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Question Musicman classic sabre discontinued?

bojondar

bojondar

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2012
Messages
20
Hi Folks,

Is there anynoe who know why musicman classic sabre basses were discontinued??
 
I bought them, but I am only one man.... I am very thankful for the last run of them too. They have restocked the pond rather well and the classic series are dream boats! In my opinion, the classic series Sabres were the best of the best. I have two and I am always on the hunt for another. There are lots of them out there.... just keep your ear to the ground.
 
Our two most recently discontinued models were both sort of polar opposites. We offered two totally different things and neither took.

Sabre was for all intents and purposes a very straightforward, classic, accessible bass, but nobody wanted it.

The Big Al was crazy versatile with its switching and active/passive capability and a totally different body shape from most other basses on the market, but nobody wanted it.

Sometimes you just can't win.
 
They definitely were great quality bases. People missed out for sure not wanting them. Unfortunately it impacts all of us into the future. Makes it less likely that something else new, interesting and different will be released.

When people think of MM basses, they seem to automatically think Stingray. Who knows if they were called something like Stingray Sabre Edition and Stingray Switch if they would have had more people buying. But then you would have some folks complaining the product naming is confusing, so yeah, you can't win.
 
Edmang said:
They definitely were great quality bases. People missed out for sure not wanting them. Unfortunately it impacts all of us into the future. Makes it less likely that something else new, interesting and different will be released.

When people think of MM basses, they seem to automatically think Stingray. Who knows if they were called something like Stingray Sabre Edition and Stingray Switch if they would have had more people buying. But then you would have some folks complaining the product naming is confusing, so yeah, you can't win.
Click to expand...

That's true, it would also be a big misstep to dilute the brand power of the StingRay. SR guitar notwithstanding.
 
CaseyBall said:
The Big Al was crazy versatile with its switching and active/passive capability and a totally different body shape from most other basses on the market, but nobody wanted it.
Click to expand...

And it's a damned shame. I'm very happy to have two Big Al 5Hs in my possession. Like a George Jetson Bongo, these things.
 
I agree both are Fantastic instruments and I am fortunate to own 1 of each - Sabre & Big Al
But like we say if the masses don't support the model they get canned.

It is kind of funny and I don't know if it is human nature to want something that they can't get
Case in point the Akai deep impact pedal didn't sell so they discontinued it now they go for big coin on Ebay and everyone keeps asking Akai to re-issue it - I have heard mixed reviews on how good or bad they were.

I guess the moral of the story is buy it when they are available.

BTW Welcome Casey to the Fold I meet you at the 2007 open house I have been enjoying your posts.

cheers Scott
 
The Stingray is an icon an many people have lots of visual recognition with it as well as the Stingray sound. For some of us in the Stingray fandom camp we are also aware of the rather large impact the Sabre had one the sound of pop music during its heyday. I for one am glad the Classic line was bought back. If nothing else it gave us Sabre fans a whole new load of Sabres in the world to seek out and enjoy.
 
Edmang said:
.......
you would have some folks complaining the product
naming is confusing, so yeah, you can't win.
Click to expand...

.... as with "EBMM Sterling" and "Sterling by MM" ;-)

GC sells tons of MM product and reading their adverts
it's obvious that the GC folks are especially vulnerable
to confusion [so what else is new ?].
 
CaseyBall said:
Our two most recently discontinued models were both sort of polar opposites. We offered two totally different things and neither took.

Sabre was for all intents and purposes a very straightforward, classic, accessible bass, but nobody wanted it.

The Big Al was crazy versatile with its switching and active/passive capability and a totally different body shape from most other basses on the market, but nobody wanted it.

Sometimes you just can't win.
Click to expand...

What amaze me the most is that the company that still produces de Bongo bass (no offense, but for me is one of the ugliest basses in the world), have discontinued this marvelous Sabre bass for three times in history. If people is buying more Bongos than Sabres... I don't know nothing. Of course, what I love about the Sabre is her versatility, rather than the "one trick pony" Stingray (which I had two, 4 & 5). Please don't take my words bad, I'm not trying to be disrespectful, I love Music Man basses in general. It's that when I realized that EB was discontinuing Sabres again my bass heart got broken. It's such a great bass and the work EB did with the last edition was superb.
 
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