a great smooth bassy tone.

dotlikeimpact · #3 08-14-2010, 02:10 PM

I have a 79 Sabre. It's great, but not exactly a stingray. The bridge pickup can get close, but is not the same. It's a much more versatile instrument, IMHO.

depalm · #4 08-14-2010, 03:24 PM

I don't think you'll be able to get a Ray bridge sound out of a Sabre,

The pickups on Sabre are slightly small than the Ray, they are not located at the same position and the preamp is also different.

Sabre has a different MM "flavor", in spite you can feel the MM signature it is not the same.

There's a thread I did few weeks back with some Sabre clips.

Sabre Bass Clips

You can listen to the bridge PU solo and you'll see that it doesn't sound like a Ray, however it sounds great.

**jlepre** · #5 08-14-2010, 04:31 PM

I would go here http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/ and ask that question.

Fuzzbass · #6 08-14-2010, 05:15 PM

For about a decade, my #1 gig basses were a Sabre and a Ray. Sure, the Sabre doesn't sound exactly like a Ray, but when you solo the bridge pickup it's plenty close enough.

Boombass76 · #7 08-14-2010, 07:42 PM

Hey, thanks for the great feedback so far.

I never imagined the Sabre would be able to make the excact same tone as the SR, but if it gets close, I'm fine with that. After all, I do have my trusty SR5 as well ;-) I think I'll go for it!!!

danomite64 · #8 08-14-2010, 08:07 PM

My '80 Sabre with the bridge pickup soloed sounded EXACTLY like my '80 Stingray.

depalm · #9 08-14-2010, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danomite64

My '80 Sabre with the bridge pickup soloed sounded EXACTLY like my '80 Stingray.

I would be glad if you could make a comparison between them, posting audio clips because my Sabre and my Sting Ray don't sound the same at all!

Boombass76 · #10 08-14-2010, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by depalm

I don't think you'll be able to get a Ray bridge sound out of a Sabre,

The pickups on Sabre are slightly small than the Ray, they are not located at the same position and the preamp is also different.

Sabre has a different MM "flavor", in spite you can feel the MM signature it is not the same.

There's a thread I did few weeks back with some Sabre clips.

Sabre Bass Clips

You can listen to the bridge PU solo and you'll see that it doesn't sound like a Ray, however it sounds great.

Yes, I did check out your clips. Great stuff, BTW!

The thing is that I have never tried a pre-EB SR, so my preferende is an 'Alnico' SR5 from 92. And it does sound a little different from your clips with the bridge PU, but I was thinking compared to an old SR 4 :-)

malthumb · #11 08-15-2010, 06:07 AM

Kimb76,

'79 Sabres are rare enough that if you go ahead and jump on it and then find that you totally hate it, you'll have little if any trouble getting your money back.

I have a '79 Sabre and an '80 Sabre. Don't have a Ray to compare them to, but I'm fairly certain that if I tried to sell one, there'd be no problems moving one.

Peace,

James

GZ2 · #12 08-15-2010, 06:22 AM

Doc , I own a 79 Sabre. I had a pre-EB Stingray. I gave it away and have since aquired
an EB SR. I would say if you want the stingray sound, get a Sting Ray. But don't sleep on the Sabre. It's a beast too. Leo Fender really made some crazy nice instuments.

raal · #13 08-15-2010, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by depalm

I don't think you'll be able to get a Ray bridge sound out of a Sabre,

The pickups on Sabre are slightly small than the Ray, they are not located at the same position and the preamp is also different.

Sabre has a different MM "flavor", in spite you can feel the MM signature it is not the same.

There's a thread I did few weeks back with some Sabre clips.

Sabre Bass Clips
You can listen to the bridge PU solo and you'll see that it doesn't sound like a Ray, however it sounds great.

+1,

Louis Johnson played both and some songs he did with the ray, others with the sabre. The bridge p/u on a sabre is going to sound tighter than a ray. both pickups full on a sabre is a very full and punchy sound. Listen to Dazz band recordings from the early 80's that's the sound he uses a lot. And don't forget to check funkstar650 on youtube.