78 MM Sabre

[geddy402]

Found this on craigslist. Looks pretty cool with the checking.

$1400 a descent price? Wasn't sure since its a rarer color.

Never played one, anyone have experience with these? I assume you can get a Stingray sound if you solo the bridge pick up. Is the preamp the same?

 

[smcd]

$1,400 for a pre-EB Sabre in Inca Silver? That's a great deal. The pickguard isn't orginal, but that doesn't really matter.

 

[Lo-E]

Yeah, very good deal.

They're cool basses. The switching is a little bizarre, and a couple of the switch positions are kinda useless, but there are bunch of great sounds to make up for that - and they're just cool as heck!

 

[GM60466]

$1400 is an exceptional price. I never understood all the switches.

 

[geddy402]

Cool. Thanks for the info!

Here's a couple more pics.

Do you know if it has the same preamp as a Stingray of this year?

 

[geddy402]

Couple more pics...

Does it look legit to you guys?

 

[IPA]

wicked finish checking

 

[malthumb]

Looks legit to me. If you do spring for it (I vote go 4 it) you should check in at this site.

Link Removed

It's a tracking of all the pre-Ernie Ball Stingrays and Sabres.

 

[Marial]

BUY IT!

If you decide not to send me the CList link.

 

[bassistjoe93]

Do it, that thing is wicked cool!

 

[smcd]

That won't last long on CL at that price

 

[mikeswals]

Inca silver for the win! Rare color that usually commands a premium. Yes its legit other than the pickguard as smcd mentioned, stop kicking tires and just go buy it.

The preamp is very similar to the StingRay 2eq, yes you can get a Ray sound by soloing the rear pickup. The switches are:
1st switch is pickup selector -front/both/rear-.
2nd switch is pickup phase reversal, which is useless.
3rd switch is a bright boost.

 

[geddy402]

It is really tempting. I was looking for a vintage Stingray, but I guess I could settle for this! Seems like it is basically a stingray with some extra options...some of which seem useless. Guessing the Sabre preamp is the same as the Stingray.

 

[geddy402]

Oops...didn't see caca's reply before I posted mine.

Emailed seller so we'll see if it's still available.

 

[mikeswals]

Yeah, Ray-ish sound with solo rear. Then it can get really fat and deep with both pickups on.

 

[geddy402]

Thanks for the info everybody!

 

[taurus1]

I've never seen or heard of an Inca silver MM Sabre, I have my doubts that it's original finish, especially since the pickguard isn't stock.
the "checking" looks fake, more like intentional scratches.
I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole, at that price.
maybe if it was $700.00.

 

[smcd]

I've never seen or heard of an Inca silver MM Sabre, I have my doubts that it's original finish, especially since the pickguard isn't stock.
the "checking" looks fake, more like intentional scratches.
I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole, at that price.
maybe if it was $700.00.

Inca Silver was a factory MM color. I've seen Inca Silver Pre-EB StingRays, and if they made Inca Silver StingRays, they made Inca Silver Sabres. I very much doubt that MM delegated Inca Silver "a color for StingRays only". In fact, the very idea is absurd.

Those aren't scratches, that's surface checking. I've owned G&L's from that era that had checking just like that.

 

[mikeswals]

Correct. There's at least a few Inca Sabres listed in what serials were contributed to the registry. So you can see how rare a finish it is to begin with.
The finish checks were taken with a camera flash, that's what it does when you do that.

Link Removed

 

[winterburn69]

What a rad looking bass! I hope you get it, especially for that price. I usually don't like Inca Silver, but the way it's aged looks quite awesome.