Vintage sabre Pickup Config

[rogerbmiller]

Someone recently told me that the original Sabre basses had 2 different pickups-- a 16 pole pickup in the neck position and a "standard" Musicaman Stingray type 8 pole pickup in the bridge position. Is that right? Does anyone have pictures they can post or point me to?

Thanks.


Roger

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Someone recently told me that the original Sabre basses had 2 different pickups-- a 16 pole pickup in the neck position and a "standard" Musicaman Stingray type 8 pole pickup in the bridge position. Is that right? Does anyone have pictures they can post or point me to?

Thanks.


Roger

Initially the Pre-EB Sabre had 2 pickups similar to the Sting Ray (but slightly smaller) and toggle switches on the control plate. The pre-amp was different to the one in the Sting Ray.

Around circa 1983 the pickup changed to soapbars (ie the pole pieces were hidden inside the pickup casing). Although the bridge pickup still retained the 8 pole pieces, the neck pickup changed to 16 (or there abouts) smaller pole pieces which looks very similar the a Jazz Bass pickup. The toggle switches were replaced with a lever switch and the pre-amp changed to the one used in the Sting Ray. It was this model Sabre that EB continued to make.

On the Cutlass 11 Bass (Sabre with graphite neck) I believe the front soapbar pickup had bar magnets rather than the Jazz style pickup.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Thanks. As a follow up question, were any Sabres released where the neck pickup had the pickup cover but the bridge pickup did not? I found an older one recently that was like this, and the owner claims it is all original. There is also a pic or two of a circa 1983 Sabre on the musicmanbass.org site that looks like this.

Just trying to determine if the bass really is original as it was offered to me for sale. I've always wanted a Sabre but would much prefer it to be all original (if this one is not).

Thanks.


Roger

Initially the Pre-EB Sabre had 2 pickups similar to the Sting Ray (but slightly smaller) and toggle switches on the control plate. The pre-amp was different to the one in the Sting Ray.

Around circa 1983 the pickup changed to soapbars (ie the pole pieces were hidden inside the pickup casing). Although the bridge pickup still retained the 8 pole pieces, the neck pickup changed to 16 (or there abouts) smaller pole pieces which looks very similar the a Jazz Bass pickup. The toggle switches were replaced with a lever switch and the pre-amp changed to the one used in the Sting Ray. It was this model Sabre that EB continued to make.

On the Cutlass 11 Bass (Sabre with graphite neck) I believe the front soapbar pickup had bar magnets rather than the Jazz style pickup.