I'm aware of the basic differences between these but as far as overall impressions what have you guys found? I say this never having an opportunity to play either but kinda gassing hard for one.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Ernie Ball Sabre Classic reissue versus the original run?
- Thread starter tindrum
- Start date
Vintage Sabres can be very heavy. Don't know if the reissues are any or much lighter.
An absolute growler live, I've never recorded with my reissue but very seldom play out anymore with any other four string.
The old Sabre I played was a bit noisy and was overall not as nice as the reissues I've owned. That being said I definitely prefer the dual pickup Stingrays. All 3 were on the heavy side.
Never played an original but I just received my Classic yesterday. Honeymoon phase but I love it so far. Put Cobalt flats on it. It is 9lb 15oz, but that's not my heaviest bass. 75 Ash P is 10 lb 2oz. High quality bass…the neck flame is insane
Last edited:
I was working in a music store and we became a MM dealer back in the day. The Sting Rays and the guitar amps flew out the door, sold a few guitars, and couldn't give away Sabres.
The reissues may fare better, but then today you have HH Sting Rays, so we'll just have to see.
The reissues may fare better, but then today you have HH Sting Rays, so we'll just have to see.
I really loved my reissue while I had it, the pickup switching was great, 5 way selector with the middle positions being single coil neck and the single coil neck with the rear humbucker. Mine was a little bit under 10lbs, sounded incredible though. I think they were different enough to warrant a place in the line up, shame they don't make them anymore I always wanted a Diego blue one. Mine was honey burst.
I had one for a while. It was the best sounding Music Man bass I ever had. Being able to add that (noiseless) single coil to the Stingray sound (the lower coil on the top pickup) made it FAT FAT FAT.
Aesthetically I preferred the 1st generation : the original bridge is cool as hell, I preferred the look (and potential) of the three switches, rather than the blade selector, and the micro tilt is a great idea on paper (all of which got carried over - except for the mutes - to the G&L L-2000).
In reality, I think the "Classic" reissue was by far the better instrument.
Besides just being a more refined build, with nicely figured wood, the pickup switching options were awesome (and unfortunately not reproduced in the HH StingRay).
The bridge H + neck S is the best StingRay sound ever, and only otherwise briefly available on the short-lived StingRay HS.
The thing I found strange was that the 2nd generation and later Sabres all had an 8-pole bridge Humbucker, and a 16-mini pole neck Humbucker, with covers - which was claimed to reduce magnetic pull, and eliminate an associated chorusing artefact...
Apparently the market only wanted StingRays, not Sabres: so when the Sabre got the chop, the StingRay HH eventually filled the gap.
I've no idea why the HH StingRay reverted to two 8-pole Humbuckers, instead of 8 + 16, and I've no idea why they omitted the H + S switching option - it all seems like a massive step backwards in my opinion.
(and HH StingRays just look plain wrong to me, whereas I think Sabres look great).
In reality, I think the "Classic" reissue was by far the better instrument.
Besides just being a more refined build, with nicely figured wood, the pickup switching options were awesome (and unfortunately not reproduced in the HH StingRay).
The bridge H + neck S is the best StingRay sound ever, and only otherwise briefly available on the short-lived StingRay HS.
The thing I found strange was that the 2nd generation and later Sabres all had an 8-pole bridge Humbucker, and a 16-mini pole neck Humbucker, with covers - which was claimed to reduce magnetic pull, and eliminate an associated chorusing artefact...
Apparently the market only wanted StingRays, not Sabres: so when the Sabre got the chop, the StingRay HH eventually filled the gap.
I've no idea why the HH StingRay reverted to two 8-pole Humbuckers, instead of 8 + 16, and I've no idea why they omitted the H + S switching option - it all seems like a massive step backwards in my opinion.
(and HH StingRays just look plain wrong to me, whereas I think Sabres look great).
Is that the Justin Herbert signature model?
I prefer the original Leo-era ones over any of the later styles. I don't have any use for the 5-way switch, and the old ones look so much better to me. I love the chunky cast bridge/mute, the exposed-pole pickups, and the look of the mini switches. I also don't care for the notched pickguard on the latest versions.
I've collected four original ones over the decades, and I have no desire for one of the later runs. I would make some good money if I ever sold them, because they have appreciated in value so much. I think buying an original Leo-era one is the smartest move. They are excellent instruments, and will almost always pay for themselves (and then some) should you have to re-sell some day.
I've collected four original ones over the decades, and I have no desire for one of the later runs. I would make some good money if I ever sold them, because they have appreciated in value so much. I think buying an original Leo-era one is the smartest move. They are excellent instruments, and will almost always pay for themselves (and then some) should you have to re-sell some day.
Last edited:
Effectively, yes.
Leo was apparently deeply disappointed that the Sabre wasn't the hit with the bass community, that the StingRay was (in his view it was the better, deluxe model).
That disappointment directly led to his attention shifting from his responsibilities with Music Man, and diverting his efforts towards focusing on doing things entirely his own way, and setting up G&L (which in itself caused a cumulative car crash of missed deadlines, errors, communication breakdowns, and a general failure to deliver what CLF was contracted to do for Music Man - culminating in the delivery of 1000 dud necks, rendered useless by virtue of having been made with faulty truss rods : and the resultant termination of the partnership).
An early G+L print advert, showing the L-2000 with the two pickups in (I think?) the Sabre positions
Last edited:
Yes...and better than the L-2000, IMO.
I say this as someone who is possibly the biggest G&L bass collector in the world. G&L is my main brand...but...I prefer the pre-EB Sabre Bass to the L-2000.
I can get any sound I want out of either of these basses, but I prefer doing it on the Sabres. Better looking, better sounding baseline tones, MUCH better bridge, and better controls. Their only relative drawback is that they're 100 percent active, therefore totally reliant on a battery. L-2000s, I use passively. If Sabres cost what G&Ls do, I'd have a lot more Sabres, and a lot fewer L-200s. But they cost 3–4 times as much.
Some prototype L-2000s, and even one that made it onto an early G&L promo sheet, had the pickups in the same positions as the Sabre Bass. Wish they had kept them there, as well as keeping a bridge design with mutes.
Last edited:
