How much is appropriate for a 79 Sabre?

[fish88]

So I've wanted a Sabre ever since I was 13 or 14 and played one in a music store in NYC. I picked up a Stingray HH (my main axe) but I'm still lusting after an old Sabre. I live in Boston and watch Craigslist regularly and haven't seen any come up. I would consider driving to New York to check these two out but the prices seem pretty high. Also I think by the number of things posted from this guy that it's a store. Considering condition (no sting mutes, no mention of OHSC, scratches/dings) what should I be looking at for these? Any help is appreciated.
vintage 1979 Pre- Ernie Ball Musicman Sabre Electric Bass Guitar
vintage SUNBURST Musicman Pre-Ernie Ball 1979 Sabre/ Stingray Bass
fish

Side-note. Check out this "Sabre" and keep your eyes peeled as this site is selling a bunch of fake MM stuff. Made is San Luis Obispo my A@@!
Music Man Sabre 4 Strings Electric Bass Red Black - The Top Guitars Company

 

[J Romano]

This is pure trash. Company out of the Philippines. Ripping off customers with instruments posing as name brands.

 

[mmbassplayer]

There is a nice one in the For Sale section now.

 

[Caca de Kick]

Yeah, there's one here in the EBMM for sale section, and it's at a killer price too.

 

[fish88]

I saw the one posted on here which is in better condition and a better price. It was part of the reason I posted the question. The problem is I haven't really played one of these in 10+ years so buying one without playing it would be a tough call. Gonzales LA and Boston MA aren't particularly close. I really want to try one again to see if the sound is really what I remember.
I hope the EBMM people already know about the knock-offs I linked to, seriously dirty stuff. Not sure what legal action they can take with them being our of the US.

 

[Caca de Kick]

I saw the one posted on here which is in better condition and a better price. It was part of the reason I posted the question.

The one in the FS section is priced at a giveaway price. They normally sell for way-way more than that. I know I wouldn't let my '80 go for twice that.

 

[Golem]

`

As to the years clouding your memory of the Sabre sound, I
had a pre-EB dual PU Sabre and, altho I never A/B'ed it to a
Sterling, I acquired my first Sterling very soon after parting
with the Sabre. To me [without direct A/B comparison] the
Sterling was pretty much a direct replacement, soundwise,
and about 25% lighter ! Having no emotional ties to Sabres,
I prefer the lighter, newer Sterling ... esp'y since it doesn't
hiss and hum in split coil mode, like a Sabre. My Sabre was
made of NORTHERN ash, thaz "baseball bat ash", NOT the
much lighter swamp ash [aka southern ash] usually used in
building MM basses today.

FWIW, my Sabre cost $400 a about 5 yr ago ... in VERRRY
beat up but fully operational condition ... with period case
in same condition. It was so beat up, I'd say that a clean
one should cost AT LEAST double what mine cost.

Again, my current "Sabres" are Sterling HS, and for purely
practical reasons, I wouldn't swap them for real Sabres if
such were offered. I truly would not.


`