Picked up an '88 EBMM Sabre (pix)

[x-ray]

Howdie everyone,

Just wanted to share some pix of my new bass, an '88 EBMM Sabre. I saw if for sale on my local CL and couldn't pass it up. After giving it a much needed clean up and set up, here are some pix. The bass sounds lovely (I love the 2 eq., I never fiddle w/ mids much anyhow), and the neck is very, very comfy. The birdseye neck/fretboard doesn't hurt either...

I showed this last pic to ask whether any of you know if that thin strip of plastic is the shadow of a factory shim (the plastic isn't shown here, I took it off for the picture, but it's dark brown/purple w/ the paint peeling off)?

 

[Dr Stankface]

That's a freakin' beauty! It's only 3 months younger than me too!

 

[bovinehost]

Very nice score!

And yes, that looks like where the shim should be.

 

[the unrepentant]

Very nice, that's very tidy looking for it's age! Would look even better with a black pickguard IMO

Also yeah that's where the shim would have been, mine has one.

 

[jlepre]

Very nice, that's very tidy looking for it's age! Would look even better with a black pickguard IMO

Also yeah that's where the shim would have been, mine has one.

+1 on the Black Pickguard...

and HOLY S%&T!!! That thing is HOT!!

 

[oli@bass]

Wow, what a find!!! Congratulations...


and yes, that's a factory shim shadow, and yes, a black PG would look killer

 

[Caca de Kick]

Wow, very nice score there, Mister. The all-naturalle look looks great, I'd leave it.
Sabers have been going for crazy dough lately on the other sites. Was this one a good deal, or market price?

I love the 2 eq.,

mmm hmmm

 

[bradfordws]

Dang! Those things are hard to find! Nice score indeed! Black p/g would be nice, I agree. I actually had a EB/MM Sabre from 1990-ish? - I forgot when they stopped making them, but anyway, it's another one that got away and I wish I had kept. It was the usual GAS thing - selling something to get something else. I should check CL more often!

 

[x-ray]

Thanks for the complements, everyone. She actually looks better in person, I'm not much of a photographer. And she sounds better than she looks.

I thought about a black p/g at first, although I'm kinda digging the butt-neked look thus far. I also figured it would be a pain in the a$$ finding a p/g for it, since Sabres are discontinued. I've never ordered a p/g for an EB, any suggestions?

Caca de Kick, your name cracks me up, I still have my Infectious Grooves CD I bought in high school, probably one of the first 5 CD's I ever owned. To answer your question, Ithink I lucked out as I didn't do much research other than an E-bay 'completed listings', which showed nothing. I paid $900 including the case. I don't know what market price is, but I'm guessing that's a good deal...

 

[Caca de Kick]

your name cracks me up...

I paid $900 including the case. I don't know what market price is, but I'm guessing that's a good deal...

I couldn't think of anything better at that time I first registered my first username on a bass site, and yes I was listening to Infectious Grooves during that moment!

Anyway, $900 bones, you came out smelling like a rose! They're getting moving at low teens now, while the older preeb ones getting snatched up at the high teens.
That one's a keeper!

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Congrats...great Axe.

IMHO stay with the clear pg

 

[UKFIN]

nice . She's a beauty

 

[thunder]

oooooooo, aaaaaaaah! that is smurfy!

 

[Aussie Mark]

Must be one of the cut price models that came without paint.

 

[phatduckk]

wow - that's nice.

good score

 

[fly]

that grain is just sick man..........nice score

 

[sloshep]

I don't think I have ever seen a nicer looking Sabre that that one. That wood grain is the bomb. Excellent score!

 

[eadg98005]

? about shape and PU placement

Beautiful bass!

Was the Sabre's body shape the same as SR? Was the pickup placement the same as the current SR HH?

Other than the bridge and the control plate shape (and placement of the PU switch), is this pretty much the same look I would get with a natural/maple SRHH with a clear PG?

BTW, FWIW, my wife (of 25 years on 09/02) has really been making a noticeable effort as of late to take interest in my bass hobby and is beginning to recognize the various builds. She was just walking by the monitor when I was looking at the pic of your Sabre. She commented that this was the "prettiest" G&L she remembers seeing in a while and that it reminded her of the one (L2000-E) I had the year we were engaged (1981). I explained the difference and then smiled at how blessed I truly am that after (almost) 3 decades of putting up with me, she still puts forth an effort to be a part of things I sometimes think she wouldn't be interested in.

 

[x-ray]

thanks for the comments / complements everyone.

eadg:

Was the Sabre's body shape the same as SR? Was the pickup placement the same as the current SR HH?

I think the body shape is similar proportions but a bit smaller (?), and so are the p/u's (they're definitely not as wide, and I think not as tall). I'm no expert though, someone else may want to chime in on this...

Other than the bridge and the control plate shape (and placement of the PU switch), is this pretty much the same look I would get with a natural/maple SRHH with a clear PG?"

Probably, other than the new maple necks/headstock are lighter/paler in color. You may be able to locate a picture of what youre talking about in the picture gallery sticky above (if you have the patience to mine all those pix)

I explained the difference and then smiled at how blessed I truly am that after (almost) 3 decades of putting up with me, she still puts forth an effort to be a part of things I sometimes think she wouldn't be interested in.

You got a good woman!

 

[bdgotoh]

Was the Sabre's body shape the same as SR? Was the pickup placement the same as the current SR HH?

Nope and nope! Check out the body shapes/sizes and pickup placements: