Sabre Reissue Poll

[cky4ever]

Hey I was searching the bay the other and saw some sabres pop up every once in a while, so anyways I decided to post this poll up.

Also if possible Id like someone to explain what set the sabre apart from the ray, electronic wise and anything else that doesnt seem as obvious...

 

[Duarte]

I love how they look, never played one. A lot more versitile than a ray obviously, and if you check youtube it is evident you can get some VERY nice tones out of them.

 

[mynan]

Other than looks, I think it would be redundant. What are you getting that you wouldn't get in a dual-pickup EBMM?

 

[Bass Control]

A Saber Reissue isn't needed. We already have 3 awesome bass classes to choose from, all of them with dual pickup capabilities, all with different specs to cover an array of needs. The only reason I see fit to reissue the Saber is for one year only if EBMM chose to do so to celebrate the anniversary of the instrument's inception. Other than that, I could live without the Saber.

Awesome instrument, but no longer relevant these days.

 

[jlepre]

The only reason I see fit to reissue the Saber is for one year only if EBMM chose to do so to celebrate the anniversary of the instrument's inception.

What HE said

 

[carpedebass]

Why would I?

 

[fogman]

I say no.
They're cool and part of EBMM heritage, but really aren't what Music Man is about today.
Not to mention as an additional product, it would be redundant.
Which Bass are you bumping off in favour of this body shape???
I personally would rather see something "new" over something that's redone.

 

[Aussie Mark]

The Sabre reissue has been done. It's the HH Sterling.

 

[bovinehost]

The Sabre sold miserably the first time around.

I understand that a few people have them, and I think that is really extremely cool that they still get some love and are occasionally noted as someone's "favorite Music Man bass" ever.

But they really were unpopular, perhaps unfairly so, when they were in production. There's no real reason to think their popularity would somehow surge in 2008.

I would predict dismal sales.

So, sadly, I say - nah.

Jack

 

[bdgotoh]

The Sabre reissue has been done. It's the HH Sterling.

Actually Mark, the HH Stingray is much closer with it's alnico pickups, parallel wiring, and similar preamp.

I voted yes just because I would buy one if they made it, and I have always loved the Sabre.

I agree it would be better to see them come up with something new instead of a reissue.

 

[RobertB]

I dig the Sabre, but for largely sentimental reasons. A friend of mine - a guy who had a very big influence on me as a bassist - played one, in a band called Mindseye. He had/has a '79. I tried to buy it from him recently, but he won't come off it.

Can someone explain the preamp/eq controls? They had toggle switches for bass & treble boost or something, didn't they?

 

[sloshep]

I voted no. As stated above we have dual pickups available in HH and HS. Why go backwards.

 

[Caca de Kick]

I would say no also, because there are already dual pickup basses currently being made.

But I do have to say, my Sabre sounds nothing like my HH Stingray. Actually it sounds alot closer to my 30th, that really deep darker sound.

But Jack, I still think the Sabre sold miserably back then because the StingRay was still very new when the Sabre was introduced, and the Ray had a killer sound and most importantly the name...it was an icon, all which made people think the Sabre was sort of a bastard child. I don't think most people were ever ready for them.
But I can remember in the late 90's/early 00's when people were hungry for a dual pickup Musicman...the vast majority of folks never realized the Sabres ever existed, I grew up 30 minutes away from SLO and bassists around me never heard of it. Dual pickup basses sell well now, eh?

I do like it, but I still prefer my single H Ray over it.

 

[Caca de Kick]

Can someone explain the preamp/eq controls? They had toggle switches for bass & treble boost or something, didn't they?

The 1st version had three mini-toggles:
Pickup selector / pickup in-out phase / bright boost

The 2nd version had a blade switch that functioned like the HH basses of today

 

[thunder]

Can someone explain the preamp/eq controls? They had toggle switches for bass & treble boost or something, didn't they?

two band eq. one toogle didn't seem to work. one put the pick ups out of phase. the the last was a low end boost (three position). i think i haven't played my sabre in a while. the sabre with the more modern selector switch had a much different sound.

question anyone has a sabre that all three toogles worked? people that own that bass most people say that one switch didn't make a difference in sound.

 

[thunder]

thanks, caca de kick. that makes more sense.

 

[rogerbmiller]

LOVE the Sabre

Hells yeah, let's not just see a limited edition reissue, let's put the Sabre back into production. Great bass. I had a chance to buy an minty unlined fretless last year and blew it. i kick myself...

 

[Aussie Mark]

Actually Mark, the HH Stingray is much closer with it's alnico pickups, parallel wiring, and similar preamp.

Brad, thanks for clarifying. I said Sterling because of the skinny neck.

 

[Marco]

I've never played one but they sure look cool. I'd rather see the Earthwood Bass have a limited run with a piezo though.

 

[eric B]

sabre is obsolete, no need for it to reappear.

if you're going to reissue something, at least let it be the Cutlass I. i guess that NAMM anniversary bass counts...but still, i think it'd be cool if they made a comeback.