Music Man Sabre sighting!

[Dr. Cheese]

These basses are true classics!

 

[Ric Vice]

I was around when they were first introduced. Great sound! Unfortunately or Fortunately, they never got the love that the Stingray did.

 

[Grooveline]

I have a Stingray Classic and always wanted one of the Sabre Classics. Kind of regretting not offering my 4003s Rick for trade to the guy that was offering one of these for trade in the Classifieds this March. In fact, if you still have it and read this then send me a PM.

 

[Marc DLarosa]

I've had a Classic. Sold it. My '79, Pre EB has been my #1 since '88. No comparison, really.
The Sabre, in my opinion, is the best thing that MM ever produced. Yes, it's MY OPINION.

My next favorite(s), since... are the Sterling Classic, Sterling HS, and the Big Al 4H. The Big Al SSS was very cool, but... just too much. Sold it.

I still wanna TRY a Reflex HSS. But again.... it may also be too much bass for me. Or... it could be fun. Who knows? I've never even seen one in person.

Peace.
Marc

 

[J Wilson]

I was around when they were first introduced. Great sound! Unfortunately or Fortunately, they never got the love that the Stingray did.

I was working retail and we were a then-new Music Man dealer. Sting Rays we couldn't get enough to keep up with demand, sold like hotcakes, but we couldn't give away Sabres. Go figure.

It was amazing in a way. Sting Rays were very different from a Jazz (also dead as hell in the late 70's) or Precision Bass (the ruler of the disco days), but guys just automatically thought these were the new Fender bass and that was that. Especially interesting was no one was afraid of the 9v batteries like guys are today.

 

[MaxSpinrun]

I wish the Sabres would be brought back into production, Sabre special?

 

[Fender_Bender]

I remember several Culture Club videos where the original bassist was playing one of these.

 

[alack]

The one bass I always lusted for but never pulled the trigger. Can’t imagine I’d ever do it at this point, but if MM would offer an import version………..

 

[five7]

I had a couple of them including a fretless. Just didn't jive with them like I did with stingrays and sterlings.

 

[denton57]

I bought a Sabre Classic and a Stingray Classic this year. My first real foray into active MM’s. The Sabre is so versatile and has a nice warmth to it in all positions. Favorite is the HS position but all are usable. I have tried different strings on her but have settled on TI rounds I believe.

 

[burgerdj]

I love the tone options of the Sabre but the ones I’ve encountered had a peculiar neck shape - rather flat D shape that didn’t agree with my hands. If they made a run of them that had a Sterling profile, I’d be in trouble. The Sledge version of the Sabre is particularly tasty.

 

[denton57]

Quick pic of the Sabre and Stingray Classics. 2013 and 2010 models

 

[tindrum]

I got this 1988 Sabre on a local Reverb deal last week. I had to immediately drop it off at my tech as the bass pot just spun free (it’s mechanically dead) and to level the frets. Can’t wait to pick it up after it’s done!

 

[MIJ Fender Guy]

I had a crazy nice, mint condition classic saber for a while. The sound was absolutely amazing.

 

[Wood and Wire]

These basses are true classics!

Eric Clapton got some tattoos.

 

[Marc DLarosa]

I wish the Sabres would be brought back into production, Sabre special?

Classic Sabre?

 

[DWBass]

If I wasn't so anti Stingray back in the day, I may have bought one.

 

[MaxSpinrun]

If they brought it back, Sabre Classic, updated to Special specs.

 

[mikeswals]

The Sabre in all eras is awesome. Had a couple preEB, fantastic, and had a reissue Sledge Sabre, and it was awesome. While I really enjoyed the preEB's, simply having the ability to HS the pickup setting is killer.
Only reason I sold them all was because I really prefer maple fingerboards on my Musicmans, and all my Sabres had rw. At the time it was much easier to find them used, and now it isn't!

 

[mikeswals]

I remember several Culture Club videos where the original bassist was playing one of these.

Rudy Sarzo used one in the 80s, the bassist from Greg Kihn band, and in the 90s Garbage's bassist (Dan Schulman?) played a burst one on all their early popular songs and tour.