Musicman Sabre Club

[-Boscoe-]

They reissued the Sabre bass ...Ernie Ball 2000s....Won't those pickup covers work?
I called them direct, as I had bad luck getting no response via email/mail and the guy was super friendly and helpful.
They even sent me some cool stickers with the covers.

The EB Sabre reissues were different. They used the StingRay preamp instead of the original Sabre preamp (which was very similar, adding a bright switch). Blade switch instead of the individual toggle switches. I believe the pickups were different as well (not as sure on this one). Pickup covers might not fit.

 

[harperb138]

Oh...I was confused by the different necks you posted including a bounded /blocks Jazz neck
Now I get it..the bass came with the jazz neck?
Great job...Bass looks so cool now

That is great you found a neck you like.
Ernie Ball sold me a bunch of different covers for my HS and HH 5vers.

They reissued the Sabre bass ...Ernie Ball 2000s....Won't those pickup covers work?
I called them direct, as I had bad luck getting no response via email/mail and the guy was super friendly and helpful.
They even sent me some cool stickers with the covers.

Haha yeah, the bass came fitted with this 20 fret unknown make Jazz neck! I think it's an MIJ neck of some sort, maybe an old Greco or something. Regardless, the 20 fret neck made the scale length and intonation incorrect, so a 21 fret neck was needed to look the part and play the part! Thanks for your kind words. I'm happy with how it's turning out! I've seen the reissue Sabres, as I'm sure you know they have covers that cover the pole pieces too. I'm not opposed to that, though the exposed pole pieces do look better imo and let's those "in the know" know that this is an OG Sabre. I'll keep a lookout for a cover, this bass isn't going ANYWHERE anytime soon besides the practice spot!

 

[murphy]

Haha yeah, the bass came fitted with this 20 fret unknown make Jazz neck! I think it's an MIJ neck of some sort, maybe an old Greco or something. Regardless, the 20 fret neck made the scale length and intonation incorrect, so a 21 fret neck was needed to look the part and play the part! Thanks for your kind words. I'm happy with how it's turning out! I've seen the reissue Sabres, as I'm sure you know they have covers that cover the pole pieces too. I'm not opposed to that, though the exposed pole pieces do look better imo and let's those "in the know" know that this is an OG Sabre. I'll keep a lookout for a cover, this bass isn't going ANYWHERE anytime soon besides the practice spot!

Maybe you could make your own holes in the covers?

 

[harperb138]

Maybe you could make your own holes in the covers?

Yeah that's the route I'll go if the EB Sabre pickup covers become available. I've got the pickup heights set where I want them and honestly they move less than some of my other guitars that have all the hardware LOL.

 

[WG Plum]

So I ended up selling my fretless '79 Sabre via consignment. I picked up a Pino reissue fretless that fully supplanted it and there was no reason, other than nostalgia, to have both.

Guess who bought it?

Jeff freakin' Ament from Pearl Jam.

At least I know who to reach out to if I ever want to try to get it back!

 

[-Boscoe-]

Been a while. Got busy making a StingRay preamp pedal and a G&L L-2000 bass preamp replica. But I finally got back around to making my first 1978 Sabre preamp replicas. I went off of Bajaman's excellent schematic and they sound great… except for the bright switch. As many have noticed, the Sabre's bright switch is way too high in the treble range and subtle. It adds some sparkle but it's hard to hear.

Bajaman wasn't sure if he'd made a mistake when he traced it, and put down 1.8nF for the capacitor's value instead of 18nF. However looking at Skipp May's schematic he has the same cap as 2.2nF so I don't think Bajaman made a mistake.

Questions for the community - is this assessment of the bright switch on late 70s Sabres accurate? With the value around 1.8nF/2.2nF it would boost treble in the 10kHz region - too high. Is anyone here with a first generation Sabre able to measure the capacitor directly attached to the bright switch wire (should be yellow and run to the middle of the switch)? Would be nice to get another measurement from an owner.

Bajaman substituted the 1.8nF on at least one of the ones he made with a 22nF and I did as well. Sounds much more useful. My next iteration will have a minute DIP switch that will allow folks to select the original 1.8nF or another setting. Do folks have any thoughts on a higher value or a frequency range they'd like boosted by the switch?

I'm hoping to be able to offer replicas to folks here with first generation Sabres. If there's anyone here in the club with an original Sabre that has a defective preamp that needs a replacement and would be willing to test it out for me, I'd be happy to send you one. This one won't have the selectable bright frequency however. Just the vintage spec. I have a batch of those on hand.

Thanks for any help anyone might offer!

