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Musicman Sabre is back

#102
I bought a natural finish 79 about 15 years ago thinking all Sabres had the narrow neck. Mine does not and I later learned the 1.5" was an option. The neck is still quite comfortable because it feels a little thinner front to back than my Fenders. I like the 2 band EQ, but this is now the only active bass I have left...for now.
 

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#104
Any more word on this?
The new reissue is the EB version of the Sabre and not the one that Louis Johnson played. I know the pickups and preamp are different and I'm skeptical if it even sounds the same as the true "classic" Sabre.

Can anyone comment if the EB Sabre models have the same tone as the earlier models? I'm very interested in the Louis Johnson slap sound, as well and want to make sure this verson of the Sabre can produce that kind of tone.
 
#105
jmac said:
I wonder if it'll have the tone suck switch (i.e. phase switch)?

Lucky for me I have a '79 Sabre; so I'm good. :)

sabre1.jpg
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Music Man if your're listening. This is what a true "classic" Sabre looks like. The EB version was produced into the 90's so that version is hardly a classic. From what I understand the Pre EB Sabre is a different beast from the EB version in looks and in sound. That's like saying the SR4 is a classic. Any chance on getting the original Sabre reissued?
 
#106
digiman said:
Any chance on getting the original Sabre reissued?
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It's a bit late for that now. Besides, those details you're complaining about: the solid pickup covers and the blade style switch, actually came out during the preEB era '81-later. Really, only the stamped bridge is the EB detail.

But speaking of 'correctness' weren't you asking for a 5 string? That is not correct by a long shot. :hmm: :ninja:
 
#108
They modeled the refresh on the pre-EB 82'-1983 Sabre it appears. From 83' (actual age is cloudy) to EB purchase around 1984-85 they went soapbar pups and had the 5 way selector and ditched the toggles and added a 4th neck bolt. They also got the Sting Ray pre-amp. They are arguably regarded as having the best sound of all the Sabres. Some form of briefly produced bastard. Maybe one reason for those to be the re-issues. Maybe they couldn't find toggle switches. ;) I have one and it has a bit more midrange growl than the pre-83's.
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This has so much info. Some hearsay some fact.
 
#109
jmac said:
I wonder if it'll have the tone suck switch (i.e. phase switch)?

Lucky for me I have a '79 Sabre; so I'm good. :)

sabre1.jpg
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I had this same bass and it was the best bass I ever owned
HANDS DOWN ! and I've yet to hear a bass that has a unique tone like this bass....... I've played the new one and it sounds good but not like the 79. The new RI sounds more like the one that was out in the mid 80's.
 
#110
Johnny Alien said:
The ones with the covered pickups are very affordable on the used market. Like, you can get two of them for the price of one of these new ones, affordable. They look nice but the covered pickups were never as nice looking as the exposed poles version and they are priced too high for my blood.
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They also don't have the same bridge as the 79. This more like the bridge on the SR.
 
#111
catgut said:
They modeled the refresh on the pre-EB 82'-1983 Sabre it appears. From 83' (actual age is cloudy) to EB purchase around 1984-85 they went soapbar pups and had the 5 way selector and ditched the toggles and added a 4th neck bolt. They also got the Sting Ray pre-amp. They are arguably regarded as having the best sound of all the Sabres. Some form of briefly produced bastard. Maybe one reason for those to be the re-issues. Maybe they couldn't find toggle switches. ;) I have one and it has a bit more midrange growl than the pre-83's.
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This has so much info. Some hearsay some fact.
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I disagree that the mid 80's Sabre sounded better than the 79/80 Sabre but that's just me.
 
#112
jazzyitalian said:
I happen to care about it. I have a 1980 Sabre and just acquired a 79 that I will need to work on. In my opinion, this is the best bass ever made.

I'm actually surprised to see this from EB because as far as I knew, Sterling Ball was not going to re-issuing the Sabre. He even said he didn't like them on the EB forum in 2010-ish.

But he came around on this and that's a good thing.

There is a difference in sound between the early pre-EB Leo made Sabres with the small switches and pole pickups, verses the evolved ones with the 5-way lever. My freind has the latter and it has a more modern tone. Though that's my personal opinion.

I'm sure the new Sabre in 2013 will be awesome! It's based on the model they built near the end of the Sabre production in 1988. But I am not ready to buy the new one today. For sure will check it out when it shows up here in MN.
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What was also cool about the 79 Sabre was the fact that if the battery died, it still would play at a decent volume, however the 2nd generation Sabre wasn't capable of this.
 
#113
hands5 said:
I disagree that the mid 80's Sabre sounded better than the 79/80 Sabre but that's just me.
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I was only referring to 1983-1984 pre-Ernie Ball. No Idea what was done after EB bought MM up to the 1988 cease of production.
The battery remark is dead straight though. Corrosion just killed mine. Angry with the energizer right now. No preamp results in super quiet non-playing conditions. :crying:
 
#114
catgut said:
They modeled the refresh on the pre-EB 82'-1983 Sabre it appears.
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I don't think so. Compared to my pre-EB '83 (2 band, sopbar, blade electronics, 4 bolt, but with the horseshoe bridge) and my EBMM '86 (2 band, sopbar, blade electronics, 4 bolt, StingRay bridge with mutes), the Classic Sabre looks exactly like what EBMM build in the mid 80's, except for the new truss rod and the compensated nut. EBMM continued the Sabre like that until the end of production (AFAIK 1991), but the neck finish changed from glossy to satin (not oil & wax!) and there might be a couple of rare beasts with the new truss rod wheel which was introduced around '88/'89.

Thus, IMO, EBMM didn't "model" the current Sabre after any earlier model, but just picked up where they left off, added the gloss finished fancy figured maple neck and removed some insanity from the electronics. To me, the Classic Sabre is as "Classic" as the Classic Sterling... it sports marketable features but has nothing to do with the first incarnation of the model.

But great instruments, none the less.
 
#115
I think you are correct in your "...just picked up where they left off…" assessment. They were constant works in progress as they tried to get someone to buy them.
On a side note how do you like your L-2000? What year is it? I really want a fretless version circa late 70's early 80's if it plays as I imagine it would.
 
#116
catgut said:
I think you are correct in your "...just picked up where they left off…" assessment. They were constant works in progress as they tried to get someone to buy them.
On a side note how do you like your L-2000? What year is it? I really want a fretless version circa late 70's early 80's if it plays as I imagine it would.
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It's still beyond me why the Sabre was such a failure. To me it's a StingRay with a good deal of other cool sounds.

I have an '83 and a 30th Anniversary L2k. The '83 has a very nice slim neck (1 5/8") and is a really a cool (blue faded to green and crazed finish) but odd vintage bass. The 30th Anniversary is a very beautiful, well made and great sounding instrument, BUT... I dislike the neck profile (1 3/4"). I think a fretless L2k with the re-introduced 1 5/8" neck profile could be a nice instrument. But I have to admit to prefer a Sabre/StingRay to an L2K. Just personal preference.
 
#117
Personally I think if EB had to decide to due the 79 version, the cost to do it would've been ridiculous thus making the msrp probably around the
$2500-2700.00 dollar range for which you can get the real thing for less, it may need some work done to it but you'll have the real thing. I did get to play the RI Sabre a couple of days ago and although it sounded nothing like the 79 it still sounded real good, however with that being said, I think if I decided if I wanted a Sabre again I would try to get the 79.
 

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