 

[mikeswals]

I sold my 1st Gen Sabre years ago now, but the bright switch feature was -as you found- barely noticeable.

With roundwounds, that switch was never needed for any of my situations, and I like a bright growly tone.

 

[-Boscoe-]

I sold my 1st Gen Sabre years ago now, but the bright switch feature was -as you found- barely noticeable.

With roundwounds, that switch was never needed for any of my situations, and I like a bright growly tone.

Thanks! That helps.

I've finished testing and my Sabre preamp replicas are now available should anyone need to replace a failed one.

 

[owjeej]

Thanks! That helps.

I've finished testing and my Sabre preamp replicas are now available should anyone need to replace a failed one.

It popped up in my Reverb-feed! Nice work!

 

[TheCharm]

New guy! I'm 48 and have never played bass, but I'm gonna learn on this 2013 Sabre Classic. I call her Midlife Crisis.

Here I gooooooooo!!!

Update: It's been 3 years since I started playing. I've joined a band and played a bunch of live gigs, fulfilling a long-held dream. I've spent hundreds and hundreds of hours practicing and try to play a little just about every day. I've picked up two more basses: a PJ and a Mustang. Playing bass has been one of the very best things I've ever done in my life, and I'm excited to keep improving!

 

[mikeswals]

Update: It's been 3 years since I started playing. I've joined a band and played a bunch of live gigs, fulfilling a long-held dream. I've spent hundreds and hundreds of hours practicing and try to play a little just about every day. I've picked up two more basses: a PJ and a Mustang. Playing bass has been one of the very best things I've ever done in my life, and I'm excited to keep improving!

Congrats, snd keep up the good work!
That is also a very nice Sabre you have.

 

[-Boscoe-]

I've finished testing and my Sabre preamp replicas are now available should anyone need to replace a failed one.

There are also going to be two varieties available. The one that's currently listed is an exact, faithful reproduction that has the 1.8nF bright capacitor, and another coming very soon that will have a DIP switch on the preamp that will allow you to select either the vintage-correct 1.8nF bright (clearly active around 18kHz, fully on at 50kHz) or a much more usable 22nF bright (clearly active around 2kHz, fully on at 5kHz).

 

[murphy]

There are also going to be two varieties available. The one that's currently listed is an exact, faithful reproduction that has the 1.8nF bright capacitor, and another coming very soon that will have a DIP switch on the preamp that will allow you to select either the vintage-correct 1.8nF bright (clearly active around 18kHz, fully on at 50kHz) or a much more usable 22nF bright (clearly active around 2kHz, fully on at 5kHz).

Sounds very cool.
Inspired to get out and play my Sabre



Excuse me going Nekkid!!

 

[owjeej]

There are also going to be two varieties available. The one that's currently listed is an exact, faithful reproduction that has the 1.8nF bright capacitor, and another coming very soon that will have a DIP switch on the preamp that will allow you to select either the vintage-correct 1.8nF bright (clearly active around 18kHz, fully on at 50kHz) or a much more usable 22nF bright (clearly active around 2kHz, fully on at 5kHz).

Did you ever thought about doing another variation with instead of a phase, a coilsplit? I have that modification on my Sabre and it's just awesome!

 

[-Boscoe-]

Did you ever thought about doing another variation with instead of a phase, a coilsplit? I have that modification on my Sabre and it's just awesome!

That's actually external to the preamp. It's very similar to a StingRay preamp but with the addition of the bright circuit. The selector switch feeds the preamp and the phase switch is between one pickup and the selector.

I'm curious, how did you do your coil split mod? I have a diagram of the wiring below for reference.

 

[owjeej]

That's actually external to the preamp. It's very similar to a StingRay preamp but with the addition of the bright circuit. The selector switch feeds the preamp and the phase switch is between one pickup and the selector.

I'm curious, how did you do your coil split mod? I have a diagram of the wiring below for reference.

Aha, didn't know that but it makes sense.

I don't know how the modification on my bass was done. I bought it with the mod already done.

If you want I can take some pictures?

 

[-Boscoe-]

Aha, didn't know that but it makes sense.

I don't know how the modification on my bass was done. I bought it with the mod already done.

If you want I can take some pictures?

Sure, that would be awesome!

 

[owjeej]

Sure, that would be awesome!

It's been a while, but can you tell by this pictures:

 

[mrpackerguy]

On my 79 Sabre the bright switch is subtle but present. Never could find a reason to engage the phase switch

 

[owjeej]

The coilsplit mod will definitely give you reason to use that (no longer a phase-) switch! Highly recommend it!